Two of the singers
Performers and orchestra members
钟慧玲
钟慧玲, 余丽明
小周后 - 钟慧玲
卢少玲, 钟慧玲, 余丽明
卢少玲
六月雪之大审 - 卢少玲, 余丽明
August 21, 2007
Opera nite @ the Serangoon
There were 5 songs and 2 excerpts. Of the 8 singers I have only heard 2 of them sang before. All the singers sang well, better than I expected. The two excerpts were also well-performed.
Two of the singers
Performers and orchestra members
钟慧玲
钟慧玲, 余丽明
小周后 - 钟慧玲
卢少玲, 钟慧玲, 余丽明
卢少玲
六月雪之大审 - 卢少玲, 余丽明
Two of the singers
Performers and orchestra members钟慧玲
钟慧玲, 余丽明
小周后 - 钟慧玲
卢少玲, 钟慧玲, 余丽明
卢少玲
六月雪之大审 - 卢少玲, 余丽明
August 19, 2007
Just some thoughts on the ND show
I like to watch the marching contingents of the armed forces and the police. It is quite exhilarating to see them in straight rows marching proudly in unison and swinging their arms shoulder-high. As all NS men know it takes many many many hours of drills to perfect this.
I also like the special displays by the air, land and sea forces
Organizing and presenting the National Day Show is a formidable and stressful task involving massive planning, organizing and coordinating work and requires enormous resources. We are all very grateful to the people involved including the participants for the great show.
You know, our ND show seems to be more and more spectacular every year. I am just wondering if we will ever go back to having simpler, solemn celebrations, less spectacular and fewer dazzling items. If we do I think there will people who will be disappointed. But there will also be people who will be glad. One possibility it will happen is if the economy is not doing well and people are having a hard time.
I also like the special displays by the air, land and sea forces
Organizing and presenting the National Day Show is a formidable and stressful task involving massive planning, organizing and coordinating work and requires enormous resources. We are all very grateful to the people involved including the participants for the great show.
You know, our ND show seems to be more and more spectacular every year. I am just wondering if we will ever go back to having simpler, solemn celebrations, less spectacular and fewer dazzling items. If we do I think there will people who will be disappointed. But there will also be people who will be glad. One possibility it will happen is if the economy is not doing well and people are having a hard time.
August 17, 2007
The South Korean hostages
The Teleban militants in Afghanistan freed 2 female South Korean Hostages. Did you read this news a few days ago. This is what the Teleban said “for the sake of good relations between the Korean people and the Teleban”. …...After they had kidnapped the people and killed two of them !? Utmost rubbish !!!
I hope these people will be boiled in oil when they go to hell.
But I have misgivings about what these Koreans (church group volunteers) were doing. They were doing good but it was reported that they were irresponsible. My view is that in the beginning they shouldn't have gone to that country. It is a Muslim country and is at war.
And they give a big problem to their government and other people. Maybe they thought nothing would happen to them as God would protect them. But I believe God helps those who help themselves and God will not protect you if you are reckless and irresponsible.
Now they are pleading for help, no more the brave and fearless. If they had said ‘We do not wish to die but we also do not want any Government to give in to their demands as it will means more kidnapping and more deaths’, their countrymen would be very proud of them. And I think the chance of being released was also higher as these murderers saw that they couldn’t gain anything by holding them or killing them. Then they would release them on the pretext of “for the sake of good relations between the Korean people and the Teleban”. Hahaha, just some optimistic thinking.
I feel they will be released.
I hope these people will be boiled in oil when they go to hell.
But I have misgivings about what these Koreans (church group volunteers) were doing. They were doing good but it was reported that they were irresponsible. My view is that in the beginning they shouldn't have gone to that country. It is a Muslim country and is at war.
And they give a big problem to their government and other people. Maybe they thought nothing would happen to them as God would protect them. But I believe God helps those who help themselves and God will not protect you if you are reckless and irresponsible.
Now they are pleading for help, no more the brave and fearless. If they had said ‘We do not wish to die but we also do not want any Government to give in to their demands as it will means more kidnapping and more deaths’, their countrymen would be very proud of them. And I think the chance of being released was also higher as these murderers saw that they couldn’t gain anything by holding them or killing them. Then they would release them on the pretext of “for the sake of good relations between the Korean people and the Teleban”. Hahaha, just some optimistic thinking.
