Opera ... or cats being strangled? You decide.

(Update: audio should work now)


I went to the "opera" last week, and was, frankly, struck speechless. I should have been prepared, of course, given all the other ear-splitting charms of this country. (Example: the fingernails-on-chalkboard squeal of two dozen defunct bike brakes at once, followed by a veritable symphony of horns from drivers irked by the mere whisper of the thought that they might have to oh-so-slightly brush their brakes to avoid carnage. But I digress.)

At first, I thought it must be a joke. Or a comedy act to warm up the crowd. But the screeching continued, and nobody was laughing.

I finally managed to upload a (very bad) audio clip so you all can hear for yourselves. It really doesn't do it justice, but it does begin to hint at the musical travesty that is Chinese opera.