Southeast Asia Information Port News (www.dnyxxg.com) – The "Golden Saddle Embraces Rhyme, Spring Breeze Brings Art" 2026 Spring Festival Concert was held on the evening of the 4th at the Guangzhou Hongxiannv Grand Theatre. The concert innovatively adopted a chronological narrative structure, presenting a three-dimensional view of the development of Cantonese opera music from early stage percussion to contemporary new sounds, bringing the audience a "visible" history of Cantonese opera music.
The concert was conducted by Zou Yuwei, music director of the Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Theatre, who also served as music director, with Li Zhenyu as director. The concert opened with a large ensemble performance of "Jin Fan Qi Chun," a newly arranged version of the traditional Cantonese opera piece "Jin Fan Kai." This was followed by the "Hard Bow Resonates with Ancient Tunes" section, which, through hard bow ensemble performances of excerpts from "Tian Ji Song Zi" and traditional ancient vocal singing, recreated the high-spirited and simple style of early Cantonese opera music. The "Soft Bow and Clear Melody" section, featuring pieces like the *Erhuang Variations* led by the gaohu (a two-stringed bowed instrument), showcases the artistic leap in Cantonese opera music towards a gentle and graceful style after Lü Wencheng reformed the gaohu and established the "soft bow" style.
Entering the "New Voices Usher in a New Era" section, the concert cleverly recreates the innovative wave of the 1920s and 30s during the "Xue-Ma rivalry" period. Plucked string instruments and "spiritual music" performances of *Awakening Lion* and *Galloping Horse*, along with a medley of classic arias, vividly interpret the golden age of Cantonese opera music after the integration of Western instruments, characterized by "Sino-Western fusion and diverse styles." Finally, in the "Revitalized Cantonese Opera" section, the concert pays tribute to the explorations of the model opera era, such as *Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy*, and showcases the vibrant vitality of contemporary Cantonese opera music—upholding tradition while innovating and integrating different genres—through newly created Cantonese songs like *Lychee Melody* and *The Rustling Horses*.
Wu Feifan and Li Jiayi, winners of the Chinese Drama Plum Blossom Award, along with first-class actors Chen Zhenjiang, Li Weicong, Mo Yanyun, and Xiao Wanting, as well as outstanding actors Lu Wenbin and Chen Junmin, infused this musical epic with soul and emotion through diverse vocal styles, including ancient tunes, Mu Gua tunes, various school styles, and newly composed Cantonese songs, clearly outlining the trajectory of vocal evolution.
Regarding the concert's chronological structure, Lin Kaibin, Chairman of the Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Theatre, stated that this approach aims to deepen the audience's understanding of Cantonese opera music and culture and revitalize the contemporary inheritance of traditional art through a combination of academic rigor, artistry, and entertainment.
This concert is the opening performance of the Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Theatre's 2026 "Cantonese Opera New Year's Season." From the third to the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, three classic plays—*The Lotus Lantern*, *Lu Bu and Diao Chan*, and *Prince Rui and Consort Zhuang*—will be staged consecutively at the Guangzhou Hongxiannv Grand Theatre. (End)