I feel they will be released.
August 13, 2007
Li Yuan Opera - Li Ya Xian
11 August 2007 @ Esplanade Recital Studio, performed by Siong Leng Musical Association
Free seating, but the centre seats in the first 4 rows were reserved. That means more than 60 seats. So many guests? During the half-hour pre-show talk, I think only two of the reserved seats were occupied. So it looked rather odd - the speaker in front, people sitting at he back rows and in-between empty seats.
This is the stage. At one end a quaint make-up corner was set up. Just a few minutes before the show started two artistes in ancient costumes came out and sat there and pretended to do make-up. It looked very cute.
Pre-show Talk
During the talk, the speaker introduced Li Yuan Opera, briefly talked about the movement and singing and the 4 main characters – the scholar, the maiden, the elderly and the comic. Then he asked the sheng Lin Shao Ling to demonstrate some movements and facial expressions of the 4 characters. I thought why not ask a dan to come out too. Hong Ru Wang or Huang Yu Ying would be good.
Then there was a demonstration by the orchestra. The musicians, in dark uniform, looked so serious, like going to take the imperial exam. The drummer is a lady from Quan Zhou. Sometimes she had to use her foot to rub on the surface of the drum as she beat the drum.
At the end of the talk the speaker said only got time for 1 question. A man asked whether the performers were local or foreign. Mixed, the speaker said, 80% local and 20% foreign. I think he could have allowed a few more questions as there was a 15-min break after that.
The Show
The story. A scholar fell for a ‘qing lou’ beauty, Li Yaxian. He was so infatuated by her that he spent all his time at the ‘qing lou’. Soon his money was all gone and he also neglected his studies for the imperial exam. He became a beggar. Later he was reunited with the beauty. To make sure the scholar concentrate on his studies, she disfigured her face. Finally the scholar topped in the imperial exam and became the ‘zhuang yuan’.
The first two scenes – the Ball Game and the Beggars’ Song (Lian Hua Luo) – are unique and interesting. I think you can only see these in Li Yuan opera.
The handsome scholar was played by Lin Shao Ling, the delicate-looking beauty by Hong Ru Wang and the likeable Ah Gui, Li Yaxian's personal maid, by Huang Yu Ying. Wang Bi Yu was the money-faced ‘qing lou’ owner who only appeared in scene one. Bi Yu also acted as one of the beggars in two other scenes.
They all gave very good performance.
The singing in Li Yuan opera was not that slow as I thought. In this opera the lead sheng has a lot of singing to do. On the other hand, Ah Gui has no singing part. However, she has plenty of speaking and dialogues, including one with the photographer. Won’t it be nice to let us hear Ah Gui sing a song or two?
The opera is entertaining and watching it is a joy. You will enjoy it even if you don’t understand the dialect.
The orchestra, the drummer had her foot on the drum.
The scholar and the beauty
Performers, Siong Leng members and guests
Free seating, but the centre seats in the first 4 rows were reserved. That means more than 60 seats. So many guests? During the half-hour pre-show talk, I think only two of the reserved seats were occupied. So it looked rather odd - the speaker in front, people sitting at he back rows and in-between empty seats.
This is the stage. At one end a quaint make-up corner was set up. Just a few minutes before the show started two artistes in ancient costumes came out and sat there and pretended to do make-up. It looked very cute.
Pre-show Talk
During the talk, the speaker introduced Li Yuan Opera, briefly talked about the movement and singing and the 4 main characters – the scholar, the maiden, the elderly and the comic. Then he asked the sheng Lin Shao Ling to demonstrate some movements and facial expressions of the 4 characters. I thought why not ask a dan to come out too. Hong Ru Wang or Huang Yu Ying would be good.
Then there was a demonstration by the orchestra. The musicians, in dark uniform, looked so serious, like going to take the imperial exam. The drummer is a lady from Quan Zhou. Sometimes she had to use her foot to rub on the surface of the drum as she beat the drum.
At the end of the talk the speaker said only got time for 1 question. A man asked whether the performers were local or foreign. Mixed, the speaker said, 80% local and 20% foreign. I think he could have allowed a few more questions as there was a 15-min break after that.
