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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) presented the 11th Cantonese Opera Day today (November 24) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC).
This year's event was titled "The Young and the Vigorous", and many activities have been lined up. A highlight was three talks by promising young Cantonese opera librettists - Kong Chun-kit, Chow Sze-sum and Lai Yiu-wai - who shared their views with the audience on the topics "Embark on Creative Way - Difficulties and Challenges", "The Inheritance and Innovation for Adapted Screenplay" and "My Trials on Cantonese Opera Repertory" respectively.
The Under Secretary for Home Affairs, Ms Florence Hui; the Chairperson of the Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong, Dr Liza Wang; the Chairman of the Cantonese Opera Advisory Committee, Mr Charles Chow; the Chairman of the Cantonese Opera Development Fund Advisory Committee, Mr Frankie Yeung; and the Deputy Director (Culture) of Leisure and Cultural Services, Ms Cynthia Liu, officiated at the opening ceremony at the Piazza Area, HKCC.
A variety of free activities started after the ceremony. The venue was divided into various activity sections - the Young Cantonese Opera Artists Showcase, the Children Cantonese Opera Artists Showcase, Cantonese opera workshops on stylised movements and posture, make-up and dressing up, as well as game stalls. There were also guided tours (conducted in English and Putonghua), an exhibition titled "Discovering the Cantonese Opera Heritage" and an autograph session by Cantonese opera stars.
Since 2003, the cultural sectors of Guangdong, Macau and Hong Kong have designated the last Sunday of every November as Cantonese Opera Day to promote the development of the valuable vernacular art of Cantonese opera. By staging this territory-wide activity on a regular basis, it is hoped that a broader audience base can be built to carry the torch of Cantonese opera for future generations. In the past decade, the LCSD has won acclaim for organising this annual event, and thousands of people have participated in a variety of programmes across the city.
Many other related connected events have been held at various LCSD venues in support of Cantonese Opera Day.
Ends/Sunday, November 24, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:38
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