Yue Opera
/juː ˈɒpərə/noun
A Chinese theatrical genre from Zhejiang Province combining singing, stylized movement, acting, and elaborate costumes.
Did you know?Yue Opera became especially associated with all-female troupes in the early 20th century, and its romantic stories helped make it one of China’s most popular theatrical forms.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*op-
“To work or produce; the deep root behind later Latin words for labor and work.”
Classical Latin
Latin
opus
“Work, labor, deed, or artistic production.”
16th Century
Italian
opera
“Work or artistic work; eventually a staged musical drama.”
17th Century
English
opera
“A dramatic production in which music and singing carry much of the action.”
1906
Chinese
越剧 (Yuèjù)
“Theatrical genre founded in Shengzhou, Zhejiang, initially known as Shaoxing opera.”
20th Century
Modern Chinese
越剧 (Yuèjù)
“Yue Opera, a highly stylized singing drama that became strongly associated with female performers and romantic narratives.”