Cantonese opera features a rich variety of musical elements. In this talk, local Cantonese opera performer and West Kowloon Rising Star Janet Wong and ensemble leader Lee Tik-lun use live demonstrations and audio materials to illustrate the different vocal styles used by actors playing male and female roles, the main melodic and percussion instruments in the accompaniment, and how vocalists and instrumentalists work together. They also look at the musical characteristics of speech forms and how lyrics in a tonal language like Cantonese are set to melodies, and offer insight into how pace and mood is enhanced with the use of melo-rhythmic vocal forms (melodies with a strong rhythm) and programmatic tunes that provide extra-musical mood and narrative.

Language:
Cantonese

Date:
2 February 2021 (Tuesday)

Time:
7:30pm–9:00pm

Speakers:
Janet Wong
Lee Tik-lun

Fee:
Free admission. Please register online in advance. The talk will be conducted through YouTube. Registered participants will receive a streaming link with their confirmation email.

Register to attend online

Enquiries:
Please contact Ms Chan at (852) 2200 0812 during office hours or email learning@wkcda.hk.

Adverse Weather Arrangements:
If a black rainstorm warning or a typhoon signal no. 8 or above is in force three hours before the start of the event, the event will be rescheduled or cancelled.

About the Speakers:

Janet Wong

Wong graduated in 2005 from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Advanced Certificate Programme (Cantonese Opera), where she specialised in dan (female) roles and studied under musician Ng Lut-kwong. Since then she has performed with various Cantonese opera troupes, including the Cantonese Opera Theatre, and also formed her own troupe. In 2011, Wong became a resident actor in the Hong Kong Young Talent Cantonese Opera Troupe. In 2014, she won the Outstanding Performance Award at the Rising Stars in Cantonese Opera Showcase organised by West Kowloon, as well as the Award for Young Artist (Xiqu) presented by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council.

Lee Tik-lun

Currently the ensemble leader of the Tea House Rising Stars Troupe. Lee Tik-lun graduated from the School of Chinese Opera at HKAPA and received training from numerous famed musicians, he served as the ensemble leader of the Young Academy Cantonese Opera Troupe of the HKAPA from 2011 to 2017. He has been awarded certificates of Erhu from Central Conservatory of Music Practical Exam (Beijing) and Shanghai Conservatory of Music.