The Show
The story. A scholar fell for a ‘qing lou’ beauty, Li Yaxian. He was so infatuated by her that he spent all his time at the ‘qing lou’. Soon his money was all gone and he also neglected his studies for the imperial exam. He became a beggar. Later he was reunited with the beauty. To make sure the scholar concentrate on his studies, she disfigured her face. Finally the scholar topped in the imperial exam and became the ‘zhuang yuan’.
The first two scenes – the Ball Game and the Beggars’ Song (Lian Hua Luo) – are unique and interesting. I think you can only see these in Li Yuan opera.
The handsome scholar was played by Lin Shao Ling, the delicate-looking beauty by Hong Ru Wang and the likeable Ah Gui, Li Yaxian's personal maid, by Huang Yu Ying. Wang Bi Yu was the money-faced ‘qing lou’ owner who only appeared in scene one. Bi Yu also acted as one of the beggars in two other scenes.
They all gave very good performance.
The singing in Li Yuan opera was not that slow as I thought. In this opera the lead sheng has a lot of singing to do. On the other hand, Ah Gui has no singing part. However, she has plenty of speaking and dialogues, including one with the photographer. Won’t it be nice to let us hear Ah Gui sing a song or two?
The opera is entertaining and watching it is a joy. You will enjoy it even if you don’t understand the dialect.
The orchestra, the drummer had her foot on the drum.
The scholar and the beauty
Performers, Siong Leng members and guests
August 07, 2007
August 06, 2007
Guest bloggers
Friend Chun See has several guest bloggers. Wonder anyone wants to be my guest blogger - only about Chinese opera (reviews, reports, news, your views, pictures etc).
Hahaha...I think nobody. Maybe you are thinking of starting your own blog. Never mind, any time you like to you can just drop a note at the comments in this blog.
Hahaha...I think nobody. Maybe you are thinking of starting your own blog. Never mind, any time you like to you can just drop a note at the comments in this blog.
August 05, 2007
Unfounded worries
I was reading a blogger's post about a 'naughty' thing he did in school at a time when pupils were generally passive learners who did not like to ask questions.
Pupils nowadays are noisier, not afraid to ask questions, sometimes inappropriate ones and sometimes at inappropriate times. Nonetheless, they are encouraged to ask. Unlike my primary school days.....
Once upon a time, I was a kid in primary 5. One day a teacher teaching our class was being observed. We all thought it was an inspector from the education ministry. We were all very quiet. I only remember the lesson had something about clouds so I think it was either Geography or Science.
After some teaching the teacher wanted to get some feedback but no one responded or asked questions. Like that not good during observation. So the teacher decided to ask us questions instead.
"Please don't call me," we prayed. We didn't like to answer questions. We pretended to look at our books.
He called me.
"Oh no, how come call me. Why don't you call the clever ones like Victor or Ming De, sure they can give you the correct answer."
I stood up looking blur and said something. It was wrong and he asked another pupil. Later he explained the first part of the lesson again, probably for pupils like me.
For the next few days I was so scared that the teacher would punish me. You see, I couldn't answer his question, so the inspector thought his teaching no good and gave him a bad report. So he wanted to take revenge on me.
Silly boy! Of course nothing like that happened.
Pupils nowadays are noisier, not afraid to ask questions, sometimes inappropriate ones and sometimes at inappropriate times. Nonetheless, they are encouraged to ask. Unlike my primary school days.....
Once upon a time, I was a kid in primary 5. One day a teacher teaching our class was being observed. We all thought it was an inspector from the education ministry. We were all very quiet. I only remember the lesson had something about clouds so I think it was either Geography or Science.
After some teaching the teacher wanted to get some feedback but no one responded or asked questions. Like that not good during observation. So the teacher decided to ask us questions instead.
"Please don't call me," we prayed. We didn't like to answer questions. We pretended to look at our books.
He called me.
"Oh no, how come call me. Why don't you call the clever ones like Victor or Ming De, sure they can give you the correct answer."
I stood up looking blur and said something. It was wrong and he asked another pupil. Later he explained the first part of the lesson again, probably for pupils like me.
For the next few days I was so scared that the teacher would punish me. You see, I couldn't answer his question, so the inspector thought his teaching no good and gave him a bad report. So he wanted to take revenge on me.
Silly boy! Of course nothing like that happened.
August 03, 2007
Opera day @ Kreta Ayer C C
29 July 2007 (afternoon show and night show)
Presented by artistes from the Kreta Ayer CC Cantonese Opera Troupe, the Performing Arts Group from Bishan Residents' committee third division and the Yew Meng Sing Cantonese opera Troupe from Hong Kong. Actually the HK troupe had only two adults and five young ones performing.
