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Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, "Lam Kar Sing's Classics Select" by Kim Sang Fai Cantonese Opera Troupe will showcase the opera works "Uproar in Jade Hall" and "Lu Wenlong with His Double Spears". Performing for the shows will be Cantonese opera artists including Man Kim-fei, Wan Fei-yin, Man Po-sum, Kau Sin-nung, Lee Ming-hang and Wai Tsun-long.
"Uproar in Jade Hall" depicts the love story between the princess of Junzi State and knight errant Zhang Jianqiu. Chu Batian is a domineering general in Junzi State whose achievements overshadow the king's. After returning from a war victory in the south, he is received by the king in the countryside. The princess and her maid meet a bandit while sightseeing in the countryside but are saved by Zhang. The princess and Zhang fall in love at first sight. Chu witnesses their romance and becomes jealous. Later, while missing the princess, Zhang sneaks into the palace to meet her, aided by his servant Shafu. Chu orders his troops to place the palace under siege, then captures Zhang and confines him in a secret chamber. Chu then presses the king for marriage to the princess. Zhang dresses as a maid and sneaks into the palace after heroes from the mountains save him, and together with the mountain heroes he engages in a fierce battle with Chu and his troops on Chu's wedding day. Chu is finally beaten, and Zhang marries the princess.
"Lu Wenlong with His Double Spears" tells a story of fate-driven revenge in the Song dynasty. During the reign of Shaoxing, the royals are corrupt. Jin Wushu, the fourth prince from the Jin kingdom, commands an army to invade Song territory and conquers Lu'an province, where Protectoral General Lu Deng and his wife sacrifice their lives for the city, leaving behind their baby, Lu Wenlong, who is spirited away by his nurse. Baby Lu is the only survivor of the bloodbath, and he is later captured and adopted by Jin. Sixteen years later, Lu becomes a master of Chinese martial arts, and he follows Jin to invade Zhuxian town of Southern Song. The Song troops are led by general Yue Fei, and one of Yue's followers, Wang Zuo, knows Lu's true background. Wang cuts off his own arm in order to obtain an audience with Lu. Wang has found Lu's nurse, and together they tell Lu about his family's tragic story and convince him to fight for, instead of against, Song.
Both shows start at 7.30pm. Details are as follows:
"Uproar in Jade Hall"
August 18 (Saturday)
Auditorium, Tai Po Civic Centre
"Lu Wenlong with His Double Spears"
September 9 (Sunday)
Auditorium, Tuen Mun Town Hall
Tickets priced from $100 to $240 are now available at all URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by telephone credit card booking. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their minders, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients. (Limited tickets for full-time students and CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis.)
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7325, or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp. For ticketing enquiries, please call 2734 9009. For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For Internet bookings, please visit www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Saturday, July 7, 2012
Issued at HKT 11:01
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