Chinese opera evolves gradually over time as an ancient art form and generations of consummate artists have contributed enormously to its development. In the previous editions, the Chinese Opera Festival (COF) has the privilege of working together with distinguished performers to bring the best of Chinese opera to the local stage. As we welcome the tenth edition, with our mission in mind we continue to bring quality programmes from different parts of China for audience appreciation.

This year, we partner with the Xiqu Centre of the West Kowloon Cultural District to stage some of our programmes at its venues to bring a brand new experience to our audience. The Festival opening programme and performances of the Jiangsu Kunqu Opera Theatre will be held at its Grand Theatre, while the song art programme of ‘Guangdong Quadrangle – Four Folk Music Types in Concert’ and the operatic performances of Jingkun Theatre and Shandong Peking Opera Theatre will be held at the Tea House Theatre.

The China National Peking Opera Company and the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company will be featured in the opening programme ‘Peking Opera Masters North and South’ and give three performances separately. The first three will be led by the star duo Yu Kuizhi and Li Shengsu. They will appear in the first performance The Boar Forest with renowned hualian (painted-face) Yang Chi. The other three are Vermilion Birthmark, Yu Tang Chun and Seven Heroes and Five Gallants. The leading role in Vermilion Birthmark is played by Wang Peiyu, a famous actress from the Yu (Shuyan) school specialised in laosheng (old male) roles. Shi Yihong, a renowned qingyi (virtuous female) from the Mei (Lanfang) school, will star in Yu Tang Chun as the titular heroine. Seven Heroes and Five Gallants, the last performance under the opening programme and a classic piece of the Shanghai school, will be staged by the Shanghai Jingju Theatre Company.

The Jiangsu Kunqu Opera Theatre brings to Hong Kong a strong cast of talented actors and actresses. We are much honoured to have Shi Xiaomei, Hu Jinfang and Zhang Jidie, venerable masters of Kunqu Opera and Representative Bearers of Kunqu Opera as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage-cum-winners of the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre to grace our stage. They will be supported by Kong Aiping and Li Hongliang, also winners of the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre in the full version of The Mistake Caused by a Kite and two operatic excerpt performances. These performances are definitely not to be missed.

Yue Opera is well-known for its diverse schools, each boasting a unique charm. This year COF welcomes a number if artists from the Shanghai Yue Opera Group who are National Class One Performers and winners of the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre. They include the Vice President of the Group Qian Huili, Company Director of the Number One Troupe of the Group Fang Yafen, and leading actresses Zhang Ruihong, Shan Yangping and Wang Zhiping from different schools. This star-studded cast will perform the Group’s signature repertoire Romance of the West Chamber, Meng Lijun, Tale of the West Garden and Southeast the Peacocks Fly.

Regional operas are distinguished by their special charm exuded from their individual character. This year we are presenting Liyuan Opera and Ou Opera, two regional genres different in style but equally appealing on stage. Liyuan Opera is one of the oldest theatrical forms in China that are still extant today, and has typical features of the centuries old nanxi (Southern Opera). Zeng Jingping, Representative Bearer of Liyuan Opera as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage, worked with the Experimental Theatre of Liyuan Opera of Fujian to revive an almost lost play Zhu Maichen based on an incomplete edition to restore its original features and charm. The Wenzhou Opera Research Institute will present three full-length productions, The Legend of the White Snake, Killing a Dog to Admonish Her Husband and Gao Ji and Wu Sanchun. The cast will be led by leading lights in the world of Ou Opera today, winner of the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre Fang Rujiang and National Class One Performer Cai Xiaoqiu. The programme offers a representative selection of civil and martial plays and promises an exciting theatrical experience.

‘Guangdong Quadrangle – Four Folk Music Types in Concert’ comprises the four indigenous performing arts of Guangdong – dabayin, narrative singing, Cantonese music and Cantonese operatic song in classic singing style to the quadrangle courtyard in Chinese architecture. Veteran Cantonese Opera actor Yuen Siu-fai and Chinese music performer Yu Siu-wah will join famous vocalists in song art in this concert in celebration of Cantonese music. Tang Yuen-ha of Jingkun Theatre will once again join renowned Kunqu Opera artists Cai Zhengren and Lu Yongchang to present operatic classics excerpts at the Tea House Theatre of the Xiqu Centre. The setting of this new venue will create a close intimacy between the audience and the performers on stage.

To mark the tenth anniversary of the inscription of Cantonese Opera onto UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, the COF presents A Love Poem Stained with Blood, a new work written by Sun Kim-long who is also part of the cast. By featuring both veteran and young artists, the production will contribute to the transmission of Cantonese Opera.

This year we will continue to hold extension activities such as lectures, film screenings, Meet-the-Artists, exhibitions in a bid to create a comprehensive cultural experience for the audience as well as the general public.


Cultural Presentations Section
Leisure and Cultural Services Department