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Acclaimed Cantonese opera performers Huang Weikun, Liang Zhaoming and Mo Yanyun will collaborate with the Wang Kwong Chinese Orchestra and the Hong Kong Nam Kok Cantonese Opera Group Chorus Team for a Cantonese operatic songs concert in November.
The performance will be held at 7.30pm on November 10 (Saturday) at the Auditorium, Tsuen Wan Town Hall. The programme will include "Revisiting the Shen Garden", "Listening to the Qin" and "Breaking the Qin" from "Ziqi and Boya", and the cantata "Till the Sea Runs Dry".
"Till the Sea Runs Dry" is the story of Zhang Yu, who lives as a recluse on the Shamen Island in the Eastern Sea and plays his xiao by the sea every day. Princess Qionglian, daughter of the Dragon King of the Eastern Sea, is touched by his music and rises from the water to meet him. The two fall in love and exchange vows, but the Dragon King objects to their relationship. So, with the help of an immortal, Zhang sets out to boil the sea water, vowing that he will do it until the sea runs dry. The Dragon King finds the idea terrifying, so he gives in and consents to the marriage.
A national class one performer, Huang Weikun is renowned for playing male civil and military roles in Cantonese opera. He trained under the famous Cantonese opera artists Yang Jingbo and Liang Detian at the Zhanjiang Theatre Arts School, specialising in stage performance. Keen on upholding the artistic tradition, he still welcomes new ideas. He embraces the strengths of various stylistic schools as well as performing the techniques of the northern and southern systems. He has also benefited from the coaching of the legendary Cantonese opera maestro Lam Kar-sing and famous artists of Peking opera and Kunqu.
Regarded as one of the top ten Cantonese opera artists in the youth to middle-age category in Guangdong province, Liang Zhaoming is also a national class one performer. He enrolled in the training course of the Zhanjiang Little Phoenix Cantonese Opera Troupe at the age of 13, specialising in young and civil male roles, and civil and military male roles. Liang benefited from the artistic acumen of the famous performer, Kong Queping, as well as from that of maestro Lam Kar-sing. In 1997, he became a protg of the famous Cantonese opera artist, Lam Kam-tong.
Mo Yanyun is a young actor who has specialised in leading female roles with the Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Troupe. She entered the Zhanjiang Little Phoenix Cantonese Opera School at the age of 12, and trained under several renowned masters including Kong Queping, Zhang Shijie and Jiang Yinghao. She has a solid training, an attractive stage persona and a sweet voice. Her repertoire includes both the civil and military categories for female roles.
The Cantonese operatic songs concert is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Tickets priced at $100, $140, $200 and $260 are now available at URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by telephone credit card booking. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their minders, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (limited tickets for students and CSSA recipients are available on a first-come, first-served basis.)
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7325 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/0000042f. Ticketing enquiries can be made on 2734 9009 and telephone credit card bookings on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Saturday, September 29, 2012
Issued at HKT 11:00
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