15 & 27 May 2011 (Sun & Fri)
A New Cantonese Opera – Li Qingzhao
This new Cantonese Opera is inspired by A Postscript on A Record of Inscriptions on Metal and Stone, written by the famous poetess of ci lyric of the Song Dynasty, Li Qingzhao (1084 - 1155). In it, she traces the tumultuous life that she and her husband, Zhao Mingcheng, led in the last years of the Northern Song regime:
Zhao is an expert on inscriptions on bronze, metal and stone. Li herself is a poetess of ci lyrics with an established name. With their shared intellectual background, it seems they are truly made for each other. But with the invasion of the Jurchens from the north, they have to give up their home and flee. In the course of it, Zhao loses the invaluable collection that he has built over the years. The misinformation that his wife has been killed aggravates his devastation and he falls seriously ill. On his deathbed, Zhao asks Li to complete his treatise, A Record of Inscriptions on Metal and Stone. However, not long after her husband has passed away, she is victimized by treacherous officials for presenting valuable items in her collection to the enemy, and therefore is guilty of treason. Li is unable to clear her name. She and her husband have built their rich collection of art out of a passion for cultural relics, and it has never occurred to them they are actually in possession of works of great monetary value – a fact that is going to bring calamity on them.
Ng Chin-fung: Zhao Mingcheng Tang Mi-ling: Li Qingzhao
Yau Sing-po: Lu Defu Yam Bing-yee: Zhong’s Wife
Chan Hung-chun (15/5) Liu Kwok-sum (27/5): Jia Gudong
Lam Tin-yau: Wang Boyan Lui Chi-ming: Old Fu
Cheng Wing-mui: Yong Mei Wan Yuk-yu: Jiang Yong
29 May 2011 (Sun)
Nymph of the Azure Pond
Once a rich man, Zhang Zhen has gone down in the world and takes refuge at the home of his uncle Jin Chong. Yet, the Jin’s family despises him for being penniless and treats him coldly, installing him in the backyard. In the Azure Pond of the backyard, there lives a tribe of immortal water creatures. Three months has passed and a carp nymph becomes a faithful listener of Zhen as he always pours out his heart by the lakeside. Out of sympathy for his plight and admiration for his good looks and talent, the nymph transforms into Jin Mudan, Chong’s daughter, to comfort Zhen. On the day of the Lantern Festival, the real Mudan comes across Zhen in the garden and accuses him of harassing her. This gives Chong an excuse to expel Zhen. Upon learning Zhen’s departure, the nymph, in the form of Mudan again, catches him up and vows to throw in her lot with him. Thinking that all misunderstandings have been cleared, the couple visits a lantern fair happily. There they are seen by Chong, who mistakes Zhen for abducting his daughter. He immediately takes them home but is startled to see another Mudan there. Unable to identify who is the real one, the Jins ask Bao Zheng to make an investigation. But the renowned judge they have invited over is in fact an impostor – the turtle spirit that has come to the help of the nymph. Disturbed by such a mess of real and sham, the Heavenly Court sends its generals to subdue the aquatic tribe. In the end, the Heavenly Court is moved by the nymph’s love and sincerity. By the permission of the deities, the nymph is relegated to the mortal world, where she can spends her life with Zhen.
Ng Chin-fung: Zhang Zhen
Tang Mi-ling: The Carp Nymph
Yau Sing-po: The Tortoise Spirit
Yam Bing-yee: Lady Jin
Liu Kwok-sum: Jin Chong
Lui Chi-ming: Li Jing
Cheng Wing-mui: (first as) Jin Mudan; (then as) the Goddess of Mercy
Wan Yuk-yu: Veda
Guan Shizhen: Monkey King
Lam Tin-yau: Samghārama
Kong Chun-kit: Naja |
4 June 2011 (Sat) 7:30pm
Speakers: Norman Cheung, Tang Mi-ling
AC1, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Free Admission. Free seats available on a first-come-first-served basis |