See if you recognize anyone you know. Click on photo to enlarge. The three performers squatting in front are youngsters 12-13 years of age The two girls are quite tall. The sheng in the blue costume and the dan on his right are from HK. The dan is the leader of the HK troupe.
This is Chan Mei Yin, leader of the Kreta Ayer COT and chief organizer of the event. She sang a song and performed one excerpt, both very well done .
These two kids sang part of a song. So cute, I just asked them to stand for me to take a picture and they put up this pose.
Presented by artistes from the Kreta Ayer CC Cantonese Opera Troupe, the Performing Arts Group from Bishan Residents' committee third division and the Yew Meng Sing Cantonese opera Troupe from Hong Kong. Actually the HK troupe had only two adults and five young ones performing.
See if you recognize anyone you know. Click on photo to enlarge. The three performers squatting in front are youngsters 12-13 years of age The two girls are quite tall. The sheng in the blue costume and the dan on his right are from HK. The dan is the leader of the HK troupe.
This is Chan Mei Yin, leader of the Kreta Ayer COT and chief organizer of the event. She sang a song and performed one excerpt, both very well done .
These two kids sang part of a song. So cute, I just asked them to stand for me to take a picture and they put up this pose.
July 30, 2007
Opera nite @ the Frontier
28 July 2007.
Mr Cedric Foo, MP for West Coast GRC, came but he attended only one excerpt after giving away some souvenirs. Quite a pleasant man, like my MP Mr Yao Chih. As he left he walked up the passage-way shaking hands with people like during election time.
The CC was very generous - the audience got free drinks and snacks , even got people giving out free hot coffee.
Nothing much to write about the shows except one funny thing.
Half-way through one excerpt I think the dan's microphone strayed away from its path, so it no more faced the dan's mouth. As a result the dan's voice was barely audible. Then someone from backstage gave her a hand-held mic. The dan did a cute thing. She tried to tuck the mic under the waist strap of her costume. Hahaha...I find it quite amusing, like a bandit tucking his pistol in his waist.
The mic couldn't go in. I wonder why she wanted to do that. So all you performers, ensure that your mic is working properly and securely fastened.
The group photo.....
戚超群, 黄莉莉...
戚超群...
楊丽明, 戚超群, 钟丽容...
钟丽容...
Mr Cedric Foo, MP for West Coast GRC, came but he attended only one excerpt after giving away some souvenirs. Quite a pleasant man, like my MP Mr Yao Chih. As he left he walked up the passage-way shaking hands with people like during election time.
The CC was very generous - the audience got free drinks and snacks , even got people giving out free hot coffee.
Nothing much to write about the shows except one funny thing.
Half-way through one excerpt I think the dan's microphone strayed away from its path, so it no more faced the dan's mouth. As a result the dan's voice was barely audible. Then someone from backstage gave her a hand-held mic. The dan did a cute thing. She tried to tuck the mic under the waist strap of her costume. Hahaha...I find it quite amusing, like a bandit tucking his pistol in his waist.
The mic couldn't go in. I wonder why she wanted to do that. So all you performers, ensure that your mic is working properly and securely fastened.
The group photo.....
戚超群, 黄莉莉...
戚超群...
楊丽明, 戚超群, 钟丽容...
钟丽容...
July 26, 2007
小公主 與 小駙馬
Pictures from cantonese opera magazine 粵劇曲藝. These kids performed in HK recently. According to the magazine the audience had a fun and hilarious time laughing and clapping away. I think the happiest people must be their parents.
'打金枝'的小公主與小駙馬, 觀眾看得開心極了.
析梅巧遇的小小生和小花旦, 也大快人心.
洛水夢會, 小朋友雖然不懂情情愛愛或什麼是海枯石瀾, 也演得絲絲入扣, 唱得動聽.
小英雄, 易水送荊軻.
'打金枝'的小公主與小駙馬, 觀眾看得開心極了.
析梅巧遇的小小生和小花旦, 也大快人心.
洛水夢會, 小朋友雖然不懂情情愛愛或什麼是海枯石瀾, 也演得絲絲入扣, 唱得動聽.
小英雄, 易水送荊軻.
