#cantoneseopera

No matter how many times I watch Yam Kim-Fai (#任劍輝), I can’t see ‘him’ as a woman. It fascinates me. Pak Suet-Sin (#白雪仙) fascinates me full stop. https://youtube.com/watch?v=x3FMOYHyZek&feature=share #YamKimFai #PakSuetSin #CantoneseOpera #HongKong #ChineseOpera

One difference I picked up on is how strong & developed the female (#dan) characters are. Unlike #musumeyaku they don’t just exist to help the male (#sang) characters shine. The music, singing styles and formal stylised acting take a lot of getting used to and at first I thought the barriers were too high. But there came a point where it hit me. I thought: this is so beautiful & powerful. #YueOpera #CantoneseOpera

Cantonese Opera is one of the most ‘different’ performance traditions I’ve ever encountered but Pak Suet-sin / #白雪仙 and her partner Yam Kim-fai / #任劍輝 have won me over. Their chemistry is extraordinary. Pak is luminous and her face is constantly ‘talking’ to you. Yam has a lovely mixture of nobility & vulnerability. The energy is VERY different from Takarazuka. https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3087193/how-cantonese-opera-legend-pak-suet-sin-lgbt-icon-and-yam #Takarazuka #CantoneseOpera