Professor Mao Chun-fai visited Metropolitan University on July 23, 2024 (Tuesday), delivering a seminar on the topic “The Fusion of Tradition and Fashion”, sharing his experiences in the inheritance and innovation of Cantonese opera art. This public lecture was co-hosted by the Ina Ho Cantonese Opera Research Centre at Metropolitan University and the Hong Kong & Macau Intangible Cultural Heritage Research Center, as part of the “Jockey Club Mao Chun Fai Theatre Art Research and Creation Project” series.
Having been involved in the theatre industry for many years, Prof Mao has ventured into the field of traditional opera for over a decade, applying his years of experience in scriptwriting and directing to traditional opera. Today, Prof Mao began by sharing his personal experiences, discussing his views on “tradition” and “innovation”. He then cited some of his recent works to illustrate how he uses the tension between “tradition” and “innovation” to create, preserving the essence of tradition while pioneering a new style. The lecture attracted not only opera fans, but also scholars from different institutions and researchers. After the lecture, there was a lively exchange, with everyone sharing their insights on artistic creation with Mao Sir.
Professor Kwong Chi Leung, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, thanked Prof Mao for his collaboration with the University in his welcoming speech. He specifically advised to “remember tradition and dare to innovate”, hoping that Mao Sir can share more of his stage scriptwriting and directing experiences in the future, injecting new vitality into traditional arts.
After the lecture, Prof Mao visited the Ina Ho Cantonese Opera Research Centre at Metropolitan University, where he viewed the centre’s Cantonese Opera collections.
