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Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Chinese Opera Festival 2010 will bring in June a "Showcase of Outstanding Young Performers in Kunqu Opera", with a strong cast from major kunqu opera troupes in China.
Over a dozen national class one performers from major kunqu opera troupes in China, as well as younger performers who have won "Ten Best Performers" or "Ten Best Budding Artists" titles, will be assembling on the Hong Kong stage. They include Mao Wenxia, Wang Zhenyi, Zhu Zhenying, Gu Haohao, Shen Yili, Shen Fengying, Yu Bin, Wu Shuang, Zhou Xuefeng, Yu Jiulin, Shi Xiaming, Ni Hong, Yuan Guoliang, Cao Zhiwei, Zhang Yuanyuan, Shan Wen, Liu Na, Li An, Wei Chunrong, Luo Chenxue and Gong Yinlei.
In their roles of sheng (male lead), dan (female lead), jing (painted face), mo (supporting) and chou (comic), they will sing, act, dance and carry out martial art routines - elements that have made kunqu opera such a comprehensive theatrical genre. The audience will enjoy this ancient cultural heritage and understand why kunqu opera has become living heritage over the centuries. The programme includes excerpts from various categories of plays, such as the "civil play" (The Peony Pavilion) and the "military plays" (General Lu Bu Breaking in the Horse, Hu Village, and Killing "the Tiger" from The Iron Headgear).
Kunqu opera has a history of five to six hundred years and is considered "the mother of Chinese opera". It has a wide-ranging repertoire rich in theatrical charm, elegant libretti commended for literary merit, lilting music, and delicate dance movements. In May 2001, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation declared kunqu opera one of the 19 "Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity".
"Showcase of Outstanding Young Performers in Kunqu Opera" will be staged at the Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall. Details are as follows:
June 22 (Tuesday) 7.30pm
The Peony Pavilion (Part One)
June 23 (Wednesday) 7.30pm
The Peony Pavilion (Part Two)
June 24 (Thursday) 7.30pm
Excerpts - The Brave Wife and The Drunken Lu Zhishen Wreaking Havoc at the Monastery, Lady Zhaojun Going Beyond the Great Wall, The Party from The Palace of Eternal Life, General Lu Bu Breaking in the Horse, Killing "The Tiger" from The Iron Headgear, Hu Village.
Tickets priced at $100, $160, $220 and $280 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concession will be granted to senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients. (Limited tickets for students and CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis.) A discount scheme for Chinese Opera Festival 2010 is also available; please refer to the programme leaflet for details.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7325; for ticketing enquiries and reservations, please call 2734 9009; for credit card telephone booking, please call 2111 5999; for Internet booking, please call www.urbtix.hk. For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp .
This programme is supported by the Ministry of Culture of China.
Ends/Thursday, May 20, 2010
Issued at HKT 10:01
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