Peking Operahas a history of over 200 years. The main melodies originated fromXipiandErhuang, inAnhuiandHubeirespectively. It is generally accepted that Peking Opera gradually came into being after 1790 when the famous Four Anhui Opera Troupes came toBeijing. Peking Operaunderwent fast development under the imperial patron during the reign of Emperor Qianlong and the notorious Empress Dowager Cixi, and eventually became more accessible by the common people.
The famous Four Anhui Opera Troupes are Sanqing Troupe, Sixi Troupe, Chuntai Troupe and Hechun Troupe. In 1790, the salt commissioner ofZhejiangProvincetook the Sanqing Opera Troupe toBeijingto perform for Emperor Qianlong on the occasion of his birthday. The troupe consisted of actors and actress fromAnhuiProvince. Before long, three other leadingAnhuitroupes followed suit. This was the first time that Anhui Opera had been performed inBeijing, and after the birthday celebrations, the four troupes remained in the capital and began to perform for ordinary audiences.
In order to suit their repertoire and tunes to the taste of cosmopolitanBeijingaudiences, the performers ofAnhuiopera adopted elements from other types of opera, notably Hubei Opera and its typicalPihuangmusic. Eventually, a new kind of opera music emerged, calledJingdiao(capital melody). AndPeking Opera (orJingdiao Pihuang Opera) came into being.
The Four Anhui Opera Troupes each has its characteristics: The Sanqing Troupe is good at complex and complete plays, the Sixi Troupe is best atKunqiang, the Chuntai Troupe features young actors, and the Hechun Troupe is famous for fighting performance.
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