The year 2022 will witness the 65th anniversary of the Canto-opera classic “Floral Princess".  In the aftermath of the unprecedented pandemic, life is being rebuilt both on stage and off stage.  Revelation of the Floral Princess – “Listen to the howling drums and horns.  Fire is spreading, generals shedding their armours, officers weeping and sighing”.  The protagonists of this story brought to action the familiar line “Thou shall wade through the path of life and death”.  They stretched their flexibility to endure challenges at great moments.  Utopia Cantonese Opera Workshop will be staging a series of professional and student editions of this classic to pay tribute to the invincible trio in Canto-opera, namely Yam Kim Fai, Pak Suet Sin and Tong Tik Sang, and to broaden the scope of local original art production.

Voice – Leaving Blank
The mid-20th century saw the rise of television broadcasting, a form of broadcasting with images and sounds readily penetrating households.  It was believed to bring an end to the radio, which had only got sounds.  However, facts speak louder than words.  Today, more than half a century has passed and radio broadcasting is still vigorous.  The reason is that the audience may listen to the radio while browsing through something at the same time.  Also, sounds without images leave them with much room for imagination.  Imagination sets the mind free, which in turn leaves some blank in the soul.  Leaving blank is the very basis of the operation of RAM (Random Access Memory).

The separation of the Canto-opera script from the stage performance reduces the art form to texts and literature.  Simply recite the script with a real-life voice.  Let the audience input their own imagination.  The RAM of their mind performs their own derivation, attaining a different enlightenment.  Send a voice file of a minute or two to your friends. Share with them the reading pleasure you have discovered and your insight.  Make the best use of your mobile phone to convey your personal thoughts.

New Art Form
The Recital Edition is a new variation on Readers Theatre (which in turn is derived from drama and movies).   The script shall be read out in natural voice and tone with expressiveness and emotion, just like reciting proses and poems.  The length will be 1-3 minutes.

Utopia will be remaking “Floral Princess” with 15 professional-edition shows in June 2023.  The grand stage production facilities will also await the young ones to come onstage.  An open audition for the Recital Edition will be held for students to experience the pleasure of reading and reciting.

Reference
Click to listen

Open Audition – Before Places are Filled Up

(1) All primary, secondary and tertiary students are welcome. (Note: those who were full-time students as at 1 September 2019, i.e. before the pandemic, are also eligible)

(2) Entrants have to be nominated by a nominator. (Nominators could be canto-opera instructors, school teachers, parents or relatives)

(3) Concurrent registration is welcome to all 3 Student Editions: Theatre Edition, Theatrical Concert Edition and Recital Edition

Enrolment Method A
(1) Download “pdf Enrolment Form”, complete it and save it as a pdf file.

(2) Using a mobile phone, record a voice file of about 2 minutes of reciting a section taken from Floral Princess. Upload to Youtube with the Visibility option set to “Unlisted”.  Note:  Better recording quality can be achieved in a quiet indoor environment with the mobile phone at approximately 5 cm away from the singer’s mouth.

(3) Email the above pdf file, i.e. (1) above, to < st.readaloud@utopia.org.hk> .  Please specify the name of the entrant in the email Subject/Title and copy the Youtube link of (2) above in the body of the email.

Enrolment Method B
Click “Online Enrolment Form”, input data and submit online.

Awards
(1) A scholarship of HKD5,000 will be awarded to the best performer.
(2) A Certificate of Appreciation will be awarded to the nominator of each shortlisted student to commend his/her contribution to the preservation of canto-opera art.

Performance
Venue:  Grand Theatre, Xiqu Centre, West Kowloon Cultural District
Date:  2023.6.22  7:30pm  (Crossover with the Theatrical Concert Student Edition)

Enquiry: 9880-8410 (Mr. Chan)

Floral Princess 65th Anniversary
a series of 9 events
Floral Princess | Professional Edition
ArenA | Write on, as THE tribute to YAM-PAK-TONG
Floral Princess | Theatre Student Edition
Floral Princess | Theatrical Concert Student Edition
Floral Princess | Recital Student Edition
Call Loud Yeah! | Black Box Theatre Festival
Seoi-bo-long Video Festival
A Collection of Coeng-ping Images 65
Raining Petals: An Orchestral Re-imagining