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Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, three performances by Yeung Ming Cantonese Opera Troupe will be staged in January, namely "The Knight Errant's Adventure in the Palace", "Three Glimpses of the Princess Liu Jinding" and "Red Cherries and a Broken Heart". Taking part in the performances will be the Cantonese opera virtuosi Lau Wai-ming, Emily Chan, Wan Yuk-yu, Yam Bing-yi, Liu Kwok-sam and Lui Hung-kwong.
Domineering general Cho Ba-tin is one of the main characters in "The Knight Errant's Adventure in the Palace", whose achievements overshadow the king's. He forces the king to make him prince and demands to marry Princess King-fa. Having always disliked Ba-tin, the princess falls in love with knight errant Cheung Kim-chow. However, Ba-tin captures Cheung and locks him in a secret chamber. The general threatens to kill Cheung if the princess does not marry him within 10 days. When he lifts his bride's veil on their wedding day, Ba-tin finds himself staring at a male servant. Cheung arrives with heroes from the mountains and engages Ba-tin and his troops in a fierce battle. Ba-tin is finally beaten, and Cheung marries the princess.
In "Three Glimpses of the Princess Liu Jinding", Lau Gum-ding achieves victory in battle and is honoured with the title "princess". She wishes to make offerings at a temple and her father, Lau Tin-fa, seeks a royal decree prohibiting anyone from looking at his daughter. The son of the prime minister, Fung Ka-jun, dresses as a villager and sneaks into the temple. He is caught on the spot but Gum-ding pardons him. Gum-ding's father rejects a marriage proposal from Ka-jun due to his low social ranking. Gum-ding becomes lovesick and nobody can cure her, but Ka-jun poses as a doctor and enters the princess' chamber alone. Gum-ding gives him a twin brush as a token of their love. Tin-fa asks the emperor to punish Ka-jun's crime, and he is brought to the palace for trial. The emperor tests Ka-jun's talents and everyone is greatly impressed. Finally, the lovers are granted a royal marriage.
"Red Cherries and a Broken Heart" is about famous musician Chiu Chu-Kei who was widowed at a young age. One day he meets an abandoned woman, Tao-hung, and finds that she is a talented singer. Tao-hung soon becomes famous thanks to Chiu's care and teaching. However, she encounters her ex-husband and is moved by his love. Chiu is shocked by a sense of betrayal and spits blood, but on his deathbed he entrusts his son to Tao-hung, who promises to bring the son up as a successful musician. Unfortunately, the son lacks musical skills. He has not inherited his father's musical talent from his father, and often performs with stand-in doubles. Grieved by her futile efforts, Tao-hung commits suicide, leaving behind a letter that is empty, except for drops of blood shaped like cherry blossom.
Detail of the performances are as follows:
"The Knight Errant's Adventure in the Palace"
January 2, 2014 (Thursday) 7.30pm
Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre
"Three Glimpses of the Princess Liu Jinding"
January 3, 2014 (Friday) 7.30pm
Auditorium, Tuen Mun Town Hall
"Red Cherries and a Broken Heart"
January 4, 2014 (Saturday) 7.30pm
Auditorium, Tai Po Civic Centre
Tickets priced from $100 to $260 are now 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; for ticketing enquiries, call 2734 9009. For telephone credit card bookings, call 2111 5999. Internet bookings are available at www.urbtix.hk. For more information, visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/program_410.html .
A meet-the-artist session conducted in Cantonese will be held from 4.15 - 5.15pm on January 3, 2014 (Friday) in the Tuen Mun Town Hall Lecture Room. The speakers are Lau Wai-ming and Emily Chan. Admission is free. Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ends/Thursday, November 21, 2013
Issued at HKT 14:01
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