Guangzhou Culture Week: A New Cantonese Opera Princess Wencheng by Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Theatre Company
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A New Production Not to Be Missed - Featuring the Dream Team of Plum Blossom Award Winners
Born into an aristocratic family, Li Xueyan is designated Princess Wencheng and sent to marry in the distant land of Tǔfān or Great Tibet at the prime of her life. Though torn by internal turmoil, she accepts her fate and sets off without qualms, regarding it her duty to serve her country. On her way, she has an accident by a cliff, but is saved by Songtsen Gampo, who has come to welcome his bride. It is a match made in heaven, as he is a bold and handsome hero from the snowy highlands, while she is an extraordinarily talented and beautiful princess of the Tang dynasty. It is love at first sight, and they pledge to love each other and spend the rest of their life together, thus laying the foundation for a solid relationship between Tang and Tibet.
During this time, despite facing severe challenges, Princess Wencheng overcame them all with wisdom and courage. She remained true to her love for her husband and her devotion to Tibet, assisting him in governing the country, fostering cultural exchange and integration between the two peoples, and improving the life of the Tibetan people. After her husband's untimely death, instead of returning to her homeland in Chang'an, she chose to stay on this land she loved—the snowy plateau where she had spent her youth and enjoyed marital bliss. For forty years, she remained in Tǔfān, lived among its hardworking and simple people, and left behind an enduring legacy for China.
Cast
Li Jiayi as Princess Wencheng
Ou Kaiming as Songtsen Gampo
Li Junsheng as Tang Hao
Chen Yunhong as Madam Li
Li Tinghui as Li Daozong
Bi Hairong as Le Zan
Information provided by the arts group.
Co-presenter of Guangzhou Culture Week: Guangzhou Municipal Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau
A programme of the Fourth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival
Lyrics and dialogue with Chinese and English surtitles.
The running time of each performance is approximately 2 hours 30 minutes including an intermission of 15 minutes.
Members of the audience are strongly advised to arrive punctually. Latecomers and those who leave their seats during the performance will only be admitted and allowed to return to their seats respectively during the intermission or at a suitable break. The presenter reserves the right to refuse admission of latecomers, or determine the time and manner of admission of latecomers.
The presenter reserves the right to change the programme and substitute artists.
The content of the programme does not represent the views of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Theatre Company
The Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Theatre Company was established as the Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Workshop in 1953 through the merger of the Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Troupe and the Guangzhou Hongdou Cantonese Opera Troupe. The troupe has put on stage many high standard productions, such as Dorgon and Consort Zhuang, The Shadow of Flowers under the Moon, and Embroidery as Matchmaker. Its notable productions include Guan Hanqing, The Crafty Princess and Her Reckless Husband, and Revolution Comes to the Mountain Villages. The new Cantonese Opera productions in its repertory include Princess Wencheng and The Legend of Nanyue.
Upholding the principles of 'Preservation, Reform, Innovation, and Development', the troupe focus on grooming talents and staging outstanding productions as its core mission. With these principles, it steadfastly moves along the path of sustainable development for the Chinese opera art form, exploring scientific and modern management, and strives to promote this rich art of South China. The troupe is home to a strong cast of highly talented artists, notably Ou Kaiming, two-time winner of the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre and the Shanghai Magnolia Award for Theatre, and Plum Blossom Award winners Li Junsheng, Chen Yunhong, Su Chunmei, Wu Feifan, and Li Jiayi, all of whom are National Class One Performers. Because of this, the troupe has garnered numerous national and regional accolades, including the Wenhua Award Special Prize at the China Arts Festival, the 'Five-One Project' Award of Guangdong Province, and the Ministry of Culture's Wenhua Award for Outstanding Repertory.
