Gao Jia Xi in Quanzhou, China

Recently, I visited Quanzhou, Fujian, China and got to watch these Gao Jia Xi 高甲戏. Thought to share with you.

Cantonese Opera at Mun San Fook Tuck Chee万山福德祠 5-8 Mar 2011

For the Cantonese Opera fans, here is another performing at Mun San Fook Tuck Chee 万山福德祠 at Sims Dr from 5th Mar to 8th Mar, 2011

Click to view bigger picture of poster

If you are in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, you might be interested in this. Traditions and traditional songs ... the strings that brought us back to our old home (Lao Jia as they say in Chinese).

马来西亚第一张 结合乡音采集 + 跨界创作...

【鄉音 回家】年味专辑 2011

慈善首卖推介礼

日期：2011年1月1日

时间：晚上8点

地点：吉隆坡 陈氏书院

受惠单位：双福残障自强发展协会

  【助残障朋友回家过年计划】 

ack: Zhang Ji An

Siong Leng's Annual Multi-sensory Nanyin Banquet II

Siong Leng is having its annual gala performance again. This time, something more exciting to all the senses will be presented. This is also an event where the Association raises funds to help its year long programme of promoting Nanyin and training young people on the performance which includes playing the traditional musical instrument (which have remained unchanged for more than a thousand years).

If you enjoy this rare and ancient music, or even want to see what it is all about (you will not be disappointed, you might get a gentle culture shock, perhaps), this is the event to go to. Gather your friends and form a table and enjoy the night of ancient music, songs and food.

Siong Leng performs "Mu Lian saves his mother" @ Poh Ern Shih on 1 & 2 May 2010

Li Yuan Opera "Gao Weju" 高文举 at Thian Hock Keng

On 15Mar09, which is 2M19 in the Chinese Lunar Calendar, Thian Hock Keng with Siong Leng Musical Association, in honour of the feast day of Guan Yin, had a Li Yuan Opera, entitled "Gao We Ju" 高文举.

It was a delightful evening. Watch out for next Nanyin event at this temple on 6M19 that is on 22Jul09

Esplanade presents Li Yuan Opera: Gao Wenju

Siong Leng Musical Association, with Esplanade, presents Gao Wenju on Mar 7 at 8pm. From 7.15pm to 7.45pm, there will be a pre-show talk.

FantaPsychezing - Erhu Solo

宣传稿

                          【胡丝嫩想——王丽娜二胡独奏会】

 

本地年轻二胡演奏家——王丽娜，将于本月14日下午5点假ARTS HOUSE （旧国会大厦艺术之家）举办个人第二场二胡独奏会【胡丝嫩想】。音乐会将演奏多首二胡名曲，如【红梅随想曲】、【汉宫秋月】  、【兰花花叙事曲】  、【新婚别】  、【思念 】等节目。

王丽娜是湘灵音乐社演奏员、安德逊初级学院校友会华乐团助理指挥与乐团首席、星海艺术研究会与人民协会青年华乐团演奏员。其8岁开始学习钢琴，并对传统民族音乐有着浓厚的兴趣。2004-2007年间，她获得福建会馆、国家艺术理事会奖学金及本地助学金，完成音乐学位。2007年在黄晨达老师的指导下考获二等一级荣誉音乐学士学位。现向黄安源老师学习二胡。2007年4月，被湘灵音乐社送往厦门向吴世安与王秀怡老师学习南音。目前教导与演奏二胡以及南音二弦。曾在2006年举办过个人独奏会，并多次到海外演出。曾获1999年国家艺术理事会主办的全国华乐比赛亚军、2001年全国华乐比赛高级组合奏冠军。

欢迎购票：4B Bukit Pasoh Road （湘灵音乐社）或致电：6222 4221

Siong Leng presents Soul Journey

On 6 Jul 08, Siong Leng presents Soul Journey, a interpretive journey of the ancient Nan Yin with other cultures and modernity. The performance will be at the Esplanade Theatre Studio and there will be two shows, at 3pm and 8pm.

YUE Opera: 5 Daughters Celebrating Grand Birthday

On 19 Jun 08, the Marine Parade CC Shanghai Yue Opera Appreciation Club with the Food from the Heart staged its third year running Charity Nite. As in the past years, they performed for two nights.


This year, the performance was held in the NAFA Lee Foundation Theatre. Three artistes from the Shanghai Yue Opera - Hua Yi-qing, Huang Hui, and Chen Qiong-qiong - were invited to perform with the members of the Marine Parade CC Shanghai Yue Appreciation Club.

It was another night of beautiful performance that kept the audience on their toes, wanting to know more as each episode ended.

A Nite of Nanyin by Siong Leng at Thian Hock Keng

On 26 March 2008, in celebrating the birthday of Guan Yin at Thian Hock Keng, a nite of Nanyin concert was held in the temple. It met with overwhelming response from the public, a growing group of Nanyin fans.

Shanghai Yue Opera Charity Nites - 19-20 June 2008

Come and enjoy the Shanghai Yue Opera and do something worthwhile for charity too!

An Evening of Nanying at NAFA

Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) is organising an Evening of Nanyin (Music of the South) presented by Siong Leng Musical Association.

