Cantonese Opera Development Fund

Publication projects supported by the Cantonese Opera Development Fund (CODF):

Books / Video Discs

Grantee	Name of publication and description
Liao Mio Mei	《倩影紅船—九十風華譚倩紅從藝錄》 Edited by Ms Liao Mio Mei and published by Legend Enterprise Company Ltd., this book recounts the experiences of veteran Cantonese opera actress Ms Tam Sin Hung throughout her remarkable 80-year career in the Cantonese opera, film and TV industries. It also provides readers with a glimpse into the development of Cantonese opera in Hong Kong and Macao over the past few decades.
Society of Cantonese Opera Study (Hong Kong)	《尤聲普粵劇傳藝錄》 Published by Infolink Publishing Limited, this book is co-written by Dr Kitty Tai Suk Yan and Dr Lee Siu Yan. Through conducting interviews and interpreting oral history, this book records the most representative performances of Cantonese opera veteran Mr Yau Sing Po, including "Farewell My Concubine", “Li Bai: The Immortal Poet“, “Madame She”, “Towering Legends of the Three Kingdoms” and “King Liguang”, aiming to exhibit the superb artistic achievements of Mr Yau. This publication comes with a DVD which contains Mr Yau’s demonstration and illustration of his performances as well as video segments of Mr Yau’s most famous Cantonese opera performances.
Dr Elaine Chan Kim Mui	《南派傳統粵劇藝術－經典粵劇古本《斬二王》》 Published by the Commercial Press Company Limited, the book is written by Dr Elaine Chan Kim Mui. In the book, the author used the classical Cantonese opera play, "Executing the Duke’s Second Brother", to introduce the southern Cantonese opera which aims to enhance readers’ enthusiasm for preserving the traditional culture of Cantonese opera. The author’s interviews with a number of Cantonese opera masters and musicians who have participated in the play, including Yau Sing Po, Yuen Siu Fai, Law Kar Ying, Sin Kim Long, Wong Chiu Kwan, Ko Yun Kuen and Ko Yun Hung, are also recorded in the book. Besides, this book contains the entire ancient playscript of "Executing the Duke’s Second Brother" as well as stage photos of the play over the years.
Evergreen Opera Troupe	《白玉堂大審戲承傳系列》 The above publication attached with a DVD, published by the Evergreen Opera Troupe (the Troupe), includes scripts and stills of BAI Yu-tang’s three courtroom operas, and an illustrative and pictorial account of the essence of such operas given by Cantonese opera masters. In the DVD, performances of the Troupe on three Cantonese opera excerpts (including “Laparotomy Suicide in the Imperial Ancestral Temple － Interrogate the Young Brother”, “Three Trials for Yu Tang Chun － Final Trial” and “Saving Prince Cí Yún － Uproar in the Kāifēng Prefectural Magistrate’s House”) of the late renownd Cantonese opera artist, BAI Yu-tang, and interviews with some other Cantonese opera masters are recorded. The Troupe hopes that, with the publication, readers can understand more about the art and achievements of the late veteran BAI Yu-tang, and the information can be used for the new generation of Cantonese opera artists to study and learn courtroom opera.
Winnie CHAN Hiu-ting	《無頭．神怪．紮腳─藝術旦后余麗珍》 Published by the Culture Plus, the book is written by Winnie CHAN Hiu-ting. In the book, the author depicted the development of Cantonese opera films in Hong Kong and analysed 17 popular ones starring the Queen of the Art of Dan, YU Lizhen, aiming to delve into the theme relating to the “supernatural” and the female roles played by YU in those films for readers to have a better understanding of the artistic characteristics of the renowned Cantonese opera artist.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong	《書譜絃歌─二十世紀上半葉粵劇音樂著述研究》 Published by the Hong Kong Association of Cantonese Opera Scholars, the book is written and edited by Prof Chan Sau Yan, Dr Lee Siu Yan, Dr Kitty Tai Suk Yan and Mr Ho Pak Kei. It selects works of literature on Cantonese opera music published in the first half of the twentieth century and features excerpts of some important original texts and pictures for illustration. The content covers writings and overviews of Cantonese opera music available in the early twentieth century, music concepts prevalent at the time, ways of notation, instruments used, repertoires, etc. for readers to gain a more in-depth and holistic understanding of Cantonese opera.
Lingnan University	《香港粵劇選: 芳艷芬卷》 Edited by Dr Li Siu Leung and published by the Infolink Publishing Limited, this anthology collects five play-scripts, with English translation, of the representative works performed by the “Queen of Diva” Fong Yim Fun. Such works include "The Forsaken Woman", "Cheung Yuk Kiu: A Heroine for All Time", "Leung Shan Pak and Chuk Ying Toi: The Regretful Tale of the Butterfly Lovers", "Snow in June" and "The Happy Marriage of Red Phoenix". The collection is suitable for Cantonese opera practitioners, audiences as well as members of the academic sector.
Dr Kitty Tai Suk Yan	驚艷紅梅─粵劇《再世紅梅記》賞析 Dr Kitty Tai Suk Yan, the author of the book, aims to give Cantonese opera audience and students a more comprehensive and better understanding of The Reincarnation of Lady Plum Blossom by introducing the background of creation, the plot, features of the theme and music of this Cantonese opera play. This book is published by the Infolink Publishing Ltd.
Spring - Time Chinese Opera	梁漢威先生藝術成就﹕藝術導賞《胡雪巖》及《貞觀盛事》光碟書刊套裝 Produced and published by the Spring-Time Chinese Opera, this DVD/book set records Hu Xueyan and The Glorious Zhen Guan Years of Tang Dynasty, two works by the late Mr Leung Hon Wai, who was a renowned Cantonese opera master. In addition to the recordings of performances, a guided appreciation channel is included to take readers on a trip to the artistic world of the two plays. Also, the book in the set contains a special section on Mr Leung, outlining his biography, style of creation and critiques from different sectors, etc.
