Liu Qibao: China should bolster the inheritance of traditional operas

Liu Qibao, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attaches great importance to the continuation of traditional Chinese operas during a workshop in Beijing on March 31, 2016. [Photo by Zhang Ling / Xinhua]

Liu Qibao, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, looks at traditional Chinese opera costumes during a visit to the China National Peking Opera Company as part of his investigation into the inheritance of traditional Chinese operas in Beijing on March 31, 2016. [Photo by Zhang Ling / Xinhua]

Liu Qibao, head of the Publicity Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, stressed in a workshop held March 31 that the genres of traditional Chinese operas should be passed down to younger generations.

Liu said the resurgence of traditional Chinese operas is responding to the call of the times, the needs of the people and is bringing about a boom of culture.

Following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s speech at the Forum on Literature and Art, Liu laid emphasis to concrete steps for the research and preservation of traditional Chinese operas.

Liu pointed out that the program to make video records for the preservation of classical Peking Operas with the best performers and performances should be taken as a good example for the protection of the diversity of traditional opera forms.

In view of the research on the operas, Liu encouraged the invitation of experts to give reviews of the video performances for the study of opera students, professional performers as well as aficionados.

Liu also pointed out that the project of including traditional operas into the intangible cultural heritage is seen as powerful support for the development of the art form.

In tackling the impending problems, such as the waning inheritors of Chinese operas, the measures for the protection of Chinese operas should include the introduction of the art form into schools as well as the increase of supports from the government for the constant creation of Chinese operas.

Additionally, communication and innovation among the different genres of the operas should be encouraged so that the art form can be ushered into a new era of prosperity, Liu concluded.