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 – “Softly comes the sound of the clapper; chilled fragrance intrudes this phoenix mansion”.  The looming rainstorm can be sensed; yet one cannot possibly beat the circumstances.  To be or not to be?  Dilemma is the ultimate test of one’s wisdom. 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.

New Art Form
The “Theatrical Concert” idea was first introduced in 2014 (please refer to RTHK TV special).  Composite Cantonese Operatic singing pieces, easily lasting half an hour each, are transformed into short pieces of a few minutes.  They are called Canto-opera Siu-ling (literally “short piece”).  Coupled with theatrical arrangements and montage, it will create modern imagination.

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 Theatrical Concert Edition will be held in search of stylistic new blood for Canto-opera Siu-ling.

Open Audition – Before Places are Filled Up
(1) Students interested in singing are encouraged to participate (where singing covers Cantonese Operatic singing, pop songs, musicals, operas, etc.)

(2) 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)

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

(4) 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 not more than 3 minutes of a solo section taken from Floral Princess (music accompaniment could be karaoke from market or self-prepared).  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.vocal@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 HKD10,000 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 Recital 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