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The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London (London ETO) co-organised with True Heart Theatre in the United Kingdom (UK) a Cantonese opera performance led by Yuen Siu-fai, an acclaimed Cantonese opera maestro from Hong Kong, on August 4 (London time) in London.
The performance featured three classic Cantonese opera acts, including "Loyalty Under the Banyan Tree" and "The Princess in Distress – The Mongolian Theme", as well as a duet of Cantonese music. Both Mr Yuen and young Cantonese opera performers were featured in the performance, which attracted more than 200 audiences including representatives of governmental, cultural, educational, business and media organisations in the UK as well as local Chinese communities. A reception also took place before the performance.
Speaking before the performance, the Director-General of the London ETO, Ms Erica Ng, said: "Cantonese opera is a popular traditional art form in Hong Kong and part of Hong Kong's cultural heritage. In 2009, it was inscribed onto UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity."
"We are in the course of building a brand-new Chinese opera centre, a world-class facility in Hong Kong's future arts and cultural hub – the West Kowloon Cultural District. Upon completion, this Xiqu Centre will provide a platform for preserving and promoting Cantonese opera in Hong Kong and beyond," Ms Ng added.
Mr Yuen and his performance troupe, the Spring Glory Cantonese Opera Workshop, will also perform at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from August 6 to 19. The London ETO will support their participation in the Festival by hosting a reception in Edinburgh after the troupe's performance on August 8. More information about the troupe's performance in the Festival can be found here: tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/backstage .
The objective of the afore-mentioned events organised by the London ETO on August 4 and 8 is to promote Cantonese opera in the UK. In 2012, the London ETO had also promoted Cantonese opera by creating a float featuring a mobile replica of Cantonese opera house as well as Cantonese opera performers in colourful costumes in the Lord Mayor's Show in London.
Ends/Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Issued at HKT 06:04
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