Talk on full-length opera “An Empress’ Benevolence” | Peatixtag:peatix.com,2011:12021-11-17T14:17:14+08:00PeatixChinese Theatre CircleTalk on full-length opera “An Empress’ Benevolence”tag:peatix.com,2015:event-859122015-06-13T14:00:00SGT2015-06-13T14:00:00SGT********************** TICKET INFORMATION ***************************Ticket Categories (please refer to the seating plan for the location of the categories)20% discount for PAssion Card Members, Quote the first 4 digits of your PAssion Card as the promotion code to enjoy the privilege.20% discount for Senior Citizens/StudentsSeating will be assigned on a first-come-first-served basis.This event is presented in CantoneseFor any enquiries on this event, please feel free to contact us via email at ctc@botempus.com or call us at +65 6100 2684.*************************** EVENT SYPNOSIS ***************************
To
celebrate Singapore's Golden Jubilee, Chinese Theatre Circle Limited (CTC), in
collaboration with the renowned China Guangzhou Hong Dow Cantonese Opera
Troupe, will be presenting the Singapore International Cantonese Opera
Festival from 30 May to 21 June 015. The Festival will feature seventy
Cantonese Opera artists, musicians, and enthusiasts from Australia, England,
France, and Singapore in five performances at the Drama Centre from 17
- 21 June 2015 at 7.30 pm.
Kicking
off the Festival will be a talk in English by Leslie Wong, homegrown Cantonese
Opera playwright, at the Drama Centre Function Room on National Library
Building, level 3, on Saturday 30 May 2015 at 2.00 pm. The subject of his talk
is "The Role of Cantonese Opera In Our Nation Building". He will
examine the development of Cantonese Opera in Singapore over the last fifty
years and trace how this traditional theatre artform, almost sinking into
oblivion in the early 1960s, rose to become a driving force in our nation
building. The objective is to demonstrate the importance of the arts in
moulding a nation.
Following
this talk will be two special sessions of "Sights and Sounds of Chinese
Opera" at the Chinese Opera Teahouse at 5 Smith Street in Chinatown on 12
& 13 June 2015 (Friday & Saturday) at 7.00 pm with
dinner followed by showtime at 8.00 pm.
The session will be conducted in English with a brief talk, and demonstration
of basic opera gestures and movements, and ending with performance of a short
Cantonese Opera excerpt with English subtitles. Artists will pose with patrons
for photographs at no extra cost. This programme is targeted towards the
tourists and the English educated. Admission is $40.00 per person, and
booking is required. Patrons may purchase tickets online at www.ctcopera.com.sg
There will
be another two talks, also conducted by Leslie Wong, but in Cantonese, at
the Drama Centre, National Library Building, level 3 Function Room, on 13
- 14 June 2015 (Saturday & Sunday) at 2.00 pm.
The
talk on 13 June 2015 will focus on his new creative work "An Empress'
Benevolence", a full length Cantonese Opera with the theme on peaceful coexistence,
specially written by him to mark CTC's celebration of Singapore's Golden Jubilee.
This is the first full length opera in the several hundred years of world
history of Cantonese Opera. The opera analyses the causes and circumstances
leading to the controversial scholar turned warrior Hong Cheng Zhou
towards the end of the Ming Dynasty of China (AD 1368 - 1644) surrendering to
the Manchu Empress Zhuang Fei, also another controversial character in the
history of China, and helping the Manchus to build up the Qing Empire (AD 1644
- 1911). At this talk, See Too Hoi Siang and Frances Wong, lead actors of CTC
assuming the roles of Hong Cheng Zhou and Zhuang Fei, will demonstrate singing
of the theme song of this opera.
The
talk on 14 June 2015 will focus on "Appreciation of Cantonese Music"
in which Leslie Wong will explain the rudiments of Cantonese music and
demonstrate how to appreciate this traditional music form, as well as the basic
difference between the Chinese erhu and the western violin. At this talk,
he will also introduce four pieces of his creative songs, namely, "A
Tribute To Singapore", "An Ode To Chinese Theatre Circle",
"Continue To Prosper, Singapore", and "The Poet Du Mu". Ms Kwan
Siu Ping, veteran Cantonese Opera singer will demonstrate singing some of these
pieces.
The
five performances of the Festival will commence from 17 - 21 June 2015
beginning with a full length opera "A Scholar's Path To Success" by
the 40 member Guangzhou Hong Dow Cantonese Opera Troupe, followed by two
evenings of "Cantonese Opera Extravaganza" on 18 - 19 June 2015,
and then the main highlight "An Empress' Benevolence" by CTC led
by See Too Hoi Siang and Frances Wong. The Festival will end with a special
musical performance "Cantonese Music Rhapsody" led by the China
Cantonese music maestro Bu Can Rong with a combined orchestra comprising China
and Singapore musicians, and splendid renditions of songs and music by CTC's
and other homegrown practitioners and enthusiasts. The Festival programme is
attached.
Ticket
pricing is as follows: $10.00 for talks (Free Seating); for performances $50,
$30, $20, & $10. Ticket prices do not include administrative fee. Senior
Citizens above 60 years old, students, and holders of Passion Card entitled to
20% discount.
Online
booking: www.botempus.com/ctc.
Credit Card booking, please call 6100 2684 (Hotline)
All
performances will be accompanied by Chinese and English subtitles, except
“Cantonese Music Rhapsody” on 21 June 2015 when only Chinese surtitles will be
used.
For
enquiries, please call Chinese Opera Teahouse at 5 Smith Street, Chinatown, at
Tel: 6323 4862 and 9630 2886; and Botempus Hotline 6100 2684.
Photo
shows See Too Hoi Siang and Frances Wong Kum Yeng in “ An Empress’ benevolence”
There will be subtitles in both English and Chinese.