Traditional Music Notation in Kunqu and Cantonese Opera

14.01.2020 to 28.10.2020, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre and live-streaming

Talk 2 Literati Manuscripts due to take place on 28 October (Wednesday) has been cancelled

Sigg Prize 2019 exhibition

07.12.2019 to 17.05.2020, M+ Pavilion, Art Park

Six shortlisted artists selected by an international jury of the inaugural Sigg Prize, present a range of mediums, including sculpture, site-specific installation, video and performance. The work featured in this exhibition address pressing questions that resonate across contexts

Two Princesses: A Closer Look at Two Royal Cantonese Opera Tales

08.01.2020, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre

In this talk, American born Cantonese opera artist Li Pui-yan shares anecdotes from her career and looks at two traditional works – Princess Chang Ping and Romance of the Phoenix Tower – that both feature complex princess characters in the lead role

West Kowloon Young Fellows Scheme (Performing Arts) 2019: Awardee Sharing Session

16.12.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre

In this session, Bonnie Chan Yuen-yan, one of our 2019 fellowship awardees, talks about the practice and findings of “Little Bean – Cantonese is Fun!” – a project providing fun Cantonese-language drama and music workshops to help ethnic minority children enhance their language proficiency

Rare Classics: Shanxi Opera Excerpts

11.12.2019 to 12.12.2019, Tea House Theatre, Xiqu Centre

Rare Classics: Shanxi Opera Excerpts on 11-12 December 2019 are cancelled. Ticketing Enquiries: (852) 2200 0022

The Music of Cantonese Opera

10.12.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre

This talk explores the wide range of musical elements used in Cantonese opera, looking at the different vocal styles used for male and female roles, and the use of percussive instruments and rhythmic melodies to enhance mood and narrative

International Symposium on the Transmission of Cantonese Opera and Traditional Music 2019

05.12.2019 to 06.12.2019, Seminar Hall and Tea House Theatre, Xiqu Centre

This two-day symposium invites regional and international scholars, researchers, ethnomusicologists and practitioners to share and discuss successful practices in the inheritance, education and creative developments of xiqu arts in a wide range of educational and social contexts

Chinese Culture Talk Series IV

28.08.2019 to 30.10.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre

In this series of expert talks, renowned academics and artists including Ou Da-wei, Dr Otto Lee, and Tony Miller introduce some of the ancient arts of Chinese literati and scholar-officials

Cantonese Opera and Modernity

26.10.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre

In this talk, Prof Li looks at Cantonese opera in the social context of modern Hong Kong, and examines how elements of Western modern music, literature and film culture have been adapted for use in this traditional performing art form

Dunhuang Murals: Ancient Depictions of Daily Life

23.10.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre

In this talk, Special Researcher of Dunhuang Academy Lee Mei-yin will introduce the history and cultural background of Dunhuang. Using photographic illustrations of the precious Dunhuang murals, Lee looks at the folk customs of the ancient people and explores their relationship with modern cultures

Five Artists: Sites Encountered

07.06.2019 to 20.10.2019, M+ Pavilion, Art Park

Five Artists: Sites Encountered brings together an international group of artists whose varied approaches offer ways to rethink ideas of site and place

The Music of Cantonese Opera

24.09.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre

This talk explores the wide range of musical elements used in Cantonese opera, looking at the different vocal styles used for male and female roles, and the use of percussive instruments and rhythmic melodies to enhance mood and narrative

The Stage Movements of Cantonese Opera

10.09.2019 to 17.09.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre

In two separate talks, experienced Cantonese opera performers look at how acting, martial arts and dance are combined in Cantonese opera to create patterns of formulaic gesture that contribute to the unfolding of plot and help define character for male and female roles

Memorial Talk Series Commemorating Wong Yuet-sang, Maestro of Cantonese Music Culture

11.08.2019 to 15.09.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre

To mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of Wong Yuet-sang, maestro of Cantonese music culture in Hong Kong, the Xiqu Centre and the Centre for Chinese Music Studies of the CUHK present a series of talks on his work

Introducing Cantonese Opera Music: What is Erhuang?

08.09.2019 to 11.09.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre

The talk scheduled on 8 & 11 September 2019 (Sunday and Wednesday) is cancelled. Programme Enquiries: (852) 2200 0804

Seminar: The Innovation and Conservation of Cantonese Opera

07.09.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre

The seminar scheduled on 7 September 2019 (Saturday) is cancelled. Programme Enquiries: (852) 2200 0441

The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Cantonese Opera Art Development Forum

13.08.2019, Tea House Theatre, Xiqu Centre

Bringing together renowned scholars and artists from the region, this forum looks at the development of Cantonese opera over the last decade, as well as the legacy of the art form and future directions for education and promotion

The Fragrance of Chrysanthemums and Orchids – A Close Encounter of Peking Opera and Kunqu Opera: Jingkun Theatre and Shandong Peking Opera Theatre

02.08.2019 to 04.08.2019, Tea House Theatre, Xiqu Centre

Staged in the intimate setting of the Xiqu Centre Tea House Theatre, the three performances in this mixed programme offer audiences a unique experience of two of the most prominent xiqu genres – Peking opera and Kunqu

Cantonese Opera and Kunqu: Major Works

03.08.2019, Seminar Hall & Studio, Xiqu Centre

In this talk, Chinese opera scholar Chan Chun-miu uses audio and video demonstrations to illustrate and compare the literary styles of a selection of Kunqu and Cantonese opera works with similar themes

Love or Hate: Dowager Xiao-Zhuang and Dorgon

01.08.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre

To accompany GuoGuang Opera Company’s production of Dowager Xiao-Zhuang and Dorgon, lead cast members – Wei Hai-min (Dowager Xiao-Zhuang) and Tang Wen-hwua (Dorgan) – join us for a pre-performance discussion and sharing session about their work and the relationship between their characters

Chinese Culture Talk Series III

26.06.2019 to 31.07.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre

Throughout history, tea and incense have played an important part in traditional Chinese culture. This series of talks looks at the historic and contemporary cultural uses of incense and tea, and explores their aesthetic and ritual significance

The Heartless Men of Cantonese Opera

25.06.2019 to 23.07.2019, Seminar Hall, Xiqu Centre

In this series of two talks, theatre practitioner and critic Dr Cheung Ping-kuen examines the psychological and emotional journeys of some of Cantonese opera’s iconic “heartless men”, looking at the motivation behind their behaviour, and exploring the relevance of these characters for modern day audiences