Liao Mio Mei	黃滔記譜古本精華 Edited by Ms Liao Mio Mei and published by Legend Enterprise Company Ltd., this book is a collection of information on ancient plays and scores gathered and recorded by Mr Wong Tao, an experienced Cantonese opera musician, over the years. The collection, a treasure for research, is presented in two parts, namely “Banghuang Tunes for Cantonese Opera” and “Regular Repertoires and Paizi Sets of Cantonese Opera”.
Centre for Advancement of Chinese Language Education and Research (CACLER) Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong	葉紹德粵劇劇本翻譯及出版計劃 Published by the CACLER of the Faculty of Education of The University of Hong Kong, the book is a collection of works of the late Yip Shiu Tak, a Cantonese opera playwright. The book contains the original plays and English translation of Mr Yip’s several Cantonese operas including “Farewell, My Husband”, “Zhu Bian Returns to Court”, “Fifteen Strings of Cash”, “Farewell My Concubine” and “Li The Later Ruler”. Some researches and analyses on the plays, which are valuable references, are also appended
K-One Production Limited	龍貫天之藝術成長傳奇《玄中緣》書刊及藝術導賞DVD光碟套裝 Produced and published by K-One Production Limited, the book is written by Ms Tsui Yung Yung, who has made a detailed record of the career development, acting experience and artistic merit of Mr Loong Koon Tin, a famous Cantonese opera artist. Mr Loong’s views on Cantonese opera preservation and transmission have also been noted in the book. The book comes with a guided DVD, containing four excerpts from Cantonese opera, including “The Wedding” from “A Mismatched Couple”, “Trapped in a Valley” from “The Hero’s Blood on Mount Pipa”, “The Portrait Sketching after the War” from “Madam Huarui” and “Comforting the Wife” from “Time to Go Home”.
Kelly Lai Yee Ching	《香港粵劇敘論》 Edited by Dr Cham Lai Suk Ching and published by the Joint Publishing (Hong Kong) Company Limited, the book collects a total of 21 articles written by the late Mr Lai Kin, a Cantonese opera scholar, on such topics as the history of the art genre, the organisational structure of Cantonese opera troupes, the art of Cantonese opera and the development of Cantonese opera in Hong Kong. Readers will be able to have a more in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the origin and development of Cantonese opera.
Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong	《八和粵劇藝人口述歷史叢書》(一)、(二)及(三) Compiled and published by the Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong, the Series contains thirty interviews with seasoned Cantonese opera practitioners by Mr LEE Kei-fung, Mr LAW Ka-ying, Mr SUN Kim-long, Ms WONG Chiu-kwan, Mr MAK Wai-man, Ms LAU Wai-ming, Mr CHAN Hung-chun and Ms CHAN Wing-yee, who are also experienced Cantonese opera professionals themselves. Book 1 features interviews with many luminaries in the Cantonese opera sector, including prompter Mr LEUNG Hiu-fai; performers Mr WONG Kwan-lam, Mr CHAN Sing-tong and Mr HO Man-wun; percussion leader Mr KONG Shing; costume/props worker Mr WOO Kau; music leaders Mr MAK Wai-man, Mr WONG To and Mr LEUNG Kuen; and martial arts choreographer cum instructor Mr LEUNG Siu-chung. Veterans covered in Book 2 include artists Ms LEE Heung-kam, Ms YUM Bing-yee, Ms TAM Sin-hung, Ms LI Yun-shen and Mr WONG Sei-long; performer cum instructor Mr HO Ka-yiu; percussion leader Mr MAN Chun; lighting and set designer Mr LAI Jiu-wun; costume designer Mr CHAN Kwok-yuen and impresario Mr WONG Cheung. Book 3 records interviews with many experienced Cantonese opera practitioners, including impresario Mr WONG Siu-sang; percussion cum accompaniment musician Mr YIP Shu-kwan; impresario cum performer Mr LEE Kei-fung; performers Mr HO Pak-kwong, Mr NG Chin-fung, Ms CHAN Suet-yim and Ms LEE Fung-sing; martial arts instructor cum choreographer Mr YUEN Shing-chau; lighting cum set designer Mr KWONG Bing-chuen and costume manager Mr WONG Kwok-cheung. The illustration of the experience and views of various Cantonese opera artists and practitioners in these three books gives readers and budding artists an opportunity to understand more about the history and development of Cantonese opera.
Ng Ngok Ching	“《新艷陽傳奇》” Written by Mr Ng Ngok Ching, it recounts the stage career of beloved Cantonese opera master Ms Fong Yim Fun, traces the development of her “San Yim Yeung Opera Troupe”, and catalogues the troupe’s rich repertoire, thus offering the readers a glimpse of the troupe’s heyday in the 1950s.
Lee Kin Hung	《粵劇文武生梁漢威─如此戲台．如此人生》 Published by Mr Lee Kin Hung, the book follows the life of Cantonese opera master Mr Leung Hon Wai and details his numerous contributions to the sector. It also features stills, excerpts of Mr Leung’s compositions, and operatic songs he performed with other artists, so that readers may savour his multi-faceted talents.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong	《粵劇六十年》(重編) Published by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), it is an oral history account by Mr Chan Fei Nung, a renowned Cantonese opera performer. He talks about his performing career, ideas for teaching Cantonese opera, transformation of the art genre over time, and anecdotes about the opera circle. He also provides valuable information about the make-up, costumes, stage props, regular and classic repertoires of Cantonese opera, as well as the history of “red boat troupes” and jargons in use.