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The Shaanix Traditional Opera Research Institute will perform technically amazing martial arts routines in Shaanxi Opera in Hong Kong next month (May).
The visit is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
In the show, representative excerpts are selected from different unique Shaanxi opera genres, which consist of variety of acts, from highly demanding somersaults in martial arts to amazing tricks such as balancing a lit lamp on the head, and consummately trained skills such as spitting fire, watering sleeves, stylised movement of playing with beads and handkerchiefs
The Shaanxi Traditional Opera Research Institute has a repertoire of original productions based on legends, folklore and historical themes and has won critical and popular acclaim. Its modern "Meihu Opera", "The Late-blooming Rose", of 1998 garnered a huge following with more than 300 shows all performed to packed houses.
While Shaanxi Traditional Opera Research Institute's focus is on Shaanx Opera, there are occasional performances of Meihu Opera, Wanwanqiang and Guanzhongdaoqing Opera. The cast is solidly trained, and capable of performing the full range of roles in Chinese opera. The group has gone on many overseas tours, including to Finland, Holland, Germany, France, Belgium and Hong Kong.
Details of the programmes are as follow:
May 16 (Tuesday)
Wanwanqiang - "The Golden Bowl and Hairpin"; Shaanxi Opera - "The Monkey King Borrows the Magic Fan" and "Persuading the General"; Guanzhongdaoqing Opera - "Good Neighbours"; male and female vocal solo, demonstration of technical excellence like watering sleeves and spitting fire, etc.
May 17 (Wednesday)
Meihu Opera - "The Bird at Dawn" and "Reunion at the Alms-giving Exercise"; Shaanxi Opera - "Caught in the Alms Bowl"; "The Scalding Bowl" and "The Lamp on His Head"; as well as Wanwanqiang - "Borrowing a Cup of Water".
May 18 (Thursday)
Meihu Opera - "The Betrothal"; Shaanxi Opera - "The Ghost's Lament", "Death at the Temple", "Catching Sanlang Alive", "Wu Song Kills His Sister-in-law" and "On Broken Bridge".
All shows will be staged at 7.30pm at the Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall. Tickets priced at $200, $150 and $100 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessions will be granted to senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Group booking discount will be offer for any purchase of standard tickets for this programmed and "Nanyin Narrative Singing". Please check out details from programme leaflets.
For programme enquiries, call 2268 7323; for ticketing enquiries and reservations, call 2734 9009; for credit card telephone bookings, call 2111 5999; for more information, visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp.
Ends/Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Issued at HKT 15:16
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