July 25, 2007
Movie star follow-up
Chun See and fmchan, both of you are right. She is Kar Ling (嘉玲).
光陰似箭, Kar Ling, now.....
and this is she 40 years ago...look so different.
光陰似箭, Kar Ling, now.....
and this is she 40 years ago...look so different.
July 21, 2007
Movie star
Hello, those of you who often in the past watched old cantonese black-and-white movies, do you recognize this former film star below. I think you could also watch her movies on our television before the no-dialects on TV policy took effect. I can't remember that was how many years ago. After that all dialect programmes were dubbed in mandarin.
She used to partner Xie Xian (謝賢) in her movies. According to this programme I watched she married a Thai businessman, retired completely from movie-making and went to Thailand.She now lives a peaceful contented life with her family.
She used to partner Xie Xian (謝賢) in her movies. According to this programme I watched she married a Thai businessman, retired completely from movie-making and went to Thailand.She now lives a peaceful contented life with her family.
July 20, 2007
Computer screen
This is my computer screen. See, there are lines across the top. At first, maybe 1 year ago, only a few but now they are about 1cm thick already. Anyone got these on your screen?There was an article two days ago which says prices of LCD monitors have dropped 30%. So I was thinking whether to buy one. But this computer is more than 3 years old. On second thought, I think leave it alone. Wonder whether there will be more lines.
July 19, 2007
A leaf from Singapore's Chinese opera history....
1996, Clarke Quay - Chinese Theatre Circle, probably in collaboration with STPB, started the weekly presentation of traditional chinese opera at Clarke Quay. It was accompanied by a live orchestra. The performers did their make-up at the open space in front of the stage. They also changed into their costumes on stage for everyone to see. The opera excerpts attracted local fans as well as tourists.
This is Lou Mee Wah, now the instructor and chief of the Tanjong Pagar CC cantonese opera group, helping a performer with her costume.
The two artistes posing with a tourist were Richard Lee Kim Seng and Jasmine Cheung Seok Lin.
The excitement of a live street opera performance. A scene frozen in time.
I felt it was a good idea. It could also include other local groups as well as other operas like Li Yuan Xi, Hokkien opera, Yue opera, etc.
This is Lou Mee Wah, now the instructor and chief of the Tanjong Pagar CC cantonese opera group, helping a performer with her costume.
The two artistes posing with a tourist were Richard Lee Kim Seng and Jasmine Cheung Seok Lin.
The excitement of a live street opera performance. A scene frozen in time.
I felt it was a good idea. It could also include other local groups as well as other operas like Li Yuan Xi, Hokkien opera, Yue opera, etc.
July 17, 2007
Sad farewell
I have been attending concerts by the Singapore Chinese Orchestra for years. I know only one musician in person but I can recognize many others by sight and I know some by names and something about them from write-ups in the programmes.
Today I visited a blog of Miko's friend and learnt that one of the SCO musicians has passed away recently - at just 53. A talented man - what a loss. Tian du ying cai. He is Mr Yeo Puay Hian. He played the Zhongruan and he was also a composer. I still remember him on stage. He used to sit on the right side of the conductor together with other musicians playing the plucked-string instruments like pipa and liuqin.
So although I only know this little about him, I feel a sense of loss. He will not be there on my future visits.
Today I visited a blog of Miko's friend and learnt that one of the SCO musicians has passed away recently - at just 53. A talented man - what a loss. Tian du ying cai. He is Mr Yeo Puay Hian. He played the Zhongruan and he was also a composer. I still remember him on stage. He used to sit on the right side of the conductor together with other musicians playing the plucked-string instruments like pipa and liuqin.
So although I only know this little about him, I feel a sense of loss. He will not be there on my future visits.
July 16, 2007
Dr Goh Keng Swee
I think it was in the mid 80s. It was Dr Goh who thought teachers' pay were too low and unattractive for such an important and stressful job. So he revised teachers salaries. Not just a few dollars or just for starting pay. He revamped the salary scales across the board making teaching more attractive. It boosted teachers' morale and thickened their wallets. So teachers are very grateful to Dr Goh.
He also felt that at that time civil servants were using pompous and flowery language in their correspondence. So he recommended them read the book 'The Complete Plain Word'.
This photo shows Dr Goh, then MP for Kreta Ayer, receiving a cheque from a cantonese opera artiste at a fund-raising show at Kreta Ayer People's Theatre.
