On July 9th and 10th, the Cantonese opera "Sanshui Daughter · Red Turban" was staged at the Esplanade in Singapore, recreating the epic of overseas struggle of "Red Turban". The performance was organised by the Singapore Academy of Chinese Opera and co-organised by the Guangdong Association and the Sanshui Association.
Singapore Vice Premier Heng Swee Keat , Cultural Counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Singapore Qin Wen, Lin Fanghua and Lin Huanzhang of the Singapore Academy of Chinese Opera, Xiao Jianghua, Director of the Singapore China Cultural Center, Long Jiayou, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province, Yan Yongshu of the Department of Museums and Social Cultural Relics of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Guangdong Province and other guests attended the performance.
Cantonese opera "Sanshui Daughter · Red Turban" stills
Zeng Xiaomin, a leader of the new generation of Cantonese opera, director of the Guangdong Cantonese Opera Company, first-class actor, winner of the Wenhua Performance Award, and winner of the Plum Blossom Award for Chinese Theatre, together with Cen Haiyan, Zhu Hongxing, Tang Siguo, Xian Jiantang, Zhai Chunyan and other famous and rookies of the Guangdong Cantonese Opera Company, presented the audience with the difficult past of the red bandanas' ill-fated, strong and forbearant and caring for their family and country.
Their outstanding performances touched the audience again and again, and the audience applauded endlessly, and Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat praised "Good job!" one after another. ”
Guangdong Cantonese Opera 2024 Singapore Exhibition Launching Ceremony
Travel through time and space to interpret the spirit of the red turban
The story of the struggle of the Chinese diaspora, represented by the Sanshui red turban in Chinatown (Singapore's Chinatown), together with the development of Chinatown, forms an important part of Singapore's 200-year history.
In the early 30s of the 20th century, a group of Foshan Sanshui women crossed the sea to Singapore to work as construction workers to support their families. With their weak bodies and their shoulders, they erected the high-rise buildings of the Lion City.
With a red turban on their heads, they have achieved their worth through their hard work and won the respect of the people of the Lion City. Their independent and self-respecting personality quality and abundant life are regarded as the "red turban spirit" of overseas Chinese integrated into the overseas world.
Red turban statue on the streets of Singapore
Cantonese opera "Sanshui Daughter· Red Turban" is directed by the Propaganda Department of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China and the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and the key repertoire created and rehearsed by the Guangdong Cantonese Opera Company in recent years. This is the first stage work in China on the history of labor by Chinese women.
The heroine played by Zeng Xiaomin "Bring Well" shows the process of a little woman overcoming cowardice and sticking to herself step by step in the midst of survival in adversity, human choice and war invasion.
Just like her name "bring good", it gathers the virtues implied by "good", gathers the collective temperament of Lingnan women, symbolizes the truth, goodness and beauty of all Sanshui daughters, inherits the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation, and also presents a reflection on the value of Lingnan culture to nourish women's lives. With Zeng Xiaomin's affectionate and tactful singing and delicate interpretation, the "Red Turban Spirit" traveled through a hundred years of time and space and hit the hearts of the audience.
Zeng Xiaomin plays "Bring Good" in the play
"Sanshui, Guangdong, is the hometown of the red headscarf, and some of them have returned to their hometowns. Some have stayed in Singapore and made Singapore their second home. Today, we pay tribute to our lovely and respectable 'red bandana' with this play, and to pay tribute to the enduring friendship between China and Singapore. ”
Zeng Xiaomin said, "Compared with China, the performance in Singapore has added a special emotional color. We felt the enthusiasm and anticipation of the Singapore audience, which made our performance even more exciting. We hope that through this performance, Singapore audiences will not only see a beautiful Cantonese opera, but also feel the Chinese culture and spirit. ”
"Cantonese opera is the largest opera genre in Guangdong and an important part of traditional Chinese culture. Through performances in Singapore, Cantonese opera has enabled more Singaporeans to understand and understand Chinese culture, and promoted the spread and exchange of Chinese and New Zealand cultures. ”
Long Jiayou, deputy director of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, pointed out that "Cantonese opera "Sanshui's Daughter · Red Turban" tells a Chinese story about the human spirit of perseverance, perseverance, not fearing suffering, overcoming suffering and transcending suffering. This Singapore tour is a comprehensive display of Lingnan culture and Chinese spirit, opening a very beautiful stage window. ”
Cantonese opera goes overseas to build a bridge of friendship
The performance of Cantonese opera "Sanshui Daughter · Red Turban" in the Lion City has spread Cantonese opera culture overseas and won many praises.
Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat (center) and Tsang Siew Min (right) shake hands cordially
"This time, the Guangdong Cantonese Opera brought the Cantonese opera "Sanshui Daughter · Red Turban", which is a very familiar theme for Singaporeans. The high-level interpretation presented us with an audio-visual feast and left a deep impression on us. The actors' performances are very precise and in place, combining the fate, personality and era scenes of the characters just right. Cai Shupeng, dean of the Singapore Academy of Chinese Opera, said, "I hope to build a bridge of friendship between China and New Zealand through opera, so that the artistic exchanges between China and Singapore will last forever." ”
"We are very grateful to this extraordinary group of women in Sanshui, who have built Singapore with their youth and sweat. We are also very grateful to the Guangdong Cantonese Opera Company for bringing this story to the stage. In addition to maintaining the traditional elements of Cantonese opera, this play also combines pop elements in music and group dance, which is refreshing! Hu Guixin, JP, praised.
Cantonese opera "Sanshui Daughter · Red Turban" stills
Mr. Lee, a visiting scholar at Nanyang Technological University, said: "It is a very meaningful and valuable thing for Cantonese opera to go overseas and go on the international stage to spread our excellent traditional culture. ”
Ms Lim, who works in the education industry in Singapore, said: "I was particularly touched by the story of the red bandanas supporting each other and facing difficulties together. In a foreign country, they have created their own lives with their own efforts and unity. This spirit is worth learning and inheriting. ”
Group photo at the performance
Mr Ong, a Singaporean, said, "The Cantonese opera "Sanshui Daughter · Red Turban" has allowed more Singaporeans like me to understand Chinese Cantonese opera culture and enhanced our understanding and love for Chinese culture. I hope there will be more such exchanges in the future. ”
It is reported that the Guangdong Cantonese Opera Company will also present another Cantonese opera masterpiece "The Legend of the White Snake" at the local Esplanade on July 1·1 and 12.
Reporter Huang Zhouhui Correspondent Lin Kaihong
Photo: Xue Caihuan, Lin Kaihong