Hong Kong Culturtainment Festival – Cantonese opera performance (粵劇折子戲寶《百花齊放鑼鼓響》)
October 24 - 25, 2024
Close to a thousand audience attended a star-studded Cantonese opera performance by Hong Kong artistes in Singapore in late October. The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Singapore sponsored the event with an aim to promote the culture of Cantonese opera, a much cherished UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage item, to local audience of different ages and cultural ethnicities.
Another highlight programme of the inaugural Hong Kong Culturtainment Festival (香港娛樂及演藝文化節) in Singapore, veteran artiste and producer of the performance Michelle Yim (also known as “Mixue”) brought together an array of prominent artistes, including Rosanne Lui, Fung So Bor, Wan Kwong, to perform alongside renowned Cantonese opera stars from Hong Kong a number of select classic excerpts from repertoires of various genres, such as “Princess Cheung Ping” (帝女花), “Legend of the Purple Hairpin” (紫釵記), “Legend of the White Snake” (白蛇傳), and “A Bachelor’s Love Affair” (光棍姻緣).
The three-hour programme has fully demonstrated the artistry of the treasured performing art through singing, acting and martial arts. The allure of the show was further enhanced by the detailed embroidered theatrical costume, headgear, footwear and facial make-up as well as vibrant percussion of gongs and drums. Local opera supporters were fascinated by the performances which were presented as a fine mixture of literature, drama, ballad singing, stylised movements and dance by these passionate artistes from Hong Kong.
