Cantonese Opera and Cantonese Music

Cantonese Opera and Cantonese Music are highly representative traditional art forms of Guangzhou. Cantonese Opera is sung in Cantonese, integrating singing, acting, recitation, and martial arts, with rich character types and music mainly based on "banghuang" (Xipi and Erhuang). It is a pearl of Lingnan opera. Cantonese Music, primarily performed with silk and bamboo instruments, features beautiful melodies and a fresh style, often performed in teahouses and theaters. Both hold significant positions in Guangzhou's culture, beloved by locals and visitors alike, and are shining cards of Lingnan culture.

Cantonese Opera

Cantonese Opera is one of the most representative traditional operas in Southern China, originating in Foshan and performed in the Cantonese dialect. It integrates elements from various operatic traditions, such as Nanxi (Southern Opera), Kunqu, and Bangzi, while also incorporating folk music from the Lingnan region, creating a unique artistic style.

The performance art of Cantonese Opera combines singing, acting, recitation, and martial arts. The roles are divided into six main categories: civil and military male leads, young male roles, leading and secondary female roles, comic characters, and martial male roles. The music is primarily based on "banghuang" (Xipi and Erhuang), with additional elements of high-pitched tunes, Kunqu, and Guangdong folk melodies. The costumes and makeup of Cantonese Opera are of distinctively Lingnan  style, especially the colorful and ornate "Cantonese embroidery."

Cantonese Opera is widely popular in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hong Kong, and Macau, and is also well-received in overseas Chinese communities. In 2006, it was included in China's first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list, and in 2009, it was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The repertoire of Cantonese Opera is diverse, ranging from traditional historical stories to modern plays that reflect contemporary life, showcasing the rich cultural heritage and progressive spirit of the Guangdong region.

Main Performance Venues

Guangzhou Cantonese Opera House

Guangdong Cantonese Opera Art Center

Jiangnan Grand Theatre

Southern Theatre

Cantonese Music

Cantonese Music is a traditional silk and bamboo musical genre popular in the Zhujiang (Pearl) River Delta and the Cantonese-speaking regions. It is renowned for its Lingnan style, which is light, gentle, elegant, delicate, and rich, as well as its fresh, smooth, and melodious tunes. Originating in the late Qing Dynasty, it reached maturity in the 1920s, giving rise to masters like Lv Wencheng and Yin Zizhong, who composed numerous classic pieces.

The melodies of Cantonese Music are beautiful, often using the pentatonic scale with flexible and varied rhythms, ranging from lyrical slow movements to passionate fast movements. The instrumentation is diverse, with the high-pitched huqin (Cantonese huqin) as the lead, accompanied by the yangqin, qinqin, and erhu. Some pieces also incorporate Western instruments like the violin and saxophone. Cantonese Music is adept at drawing inspiration from other art forms, blending elements from Central China, Nanyang (Southeast Asia), and Western music to create its unique style.

Classic works such as "Dragon Boat Racing," "Step by Step Higher," "Rain Beating Banana Leaves," and "Autumn Moon over Calm Lake" showcase the diversity of Cantonese Music. These pieces are not only widely popular in the Guangdong region but also well-received in overseas Chinese communities.

Main Performance Venues

Guangzhou Cultural Park

Xinghai Concert Hall

Guangdong Cantonese Opera Art Center

Guangzhou Cantonese Opera House

Southern Theatre

Welcome to Guangzhou and savor the traditional charm of Cantonese Opera and Cantonese Music!