Chinese Opera Festival 2018: Cantonese Opera The Return of Lady Wenji

The script of the play The Return of Lady Wenji and the character Cai Wenji were penned and tailored for Chan Ho-kau by Yuen Siu-fai and the late playwright Yip Siu-tak in 1997.  It depicts the helplessness and sadness of Wenji when she returns from foreign land to her homeland, leaving her husband and son behind.  In particular, Yip Siu-tak was invited to write the lyrics for the singing part in the scene ‘Farewell to the Wife’.  When the play debuted, the superb performance and the intricate interpretation by Yuen Siu-fai and Chan Ho-kau brought out the most intense melancholy of the eternal farewell of a couple and the departure of mother and son.  For the journey of returning to Han, Chan Ho-kau interpreted Wenji’s yearning for her husband and son and showed her complete devastation that struck the heart chords of the audience.  In this run, Lee Lung and Chan Wing-yee are specially invited to act as Dong Si and Lady Bian respectively.  The accompanying percussion and ensemble music by the Ko brothers complement and highlight the emotional performance of the opera stars.  Cao Cao, another lead character of the play, is played by Yau Sing-po, who vividly portrays the ruthless character of the period on stage.  In the end, Cao’s wife Lady Bian speaks of how Cao has done something devastating to ruin the happiness of Wenji, despite his good intentions.  Performing the heart-touching theme song in the final scene, Chan Ho-kau brings out the desolation of a mother and a wife who could never reunite with her family under the accompaniment by the Ko brothers.

Over the years, the audience has been waiting for the rerun of The Return of Lady Wenji, so that they could once again appreciate the spectacular performance by the illustrious Cantonese Opera stars Yuen Siu-fai, Chan Ho-kau, Yau Sing-po together with renowned artists Lee Lung, Chan Wing-yee and Lai Yiu-wai.

Main Cast: Yuen Siu-fai, Chan Ho-kau, Yau Sing-po, Lai Yiu-wai, Kwok Chun-sing, Cheung Kit-ha, Siu Wing-yee , Jim Ho-fung

Guest: Lee Lung, Chan Wing-yee

Playwright: Yuen Siu-fai, Yip Siu-tak

Artistic Director: Yuen Siu-fai

Executive Director: Barbara Tang

Percussion Leader: Ko Yun-kuen

Ensemble Leader: Ko Yun-hung

Lighting Designer: Leung Wai-hong 

Chinese Opera Festival 2018: Cantonese Opera The Return of Lady Wenji

DATE

VENUE

PRICE

07.08.2018 (Tue) - 08.08.2018 (Wed)
19:30

Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre

$450, $350, $250, $150

BUY NOW

12.08.2018 (Sun)
14:30

Auditorium, Tuen Mun Town Hall

$340, $280, $220, $150

BUY NOW

DATE

07.08.2018 (Tue) - 08.08.2018 (Wed)
19:30

VENUE

Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre

PRICE

$450, $350, $250, $150

BUY NOW

DATE

12.08.2018 (Sun)
14:30

VENUE

Auditorium, Tuen Mun Town Hall

PRICE

$340, $280, $220, $150

BUY NOW

Tickets available from 18 April onwards at all URBTIX outlets, on Internet, by Mobile Ticketing App and Credit Card Telephone Booking.

Half-price tickets available for senior citizens aged 60 and above, people with disabilities and the minder, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients.  (Limited tickets for full-time students and CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis.)

Group Booking Discount - 10% off for each purchase of 4-9 standard tickets; 15% off for 10-19 standard tickets; 20% off for 20 or more standard tickets.

'Chinese Opera Festival 2018' Package Discount – For each purchase of standard tickets for different Chinese Opera Festival performances, the following concession applies: 10% off for 3-4 different performances; 15% off for 5-9 different performances; 20% off for 10 or more different performances.

Patrons can enjoy only one of the above discount offers.  Please inform the box office staff at the time of purchase.

Programme Enquiries：2268 7325

Ticketing Enquiries：3761 6661

Credit Card Telephone Booking：2111 5999

Internet Booking：www.urbtix.hk

The presenter reserves the right to change the programme and substitute artists.

The programme does not represent the views of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.