Cantonese Music Theatre: Imperial Princess and the Kung Fu Master
Southeast Asian Mask

Cantonese music, also known as Guangdong music, is Hong Kong’s native traditional music and one of the world’s most popular regional music genres. It was listed in the first batch of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage and included in the initial Hong Kong Intangible Cultural Heritage list. It carries deep historical and cultural significance. Many melodies are widely beloved; among them, the aria "Zhuangtai Qiusi" (Autumn Thoughts at the Dressing Table) from the Cantonese opera "The Imperial Princess" (Di Nü Hua) and the film score "General’s Order" from the Wong Fei-hung films, through opera and cinema, have become the civil-and-martial ("wen" and "wu") sonic symbols of Lingnan culture.

This music theatre takes the music associated with these two characters as its starting point, employing a variety of traditional Cantonese instruments alongside "Cantonese-styled" Western instruments to interpret timeless Cantonese classics. A storyteller will recount the century-long evolution of Cantonese music, showcasing the open, inclusive spirit of the Cantonese (Guangfu) culture and its blending of Chinese and Western influences.

The Winepipe Chinese Music Ensemble will perform a number of classic pieces, including "General’s Order," "Thunder in Drought," "Awakening Lion," "Autumn Thoughts at the Dressing Table," "Hungry Horse Shaking the Bells," and "New Colourful Clouds Chasing the Moon."

Date:
Venue:

Blue Zone, 4/F, Yeung Kin Man Academic Building, City University of Hong Kong

Time:
13:00 - 14:15
Co-organisers:

Winepipe Chinese Music Ensemble

Participants:
All are welcome
Admission:
Online registration is required for non-CityUHK members
Capacity:
60
Language:
Cantonese
Application Deadline:

4th September 2026

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