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Gary Cheung

China’s culture officials are studying a proposal by the head of Hong Kong’s arts hub to stage the full canon of 367 Chinese operas at its new venue dedicated to the genre.
If the ambitious plan was given the green light, the Xiqu Centre would be the first venue in the world to perform a complete set of Chinese operas.
Henry Tang Ying-yen, chairman of the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority which runs the hub, said about 80 of the 367 operas were still being performed.

“I learned that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is going to revive all 367 xiqu,” he said.
“I hope all 367 can be performed at the Xiqu Centre eventually, so it will become the first venue in the world where a complete set of Chinese opera is performed.”
According to a source, the ministry plans to arrange for artists to perform the 287 Chinese operas with musical notation for songs that have not been practised for many years.
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An official from the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said it received Tang’s proposal in January. “We think the proposal is very good and meaningful. We are actively studying the idea,” the official said.
Hong Kong’s Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs Cherry Tse Ling Kit-ching was said to have relayed Tang’s idea to the ministry.
The official said the ministry – which is responsible for conserving and promoting China’s intangible cultural heritage – planned to revive Chinese opera.
Intangible heritage includes performing arts, skills, rituals, crafts and festivals.

The purpose-built Xiqu Centre officially opened on January 20.
The centre, built at a cost to the public purse of HK$2.7 billion (US$346 million), is the first major venue in the 40-hectare (99-acre) West Kowloon Cultural District. It has a mission to promote and preserve the rich heritage of traditional Chinese opera.
Cantonese opera debut at West Kowloon’s Xiqu Centre impresses
The 28,164 square metre (303,155 sq ft) complex houses a 1,072-seat Grand Theatre, a Tea House Theatre, eight studios and a seminar hall, all designed for different types of xiqu-related activities.
Fredric Mao Chun-fai, former head of the school of Chinese opera at the Academy for Performing Arts, welcomed Tang’s proposal.

“It will be wonderful if the Xiqu Centre can introduce Chinese operas that haven’t been practised for years to Hong Kong and an international audience,” he said.
But Mao, a veteran theatre director, said there may not be enough fans in Hong Kong to sustain a huge number of operas.
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“The authority should devise a strategy to choose which operas are to be staged and promoted at the Xiqu Centre,” he said.
“Apart from staging performances by artists from other places, the authority should also strive to provide Chinese operas performed by local artists and nurture local talent.”



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West Kowloon Cultural District

Culture officials in Beijing studying Hong Kong arts hub chief Henry Tang’s proposal to stage all 367 Chinese operas at city’s new Xiqu Centre

Interior view of the Xiqu Centre, Chinese opera theatre in Tsim Sha Tsui, photographed during press tour. 19DEC18 SCMP / Sam Tsang

Exterior of the Xiqu Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui, photographed on its grand opening day. 20JAN19 SCMP / Felix Wong

People queueing up for the open day tickets for Xiqu Center. 30DEC18 SCMP/ Felix Wong

Henry Tang says about 80 of 367 Chinese operas are still performed. Photo: Nora Tam

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Hong Kong

Society

If ambitious plan gets green light, the Xiqu Centre will be first venue in the world to perform a complete set of Chinese operas
Ministry of Culture official says Tang’s idea is ‘very good and meaningful’


If the ambitious plan was given the green light, the Xiqu Centre would be the first venue in the world to perform a complete set of Chinese operas.


Culture officials in Beijing studying Hong Kong arts hub chief Henry Tang’s proposal to stage all 367 Chinese operas at city’s new Xiqu Centre

If ambitious plan gets green light, the Xiqu Centre will be first venue in the world to perform a complete set of Chinese operas Ministry of Culture official says Tang’s idea is ‘very good and meaningful’

If ambitious plan gets green light, the Xiqu Centre will be first venue in the world to perform a complete set of Chinese operas

Ministry of Culture official says Tang’s idea is ‘very good and meaningful’