Yam kim fai cantonese opera
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Ms Yam Kim Fai
Actress
Born Yam Lee Chor and also known as Yam Yuen Yee, Cantonese opera virtuoso and bio actress Yam Kim Fai learned the art of Cantonese musikdrama under her aunt Siu Kiu Tin and then Wong Lui Hap. In , she joined an all-woman musikdrama troupe and began partnering with various leading ladies on scen, cross-dressing as the male lead. She was dashing and elegant, as evidenced by her moniker ‘the Audience Charmer’. Yam had begun making appearances in films in the pre-war years, but it was The Valiant Poon On Perplexed bygd Love in that cast her as the lead for the first time. She went on to play the leading part in more than movies. Most saw her play the male protagonist or engaged in gender switching, as in Lady General Fa Muk-lan (), Lovesick () and Whose Son Is This? (). The exceptions were The Bachelor Girl () and The Maidservant&#;s Sad Tale (), where she played a woman. Yam is best remembered for her male scholar or martial roles in Cantonese opera works,
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Journal for the Interdisciplinary Art and Education
Abstract
Cantonese opera is one of the four Chinese-language operas recognized by UNESCO. It is an important art form, and its popularity reaches not only canton-speaking regions but audiences around the globe as well. Fushan, a city in the Central Guangdong province, was home to many Cantonese Opera troupes. However, due to political reasons, many Cantonese opera troupes relocated to Hong Kong, settling there in the early s. This relocation led to innovations and developments that are still seen today. Playwright Tong Tik-sang played a very influential role in advancing and popularizing Cantonese operas. This article traces the origin of Cantonese opera, gives an overview of its characteristics, and discusses Tong’s contributions and legacy to the future of Cantonese opera.
References
- Chan, Kar Yue. “Cross-Dressing and Gendered Voice Representation in Cantonese Opera.” Comparative Literature: East & West 3, no. 1 (June
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Yam Kim-fai
In this Chinese name, the family name is Yam.
Yam Kim-fai (Chinese: 任劍輝, 4 February (Lunar 29 December – 29 November ), also known as Ren Jianhui[1] was a Cantonese opera actress in China and Hong Kong.
Yam was most notable for her unique ability to sing in the lower register. That her opera voice was indistinguishable from a male one allowed her to play either male or female roles, though she usually performed male ones.
On 24 June , Yam performed for the last time in public and TV viewers looked for the "man" they knew from movies/stage performances. They did not expect to see her in a 2-piece set of jacket and qipao (cheongsam) with floral print. Since , Yam enjoyed singing in private with a live band and was often accompanied by her protégée Loong[2] who would read the lyrics out for her until her eyesight improved with surgery.
On 11 July , during the 25th Miss Universe pageant held at the Lee Theatre in Hong Kong, contestants