Cantonese Opera Fiesta Launches with Lung Kim-sang Excerpts at Sha Tin Town Hall in October

"Carrying the Legacy - Lung Kim-sang Cantonese Opera Excerpts" featuring Lung Kim-sang to stage six performances at Sha Tin Town Hall in October

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD)'s new "Pass It On! A Cantonese Opera Fiesta!" series will open with the stage programme "Carrying the Legacy - Lung Kim-sang Cantonese Opera Excerpts" from October 10 to 15 at the Auditorium of Sha Tin Town Hall. Cantonese opera virtuoso Lung Kim-sang will serve as the artistic director of the programme. She will also take the stage to perform classic excerpts from Cantonese opera masterpieces "Butterfly and Red Pear Blossom" and "Princess Changping", alongside rising local talents, imparting the artistry to pass on the legacy of Cantonese opera.

The stage programme "Carrying the Legacy - Lung Kim-sang Cantonese Opera Excerpts," Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The first half of the programme features selected excerpts from "Butterfly and Red Pear Blossom", including "'Stealing Glances at the Tipsy Beau' and 'Reunion at the Pavilion'", "Ode to the Pear Blossoms" and "Three Misunderstandings during an Official Journey". These scenes vividly portray the intricate love story of the talented scholar Zhao Ruzhou and the famous courtesan Xie Suqiu, from their meeting at the prefect's mansion without acknowledging each other, to pouring their hearts out using red pear blossoms in the back garden, and culminating in a courtroom trial where all misunderstandings melt away, finalising their twist-filled romance. The second half brings the timeless tragedy of "Princess Changping", featuring the excerpts "'Reunion in the Nunnery' and 'Recognition'", "Welcome Princess", "Presenting the Memorial" and "The Fragrant Death". It brings the wartime romance of Princess Changping and the imperial son-in-law Zhou Shixian leaping onto the stage, recreating their poignant moments as they recognise each other in a nunnery after surviving countless vicissitudes, feign allegiance to the Qing court, and ultimately wed under a camphor tree before drinking poison to die for their country.

The roles of Zhao Ruzhou and Zhou Shixian will be played by Lung Kim-sang, who will alternate with Lai Yiu-wai and Vong Seng-pan. Yue Ling-lung will portray Xie Suqiu, while Leung Tsz-kei will play the role of Princess Chang Ping. Leung Wai-hong, Lo Lai-see, Fu Shu-wang and Kwan Hoi-shan will also join the cast. The cast will showcase the artistic depth of Cantonese opera that endures through the ages.

Tickets for this programme will be available through two methods: "Online Public Sale" and "Registration for Ticket Ballot".

"Online Public Sale" arrangements

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Applicable performances:

October 10, 11, 12 and 15 (four performances)

Sale date:

August 24 (Monday) from 10am

Ticketing methods:

Internet booking (www.urbtix.hk), mobile ticketing app, or telephone booking ((852) 3166 1288) via URBTIX (there will be no counter booking nor self-service ticketing kiosk)

(Payment by credit card only. Each credit card is limited to a maximum cumulative purchase of two tickets.)

"Registration for Ticket Ballot" arrangements

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Tickets for the performances on October 13 and 14 (two performances) will be sold through "Registration for Ticket Ballot". Applicants can choose up to two tickets, of which at least one must be a concessionary ticket for senior citizens (cannot be upgraded to standard-price tickets afterwards). Successful applicants of the ticket ballot will have seats assigned by a computer system, and receive an SMS notification containing a dedicated purchase code. Successful applicants shall purchase their assigned tickets at URBTIX ticketing outlets at any LCSD performance venue within a designated period. The timetable for balloting registration and ticket purchase is as follows:

Methods to register for ticket ballot*:

Via URBTIX website

From 10am on August 25 (Tuesday) to 9pm on August 27 (Thursday)

Via Registration Service Counters (located at Hong Kong City Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, and Sha Tin Town Hall)

From August 25 (Tuesday) to

27 (Thursday), from 10am to 9pm

Announcement of ballot result:

September 3 to 5 (Thursday to Saturday)

(Successful applicants will receive SMS notification with dedicated purchase code)

Ticket purchase period for successful applicants:

September 6 to 9 (Sunday to Wednesday)

Successful applicants must visit an URBTIX outlet at any LCSD performance venue, present their SMS containing the dedicated purchase code to purchase assigned tickets

* Each person will be eligible to register for just one ballot. All registrations have an equal chance of being selected from the random ballot. There is no need to rush to register.

For details regarding the balloting registration and ticketing procedures, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/chinese_opera/programs_2008.html.

"Carrying the Legacy - Lung Kim-sang Cantonese Opera Excerpts" will be held at 2.30pm from October 10 to 15 at the Auditorium of Sha Tin Town Hall. Lyrics come with Chinese surtitles. Tickets are priced at $380, $580, $780 and $980. For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7325 or visit the above-mentioned programme website. For any problems encountered during the ticket ballot registration and purchase period, please email urbtix@maoyan.com.hk or call URBTIX's ticketing enquiries and customer service hotline at 3166 1100. (Office hours are between 10am and 8pm, Monday to Sunday (including public holidays)).

The stage programme "Carrying the Legacy - Lung Kim-sang Cantonese Opera Excerpts," Photo source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit to Shanghai

The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, began his visit to Shanghai today (August 17).

Upon his arrival in the afternoon, Mr Tse met with the President of the State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company, Mr Chen Haibo, with leaders of the International Cooperation Department of the State Grid Corporation of China and the State Grid International Development Company Limited also participating. He then visited the Power Dispatching and Control Center of the State Grid Shanghai Municipal Electric Power Company to learn about Shanghai's latest developments in the monitoring and management of the electricity grid system.

Mr Tse later attended the launching ceremony of the "Green Dreams Come True: HK Electric Green Energy, Innovation, Technology and Cultural Study Tour", organised by the Hongkong Electric Company Limited and supported by the State Grid Corporation of China. During his speech, he pointed out to the teachers and students from Hong Kong at the ceremony that the country has made swift progress in green and low-carbon transition in recent years. Under the 15th Five-Year Plan, the country is accelerating the formation of a new energy system, pursuing proactively the target of reaching carbon emission peak, enhancing the capability to address climate change, improving the quality of the ecological environment, and implementing the concept of "lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets".

He also shared with the teachers and students the work of the Environment and Ecology Bureau on green and low-carbon transition. It strives to reduce the carbon emissions by half by 2035 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, thereby making Hong Kong a low-carbon, green and liveable city.

Mr Tse further stated that Hong Kong's carbon neutrality by 2050 and the country's future development rest in the hands of the younger generation. He encouraged students to seize the opportunity to understand the country's achievements in green and low-carbon development as well as technological innovations, to experience the historical legacies and inheritance of the Chinese culture, to develop aspirations, and to make personal pursuits to become a part of the overall national development.

Mr Tse will continue his visit to Shanghai tomorrow (August 18).

SEE begins visit to Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit to Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit to Shanghai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases