His progress on stage is like a war galleon in full sail. Larger than life (with some judicious padding) he has a booming voice that can fair raise the rafters. Think Brian Blessed in a really fancy frock.

In gratitude, the king promotes the minister to prime minister, angering the jealous general, who is a true marvel. Using his cunning, he manages to outwit everyone and return with the jade.

Suspecting a plot, a cunning minister volunteers to travel to the rival court with the jade. The opera opens with the old general being praised for his previous military victories, although threats are still being issued from the rival state whose ruler declares that, if he receives a priceless rare piece of jade, he will surrender 15 kingdoms in exchange. The tale is set after Qin conquered the final warring state in 221BC, completing the unification of China. For once, the designation ‘spectacular’ is not misplaced. It’s a story of trickery, power and political survival, and really is terrifically exciting stuff. The General and the Prime Minister ( 將相和) is based on historical accounts of the Warring States period of ancient China. Although only 50 years old, the China National Peking Opera Company ( 中國國家京劇院) taps into a tradition dating from the first three centuries of the common era.

Chinese national peking opera