The man who journeyed to the heart of Peking Opera
Lebanese resident of Beijing sets himself ambitious goal to master the intricate nuances of the art form, Chen Nan reports.
"Few people understand Peking Opera, though many have watched or heard about Peking Opera," Diab says after his performance at Mei Lanfang Grand Theater in Beijing.
"Beauty and difficulty are two sides of the same coin in Peking Opera. Behind each peak you conquer in Peking Opera is an even taller mountain waiting to be tackled."
The performance concluded a 12-episode documentary series, titled Mission 100, chronicling Diab's journey into Peking Opera through the art form's strict and demanding training process.
"When people go to watch a Peking Opera show, they expect to witness a show like no other and they never walk away disappointed. Stellar performances are a guarantee in Peking Opera, but the behind-the-scenes workings are an untold story," says Diab.
"The pain, the sacrifices, the long hours of daily practice and the constant pursuit to push one's physical and mental limits to the extreme. Every performer I met has poured their blood, sweat and tears into this craft and makes a conscious decision every day to wake up and do it all over again."
