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Over the past week the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Brussels (HKETO, Brussels) has introduced the magic of Cantonese opera to European audiences in five cities in the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy.
Cantonese opera was inscribed onto the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2009. To promote this unique art form to European audiences, the HKETO, Brussels invited the Spring Glory Cantonese Opera Workshop, led by famous maestro Yuen Siu Fai, to stage performances in Rotterdam (October 5), The Hague (October 7) and Amsterdam (October 8) in the Netherlands, Antwerp (October 12) in Belgium and Viterbo (October 15) in Italy.
For these performances the Spring Glory troupe presented "Backstage", a modern drama performed in English which dramatises what goes on backstage during a Cantonese opera. Through this delightful two-hour show, the audience is introduced to the significance and symbolism of the dazzling costumes and unique make-up, the stylised movements and the intricate choreography of fighting rehearsals, as well as the beautiful instrumental and vocal techniques of Hong Kong's most indigenous form of performing arts. After the intermission, the troupe performed an excerpt scene from the famous traditional opera "Two Heroic Families" with English subtitles.
The reaction from the audiences - for the majority of whom it was a first time opportunity to discover Cantonese opera - was overwhelmingly positive. The performances also served to enhance Hong Kong's reputation as a city rich in art and culture.
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Gregory So, and the Alderman of the City of Antwerp, Mr Marc Van Peel, officiated at the performance in Antwerp, Belgium. The event was organised in co-operation with the New Generation Sino Culture Association with the support of the Belgium Hong Kong Society.
The performances in the Netherlands were co-organised with the New ChinaTown Foundation, with support from the Netherlands Hong Kong Society and the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in the Netherlands. In Viterbo, Italy, "Backstage" was performed as part of the International Theatre Festival Quartieri Dell'arte.
The troupe also gave two workshops to students, at the Royal Music Conservatory in Brussels on October 9, and at the Sapienza, University of Rome, today (October 16). The students learnt about the history and fundamentals of Cantonese opera and enjoyed trying out the special make-up during the workshop.
The European tour was also supported by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and the Arts Development Fund administered by the Home Affairs Bureau.
Ends/Friday, October 16, 2015
Issued at HKT 19:44
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