On the morning of March 15, the Shijiazhuang Library will host a public lecture titled "History of Chinese Opera and Analysis of Peking Opera Art," featuring Zhao Lihua, a first-class performer and master of Peking Opera and Pingju. With profound artistic expertise and extensive stage experience, Mr. Zhao Lihua will guide the audience into the magnificent world of Chinese opera, allowing them to experience the depth and richness of China's outstanding traditional culture.

Guest Speaker: Zhao Lihua is a first-class performer, winner of the 21st China Theatre Plum Blossom Award, a master of Peking Opera and Pingju, and an expert recognized for his outstanding contributions in Hebei Province. He has received awards including the National "Five-One Project" Award, the China Theatre Excellence in Performance Award, and the Best Performance Award at the National Pingju Competition. Over his 50-year career, he has created and performed numerous outstanding opera works, portraying a wide range of characters on stage, and has earned great popularity among audiences. For many years, he has trained many outstanding students in Peking Opera and Pingju, who have been admitted to national art academies and major theatre troupes with excellent results, making significant contributions to the dissemination, inheritance, and promotion of opera art.

Lecture Overview: This session will systematically outline the development of Chinese opera, allowing attendees to appreciate the heritage and artistic charm of traditional Chinese opera. It will also focus on an in-depth analysis of Peking Opera, a national treasure, explaining its global cultural influence, artistic origins, and formation process. The lecture will break down the characteristics of the four main role types—Sheng, Dan, Jing, and Chou—introduce classic artistic schools such as the "Four Great Dan" and "Four Great Bearded Roles," and provide detailed explanations of the four essential skills of Peking Opera performance—singing, recitation, acting, and acrobatics—as well as the five methods of hand, eye, body, form, and step. This comprehensive approach will offer a full appreciation of the unique artistic essence of Peking Opera, a quintessential part of Chinese culture.