The Nationalization of Western Opera in China

Abstract

After the May Fourth Movement in 1919, Western opera, along with other Western cultures, entered China with little response. However, after a century of development, the collision and integration of these two cultures eventually led to the incorporation of traditional Chinese music elements into opera. The Chinese opera was gradually becoming an important part of Chinese music culture. How is the traditional Chinese music fused into the Chinese opera? What is the status of this music culture? This paper is going to explore the integration of traditional Chinese music elements and investigate the problems encountered in the process of nationalization of Western opera in China. Through the analysis of Chinese operatic works and the status of the musical form within its cultural context, the author concludes that the nationalization of Chinese opera is still an ongoing process.