Latest news with #ChineseOperaEnsemble
Time Out
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Chinese Opera Festival
Photograph: Chinese Opera Ensemble The inaugural Chinese Opera Festival 2025 is your chance to experience the richness of traditional Chinese opera, right here in Singapore. The event runs from June 21, 2025 to July 26, 2025 at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, showcasing five local Chinese opera troupes: Chinese Opera Studio, Chinese Opera Ensemble, OperaWorks, Tian Yun Beijing Opera Society and Tang Renaissance. Each troupe will perform in a different dialect, including Teochew, Cantonese, Peking and Hainanese. There are five shows in total, including The Mistake of Justice Bao on June 21, The Peacocks Flying Southeast on July 5, and Marshal Lim Bo Seng on July 26, all showing at 7pm. Tickets are priced at $30 each, but if you plan to catch all five shows, you can get a bundle for $120. Tickets can be purchased here . Show more By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions. 🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed! Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon! Discover Time Out original video
Straits Times
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
War hero Lim Bo Seng's story to be performed at inaugural Chinese opera festival
Opera artist Lin Jia (centre) as war hero Lim Bo Seng and other artists who will be performing at the inaugural Chinese Opera Festival. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO SINGAPORE – War hero Lim Bo Seng may be an unlikely inspiration for a Chinese opera performance. To opera artist Lin Jia, however, the Chinese resistance fighter during World War II is an apt subject, as Singapore is celebrating its diamond jubilee in 2025. For months, the 46-year-old Singapore permanent resident from Shantou city in China researched the revered figure so he could write an original opera about Lim's patriotism and courage. Lin will play the war hero in the opera, titled Marshal Lim Bo Seng, which will be performed in Shanghainese by Tang Renaissance, Lin's opera troupe. It is one of the highlights of the inaugural Chinese Opera Festival presented by the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC) and National Arts Council (NAC) from June 21 to July 26. 'Singapore students know him from their history lessons,' said Lin , an opera teacher in local schools for over two decades. 'Through him, they can learn about good values and, hopefully, the traditional art form of Chinese opera too.' He has added lots of action to the story to keep younger audiences engaged. The festival will feature five local Chinese opera troupes, each representing a different dialect. The other four troupes are Chinese Opera Studio (Teochew), Chinese Opera Ensemble (Hainanese), OperaWorks (Singapore) (Cantonese) and Tian Yun Beijing Opera Society (Peking). SCCC chief executive Alvin Tan said the festival aims to support local Chinese opera groups by providing a safe creative space for them to showcase their works and capabilities without having to worry about venue rental, funding, ticket sales and marketing. 'In doing so, we hope to safeguard and showcase a traditional art form which is rich in Chinese history and culture, attract new and hopefully younger audiences, and contribute to its long-term sustainability,' he added. All performances will have Chinese and English surtitles. PHOTO: LIANE ZAOBAO NAC chief executive Low Eng Teong said traditional arts are a vital part of Singapore's arts landscape, as they reflect, shape and strengthen the Republic's cultural identity. 'Through this initiative, audiences from all walks of life can come together to discover, connect with the arts and experience the richness and heritage of Chinese opera in Singapore.' The Chinese Opera Studio will perform The Mistake Of Justice Bao, a Teochew opera that tells a gripping tale of betrayal and redemption. Chinese Opera Ensemble's The Peacocks Flying Southeast, presented in Hainanese, is adapted from a Han Dynasty poem and hailed as the Romeo And Juliet of Chinese opera. OperaWorks will present Cantonese opera The Betrothal Sword Of Love, which honours loyalty, courage and justice in the face of betrayal. Mei Yu Pei by Tian Yun Beijing Opera is a rediscovered classic of Beijing opera from the late Qing Dynasty. Once performed by legendary artists like Mei Qiaoling and Mei Lanfang, the love story was revived in 2014 after decades of obscurity. All performances will have Chinese and English surtitles. Ms Winsome Chan, troupe leader and lead performer from OperaWorks (Singapore), said she hopes the festival can attract new blood. 'It's hard to promote opera in schools because we perform in Cantonese, which is regarded as a dialect,' said Ms Chan, who started learning opera at age seven from her mother, also an opera artist. 'And yet, we have to start from a young age as it takes much time to master it.' While the performances are ticketed, there will be a series of free fringe activities, including Chinese opera movement workshops and talks featuring cultural historian Su Zhangkai, opera artist and Cultural Medallion recipient Joanna Wong, and opera educator and practitioner Cai Bixia. An exhibition will offer visitors a glimpse into the rich history of Chinese opera in Singapore, how a traditional street opera stage is constructed and samples of materials used in the stages. Mr Tan told The Straits Times that SCCC and NAC will evaluate the public response to the festival and the opera troupes' feedback before deciding whether this will be an annual or biennial festival. 'SCCC remains committed to supporting and showcasing local traditional Chinese opera, and we will continue to provide venue support for local Chinese opera troupes, commission productions by local Chinese opera troupes and feature their performances at one of our signature festivals like Cultural Extravaganza,' he said. He added that the SCCC is also developing education resources on traditional Chinese opera, and is looking into how to better support and showcase another traditional performing art – xiangsheng, or crosstalk. Book it//Chinese Opera Festival 2025 Where: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre, 1 Straits Boulevard When: June 21 to July 26, various times Admission: $30, with a special five-show bundle at $120. Tickets for performances and registration for free fringe activities are available on Sistic (go to or call 6348-5555) Info: Chin Soo Fang is senior correspondent at The Straits Times covering topics such as community, politics, social issues, consumer, culture and heritage. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
