22-24 July 2011 (Fri-Sun) 7:30pm
Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall
Tickets: $220, 160, 100

Running Time: Approx. 2 hrs 15 mins with an intermission

23 July 2011 (Sat) 12nn & 3pm
Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware（Inside Hong Kong Park）
Tickets: $140（Free seating）

Running Time: Approx. 1 hr without intermission

24 July 2011 (Sun) 2:30pm
Cultural Activities Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall
Tickets: $120, 100

Running Time: Approx. 1 hr without intermission

With Chinese surtitles and English synopsis

For details, please refer to Chinese version.

The term pingtan is made up of two word origins: ping is from pinghua (or narration without music) and tan, from tanci (or narration with music accompaniment). With over three centuries of history, this combined narrative singing art form originated in the picturesque lands of Suzhou, and over time spread in popularity throughout the region south of the Yangtze River. Pingtan is sung in the Suzhou dialect, which is famous for its lilting qualities. Two chairs flanking a small table, a woodblock for creating sounds and rhythm to draw attention, a folding fan, a sanxian and a pipa – the simple mise-en-scène suffices to evoke the listeners’ imaginings, from awe-inspiring battle scenes to famously heartrending love stories down the ages. A pingtan performance does not require the narrator to be in costume or to put on operatic makeup, but in it is found the essence of the theatrical form, which places an emphasis on the depiction of fine details.

Tickets will be available from 8 April onwards at all URBTIX outlets, on Internet and by credit card telephone booking

Half-price tickets available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities, 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 full-price tickets; 15% off for 10-19 full-price tickets; 20% off for 20 or more full-price tickets
"Chinese Opera Festival 2011” Package Discount – 10% off on full-price tickets for each purchase of 3-4 different performances; 15% off for 5-9 different performances; 20% off for 10 or more different performances

Patrons could enjoy only one of the above discounts for each purchase, please inform the box office staff at the time of purchase

Programme Enquiries：2268 7325
Ticketing Enquiries：2734 9009
Credit Card Telephone Booking：2111 5999
Internet Booking：www.urbtix.hk

The presenter reserves the right to substitute artists and change the programme should unavoidable circumstances make it necessary
The contents of this programme do not represent the views of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department