new york celebrates hong kong festival

Secretary for Home Affairs is special guest at Cantonese opera premiere

Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing (second from left), together with Director of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office New York Monica Chen (second from right), presented a pennant to Artistic Director Lau Kam Yiu (first from right) and the two leading stars, Koi Ming-fai (first from left) and Ng May-ying (third from left) of the Ming Chee Sing Chinese Opera to celebrate their successful New York premiere.

Hong Kong Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing graced the opening of the first Cantonese opera presentation as part of the “New York Celebrates Hong Kong 2008” festival by a popular Hong Kong opera troupe, Ming Chee Sing Chinese Opera Company, on October 11 in New York.

The festival, organized by Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office New York (HKETONY), is a month-long celebration commencing October 1, to showcase the evolving “modern heritage” of the continuously vibrant and transformative city of Hong Kong. The festival is supported by the Hong Kong Tourism Board.

Speaking to a full-house audience at Queens Theatre in the Park in New York, Mr. Tsang said that Cantonese opera is a very popular art form and that nearly every night in Hong Kong, there are performances of Cantonese opera or operatic singing in private theaters or community centers. He further said that Ming Chee Sing Chinese Opera Company is one of the most renowned and popular troupes among many that regularly perform in the city.

Mr. Tsang said, “The Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government is working hard to nurture local arts groups, promote public arts education and support cultural exchanges.”

Mr. Tsang further pointed out that the Hong Kong government is pushing ahead with the West Kowloon Cultural District, a world-class cultural district along the harbor waterfront, which, when complete, “will be our own version of the West End with a Manhattan skyline.”

Mr. Tsang commended the HKETONY for hosting the festival, which includes a series of programs by local and international artists with close ties to Hong Kong.

Veteran performer introduces Cantonese opera to New Yorkers Cantonese opera performer Pui-Yan Li (first from left) and veteran Danny Li (first from right) hosted a Cantonese opera workshop for New Yorkers under the banner of "New York Celebrates Hong Kong 2008" festival. To tie in with the two Cantonese opera performances under the “New York Celebrates Hong Kong 2008” festival and to offer a deeper look at the Cantonese opera art form, the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office New York (HKETONY) arranged for Cantonese opera veteran performer Danny Li and Cantonese opera performer Pui-Yan Li to host a Cantonese opera workshop October 13 at Parsons the New School for Design. Cantonese opera is a fine art that includes fluid and graceful body movement and expressions. The dramatic tension in any performance can be felt from the elaborate and flamboyant costumes, exquisite wigs and colorful make-up worn by the actors. This workshop introduced the audience to Cantonese opera through its symbolism, connotations, costumes, movements and sign languages. The audience also saw the weapons used in various operas. The workshop attracted more than 100 audiences, coming from different sectors, who were interested in the art form of Cantonese opera.