In this talk, American-born Cantonese opera artist Li Pui-yan shares anecdotes from her experience as a performer, 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.

In the tragic martial arts romance Princess Chang Ping, the royal heroine is a fierce warrior fighting alongside her lover Zhou Shixian and facing war, separation and death. In Romance of the Phoenix Tower, a comic farce about mistaken identity, the roles of Song Princess Hongluan and the commoner Ni Xiutian are suddenly reversed after an accident in a river leads to memory loss and confusion.

Join us to find out more about these popular plays and how the tales of these two different female figures are portrayed.

Date:
8 January 2020 (Wednesday)

Time:
7:30pm-9:00pm

Venue:
Seminar Hall, 2/F, Xiqu Centre

Speaker:
Li Pui-yan

Language:
English

Fee:
Free admission. Limited capacity on a first come, first served basis. Please register online in advance.

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

Accessibility Services:
Cantonese audio description and Hong Kong sign language interpretation are available upon request with at least 14 days’ advance notice. Wheelchair accessible seats and companion seats are available on a first come, first served basis. Please request at least four days in advance.

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, it will be cancelled.

About the Speaker:

Li Pui-yan

Li Pui-yan, a graduate of liberal arts college Wellesley College, was born in New York into a family with Cantonese opera heritage. Taught by a number of famous Cantonese opera performers, her repertoire ranges from classics to new productions. Li has performed at the Hong Kong Arts Festival, the Chinese Opera Festival, and the Macau Arts Festival. She also featured as one of West Kowloon Cultural District’s Rising Stars in Cantonese Opera in 2014 and is the recipient of the Award for Young Artist for Xiqu at the 2017 Hong Kong Arts Development Awards. Li has served on the Cantonese Opera Advisory Committee in Hong Kong for three terms. She also works with artists from other disciplines, such as Ming Wong and Mariko Mori, and aspires to further explore the cross-disciplinary potential of the traditional art form.