Cantonese Opera in Hong Kong: from old theatre to new stage
2022-06-20
Recently, luojiaying, a famous Cantonese opera performing artist in Hong Kong, has been particularly busy. In order to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, the Cantonese opera, which he was the main creator and starring in, is being rehearsed in full swing. In Hong Kong today, Cantonese Opera is performed almost every day. Large and small troupes perform in various theaters after you sing. Luo Jiaying lamented that the vigorous development of Cantonese Opera in Hong Kong after 25 years of return to the motherland, "our own things have come back!" "Going to the theater was a memory of the older generation in Hong Kong" From the 1920s to the 1960s, Cantonese opera, as a popular drama in Hong Kong, was deeply loved by the public. Luo Jiaying had a strong interest in Cantonese Opera since she was young. She began to appear on the stage of Cantonese Opera at the age of 10. He has an unforgettable memory of the development of Cantonese Opera in Hong Kong. "Going to the theater was a memory of the older generation in Hong Kong." Luojiaying recalled that the elders in the family were all fans of Cantonese opera. Sometimes they go to the theater to watch the opera, and sometimes they listen to the Cantonese Opera broadcast on the radio. Cantonese Opera is closely connected with their daily life. "The older generation of Hong Kong people have deep feelings for Lingnan culture. They love traditional Cantonese opera for ten minutes. Almost everyone can hum a few words." Luo Jiaying said. Cantonese Opera is a local opera that has lasted for hundreds of years. Together with Lingnan Painting School and Guangdong music, it is known as the "three beauties of Lingnan" and the "southern red bean". Zhongzhenzhen, director of performing arts of the West Kowloon Cultural Zone Authority in Hong Kong, said that Hong Kong used to be a fishing port. Many dans and fishermen believed in Guanyin and Tian Hou and built many temples, especially the Tian Hou Temple. Therefore, they often invited a play to reward the gods and repay their protection. This is the "magic show". "Before the return, the traditional culture, including Cantonese opera, could not be popularized, and it was difficult for Cantonese opera performers to find jobs. However, performing 'Shengong Opera' has always maintained our livelihood, allowing us to get through the most difficult days." Luo Jiaying said. Cantonese opera has a bigger stage in Hong Kong In Luo Jiaying's view, in Hong Kong before the handover, the most important cultural activities are usually symphonies, operas, etc. during the great festival of Daqing, such as "others'". "Even if you are in a lively atmosphere, you always feel that you lack emotional recognition." After the return of Hong Kong, the governments, cultural circles and Cantonese Opera circles of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao have gradually carried out active exchanges and cooperation. In 2003, the governments of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao began to plan the "application for World Heritage" of Cantonese opera, and designated the last Sunday in November as the "Cantonese Opera day" every year, so as to broaden the audience's vision and promote the art of Cantonese opera. In 2006, Cantonese opera was listed in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage. In 2009, Cantonese opera was included in the "list of representative works of human intangible cultural heritage" by UNESCO. Luojiaying sighed: "the successful application for the world heritage of Cantonese opera has made more people realize that Cantonese Opera is a valuable, excellent and our own cultural product, and has also given Cantonese Opera a broader living space." In recent years, the construction of Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Dawan district has gathered the strength of Cantonese opera artists, making Cantonese opera, a treasure of traditional culture, an important cultural card to tell the story of the same root and vein in Dawan district. "There are more opportunities for the Hong Kong Cantonese Opera industry to exchange ideas with their counterparts in the mainland. We can learn from each other and work together to promote the better development of Cantonese opera." Zhongzhenzhen said. Two years ago, at the busy Austin Road crossing in Kowloon, Hong Kong, a landmark building with a shape similar to Chinese traditional lanterns - the Hong Kong Opera Center sprang up. This is the first performance venue completed in the West Kowloon Cultural Zone, and also the first performance venue specially designed for opera in Hong Kong. "Cantonese opera has a 'home' in Hong Kong!" Zhongzhenzhen said that the completion of the Hong Kong Opera Center has greatly encouraged the Hong Kong Cantonese Opera industry. Nowadays, the art of Cantonese opera has not only a broader stage in Hong Kong, but also a more popular atmosphere among the people. Zhongzhenzhen said that it has become a new way of life for more and more Hong Kong citizens to meet with 35 bosom friends, go into the teahouse theater in the Opera Center, experience the teahouse culture that was combined with opera performance in the past, taste "a cup (tea) and two pieces (dim sum)", and enjoy the classic folk arts and folding operas of Cantonese opera. Let Chinese traditional culture be passed down from generation to generation After the return to the motherland, the Hong Kong SAR government actively promoted the development of Cantonese opera. It has successively set up a Cantonese Opera Development Advisory Committee and a Cantonese Opera Development Fund to fund research, promotion and other activities related to the development of Cantonese opera. In 2003, the HKSAR government began to include Cantonese Opera in the music curriculum of primary and secondary schools, and successively set up Cantonese opera music workshops. In 2012, Cantonese opera was included in the music examination curriculum of the new high school system. "To continue the vitality of Cantonese opera, so that this precious culture and art can be passed down from generation to generation, it is particularly important to train the successors of Cantonese opera." Zhongzhenzhen said. In the rehearsal room of the Shenghui Cantonese Opera Promotion Association in Kowloon, Hong Kong, more than 20 children are practicing leg pressing. The youngest of them is only 3 years old, and most of them are teenagers. "In the past, we studied Cantonese opera to make a living. Nowadays, unlike children, Cantonese opera has become their interest." Yangjianhua, art director of Shenghui Cantonese Opera Promotion Association in his 80s, said that learning Cantonese Opera is a hard work, but children are willing to bear hardships because they love Chinese traditional culture from the bottom of their hearts. Zhong Tianrui, 13, has studied Cantonese opera for 10 years. He said that in the process of learning Cantonese opera, he learned more about the motherland, not only the history and culture of the motherland, but also the excellent traditional virtues of the Chinese nation, such as respecting the old and loving the young. It gave him a lot of fun. Over the years, Zhong Tianrui, together with other small actors of the Guangdong opera troupe, has gone out of Hong Kong and successively performed in Beijing, Guangzhou, Zhongshan, Macao, Singapore and other places, stepping onto a larger stage. "When I see audiences in different places deeply attracted by our performances, curious about our costumes and props, and cheering and clapping for us, I will feel happy from the bottom of my heart." Zhongtianrui said that he hoped that he would redouble his efforts, practice his basic skills more solidly, and let more and more people know the excellent traditional Chinese culture with wonderful performances. (Xinhua News Agency)
Edit：Li Ling Responsible editor：Chen Jie
Source：Xinhuanet
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