Exhibition honoring Peking Opera school hits high notes

An exhibition that opened on Dec 31 at the Capital Museum in Beijing commemorates the 120th anniversary of the Peking Opera school Fuliancheng.

At the heart of the exhibition lies a stage designed to recreate the ambiance of theaters a century ago, where audiences experienced performances by legendary Peking Opera masters such as Mei Lanfang, Zhou Xinfang, Ma Lianliang, Ye Shenglan, Qiu Shengrong, and others who were trained at the school.

Through archives, photographs, videos, opera costumes, and stage props, the exhibition delves into the school's history and its alumni's accomplishments.

Established by Ye Chunshan in 1904, Fuliancheng offered training in Peking Opera performance, stage management and theater administration. Ye's vision for the school was to elevate the art of Peking Opera rather than focus on financial gain.

Reflecting on his grandfather's legacy, Ye Jinsen, a Peking Opera actor, remarked, "My grandfather never envisioned fulfilling the promise he made 120 years ago. Despite facing numerous challenges, the faculty at Fuliancheng persevered in their careers for many years. We must continue to study Fuliancheng and inherit its cultural heritage."