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Cantonese opera stars to perform in "A Burst of Blooms at the Pear Garden" programme in celebration of HKSAR's 25th anniversary
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     To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present Cantonese opera performances under the theme "A Burst of Blooms at the Pear Garden" in September. Over 40 veteran Cantonese opera stars and young artists will perform in a series of stunning performances to present traditional auspicious set pieces "Prime Minister of Six States" and "A Fairy Returns Her Son to the Mortal Father", the full-length comedy "The Wife and the Concubine" and several Cantonese opera excerpts, showcasing their talent as well as the spirit of passing on the Cantonese opera heritage to new generations. This programme is under the exclusive sponsorship of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC) as one of the many initiatives supported by the HKJC's approved donation of $630 million to the Government of the HKSAR to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR, demonstrating that the HKJC is resolute in pursuing its purpose of acting continuously for the betterment of society, all in support of creating a stronger community together.

     The programme will kick off with the traditional set piece "Prime Minister of Six States", during which the operatic skills of different performers will be on display. Six actresses performing "wenwusheng" (the male leading civil and military role) will act as the six marshals in this play to demonstrate their heroine spirit. Another traditional set piece, "A Fairy Returns Her Son to the Mortal Father", will be performed by the younger generation that will bring a lively atmosphere to the audience. In addition, this programme features 10 excerpts from Cantonese opera classics, including "The Reincarnation of the Red Plum", "The Legend of the White Snake" and "White Dragon Pass", as well as five excerpts from formulaic plays, namely "A Blood Oath Sworn in the Grotto", "An Oath to Break Ties Forever", "Reunion with His Wife at the West River", "A Deadly Mission at Gaoping Pass" and "Pan Jinlian Seducing Her Brother-in-law". Artists from different generations will then collaborate to deliver impressive performances. For the finale of the programme, the full-length comedy "The Wife and the Concubine", written by playwright Yip Shiu-tak, will be staged, drawing the show to a perfect ending with joyfulness.

     This programme is also part of the "Cantonese Operas Across Time" series, with details as follows:

Time and date: 7.30pm on September 5 (Monday)
Venue: Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre
Tickets: $140, $220, $300 and $380
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Traditional set piece "Prime Minister of Six States"
Cast: Wai Chun-fei, Ngai Ching-wan, Min-hin, To Wing-sum, Doris Kwan, Lau Yu-feng, Cheng Wing-mui, Janet Wong, Leung Fei-tung, Szeto Hoi-yee, Leung Wai-hong, Yuen Tak-cheong, Yuen Wai-Kit, Zhan Haofeng, Ng Kwok-wa, Wan Chi-hung, Kwok Kai-fai and Ng Lap-hei
Synopsis: In the Warring States period, Su Qin lobbies the six states to form an alliance against the powerful State of Qin. After successfully forming the alliance, leaders of the six states agree to appoint Su Qin as their joint prime minister.

Cantonese opera excerpts (four pieces):
"Lu'anzhou"
Cast: Mo Huamin and Lam Tsz-ching

"The Obsessed Dream" from "Love Renewed in a Dream at the Tang Palace"
Cast: Wang Zhiliang and Lin Yingshi

"Death of Han Xin at the Weiyang Palace"
Cast: Vong Seng-pan and Wang Kit-ching

"Searching the Palace" from "The Tragedy of Princess Lechang"
Cast: Song Hongbo and Cheng Wing-mui

Time and date: 7.30pm on September 6 (Tuesday)
Venue: Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre
Tickets: $140, $220, $300 and $380
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Cantonese opera excerpts (six pieces):
"Killing His Loyal Wife"
Cast: Ruan Dewen and Liang Yanfei

"On Broken Bridge" from "The Legend of the White Snake"
Cast: To Wing-sum, Wang Kit-ching and Leung Fei-tung

"Meeting at the Battlefront" from "White Dragon Pass"
Cast: Li Qiuyuan and Lin Xinling

"Battle with Ma Chao at Night"
Cast: Ng Lap-hei and Ng Kwok-wa

"The Farewell" from "The Sounds of Battle"
Cast: Lam Tin-yau and Cheng Nga-kei

"Saving Pei Yu" from "The Reincarnation of the Red Plum"
Cast: Leung Siu-ming and Lam Tsz-ching