A Heroine of Grace, Strength, and Unwavering Devotion
Princess Wencheng was more than just a historical figure; she was a visionary who paved the way for the ancient Tang-Tibet route and served as an early pioneer of what is now known as the Belt and Road Initiative. Her legacy marks a new era in Han-Tibetan relations and her extraordinary contributions to Chinese nation unity. As we bring her story to life on the stage in Hong Kong, we celebrate her enduring historical influence.
Many Chinese opera productions have depicted Princess Wencheng, each exploring different aspects of her life—from the emotional turmoil and sorrow she experienced in her marriage to a foreign land, to the story of the Tǔfān envoy's marriage proposal at the Tang court. In this production, we offer a fresh perspective on our heroine, delving into the core of her character—her steadfast spirit. We explore her unwavering commitment to her values, her relentless pursuit of ideals, and her chosen path in life. This steadfastness is rooted in her deep love—for her homeland, for Tibet, and for her husband.
Princess Wencheng devoted forty years of her life to Tǔfān, dedicating herself to spreading Han culture in this distant land. Her profound love for Tǔfān was so all-encompassing that she intertwined her life with it, leaving behind a legacy that speaks to the depth of her love, the resilience of her spirit, and the elevation of her soul.
Playwrights: Jiang Chaogao, Zhang Hong
Project Leader: Hua Lihong
Artistic Director: Ou Kaiming
Artistic Advisor: Li Junsheng
Executive Directors: Su Hua, Luo Qiaohua
Artistic Operations: Xu Bi
Coordinators: Chen Zhenjiang, Chen Jianchao, You Guiha
Playwrights: Jiang Chaogao, Zhang Hong
Libretto Adaptation: Chen Jinrong
Chief Director: Tong Weiwei
Associate Directors: Hu Hanchi, Zeng Qiuling
Choreographer: Ou Yangdan
Technical Advisor: Hu Jianhua
Music Designer: Wang Jianan
Vocalization: Zou Yuwei
Percussion Designer: Ouyang Jing
Set Designers: Han Sheng, Pan Xiaoping
Lighting Designer: Liu Yu
Multimedia Designers: Hu Tianji, Su Wenquan
Costume Designers: Yang Donglin, Yuan Cun
Stylists: Yao Yue, Yan Feixiang
Make-up Designers: Yang Fen, Peng Die
Props Designer: Deng Jianwen
Sound Designers: Su Wenjun, Deng Xiaolong
Creative Sharing Session
Date: 20 October 2024 (Sun)
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: AC1, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Speakers: Li Jiayi, Ou Kaiming, Li Junsheng and Chen Yunhong
Free admission. Limited seats available on a first come, first served basis by online registration from 10 am on 27 August.
Post-performance Talk
Date: 22 October 2024 (Tue)
Time: After the performance
Venue: Auditorium, Sha Tin Town Hall
Speakers: Li Jiayi, Ou Kaiming, Li Junsheng and Chen Yunhong
Audience members can participate without registration after the performance.
In Cantonese
Guangzhou Culture Week: A New Cantonese Opera Princess Wencheng by Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Theatre Company
Tickets are available from27 Augustonwards at all URBTIX outlets, on internet, the URBTIX mobile app(Android, HarmonyOS and iPhone/iPad versions) and through telephone booking.
Concessionary tickets
Half-price tickets are available for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and the minder and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients. Tickets for CSSA recipients are available on a first-come-first-served basis. Concessionary ticket holders must produce evidence of their identity or age upon admission.
Discount Scheme
❖"Guangzhou Culture Week" Package Discount* 20% off for each purchase of standard tickets of different programmes
❖Group Booking Discount*
For each purchase of standard tickets for the programmes of Guangzhou Culture Week, the following concession applies: 10% offfor 4 – 9 tickets, 15% offfor 10 – 19 tickets,20% offfor 20 or more tickets
❖Early Bird Discount(Only applicable from 27 August 10:00am to 26 September 11:59pm)
An extra 5%discount for purchase of tickets through any of the above discount scheme during the early bird period
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