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. He is showered with honour and gifts when he returns home in triumphant glory.
The six marshals: Wai Chun-fei, Ngai Ching-wan^, Min-hin, To Wing-sum, Doris Kwan, Lau Yu-feng
The story takes place during the last years of the Northern Song period. Jin invades the Central Plains with their encroaching armies. General Lu Deng leads his soldiers in resistant battles against the enemy and defend the isolated city of Lu'an. Although he has appealed to the Song court for reinforcements, the Emperor is too indulgent in wine, women and song to mind the state affairs. Faced with the dire situation where there is no reinforcement coming while the city is running out of provisions, Lu knows that the city gate will be forced open soon. So he asks his wife to escape with their newborn son, while he would stay behind with his army to fight the enemy to the last. But Lady Lu is an equally stout patriot: she vows to stay and fight with Lu to the end. She gives their baby son to the nurse, begging her to escape with him to safety. Then she stays with Lu to fight until both die for their country in the end.
Lu Deng: Mo Huamin
Lady Lu: Lam Tsz-ching
The Obsessed Dream from Love Renewed in a Dream at the Tang Palace
During the An Lushan uprising, Emperor Ming of Tang had no choice but to decree his beloved Imperial Concubine, Lady Yang, to die by hanging herself. After the uprising is put down, he returns to the capital, and in forlornness, misses his love. On a lonely autumn night, he comes to the imperial garden, sees the peonies against the wall, and is overwhelmed by his mourning and grief. As he sadly falls asleep, he seems to see his beloved Lady Yang coming into his dream, and the lovers tell how they have missed each other.
Emperor Ming of Tang: Wang Zhiliang
Lady Yang: Lin Yingshi
Death of Han Xin at the Weiyang Palace
Han Xin is one of the strategic figures in the founding of the Han regime. Later he falls into the trap set by the chancellor Xiao He, who tells the conspiring Empress Lu to lure Han Xin to the Weiyang Palace for a rendezvous. She secretly puts poison in the wine. Han Xin is trapped and finally dies by the Empress’s sword.
Han Xin: Vong Seng-pan
Empress Lu: Wang Kit-ching
Searching the Palace from The Tragedy of Princess Lechang
The story takes place during the imminent political success of the Sui regime. When the State of Chen is on the brink of falling to the Sui army, Xu the consort of Princess Lechang is going to escape with the files of the Chen court. He takes leave of his beloved wife, and Princess Lechang breaks a mirror into two and gives him one half as a pledge for their future reunion. She covers for Xu when Yang Yue and his men are at the gate to search the palace, by putting on a coquettish front. The valiant general does not succumb to it, and the Princess cannot but open up and tell him the real cause of her behaviour. Yang has pity on her demise and asks her to pose as his deceased wife so he can take her home.
Yang Yue: Song Hongbo
Princess Lechang: Cheng Wing-mui
^Artists Ngai Ching-wan and Zhan Haofeng will not be able to perform on 5/9 due to health reasons. Wai Chun Long and Fu Shuwang will be substituting for the repertoire“Prime Minister of Six States”.
Running time: Approx. 3 hours and 30 minutes with 15-minute intermission.
Some of the repertoires will be performed in guanhua. Lyrics with Chinese surtitle.
Information provided by the arts group.
The programme does not represent the views of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
6.9.2022 (Tue) Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre | 7:30pm
Cantonese Opera Excerpts
Killing His Loyal Wife
The story takes place during the last years of Western Han period (circa 8 CE). Wu Han’s father was a senior minister at court. When Wang Mang usurped the throne, his father refused to join Wang’s government as a courtier and died under Wang’s broadsword. Wu Han grows up, and not knowing that Wang is his father’s murderer, accepts Wang’s daughter as his wife by decree. His mother tells him the truth and shows him the Loyalty Sword bequeathed to his father by the former Han emperor. She instructs Wu Han to first kill his wife, then avenge his father’s death as well as the demise of the former regime by reinstating Han rule before she hangs herself. When his wife, Wang Lanying, learns the truth, she slits her throat with the Loyalty Sword and dies.
Wu Han: Ruan Dewen
Wang Lanying: Liang Yanfei
On Broken Bridge from The Legend of the White Snake
This is a popular Chinese folklore about the love affair between a man and a snake. Xu Xian and Bai Suzhen (White Snake) are a loving couple, but Monk Fa Hai is intent on separating them. The White Snake reveals her true form after drinking realgar wine, and the sight shocks Xu Xian to death. Although Xu is revived by the celestial herb that White Snake has gone through thick and thin to steal for him, he is once again tricked by Fa Hai to go to the Jinshan Temple. The White Snake wants to bring him home and uses her magic powers to flood the temple. But she is no match to the celestial army and has to retreat. She goes to the Broken Bridge on the West Lake and there, she sees her husband again. Despite the past incidents that show Xu to be not worthy, she loves him too much not to forgive him. The couple make up and go home together.
