Cantonese opera’s ‘brightest star’ Yam Kim-fai was known for her male roles
- Born in Guangzhou, Yam Kim-fai came to Hong Kong after World War II where she dedicated her life to Cantonese opera
- She performed in ‘virtually only’ male roles before her death in 1989
“Cantonese opera’s brightest star dies at 76,” ran a South China Morning Post headline on November 30, 1989. Yam Kim-fai passed away at her Happy Valley home of complications from pneumonia. She had “suffered a series of heart problems in recent years and came out of hospital on November 10 to convalesce at home”, reported the Post.
Yam was born in Guangdong province as Yam Yuen-yee and “picked up opera singing from her aunt at a young age before taking on training in a Cantonese opera troupe in Guangzhou”. Following World War II, she moved to Hong Kong after several years performing in Macau.
“Ms Yam sang virtually only male roles in 400 stage performances and 300 films in Hongkong in a career spanning 50 years. She was accorded the rare honour of being named the best-selling actress for 10 consecutive years.”
Lyricist Yip Siu-tak, who worked with Yam for more than 30 years, said, “When Cantonese opera began to recover from its low in the late 1960s, she made an all-out effort to organise the Chor Fung Ming Troupe. She and her long-time partner, Ms Pak Shuet-sin, worked long hours on outdoor makeshift stages supervising practice and rehearsals. It was really a tough spell for her.” Yam’s dedication paid off, however, and Chor Fung Ming became one of Hong Kong’s top troupes.
Her funeral was held on December 6 in North Point. A crowd of more than 2,500 mourners, among them Jackie Chan, Chow Yun-fat and Anita Mui Yim-fong, gathered to pay their respects.
“I’ve been listening to Ms Yam’s songs and watching Cantonese opera movies for 40 years,” one fan told the Post. “I’m so sad that Hongkong has lost such a good artiste.” Another said: “When I was a teenager I used to watch her performances on stage in Macau. I was sad when I learned of Ms Yam’s death.”
