Cantonese opera features a rich variety of musical elements. In this talk, local Cantonese opera performer and West Kowloon Rising Star Janet Wong uses 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. She also looks at the musical characteristics of speech forms and how lyrics in a tonal language like Cantonese are set to melodies, and offers 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.

Date:
24 September 2019 (Tuesday)

Time:
7:30pm–9:00pm

Venue:
Seminar Hall, 2/F, Xiqu Centre

Speaker:
Janet Wong, Lee Tik-lun

Language:
Cantonese

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

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

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 with at least 4 days’ advance notice.

Adverse Weather Arrangements:
The talk will be cancelled if a black rainstorm warning or a typhoon signal no. 8 or above is in force at/after 4:30pm on the day of the event.

About Speakers:

Janet Wong

Janet Wong is a graduate of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Advanced Certificate Programme (Cantonese Opera), where she specialised in dan roles. The daughter of Huang Jin-tang, a renowned Cantonese opera actor, she studied under Ng Lut-kwong, Liang Gu-yin, Hu Zhi-feng and Li Fung. After performing with various Cantonese opera companies, she formed her own troupe in 2011. In 2014, she won the Outstanding Performance Award at West Kowloon’s Rising Stars in Cantonese Opera Showcase, and in 2015, was presented with the Award for Young Artist (Xiqu) by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. Wong’s recent performances include excerpts from Han Xin Defects to Han from Chu, Irrevocable Loss and Breezy Pavilion.

Lee Tik-lun

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.