Choy Tak Yee at the 7th Guangzhou International Cantonese Opera Festival 2016 June 12 to 19

Renowned Cantonese Opera Artists from China Perform for S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 20, 2014

Renowned Cantonese Opera Artists from China Perform for S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

Vancouver – S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Foundation’s biennial Cantonese Opera Charity Show for senior health care service was successfully held at The River Rock Show Theatre in Richmond on Saturday and Sunday, May 17 & May 18, with over $160,000 raised for the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Multi-Level Care Society.

“Among the diverse array of programs and services that S.U.C.C.E.S.S. provides, we are most proud of the achievements, progress and impact S.U.C.C.E.S.S. has made on senior health care,” said Sing Lim Yeo, Chair of S.U.C.C.E.S.S.Foundation. “This May is S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Senior Health Care Month, and the Foundation is pleased to include the Cantonese Opera Charity Show as one of its highlights and also bring this event to audiences of different cultures.”

This was the third undertaking in the S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Cantonese Opera Charity Show series since making its debut in 2010 and the first try in presenting two consecutive nights of colorful Cantonese opera to the Vancouver audience. 21 members of China’s renowned and prestigious Cantonese opera troupe, Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Courtyard, specifically travelled to Vancouver to headline the event. Four winners of the Chinese Plum Blossom Award, the most prestigious award for Chinese opera, OU Kai Ming, CHAN Wan Hung, LI Jun Sheng and CUI Yu Mei, flanked by six seasoned performers, including two Hong Kong based John Lau and Lanzy Choy, and four local, Alice Choi, Annie Wong, May Shih and Polly Hui, wooed the audience in two magical nights of music, singing, martial arts, acrobatics, and exquisite acting. As a feature to enhance the enjoyment of the show, Lanzy Choy also deftly translated the 16 duets of of love and filial duties into English. The evenings’ performances were entirely captioned in English and Chinese.

“We greatly appreciate the team from Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Courtyard, headed by President of the troupe, Dr. YU Yong, for taking time out of their busy schedule to share their talent and artistry with Vancouver,” said Veronica Chan, Chair of the 2014 S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Cantonese Opera Charity Show. She also gave special thanks to Cargo Services Far East, for reprising their role as Presenting Sponsor of the event; SCI - Glenhaven Memorial Chapel and Rexall Pharmacy for taking helm as Performance Presenting Sponsor and Stage Sponsor respectively.

Cantonese Opera has its roots in southern China's Cantonese culture. It is believed that the Cantonese opera play was first brought to North America as early as 1852. A traditional Chinese art form that involves music, singing, martial arts, acrobatics, and acting, Cantonese Opera plays tell stories about Chinese history, traditions, culture, and philosophies.

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Foundation, incorporated in December 2001, is a charitable foundation responsible for raising funds for S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and its affiliated organizations to support their mandates for the betterment of the community. For more details, please visit: www.successfoundation.ca

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Tony Moy
Director of Resource Development
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Foundation
Tel: 604-408-7232
Cell: 604-618-0535

Eileen Lao
Public Affairs Manager
S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
Tel: 604-408-7243
Cell: 778-997-8283