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Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the "Young Cantonese Opera Artists Series: Hong Kong Young Talent Cantonese Opera Troupe" will feature three traditional operas performed by Hong Kong Young Talent Cantonese Opera Troupe in March. The series offers opportunities for up-and-coming professional young performers to showcase their talent onstage.
The young artists participating in the performances include Lam Tin-yau, Cheng Nga-kei, Johnson Yuen, Lam Tsz-ching, Lai Yiu-wai, Kwok Kai-fai (March 14 and 15) and Chan Wing-kwong (March 16).
Details of the performances are as follows:
March 14 (Saturday) 7.30pm
Auditorium, Tai Po Civic Centre
Programme: "Two Dragons Vying for a Phoenix"
After the King of Qi invades Wei state, he fathers a son and a daughter with a palace maid. His jealous queen persecutes the concubine to death, but the two children are saved and taken from the palace. Nearly two decades later the boy and the girl, now named Rong Yulong and Yao Fenglian, have grown up. They meet by chance and Yulong wants to marry Fenglian, while Fenglian loves the prince of Wei state. The two warriors fight over the woman in a comedic course of twists and turns.
March 15 (Sunday) 7.30pm
Auditorium, Ko Shan Theatre New Wing
Programme: "Blessings of the Moon"
The story begins as minister of defence Wang Zhen is sent by the emperor as an envoy to amend an armistice. On the way he takes his wife and daughter Ruilan to stay with relatives in Zhenyang before he sets off for the barbarian state. Soon after Wang has left, Zhenyang falls to rebels. Soldiers and hooligans loot and pilfer, and the mother and daughter become separated from one another.
March 16 (Monday) 7.30pm
Theatre, Yau Ma Tei Theatre
Programme: "A Buddhist Recluse for Fourteen Years"
The story follows Yu Xuanji, a famous courtesan, and her lover Wen Zhang. Wild and undisciplined, Wen often gets drunk and ends up in trouble. When he is arrested and imprisoned in the yamen, Xuanji has to sell her house to help him out. Later Xuanji meets the scholar Li Yi, who falls for her beauty and spends a fortune to help her. But on their wedding night, Xuanji gives birth to a son in the chamber. The story is intriguing and full of suspense.
Tickets priced from $100 to $140 are now available at URBTIX. 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 are available on a first-come, first-served basis). Please refer to the programme leaflet for details.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/program_729.html. For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
A post-performance talk (to be conducted in Cantonese) will be held at 7.30pm on March 17 (Tuesday) at AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Speakers will include Lam Tin-yau and Cheng Nga-kei. Admission is free with limited seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ends/Monday, January 19, 2015
Issued at HKT 10:30
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