*********************************************************
Featuring a variety of rich and colourful programmes, the 7th Chinese Opera Festival will be held from June 17 to August 14. The Festival is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
The Festival will showcase seven Chinese operatic genres. Highlights will include Kunqu opera performances in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the death of Tang Xianzu, as well as the Monkey King Play Series to celebrate the Year of the Monkey.
To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the death of the great Ming dynasty playwright, Tang Xianzu; virtuoso Cai Zhengren, Yue Meiti, Liang Guyin, Zhang Xunpeng and Zhang Jingxian will appear in the Kunqu vocal concert "The Four Dreams at Linchuan" and sing excerpts from Tang's tours de force "The Peony Pavilion", "The Legend of the Purple Hairpin", "The Story of Handan" and "The Dream of Nanke", supported by the superb cast of the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe. There will also be classic excerpts from the Kunqu opera "The Peony Pavilion" and other great works. The Festival has also invited local Kunqu scholar Koo Siu-sun to retell the story of "The Legend of the Purple Hairpin", and has commissioned Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Troupe for its production. The troupe will also perform "The Butterfly Dream" and four other excerpts.
To celebrate the Year of the Monkey, the Festival will present the Monkey King Play Series to display both the northern and southern styles of this entertaining genre. Characterised by unique stunts and agile movements, the "Monkey King Play" includes mimicry of the mythical Sun Wukong for the audience's amusement. Li Baochun, renowned Peking opera artist and son of the legendary northern school Monkey King Li Shaochun, will take the lead in "Monkey King Wreaking Havoc in Heaven", and will join the Youth Troupe of the Peking Opera Theatre of Beijing in their performances. The highly reputed Shao Opera Art Research Institute of Zhejiang will stage popular Shao Opera Monkey King Play titles to demonstrate the boldness and vibrancy of the southern school.
Veteran Cantonese opera artists Yau Sing-po and Chan Ho-kau will lead a young cast in "Sacrificing the Son", an adaptation of the excerpt "Free the Son" from the traditional title "The Lotus Lantern", to pass on the legacy of the art of Cantonese opera. In addition, the First Troupe of the China National Peking Opera Company will return to Hong Kong with classical plays and a strong cast starring Yu Kuizhi and Li Shengsu as well as guest artist and director of Dalian Peking Opera Theatre, Yang Chi.
The Research Institute of Regional Opera Legacy of Heze Municipal, Shandong will showcase five regional genres with a strong rural flavour from the province, namely Daxianzi opera, Zaobang opera, Liangjiaxian opera, Dapingdiao opera and Shandong Bangzi opera, the first four of which are making their debuts in Hong Kong.
Details of the performances are as follows:
Opening Programme: Zhejiang Kunqu Opera Troupe
June 17 – 19
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Monkey King Play Series: Shao Opera Art Research Institute of Zhejiang
June 24 – 26
Auditorium, Ko Shan Theatre New Wing
Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe
July 8-10
Auditorium, Kwai Tsing Theatre
Research Institute of Regional Opera Legacy of Heze Municipal, Shandong
July 15-16
Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall
Monkey King Play Series: Youth Troupe of the Peking Opera Theatre of Beijing and Li Baochun
July 28 – 29
Auditorium, Sha Tin Town Hall
July 30
Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre
July 31
Auditorium, Tuen Mun Town Hall
First Troupe of the China National Peking Opera Company
August 4 – 7
Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Cantonese Opera "Sacrificing the Son"
August 11 – 12
Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall
August 14
Auditorium, Yuen Long Theatre
Tickets 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.
In addition to stage performances, this year's Chinese Opera Festival will include ancillary programmes for guided appreciation comprising lectures and talks, stage tours, screenings of Chinese opera films, talks given by artists and exhibitions.
Ends/Friday, April 15, 2016
Issued at HKT 09:00
NNNN