Xu Xian: To Wing-sum
Bai Suzhen (The White Snake): Wang Kit-ching
Qing’er (The Green Snake): Leung Fei-tung
Meeting at the Battlefront from White Dragon Pass
The White Dragon Prince meets Huyan Jinding, a lady general of the Song Dynasty, who disguises herself as a commoner, at the White Dragon Pass. Enamoured of her beauty, he lets her go, only to be besieged later by her troops. The two meet again on Flying Dragon Ridge. Jinding is under order to kill the prince, but because she has also fallen in love with him, she secretly lets him go.
White Dragon Prince: Li Qiuyuan
Huyan Jinding: Lin Xinling
Battle with Ma Chao at Night
Ma Chao's father was murdered by Cao Cao, so he raises an army to avenge for his father. His troops succeed in taking Chang'an and Tongguan. In defeat, Cao Cao is forced to abandon his robe and cut his beard in order to extricate himself from the dire situation. Ma Chao joins the army of Zhang Lu, and captures Jiameng Pass. Zhang Fei comes on his horseback to challenge Ma Chao to a close combat. The two sides are equal in military prowess, so the fighting goes on for a long day until night. Even after darkness has fallen, the soldiers have to continue to fight on the battlefield lit up by torches and lanterns. Liu Bei knows that Ma comes from a generation of loyal fighters; he also appreciates Ma’s daredevil character on the battlefield. So Liu comes down from the city tower where he watches the battle scene, gives an order to stop the fighting, and resolves the situation.
Ma Chao: Ng Lap-hei
Zhang Fei: Ng Kwok-wa
The Farewell from The Sounds of Battle
The story takes place during the Warring States period. Princess Cuibi of Zhao admires General Xia Qingyun, and appoints him marshal of her army. She also gifts him a lute as a pledge of her love. But her younger brother, the Crown Prince of Zhao, has been taken political hostage by the State of Qin. She has no choice but to marry the King of Qin and at the same time, demote Xia and banishes him to faraway land. Her subjects, military and civilian, line the road to see her off in her entourage on her way to Qin. The Princess tells Xia the truth of the happenings and advises him to serve home and country. The lovers take a tearful parting.
General Xia Qingyun: Lam Tin-yau^
Princess Cuibi: Cheng Nga-kei^
Saving Pei Yu from The Reincarnation of the Red Plum
Scholar Pei Yu is detained by the despotic prime minister and Imperial Tutor, Jia Sidao in his residence. Li Huiniang, who has been killed by Jia, appears as a ghost and reconnects with Pei by telling him of her past stories. She also assists him to escape.
Pei Yu: Leung Siu-ming
Li Huiniang: Lam Tsz-ching
^Artists Lam Tin-yau and Cheng Nga-kei will not be able to perform tonight (6 September) due to health reasons. Vong Seng-pan and Cheng Wing-mui will be substituting for the excerpt“The Farewell from The Sounds of Battle”.
Running time: Approx. 3 hours and 30 minutes with 15-minute intermission.
Some of the repertoires will be performed in guanhua. Lyrics with Chinese surtitle.
Information provided by the arts group.
11.9.2022 (Sun) Auditorium, Tuen Mun Town Hall | 2:30pm
Traditional Set Piece
A Fairy Returns Her Son to the Mortal Father
The destitute Dong Yong sells himself into bondage to give his father a proper burial. Moved by his filial piety, the Seventh Fairy secretly descends to the mortal world to marry him. When the Imperial Emperor of Heaven learns about this, he orders her to return to heaven, and husband and wife are separated. Dong Yong later earns the honour of Top Scholar, while the Seventh Fairy gives birth to a son in heaven. By His Majesty’s order, Dong would have a parade in his honour for three days. The Seventh Fairy pleads with the Emperor to let her descend to the mortal world with her six sisters to give Dong their son. Having accomplished this, she returns to heaven.
Dong Yong: Song Hongbo
Seventh Fairy Maiden: Lam Tsz-ching
Umbrella Bearer: Chan Hung-chun
Baby Carrier: Chan Kei-ting^
Yamen Runner: To Wing-sum, Doris Kwan, Ng Kwok-wa, Yuen Wai-kit
This is a story about Zhao Kuangyin, the first emperor of Song before he ascends the throne. He is a fugitive, wanted for killing someone when trying to help another. On the road, he comes to the Grotto of the God of Thunder. He hears a woman crying, and goes on to open it up. The young woman is Zhao Jingniang, who is abducted by bandits when she goes to sweep the ancestor’s grave and is trapped here. Out of chivalry, Zhao Kuangyin offers to accompany her home all through the night. To avoid social taboos, he and Jingniang become sworn brother-and-sister.
Zhao Kuangyin: Li Qiuyuan
Zhao Jingniang: Tang Mi-ling
An Oath to Break Ties Forever
This opera excerpt is taken from the full-length production The Emperor Orders to Have His Brother Executed. The story goes like this: Kuang Ruilong and his wife Zhang are persecuted by a treacherous man. The couple flee but lose each other on the road. Zhang feels desperate and lost, and just as she is going to take her own life, Zhang Zhong comes along and saves her. The two become sworn brother and sister. Later, Zhang Zhong joins the army and is ordered to raid Erlongshan, where Kuang Ruilong happens to have settled and become a bandit. Zhang Zhong persuades him to surrender and the two men become sworn brothers. When Kuang arrives at Zhang Zhong’s home, he is totally at a loss to see his wife there. He suspects the two of having a clandestine relationship. In anger, they get into a scuffle. It is only after Kuang’s wife and an old servant tell him what took place in the past that Kuang knows he has wronged them. All is well after this.
