Tibetan Opera
Tibetan Opera is called “Ace Lhamo” or “Lhamo” in Tibetan language, meaning
“Fairy”. It is said that Thongdong Gyalpo, a high-ranking monk of
the Kagyu Sect created it. To raise money for constructing a bridge,
he selected seven pretty girls from among his followers and organized
a performance team to perform the simplified Buddhist stories in
a way of singing and dancing. Then the tradition was passed down
and later became a dramatis form dominated by singing and dancing
with flamboyant masks. Different masks represent different roles,
the red mask referring to the King, the green one the queen, the
yellow one lamas and deities, etc.
Tibetan operas employ singing and dancing to tell stories, reflecting Tibetan people’s lives of various periods. Some traditional programs are still known today, including Princess Wencheng, Dhama King Norsang, Miss Langsha, etc. The performance follows fixed procedures: in the first part, actors and actresses are introduced and the story is outlined; the center part is the opera itself and the last part is a ritual of blessing and also an occasion for audience to offer Khada and donations.
The best time to watch Tibetan opera is in Shoton Festival when troupes from across Tibet to gather at Norbulinka to perform their best programs.