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The renowned Shanghai Shaoxing Opera Group will return to Hong Kong in July with a mix of excerpts and new productions of Yue opera.
Featuring an array of national class one performers, including Zhao Zhigang, Fang Yafen and Xu Jie, the performances will be staged at the Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre on July 13, 14 and 15. Details are as follows:
July 13 (Friday) 7.30pm
"The Dream of the Red Mansion" (New Version)
July 14 (Saturday) 2.30pm
Excerpts from the Opera – "Ritual on the Execution Ground" from "The Blood-stained Handprint"; "Li Huiniang Helping Pei Flee" from "The Red Plum Mansion"; "Reunion with the Mother at the Nunnery" from "The Jade Dragonfly"; "A Walk in the Imperial Gardens" from "Meng Lijun"; "Chen Sanliang Tortured in a Trial" from "A Pure Spirit"
July 14 (Saturday) 7.30pm
"To Love or Love Not" (New original production)
July 15 (Sunday) 7.30pm
"Zhao's Orphan" (New original production)
Founded in 1955, Shanghai Shaoxing Opera Group created many new works and adopted and arranged costume, history and modern operas, and now has more than 400 works in its repertoire, including "The Butterfly Lovers", "The Romance of the West Chamber" and "The Dream of the Red Mansion". The latter has been adopted and arranged for production in Korea by the Korean National Art Theatre. Many of the productions have won prizes and awards including Best Repertory, Best Director, Best Performance, Best Music and Best Scenography at the Shanghai Theatre Festival.
The group, since its early days, has brought together many outstanding artists, and comprises more than 50 writers of scriptwriters, directors, musicians, artistic directors and performers of high standing, as well as two performing groups - "Red Mansion Troupe" (a woman's company devoted to Yue Opera) and a mixed group. It has been active both in China and abroad and garnered numerous awards, including the coveted Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre, and awards for excellence in performance. The new version of "The Dream of the Red Mansion", specially created for the opening of the Shanghai Opera House, has won the accolade of being a grand manifestation of the cultural characteristics of Shanghai.
Performances by the Shanghai Shaoxing Opera Group, with simplified subtitles in English, are presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Tickets priced at $100, $180, $240 and $320 are now available at URBTIX outlets, while senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients can have 50% off (Limited quotas for students and CSSA recipients on a first-come, first-served basis). A 10% discount applies to Friends of LCSD performing venues. There will be a maximum of 20% off for various booking schemes. Please refer to the programme leaflets for details.
For enquiries about the programmes, call 2268 7323 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp. Ticketing enquiries and reservations can be made on 2734 9009 and credit card telephone bookings on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Issued at HKT 11:00
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