小曲 - 浪子心声
He also felt that at that time civil servants were using pompous and flowery language in their correspondence. So he recommended them read the book 'The Complete Plain Word'.
This photo shows Dr Goh, then MP for Kreta Ayer, receiving a cheque from a cantonese opera artiste at a fund-raising show at Kreta Ayer People's Theatre.
小曲 - 浪子心声
July 15, 2007
Traffic offence
Almost forgot about this.....
One night, I think at least 10 months ago, I stopped at a police road block. I think they were looking out for drink drivers. Die, I thought, too late.
No, I didn't drink; only too late to put on the seat belt. The officer came to my side, looked in and was quick to notice this. He recorded my particulars and mentioned something about demerit points. I expected the TP to send me an offence notification. But till now I have not heard anything from them. I wonder if they have dropped the case since I have no other offence in their record or maybe they don't send notifications.
Does anyone know the penalties for (the driver) not wearing seat belts?
One night, I think at least 10 months ago, I stopped at a police road block. I think they were looking out for drink drivers. Die, I thought, too late.
No, I didn't drink; only too late to put on the seat belt. The officer came to my side, looked in and was quick to notice this. He recorded my particulars and mentioned something about demerit points. I expected the TP to send me an offence notification. But till now I have not heard anything from them. I wonder if they have dropped the case since I have no other offence in their record or maybe they don't send notifications.
Does anyone know the penalties for (the driver) not wearing seat belts?
July 13, 2007
Chinese opera stage
The pictures are from a book about Chinese opera history in Singapore. These are opera stages in the 50s/60s.
A quaint-looking opera stage.....
A unique juxtaposition - a cabaret songstress singing at a Chinese opera stage.
A quaint-looking opera stage.....
A unique juxtaposition - a cabaret songstress singing at a Chinese opera stage.
July 12, 2007
邵振環 Siu Chan Wan
The first artiste in the second row is Siu Chan Wan.
Chun See wrote about ‘disappearing wayang stages’ in his blog and there was mention of a Cantonese opera artiste Siu Chan Wan. People commented that he was very good. I have also heard about him but know little about him and I watched him perform once only.
Here are two comments from Chun See’s blog (Link at the column on the right.) -
1. I think Siew Chan Wan is almost 80 and still plays a young scholar in the local scene. No doubt he is good but to see him playing a young hero (with limited movements) is a heartache. I had a picture of him playing as a young lady (mah j) and mind you, he looks 'pretty'.
2. I recall that "Siew Chan Wan" was very popular, had numerous Cantonese opera fans, and commanded a huge fee then, and apparently must be booked months or a year in advance.
I looked up my ‘opera archive’ and found the poster above. He is from Malaysia. He came in 2002 to perform at the 145th anniversary of Pat Wor Wui Kun. He performed an excerpt with a HK artiste. That was the one I watched. I remember there was some funny part. At that time I thought he was in his late 60s. I could imagine in his younger days, with his good looks and good skills, he must be the idol of many opera fans.
But I also share the sentiment that an elderly opera artiste should not play the role of someone who is, say 45 years younger. There may be exceptions. Senior citizens taking up opera mainly for recreation or leisure are also exceptions.
Chun See wrote about ‘disappearing wayang stages’ in his blog and there was mention of a Cantonese opera artiste Siu Chan Wan. People commented that he was very good. I have also heard about him but know little about him and I watched him perform once only.
Here are two comments from Chun See’s blog (Link at the column on the right.) -
1. I think Siew Chan Wan is almost 80 and still plays a young scholar in the local scene. No doubt he is good but to see him playing a young hero (with limited movements) is a heartache. I had a picture of him playing as a young lady (mah j) and mind you, he looks 'pretty'.
2. I recall that "Siew Chan Wan" was very popular, had numerous Cantonese opera fans, and commanded a huge fee then, and apparently must be booked months or a year in advance.
I looked up my ‘opera archive’ and found the poster above. He is from Malaysia. He came in 2002 to perform at the 145th anniversary of Pat Wor Wui Kun. He performed an excerpt with a HK artiste. That was the one I watched. I remember there was some funny part. At that time I thought he was in his late 60s. I could imagine in his younger days, with his good looks and good skills, he must be the idol of many opera fans.
But I also share the sentiment that an elderly opera artiste should not play the role of someone who is, say 45 years younger. There may be exceptions. Senior citizens taking up opera mainly for recreation or leisure are also exceptions.
