Unfortunately, there is little cultural entertainment in Tibet. The celebrations in Lhasa during a Tibetan festival would be the best opportunity to see genuine Tibetan opera and dance. Major cities offer recreational activities such as mahjong or pool. Cinemas, video lounges, computer games, discotheques, nightclubs, bars and karaoke bars are becoming more popular. Most movies are Chinese, but are sometimes subtitled.
Tibetan festivals commonly have cham performances, which are dances performed by monks and lamas that last multiple days. Dating to time of Bon faith before Buddhism, Cham is intended to remove the influence of evil spirits. A dough, wax, or paper model is made and symbolizes evil spirits. The dancers wear masks and perform to the music of trumpets, drums, and cymbals. An unmasked Black Hat lama is surrounded by masked monks who symbolize protective deities. Even if you have to go out of your way to see a performance, it's well worth the time and effort.
There are multiple interpretations of cham. If the Black hat lama is seen as the monk destroyed the anti-Buddhist king Langdharma, then the dance symbolizes the victory of the foundation of Buddhism. On the other hand, if the Black Hat lama is the ego, then the dance illustrates the defeat of the ego, a goal for all Buddhists.
Lhamo is the Tibetan word for opera. The story lines have no religious plot but generally recount the stories of kings, demons, and historical events. Traditional performances are on an empty stage except for a statue of Tangtong Gyelpo, the creator of lhamo. A performance in authentic style is done by a traveling group and takes an entire day. A summary is given before the show, and then the performers begin.
Operas are performed at the TAR Kyormolung Operatic Company along with the Lhasa City Academy of Performing Arts. Traditional music and dance are performed at the Himalayan (in the Lhasa Fandian), the Crazy yak, and the Kirey Mad Yak restaurants.
Because it has served as a a source of news and method to air grievances, music has traditionally had a strong religious component. Tibetans sing frequently even when doing maintenance work on a monastery. You can occasionally find minstrels wandering through Lhasa and Shigatse. Groups of singers will perform with instrumentalists both short songs as well as epics. Some singers who perform in the traditional Tibetan style include Yungchen Lhamo, Dadon Dawa Dolma, and Kelsang Chukie Tethong.
Buddhist chanting is often difficult for foreigners to appreciate because of its monotonous and eerie quality.
Common instruments in religious cermonies include cymbals, drums, trumpets, and oboes. Lutes, fiddles and zithers are used in secular music.
Elizabeth Tseng