Xiqu

Renowned Cantonese Opera artist Sun Kim-long has been an educator of Cantonese Opera for years, promoting Cantonese Opera in schools. The artist has designed a Cantonese Opera education programme centred round the Cantonese Opera classic, The Impeachment of Yan Song. The programme aims to enhance the students’ ability to appreciate Cantonese Opera and to stimulate their interest in the art form. The programme includes pre-performance demonstration workshop and performance cum post-performance discussion.

Programme Content

Knowing that Prince Anxi has long planned a rebellion, the imperial court sends spies Zhou Hualong and Jiang Liuyun to infiltrate Anxi’s mansion. Being jealous of the highly regarded Jiang Liuyun, eunuch Bala inveigles Jiang to enter the forbidden Baihua Pavilion.

Baihua Pavilion is the place where Prince Anxi’s daughter, Princess Baihua, practices fencing. It is strictly forbidden to men, and trespassers will be punished and beheaded. However, when Baihua catches sight of Jiang, she is captivated by his talent and graceful bearing, and gives him her sword as a pledge of marriage.

When Prince Anxi finally revolts, Zhou Hualong sends Jiang to pass misinformation to the princess, who unwittingly trusts her lover. Prince Anxi’s army is eventually wiped out by a surprise night attack by Zhou. Princess Baihua is wounded. She breaks through the siege, but Prince Anxi and Bala are captured. Realising he has been complicit in double crossing Baihua, Jiang feels deeply remorseful for his foolishness.

Zhou aims to execute the captured prince in front of his camp. To save her father, Princess Baihua surrenders her army, on condition that Jiang be killed for betraying her trust. Jiang is willing to die to prove his innocence. When he is about to cut his throat with the princess’s sword, Zhou intervenes, and all misunderstandings are cleared.