The Palace of Eternal Life on a Moonlit Night｜47th Orchestral Season Opening Concert Introduction

Taking inspiration from the tragic love story of Emperor Ming of the Tang Dynasty and his beloved consort, Lady Yang, this production explores the interactive dynamic between music and drama, as well as between actors and the orchestra. The HKCO is bringing together artists from Shanghai, Taiwan and Hong Kong to step into the opulent ambiance of the imperial palace of the Tang Dynasty.

This is yet another reprisal of the collaboration between the HKCO and Zhang Jun, the “Prince of Kunqu”, after the critically acclaimed debut of The Palace of Eternal Life in 2018. The amalgamation of Kunqu opera and Chinese orchestral music is the key to high drama and romance, in this new, reimagined theatrical production titled The Palace of Eternal Life on a Moonlit Night.

Programmes

1. Prelude to The Palace of Eternal Life

2. The Emperor and His Lady’s Love Pledge

3. Stealing the Tune

4. The Rainbow Feather Dress

5. She Wears Clouds as Clothes

6. Soldiers’ Rebellion at Maweipo

7. Li Guinian Sings The Liuzhuan

8. Describing and Inscribing the Portrait

9. The Emperor Weeps on Seeing the Statue

10. Recalling the Secret Pledge

11. The Fairy of the Northern Waters

12. The Milky Way Divides

13. Li Guinian Sings The Jiuzhuan

14. Lyrics of the Utopian Flowers

15. The Spirit of the Lovers Ascend Heaven

The concert runs approximately 85 minutes with a 20-minute intermission.

Concert Details

• The Palace of Eternal Life on a Moonlit Night｜47th Orchestral Season Opening Concert
• Date: 15-16 Sep 2023
• Time: 19:30
• Venue: Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre
• Address: 10 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
• Remarks: Performed in Mandarin

Ticket Details

• Ticketing website: Urbtix
• Price: HKD 500 / 450 / 350 / 280

Performance and production team

• ConductorYan Huichang

Performed by:

• Director: Lee Xiao-Pin
• Music: Jin Fuzai
• Playwright: Shih Ju-fang

• Performed By :
• Emperor Ming of Tang Dynasty: Zhang Jun
• Li Guinian: Guan Dongtian
• Lady Yang, the Imperial Concubine: Shan Wen
• Gao Lishi: Li Hongliang

• Set Designer: Hui Chen
• Lighting Designer: Che Ko-Chien (Dennis)
• Projection Designer: Ethan Wang
• Costume Designer: Keith Bing Hao Lin

• Joint performance: Jiangsu Province Performing Arts Group Kunju Theatre
• Special acknowledgement: Shanghai Traditional Opera School Affiliated to Shanghai Theatre Academy

The source of the above information: The official website of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra