Classic Opera
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Helmi Yusof
Most people think of Farewell My Concubine as the 1993 film starring Gong Li and Leslie Cheung. And while the inspiration for the film came from Lilian Lee's 1985 novel of the same name, the tale itself drew inspiration from a classic 1918 Peking opera that has been performed countless times over a century.
The original opera centres on warlord Xiang Yu who, facing defeat at the hands of his enemies, calls upon his favourite concubine to spend his last hours with him. This new adaptation by West Kowloon Cultural District Xiqu Centre will be performed in both Mandarin and Cantonese, and combines traditional Cantonese opera techniques with innovative stage techniques.
Farewell My Concubine plays at the China Cultural Theatre Centre, 217 Queen Street, on Sept 21 and 22 at 7.30pm and 3pm respectively. Tickets from Sistic.
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