Hong Kong – LCSD to present Cantonese chamber opera “Kungfood” in June
LCSD to present Cantonese chamber opera “Kungfood” in June
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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present an original Cantonese comic opera, “Kungfood”, in June. It is the first complete performance after the work-in-progress preview in June 2021. This production integrates Western chamber opera with Chinese kung fu and culinary art, bringing a sense of freshness and presenting a new martial arts world to audiences.
“Kungfood” is created by local composer Chan Hing-yan, together with scriptwriter and librettist Mak Su-yin. It tells the story of a catastrophe befalling a kung fu sect on Wu Lung Mountain. Master Shifu, the leader of the Black Dragon Sect, is killed by the usurper Sect Uncle, leaving behind the Master’s wife and three male disciples with mediocre kung fu skills. The Secret Book of Kungfu is also lost. The injured Sect Uncle flees Wu Lung Mountain and studies the dark arts. Renaming himself “Divine Lord of the Coiled Dragon”, he returns to Wu Long Mountain to claim leadership over the sect and transforms it into the “Coiled Dragon Cult”. The Black Dragon Sect is thus on the cusp of being annihilated. The chef and his three female apprentices of the Black Dragon Diner, a noodle shop at the foot of Wu Long Mountain, also get caught up in this conflict, setting the stage for a fierce battle between good and evil.
Directed by Japanese director Tomo Sugao and conducted by Singaporean conductor Joshua Tan, the chamber opera will be performed by a group of renowned local opera singers and musicians, including tenor David Quah, bass-baritone Apollo Wong, sopranos Candice Chung and Athene Mok, mezzo-soprano Samantha Chong and members of the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble.
“Kungfood” will be staged at 8pm on June 2 and 3, and 3pm on June 4, at the Auditorium of Kwai Tsing Theatre, with Chinese and English subtitles. Tickets priced at $250, $350 and $450 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1533.html.
LCSD’s Cantonese Opera Day organises diverse activities to celebrate 20th anniversary today (with photos)
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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will launch another wave of the “Cantonese Opera Libretti and Scripts – From Texts to Performance” series of talks in April.
Hong Kong – LCSD’s Cantonese Opera Day organises diverse activities to celebrate 20th anniversary today (with photos)
The annual Cantonese Opera Day, presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), celebrated its 20th anniversary today (November 27) with an array of free activities at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) and the Hong Kong Space Museum, attracting 5 000 visitors taking part in the event.
One of the programmes “Cantonese Opera Excerpts and Cantonese Operatic Songs” was staged at the Concert Hall of the HKCC in which young Cantonese opera talents as well as winners of the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival Cantonese Opera Competition took turns to perform classic excerpts and familiar duet and solo pieces. The distinctive performance received rounds of applause from the audiences.
To enable participants to learn more about Cantonese opera, a world intangible cultural heritage item, from multiple perspectives, a number of talks and demonstration sessions were held during this year’s Cantonese Opera Day, covering areas such as Cantonese opera make-up, costumes, percussion and traditional Cantonese singing. In addition, the “Cantonese Opera in Hong Kong” exhibition, co-ordinated by the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, was held at the Foyer Exhibition Area to introduce the local development and evolution of Cantonese opera over the years. These different types of educational and recreational activities have allowed Cantonese opera lovers and participants of all ages to spend a fun-filled Sunday together.
Various Cantonese opera related programmes such as film screenings, Cantonese opera performances and an exhibition were held at the same time at various LCSD venues (including the Hong Kong Film Archive, Ko Shan Theatre and the Red Brick Building) in support of the Cantonese Opera Day to share the joy and promote the art of Cantonese opera to the general public.
Hong Kong – LCSD to launch new Cantonese opera talks in April
A total of five talks will be hosted by veteran Cantonese opera star Sun Kim-long. Acclaimed Cantonese opera performers will share with audiences their experiences of performing and interpreting the libretti of various well known repertories by renowned local playwrights. Details are as follows:
7.30pm, April 2 (Friday)
AC1, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Speaker: Lau Wai-ming
Topic: “Phenomenal New Talents”
3pm, April 3 (Saturday)
AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Speaker: Leung Wai-hong
Topic: “A Bright and Straight Road Ahead”
3pm, April 4 (Sunday)
AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Speaker: Lam Tin-yau
Topic: “Overcoming Hardships Has Its Rewards”
3pm, April 5 (Monday)
AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Speaker: Cheng Wing-mui
Topic: “It Takes Stamina to Weather the Storms”
3pm, April 6 (Tuesday)
AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Speaker: Wai Chun-fai
Topic: “Riding on the Road to Success”
Sun Kim-long began his apprenticeship under the Cantonese opera master Wu Gongxia and studied martial arts from Xu Junhan. Besides appearing in an extensive number of stage performances, he is also actively involved in producing and promoting Cantonese opera. His works include “Reflection of Beauties in Lotus Pond”, and “The Green Jade Hairpin”. He was awarded Artist of the Year (Xiqu) at The Hong Kong Arts Development Awards 2018 by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. In 2019, he was awarded a Medal of Honour by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Sun is currently Vice Chairman of the Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong.
“Cantonese Opera Libretti and Scripts – From Texts to Performance” will be conducted in Cantonese and admission is free. Telephone registration is required. Please call 2268 7267 during office hours from 10am tomorrow (March 18) onwards. Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Details can be found on www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_1055.html. For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7325. Ads
