中樂清唱劇《帝女花》— 為中樂團、旁白及六位歌者而作【優先套票優惠】

About the show

Following the cultural lineage of Huang Xieqing (黃燮清) in the Qing dynasty and Tong Dik-sang (唐滌生) in the modern era, this legendary tale of dynastic rise and fall and star-crossed love at the end of the Ming dynasty is transformed into a ritualistic modern musical feast. Stripping away the elaborate costumes and stylised movements of traditional opera, the production distills the story into a pure oratorio form accompanied by a large Chinese orchestra. Six vocalists perform in Cantonese, with four of them playing multiple roles throughout the piece — including one performer taking on the emperors of two different dynasties, symbolising the relentless cycle of history. An independent narrator offers an objective perspective, guiding the audience through the currents of the era, while historical accounts by Zhang Dai (張岱) from the Ming and Qing periods are woven in to add narrative depth. The work is divided into ten movements, using a modern musical vocabulary to continue the lyrical tradition of the original, confronting the transience of life and celebrating steadfast love, reinterpreting this poignant tragedy of the late Ming. Produced by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra (香港中樂團), this Chinese oratorio *The Flower Princess (帝女花)* is specially composed for the Chinese orchestra, narrator, and six singers. As 2027 marks the 110th anniversary of Tong Dik-sang (唐滌生)'s birth and the 70th anniversary of the premiere of his immortal masterpiece *The Flower Princess (帝女花)*, the team dedicates this new creation as a tribute to the Cantonese opera giant. It is ideal for audiences who enjoy cross-genre music, modern interpretations of classic stories, or the flavour of Chinese orchestral music.

Synopsis translated by KinoHK — the performance itself is not in English unless stated above.