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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) presented the 12th Cantonese Opera Day this afternoon (November 30) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC).
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 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 of HKCC.
A variety of free activities started after the ceremony, including the performance of Cantonese opera excerpts and Cantonese operatic songs by young Cantonese opera artists including children and "Young Artists' Chat Room", held by promising Cantonese opera performers – Wong Kit-ching, Hong Wah, Nam Tin-yau and Tam Wing-lun. Other activities such as talks, demonstration workshops on stylised movements and posture, make-up and costume, singing style and percussion in Cantonese opera, game stalls, an exhibition entitled "Discovering the Cantonese Opera Heritage" and an autograph session by Cantonese opera stars have been organised. There were also guided tours, conducted in English and Putonghua, to enable overseas and Mainland visitors understand more about the activities.
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. The Cantonese Opera Day has been well received, and thousands of people have participated in a variety of programmes across the city in the past decade.
Many other related events have also been held at various LCSD venues in support of the Cantonese Opera Day.
Ends/Sunday, November 30, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:28
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