The world of Peking opera (1986)

"In the regions of China there are many different styles of drama which combine music and singing, dance, theater, and acrobatic movements. Each of these styles has its own characteristics. Because of their similarities with Western operas, they are being called operas. The most known and popular among these is the Peking Opera. It combines four main elements: songs, spoken lines in fixed rhythm, expression (with hands, eye and leg movement, costumes, makeup, etc.), and acrobatic movement (generally taken from Chinese martial arts). There exists more than 1,000 dramas about famous heroes and leaders. Although quite unusual for Western ears, Chinese opera is a high-quality form of drama." (Allmusic)