The sound of jinghu(a Beijing Opera fiddle) is stirring, and the sound of yueqin (a banjo like instrument with four strings) is tuneful. At the height of summer, actors and actresses were performing the classic zhezixi (highlights of opera) Zuogong (Silang Visits His Mother) in the rehearsal space of Shenyang Maoquan Beijing Opera Troupe. The sounds of instruments on the stage continued and piaoyou (Beijing Opera aficionados, often amateur performers) dressed up were acting in a professional way, showing the style of famous artists in their movements.

This folk Beijing Opera troupe is composed of more than 50 retired professional performers and piaoyou, with an average age of 55. Although the majority of the troupe are “grassroots” Beijing Opera aficionados, their renditions are quite professional, and they have successfully performed many full-length plays.

They exchange experience and improve their skills. From the head of the troupe to the aficionados, everyone is fascinated by Beijing Opera. They got acquainted with each other and enjoyed themselves because of Beijing Opera, and devoted themselves to rehearsing and performing great plays. This year, the troupe has successfully performed ten plays, including some difficult classics such as The Drunken Concubine and Woman General Mu Guiying.

Enthusiasm connects ordinariness and poetry, and the “grassroots” Beijing Opera is also the inheritance of the quintessence of Chinese culture.