OUHK 30th Anniversary Cantonese Opera Concert on “Dream of the Red Chamber”

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, The Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK) proudly presents a large-scale Cantonese Opera Concert on "Dream of the Red Chamber" at the Grand Theatre of the Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District on 1 June 2019 (Saturday).  The Concert will bring the audience to revisit the enchanting and unforgettable love story between Jia Baoyu and Lin Daiyu portrayed in the Chinese literary classic "Dream of the Red Chamber".  Tickets are now available at the Xiqu Centre ticket office, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), and designated Tom Lee Music Locations.

President of the OUHK Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong said, “The OUHK has always been committed to promoting Chinese culture and arts.  We are glad to have the chance to organize a Cantonese Opera Concert to promote this traditional Chinese art and to develop interest of the younger generation in Cantonese opera at this historic moment while the University is celebrating its 30th anniversary.  Also, we are much honoured to be the first university in Hong Kong to hold a Cantonese Opera Concert at the Grand Theatre of the Xiqu Centre in West Kowloon Cultural District.  We hope the public will support the event and take this opportunity to appreciate the everlasting literary masterpiece ‘Dream of the Red Chamber’.”

The University is privileged to have invited Choo Heng-cheong, a renowned and highly commended chief musician in Hong Kong's Cantonese opera industry, to be the artistic advisor of the Concert.  Fredric Mao Chun-fai, a local veteran theatre director, and Leonard Wong Shing-chuen, a famous music leader in Cantonese opera, are also invited to be the artistic director and music director of the Concert respectively.

Choo Heng-cheong has been closely involved in Cantonese opera for nearly 80 years. He is famous for his recordings of three renowned operas by Tong Tik-sang from the Sin Fung Ming Opera Troupe.  Fredric Mao Chun-fai is a master of drama production.  In 2010, his work “The Liaisons”, a multi-disciplinary production fusing Cantonese Opera with modern drama, was a huge success.  “The Pavilion of a Hundred Flowers”, another piece of which he reworked and refined with a modern perspective from a Cantonese opera by Tong Tik-sang, was another box office hit at the 2018 Hong Kong Arts Festival.  Leonard Wong Shing-chuen, a pupil of Choo Heng-cheong, is famous for his extraordinary paihe (instrumental accompaniment) skills.

At the Concert, Cantonese opera virtuosos Tse Kwok-cheung, Li Qiuyuan and Jiang Wenduan will be joined with some young artists to perform five classic Cantonese Opera excerpts including “Daiyu Buries Falling Flowers”, “Qingwen Mends the Peacock Cloak”, “Burning her Verses, Daiyu Passes Away”, “Baoyu Regrets His Marriage” and “Everlasting Regret at the Land of Illusion”.

Tse Kwok-cheung has worked in Cantonese opera for 30 years.  Known for his performances as Jia Baoyu, the devoted lover in “Dream of the Red Chamber”, Tse has a charismatic presence and a fascinating voice.  With his delicate and profound skills in Cantonese opera, Li Qiuyuan is capable of performing a wide range of dramatic pieces.  Also, his natural and pure voice has made him one of the great Cantonese opera performers.  Jiang Wenduan has the delicate appearance and sophisticated performing skills needed to interpret the breathtaking beauty of Lin Daiyu and her rich and complex inner world.  

The Concert will also feature a dance performance “Daiyu Joins the Jia Family” choreographed by Artistic Director of Hong Kong Dance Company Mr Yang Yuntao and performed by a group of fresh graduates of the HKAPA.  In addition, Prof. ‎Kenneth Pai Hsien-yung and Prof. Liu Zaifu are invited to share their insights through a video-recorded dialogue on “A Glimpse at the Red Chamber”.  There will also be an introductory sessions hosted by Fredric Mao Chun-fai.  With all these elements, the OUHK hopes that the audience would be able to appreciate this greatest novel “Dream of the Red Chamber” from a new perspective.

The Cantonese Opera Concert on "Dream of the Red Chamber" is one of the signature programmes of the OUHK's 30th anniversary celebration. In addition to sharing the joy with the public, the OUHK would also like to take this opportunity to express its deepest gratitude to individuals and organizations who have rendered their support towards the general development of the University. They are Biel Crystal (HK) Manufactory Limited, Sa Sa Making Life Beautiful Charity Fund, Agile Group Holdings Limited, Simon Suen Foundation, Man Wah Holdings Limited, Dr Eva Cheng Li Kam-fun, Redco Properties Group Limited, Mr Wong Ting-chung, Glorious Sun Group, Mr and Mrs Chu Ming-chuan, Lam Kin Chung Morning Sun Charity Fund, Kum Shing Group, Mr Samuel Yung Wing-ki, Lee & Man Paper Manufacturing Limited, Prof. Yuk-Shan Wong, Mr Michael Wong Yick-kam, Ms Yeung Chi-hung, Mr Silas Yang Siu-shun and Mr George Lau Ka-keung.

Concert Details:

Date: 1 June 2019 (Saturday)

Time: 7:30 pm

Venue: Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre, 88 Austin Road West,Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

Price: HK$880/ 680/ 280/ 100  available for sale at the Xiqu Centre ticket office, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA), and designated Tom Lee Music Locations.

Programme Enquiries: 2768 6380 (The Open University of Hong Kong)

Website: www.ouhk.edu.hk/OU30_CantoneseOpera2019