RED BOAT TROUPES AND CANTONESE ... - University of Georgia

Chapter Nine
Future of Cantonese Opera
Hong Kong was faced with political problems during the last few years of the 1960s. In
order to calm young people in the crowded city, the government allocated money for art
activities. Some performers and amateur used the funding to promote Cantonese opera. In the
New Territories, a group of school principals and Cantonese Opera lovers began to sing,
perform, and organize amateur Cantonese opera. These school principals, who were leaders at
work and in the society, helped to raise respect for the genre, as well as the identity of Hong
Kong citizenship. In subsequent years, university professors, performers, and amateurs joined
the education department to design Cantonese education programs in elementary and high
schools. At first, it was difficult for some schools to accept Chinese opera in Western music
classes, which had been the tradition in the colony for many decades. Mr. Liu was one of the
people who started an amateur group in the 1970s. He, among others, made a tremendous effort
to preserve the dying art. Some basic knowledge of Cantonese opera has now been implemented
in the school music curriculum. More people are aware of Cantonese opera, but a lot needs to be
done.
Meeting with Mr. Liu Hon Wo and Ms. Chan Sau Hing
In January 2008, I organized a cultural exchange concert in Hong Kong with musicians
from the United States in Hong Kong. The title of the concert was “Operas of Two Worlds.” I
sought to bring together Western singers from the United States and Cantonese Opera singers.
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