July 10, 2007
Annoyance
This is a nice video but every few minutes the producer's 'logo' floats across the screen and sometimes momentarily blocks out the performer's face. This logo is quite big somemore. Annoying and it spoils the video. Is there a way to remove it?
July 06, 2007
Where can you..........?
1...buy new books by kg...
2...enjoy using public toilets without door and flush...
3...listen to cantonese opera songs foc in the park...
4... see people idling and smoking at a public exercise station...
5...see swordswomen learning 'jade girl sword skills'...
6...still travel in buses with cables...
7...take a cruise along the Zhu Jiang...
8...buy imitation dvds at about 5% of the price of the originals...
I think you all know where already....right, it is Guangzhou.
2...enjoy using public toilets without door and flush...
3...listen to cantonese opera songs foc in the park...
4... see people idling and smoking at a public exercise station...
5...see swordswomen learning 'jade girl sword skills'...
6...still travel in buses with cables...
7...take a cruise along the Zhu Jiang...
8...buy imitation dvds at about 5% of the price of the originals...
I think you all know where already....right, it is Guangzhou.
July 04, 2007
Old pictures
My friend Victor, a compassionate man, blogged about an old woman rummaging through a rubbish bin at Geylang, Singapore. Then I remember I also took a picture of an old woman, so decided to pick some old pictures to show you...These pictures were taken in Hong Kong one December two or three years back.
Night time. This old woman was begging at one of the busiest districts in HK - Mongkok. It was December and the temperature at night can drop to as low as 13 degrees C. The picture was a bit blur because this camera has no anti-burr and I felt bad if I held it to focus for too long. Regrettably, I did not help the woman.
In contrast, on the same night and just tens of metres away, these flirtatious girls, promoting some products, were posing for photographers.
I have tried Hainanese chicken rice in HK. The rice was yellow in colour. The chicken skin was yellow and oily. Some blood in the chicken bones was still reddish. The chilly was more sweet than hot. And expensive - about HK$45 (S$9). Our HCR is much better.
This shop specializes in fish...fish balls, fish cakes, fish this and fish that. Not bad.
Night time. This old woman was begging at one of the busiest districts in HK - Mongkok. It was December and the temperature at night can drop to as low as 13 degrees C. The picture was a bit blur because this camera has no anti-burr and I felt bad if I held it to focus for too long. Regrettably, I did not help the woman.
In contrast, on the same night and just tens of metres away, these flirtatious girls, promoting some products, were posing for photographers.
I have tried Hainanese chicken rice in HK. The rice was yellow in colour. The chicken skin was yellow and oily. Some blood in the chicken bones was still reddish. The chilly was more sweet than hot. And expensive - about HK$45 (S$9). Our HCR is much better.
This shop specializes in fish...fish balls, fish cakes, fish this and fish that. Not bad.
July 02, 2007
PM on a Tiger
PM Lee on a Tiger Airways flight to Hanoi. Picture from Tiger Tales, in-flight magazine, May/June/July issue.
About 10 years ago, after the plane had landed and was taxiing on the runway, you could see people getting up and trying to get down their luggage. Nowadays you don't see this anymore. Maybe people are more experienced.
Somehow I thought of the first time I tried to get off a moving bus before it stopped completely at the bus-stop. At that time the buses had no doors. I fell and my schoolbag also dropped down and some books fell out. Luckily I had only some bruises, nothing serious.
Soon I learnt that you have to run forward a short distance to ease off the momentum. How fast and how far you run depends on the speed of the bus. This is something to do with Newton's law about a body in motion.
Later I could do that quite well and I quite enjoyed this little 'thrill'.
About 10 years ago, after the plane had landed and was taxiing on the runway, you could see people getting up and trying to get down their luggage. Nowadays you don't see this anymore. Maybe people are more experienced.
Somehow I thought of the first time I tried to get off a moving bus before it stopped completely at the bus-stop. At that time the buses had no doors. I fell and my schoolbag also dropped down and some books fell out. Luckily I had only some bruises, nothing serious.
Soon I learnt that you have to run forward a short distance to ease off the momentum. How fast and how far you run depends on the speed of the bus. This is something to do with Newton's law about a body in motion.
Later I could do that quite well and I quite enjoyed this little 'thrill'.
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