The Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong will stage "Celebrating the Reunification with Cantonese Opera Classics" for the Chinese Opera Festival, as one of the celebration events for the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
 
     The gala shows will showcase Cantonese opera classics including "Enlightenment of the Goddess of Mercy", "Grand Birthday Celebration at Mount Heung Fa", "Blessing by the God of Fortune" and "Fairy Returns Her Son to the Mortal Father".
 
     To celebrate the HKSAR's anniversary, the Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong will bring about a complete revival of Cantonese opera classics based on librettos printed with ceramic type and videos of the 1966 performance that the Association staged at a bamboo theatre at Sa Po Road in Kowloon City. The scripts and librettos have been rearranged by Law Ka-ying.
 
     The shows will feature elite performers including Cantonese virtuosi Chan Ho-kau, Yau Sing-po, Ng Chin-fung, Law Ka-ying, Yuen Siu-fai, Lee Lung, Sun Kim-long, Wan Fai-yin, Tse Suet-sum, Wong Chiu-kwan, Leung Siu-ming, Li Qiuyuan, Peng Chiquan (Guangdong), Chan Suet-yim, Liu Kwok-sum, Lui Hung-kwong, Lau Wai-ming, Wan Yuk-yu, Ko Lai, Chan Ka-ming, Tang Mei-ling, Cheng Wing-mui, Chan Wan-hung, Zeng Hui (Macau), Wong Kwan-lam, Man Po-sum, Hong Hai, Leung Wai-hong, Chui Yuet-ming, Li Pui-yan, Tse Hue-ying, Wang Kit-ching, Tam Wing-lun, Wang Zhiliang and Ruan Dewen, as well as more than 30 martial actors from Hong Kong and Guangdong. Also participating will be teachers and students from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. With excellent casting, the performances aim to relay treasured Cantonese culture from one generation to another. Other participating organisations include the Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Institute and Guang Dong Ba He Assembly Hall.
 
     Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, "Celebrating the Reunification with Cantonese Opera Classics" will be staged at 7.30pm on June 30 (Friday), 2.30pm on July 1 (Saturday) and 7.30pm on July 2 (Sunday) at the Grand Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $150, $250, $350 and $450 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999.
 
     For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.cof.gov.hk.
 
     Talks on "Artists on Their Art" will be held at AC2, 4/F, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Admission is free. Limited seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The first talk, "The Significance of Set Piece" (in Cantonese), will be held at 7.30pm on June 26 (Monday) featuring speakers Law Ka-ying and Lee Lung. The second one, "Exploring the Development of Cantonese Opera through Set Piece" (in Cantonese), will be held at 7.30pm on July 6 (Thursday) featuring speakers Law Ka-ying and Loong Koon-tin.

Ends/Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:06

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