Cantonese Opera attracts intl audience

Classic Cantonese Opera performances, includes The Legend of Purple Hairpin, showcased at the beginning of 2025 in Wuzhou, Guangxi, captivating both domestic and international visitors with melodious singing and brilliant performances.

Cantonese Opera, originating in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), combines singing, recitation, acting, and martial arts with musical accompaniment, stage costumes, and abstract physical expression. It is popular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, and Macao.

Cantonese Opera has recently regained social attention despite facing challenges from modern entertainment and a shortage of inheritors. Over 60-year-old Cantonese Opera master Liang Sumei has dedicated her life to the art, nurturing many talented actors and forming performance teams to bring this traditional art to a broader audience.

"The unique performance style and artistic charm can overcome cultural and language barriers," said Huo Xiongguang, chairman of the Wuzhou Drama and Theatre Association, who has led teams to perform in ASEAN countries. He hopes to collaborate more and exchange with artists from ASEAN countries.

In recent years, Wuzhou officials have promoted Cantonese Opera to ASEAN countries through digital projects and international exchanges. Guangxi's original musicians have also attempted to combine traditional Cantonese Opera with folk and pop music, bringing the art to a broader audience.

A scene of the Cantonese Opera Female Emperor's Son-in-Law. [Photo/China News Service]