Kuang Ruilong: Loong Koon-tin
Zhang Zhong: Sun Kim-long
Madam Zhang: Wong Chiu-kwan
Old Zhong: Chan Hung-chun
Reunion with His Wife at the West River
The King of Xiliang invades the Central Plains, the emperor is defeated in battle and flees. It so happens that three men pass by, who are fellow apprentices in martial arts under the same master. The emperor is saved from the hands of Xiliang by the eldest of the three, Zhao Yingqiang. But the second apprentice, Guo Chongan, falsely claims the credit as his own. The emperor takes Guo’s younger sister as his imperial concubine, and awards him the official title as Imperial Brother-in-law to the Emperor. Zhao and his relatives want to disclose the truth about Guo, but their efforts are thwarted. Only Zhao’s wife Lady Wang and her brother can get away with their son. With Guo’s soldiers in hot pursuit, Wang throws herself into the West River. But Zhao did not die, and saves her from the water. The husband and wife are reunited.
Zhao Yingqiang: Leung Siu-ming
Lady Wang: Cheng Wing-mui
A Deadly Mission at Gaoping Pass
The story takes place towards the end of the Five Dynasties. Gao Xingzhou, Lord of Eastern Shandong, is guarding Gaoping Pass with his troop of three thousand and his sons Huaide and Huailiang, who are valiant fighters on the battlefield. Guo Wei, the first king of Later Zhou, has qualms about Gao Xingzhou because he knows that he is the elder brother of Zhao Kuangyin’s godfather. (Zhao is later to become the First Emperor of Song). So he puts Zhao Kuangyin's parents in prison, and forces Zhao to bring back Gao's head in return for their safe release. Gao has had a dream of a "red-faced man" coming to take his head. Zhao visits Gao at Gaoping Pass, and tells him about the real reason for his visit. He promises to let his younger sister marry his son Huaide. In return, he needs to ‘borrow’ Gao’s head to fulfil his mission. Gao can see from Zhao’s physiognomy that he is going to be the emperor one day. To aid him achieve this, he slits his own throat.
Gao Xingzhou: Yuen Siu-fai
Zhao Kuangyin: Liu Kwok-sum
Pan Jinlian Seducing Her Brother-in-law
Wu Song is honoured with a fanfare parade for three days after he subdued a fierce tiger on Jingyang Ridge. He pays his elder brother, Wu Dalang, a visit. But Dalang is out when he arrives. His wife Pan Jinlian is enamoured of the handsome brother-in-law famous for his fighting prowess, and tries all means to seduce him. Wu Song refuses to succumb, gives Jinlian a good set down, and leaves in righteous anger.
Wu Song: Lee Lung
Pan Jinlian: Wan Fai-yin
^Wong Chiu-kwan will replace Chan Kei-ting to perform in the traditional set piece“A Fairy Returns Her Son to the Mortal Father”on 11 September. Thank you for your attention.
Running time: Approx. 3 hours and 30 minutes with 15-minute intermission.
Some of the repertoires will be performed in guanhua. Lyrics with Chinese surtitle.
Information provided by the arts group.
20.9.2022 (Tue) Auditorium, Tsuen Wan Town Hall | 7:30pm
Cantonese Opera
The Wife and the Concubine
Ye Youcheng is a merchant. He marries a woman née Lan. While the two look like a loving couple, Ye actually has built a second home with his secret lover by the name of Lu. While he thinks his secret is safe and enjoys his life between the two women, Fate has carved a different path for him. 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 happen….
Ye Youcheng: Loong Koon-tin
Madam Lan: Wan Fai-yin
Madam Lu: Tang Mi-ling
Judge from Hell: Liu Kwok-sum
Soul Reaver of the East: Yuen Tak-cheong
Soul Reaver of the West: To Wing-sum
Ye Wang: Kwok Kai-fai
Chuntao: Lam Tsz-ching
Qiuchan: Szeto Hoi-yee
Running time: Approx. 3 hours and 30 minutes with 15-minute intermission.
The repertory will be performed in Cantonese. Lyrics with Chinese surtitle.
Information provided by the arts group.
Production Team: Super Talent International Limited
Coordinator: To Wai Sau-ming, Marilyn
Artistic Advisors: Liu Kwok-sum (5-6/9), Yuen Siu-fai (11/9), Sun Kim-long (20/9)
Stage Manager: Cheng Shui-wah (5-6/11/9), So Chi-cheong (20/9)
Percussion Leader: Mai Jiawei
Ensemble Leader: Chan Siu-lung
Martial Arts Instructor: Hon Yin-ming
Set Producer: Kwong Hing Stage Scene Production Company
Costumes and Props: Kam Yee Drama Dress Company Limited
General Affairs: Chen Kin-yat
Subtitle: Glory Chinese Opera Institute
Cantonese Opera Programmes A Burst of Blooms at the Pear Garden
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