“Valentine Concert – Chinese Romance Down the Ages” will be held on 13 & 14 February, at 8:00pm, at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall.

    This might well be described as the most unusual Valentine concert in the history of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra since 1999 – uniquely conceptualized, and imbued with Hong Kong flavour, it is a concert of Cantonese operatic music featuring four of the greatest names in the local theatre scene: Man Chin-sui, Leung Hon-wai, Wan Fei-yin and Leung Siu-sum.

    For the 2007 Valentine Concert, the HKCO has invited the four leading Cantonese Opera artists to perform four sets of Cantonese opera arias including The Lovers’ Pledge at the Hall of Longevity, The Secret Vow from Empress Xiaozhuang, A Comedy of Errors in the Flower Fields and Burying the Most Famous Courtesan of Qinhuai River under the Moon that tell of the most famous romances in Chinese history.

    Special dinner packages are also available for this romantic occasion to share the joyful moment with lovers on 14 February.

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Artists Biography

Yan Huichang Conductor
National Class One Conductor. As a conductor who has worked with all professional Chinese orchestras in Beijing, Shanghai, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong, Yan has won the acclaim of the music circles in China and abroad for his artistic and conducting talents. Under his baton, and in collaboration with the famous composer Zhao Jiping, the Symphony Orchestra section of the China National Symphony Orchestra made the soundtrack recordings for such award-winning films as Raise the Red Lantern, Ballad of the Yellow River, and Five Girls and a Rope. Yan was awarded the “Cultural Medallion (Music)” by the National Arts Council of Singapore in September 2001. Since 2004, he has been a Visiting Professor in many music conservatories. Yan was awarded a Bronze Bauhinia Star (BBS) by the Chief Executive of HKSAR in 2004 in recognition of his remarkable achievements in Chinese music as well as his efforts in promoting Chinese music.

Man Chin-sui
Born into a family of theatre practitioners, Man Chin-sui is a Cantonese Opera artist of considerable renown. His repertoire consists of more than a hundred full-length Cantonese Operas, including Why Wouldst Thou Not Return?, Wreaking Havoc at the Green Bamboo Temple, Zhuge Liang Thrice Teases Zhou Yu, Lu Bu and Diao Chan, Xi Shi, The Sad Tale from the Tang Palace, The Sad Tale of the Butterfly Lovers, etc.. Famous operatic excerpts in his repertoire include Li Ling Caught in a Ravine, Qin Qiong Selling His Horse, The Chance Meeting at the Stage Coach Inn, The Horseman of Shandong, Beating the Princess in An Inebriated State etc. He has more than 180 recordings for Cantonese Opera arias to his credit. The accolades he has won include the Lark Award, Cantonese Opera Artist’s Achievement Award and the title “King of Smooth Vocal Delivery”. His solid training, versatility in playing both civil and military roles, rich voice and fluid delivery of voice have won him a lot of praise from colleagues in the field as well as the audience. Apart from acting, he also learned the gaohu from the gaohu master, Prof. Yu Qiwei. He is therefore an exceptionally all-round artist in Cantonese Opera.

Leung Siu-sum
Leung Siu-sum is a famous actress in Cantonese Opera in Hong Kong performing huadan (leading female) roles. She developed an interest in Cantonese Opera at a very young age, and, at various stages of her career, was coached by Tang Chiu Lan Fong, Tam Saan-saan and Yan Chun-hung. She has also received stylized movement training in Peking Opera from Qi Caifen. She is recognized for her virtuosity in performing the guimendan (high-born female) roles and qingyi (virtuous female) roles. In particular, her portrayal of the ‘four famous beauties in the history of China – Royal Concubine Yang, Xi Shi, Wang Zhaojun and Diao Chan – has made her an exceptional diva in Cantonese Opera. To play the operatic excerpt of ‘the drunken royal concubine’, she sought the personal coaching of Chen Yongling, one of the four famous actresses playing ‘young girl roles’ in Peking Opera. Leung is an all-round artist in her chosen field, known for her in-depth knowledge of operatic make-up, aesthetic tastes and costume design. Her vocal delivery is sweet, fluid and therefore touching. She has cut many successful recordings with Man Chin-sui many years ago, singing duets as well as solos. They were best-sellers and won for her many Gold Disc awards. Leung set up her own research institute for Cantonese Opera in 2000, and since then, apart from performing, she has devoted her efforts to training a new generation of artists in Cantonese Opera.

Leung Hon-wai
Leung Hon-wai is First Vice-chairman of the Chinese Artists’ Association of Hong Kong, one of the founders of the Cantonese Opera Academy of Hong Kong Ltd., Consultant (Chinese Opera) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of Hong Kong, Head of the Hon Fung Cantonese Opera Institute and Company Director and Instructor of Cantonese Operatic Arias of Hon Fung Cantonese Opera Troupe. Leung’s stage career began at the age of fifteen. He was coached by the leading actors in Cantonese Opera – Sun Ma Sze Tsang, Leung Sing-po, Chan Kam-tong, etc. He is also well-versed in the gongs and drums genre and the music of Cantonese Opera. He has many years of performing experience, having formed Cantonese Opera troupes with the leading divas Wan Fei-yin, Ng Mei-ying, Chan Ho-kau etc. in the 1970’s. Throughout his career, Leung has won many accolades, including Best Original Music in Stage Plays 1999 with The Last Days of the First Emperor of Qin, Best Supporting Actor 2000 for his performance in A Sentimental Journey, an Achievement Award (Xiqu) presented by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council in 2000, and a Special Award at the Hong Kong Drama Professional Spirit Awards in 2003.

Wan Fei-yin
Wan Fei-yin is a famous actress in Cantonese Opera in Hong Kong trained in huadan (leading female) roles. She was initiated into Cantonese Opera by her mother, and became a formal disciple of the famous musician, Wong Yuet-ssang, in the 1960’s to receive voice training. Later she was trained by Ng Sik-yi, Ng Kung-hap, Tam Saan-saan and Yam Tai-fai in stylized movements, the Peking Opera veterans Ma Yuqi and Liu Xun in martial arts and stylistic elements of the Northern School of Peking Opera. She stepped into the principal actress role of zhengyin huadan when she formed her own Kam Fai Wong Troupe in 1987. She has partnered with many famous actors in the troupe’s many productions. Wan has a sweet, expressive voice that is remarkable for its versatility. She is not only the most sought-after huadan in Cantonese Opera in Hong Kong today, but also a keen promoter of Cantonese Opera and operatic songs. She was Vice-chairman of the Chinese Artists’ Association and Secretary General of the Association of Cantonese Opera Performers.