Date: 21 January 08, Monday

Place: NAFA, Lee Foundation Theatre, 151 Bencoolen St

Time: 6.30pm

Tickets: S$8 (plus S$1 for booking) from http://www.gatecrash.com.sg/, or any postoffice or S.A.M. machines

ack: NAFA and Siong Leng Musical Association

Siong Leng stages Li Ah Sian 李亚仙

On 11 August, 2007, Siong Leng (湘灵) Musical Association made its debut at the Esplanade, fondly known as the Durian by locals (and lewlian kak by the Hokkiens). With two shows on Li Ah Sian 李亚仙 (Li Ya Xian), the cast played to an almost full house. Considering that it is a Hokkien (minnan hua) opera, it was a huge success, with the show attracting people of all ages, and even many foreigners, including students in the local international schools.

A popular Hokkien opera piece known to my mother's generation (she's in her 70s), this is quite new to the younger generations, especially to those who have less exposure to the Hokkien dialect and its culture. Hence, this show by Siong Leng and Esplanade has added another dimension in the local culture scene.

To the talented young cast, well done and we look forward to another show at the Durian, soon. (^^)

Siong Leng is also well known locally for its Nan Yin concerts. You can read and view some of the clips from Chinatownology website.

[Ack: Esplanade and Siong Leng]

Shanghai YUE Opera is in town - 22-23Jun07 at Victoria Theatre

For Opera lovers, the Shanghai YUE Opera is in town. Organised and performed by Marine Parade Community Centre Shanghai Yue Opera Club with two artistes from Shanghai, once again, the club is performing this two-day Opera to raise funds for Food-from-the-Heart.

Nothing like enjoying an opera and contributing towards good cause supporting Food-from-the-Heart.

Tickets at S$20 and S$30, or donation tickets are available. Call Ain at 62597176.

The Classic Cantonese Opera 2007 - 28 Apr 07

Shanghai YUE Opera is coming to town on 22-23June

On June 22 and June 23, the Marine Parade CC Shanghai Yue Opera Appreciation Club is organising the Shanghai Yue Opera Charity Nights to help Food from the Heart raise funds.

The highlight of the show will be 2 famous stars from Shanghai, Ms Hua Yi-Qing and Ms Huang Hui, who together with members of the Marine Parade CC Shanghai Yue Opera Appreciation Club will perform in this year's Opera.

Due to a very successful production in 2006, the Club has decided to put together another very exciting performance this year presenting a full-length opera "The Legend of Song Hong".

This is a historical epic based on events that happened during the end of Eastern Han Dynasty and the beginning of Western Han Dynasty. It is a heart-warming story about the virtues of Song Hong, a premier who served under Emperor Liu Xiu, founder of Western Han Dynasty.

This year’s performance will be even greater than last year's, as the Club will be having a Director from China to direct the show. There will also be brand new costumes from Shanghai.

Watch out for more details! The Opera will be at Victoria Theatre

Nan Yin at Tian Hock Keng

It's Guan Yin's birthday today (2M19) and Hokkien Huay Kuan with Siong Leng Nan Yin group staged a Nan Yin concert in front of the Hokkien Huay Kuan building with the Tian Hock Keng opened for worship.

By 8pm, almost all the seats were filled up and some spare chairs were being placed.

For this concert, the troupe spared no efforts in getting the performers to dress in Tang Dynasty dresses - wow, they looked good, especially on the ladies!

The first song was in dedication to Guan Yin, singing praise of Guan Yin and telling about the three importants dates of celebration in honour of Guan Yin, 2M19, 6M19 and 9M19 (in lunar calendar, month-date)

This night was a night of the younger generation. The older members only performed on the first song dedicated to Guan Yin. The younger ones took over from there with the songs, ensemble and even one with a dance, all very beautifully cheorographed.

Thanks to Kevin Ang, he has produced an English edition pamphlet explaining about Nan Yin and Tian Hock Keng. I hope to be able to get his copy in pdf so that you could also download to read. In the next performance, perhaps, a similar copy in different languages could be made available in the internet.

An ancient song and music, an ancient language - the origin of Tang and the Hokkiens - have been preserved and today, thanks to the dedication of the Siong Leng Musical Association, we get to enjoy what our grandparents have been enjoying in the early years in Singapore.

See you there on 6M19? 1st August 2007. Bookmark in your diary!

Kim Eng Teochew Opera's Last Curtain Call

On 11 Feb 2007, it could well be the last performance by Kim Eng Teochew Opera at Defu Lane. Being the oldest Teochew Opera in Singapore, it has seen it great days. With the current trend of less people speaking Teochew, a southern Chinese dialect, there are less people watching the opera.

Kim Eng performing at the Qi Tian Gong celebration at Tiong Bahru

With the closing of the Kim Eng Teochew Opera, the Chinese temple celebrations in Singapore will have one less Teochew Opera to perform. Many fans of Teochew Operas will miss this opera.


The members of the opera may resurface with a smaller puppet troupe.

Teochew Puppet Show

Last Sunday, I had the good fortune of visiting Loyang Tua Pek Kong and watch this Teochew Puppet Show.

This is the first time I saw the puppet show with the puppets being handled by wires and bamboo handles.