The Opening Ceremony of the newly-established Ina Ho Cantonese Opera Research Centre of School of Arts and Social Sciences of Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU), was successfully held on 19 August 2023 at the Xiqu Centre in the West Kowloon Cultural District. A number of renowned artists presented an exciting repertoire with Nanyin and five well-known Cantonese opera excerpts, to celebrate the grand opening of the Research Centre, showcasing the unique charm of Cantonese opera and driving its development.
Established by HKMU upon receiving a generous donation from Dr Ina Ho Chan Un-chan in May 2023, “Ina Ho Cantonese Opera Research Centre” serves to promote traditional Chinese arts and culture on campus, in coherence with the University's long-term vision as well as devotion to spread the art to the local young generation and overseas receptors under the policy mission led by the HKSAR Government.
The ceremony was officiated by Mr Kevin Yeung Yun-hung, Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr Zhang Guoyi, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Publicity, Cultural and Sports Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (LOCPG), Dr Ina Ho Chan Un-chan, donor of Ina Ho Cantonese Opera Research Centre and Founder of the Hong Kong Cantonese Opera Troupe, and Professor Paul Lam Kwan-sing, the President of HKMU. The ceremony was also witnessed by an audience of over 800 staff, students, alumni and friends of HKMU as well as Cantonese opera enthusiasts in Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District, where they also enjoyed the Cantonese opera performances following the ceremony.
The 3.5-hour Cantonese opera performance signified a remarkable start with a selection of programmes that shared laughter and tears through a touch of every genres including romances, comedies, dramas and actions. Earning rounds of applauses, the programme included Nanyin: “Yearning of the Way in Fall” by Yuen Siu-fai, and five excerpts, namely “Plum-picking Romance” in “The Reincarnation of the Red Plum” by Vong Seng-pan and Leung Sum-yee, “Seeing You Off” in “Drums along the Battlefield” by Lung Koon-tin and Nam Fung, “Giving up His own Son to Save Zhao's Orphan” in “The Orphan of Zhao” by Yat Dim-hung and Leung Sum-yee, “Mu Guiying Finding a Groom” by Vong Seng-pan and Chan Kei-ting, and “Meeting at the Military Camp” in “Unparalleled Heroes Overlord the City of Chu” by Lung Koon-tin, Yuen Siu-fai, Nam Fung, Leung Sum-yee, Yat Dim-hung and Siu Wing-yee.