Time and date: 2.30pm on September 11 (Sunday)
Venue: Auditorium, Tuen Mun Town Hall
Tickets: $140, $200, $280 and $360
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Traditional set piece "A Fairy Returns Her Son to the Mortal Father"
Cast: Song Hongbo, Lam Tsz-ching, Chan Hung-chun, Chan Kei-ting, To Wing-sum, Doris Kwan, Ng Kwok-wa, Yuen Wai-kit, Leung Fei-tung, Sezto Hoi-yee, Leung Kwan-yin, Chan Yuk-hing, Lam Hiu-wai and Wong Suk-ching
Synopsis: The Seventh Fairy secretly descends to the mortal world to marry the destitute Dong Yong. The Imperial Emperor of Heaven then orders her to return to heaven, and husband and wife are separated. Dong later earns the honour of Top Scholar, while the Seventh Fairy gives birth to a son in heaven. The Seventh Fairy descends to the mortal world again with her six sisters to give Dong their son. 

Excerpts from formulaic plays (five pieces):
"A Blood Oath Sworn in the Grotto"
Cast: Li Qiuyuan and Tang Mi-ling

"An Oath to Break Ties Forever"
Cast: Loong Koon-tin, Sun Kim-long, Wong Chiu-kwan and Chan Hung-chun

"Reunion with His Wife at the West River"
Cast: Leung Siu-ming and Cheng Wing-mui

"A Deadly Mission at Gaoping Pass"
Cast: Yuen Siu-fai and Liu Kwok-sum

"Pan Jinlian Seducing Her Brother-in-law"
Cast: Lee Lung and Wan Fai-yin

Time and date: 7.30pm on September 20 (Tuesday)
Venue: Auditorium, Tsuen Wan Town Hall
Tickets: $140, $200, $280 and $360
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Cantonese opera "The Wife and the Concubine"
Cast: Loong Koon-tin, Wan Fai-yin, Tang Mi-ling, Liu Kwok-sum, Yuen Tak-cheong, To Wing-sum, Kwok Kai-fai, Lam Tsz-ching and Szeto Hoi-yee
Synopsis: The merchant Ye Youcheng marries a woman née Lan, and has also built a second home with his secret lover by the name of Lu. While he is enjoying his life between the two women, the Messengers from Hell take his life by mistake and send his soul to Hell. The two women are thus brought to meet, and discover that their husband has two-timed them. When the Judge in Hell rules that Ye can return to the mortal world, unexpected things then happen.

     Each performance will run about three hours and 30 minutes, including an intermission of 15 minutes. Some of the repertoires will be performed in "guanhua" (the ancient official dialect of the Central Plains) with Chinese surtitles. 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.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_1322.html.

     A pre-performance talk and a post-performance talk in Cantonese will be held. The pre-performance talk will be held at 7.30pm on September 4 (Sunday) at AC2, 4/F, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Speakers include Leung Siu-ming, Sun Kim-long and Liu Kwok-sum. The post-performance talk will be held at 7.30pm on September 25 (Sunday) at New Wing Function room, Ko Shan Theatre. Speakers include Loong Koon-tin, Yuen Siu-fai and Tang Mi-ling. Admission is free. Telephone registration is required, please call 2268 7267 from 10am on August 29 (Monday). Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Details can be found on the above website.

     In order to comply with the requirements stipulated in the Prevention and Control of Disease (Requirements and Directions) (Business and Premises) Regulation (Cap. 599F) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, members of the public are required to scan the "LeaveHomeSafe" venue QR code with their mobile phones/other mobile devices before being allowed to enter the performing arts venues managed by the LCSD for necessary contact tracing if a confirmed case is found. In accordance with the Prevention and Control of Disease (Vaccine Pass) Regulation (Cap. 599L) and relevant requirements of administrative instructions, all persons entering indoor venues under the management of the LCSD must comply with the requirement of the Vaccine Pass.
 
Ends/Friday, August 5, 2022
Issued at HKT 11:00
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