Since its debut in Guangzhou in November 2023, the original Cantonese opera "Mrs Willows Dong Xiaowan" has garnered rave reviews.
Adapted from Liu Sifen's Mao Dun Literary Prize-winning historical "Mrs Willows", the opera presents a poignant tale of Dong Xiaowan and renowned Fushe Society scholar Mao Pijiang during the Ming-Qing dynastic transition.
The youth edition of "Mrs Willows", co-produced by Guangdong Xiangshan Cantonese Opera Troupe and emerging talents from Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, will premiere at Macao Cultural Center during the 4th Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Art Cooperation Summit.
On July 22, the youth cast was launched at Xiangshan Cantonese Opera Troupe's studio. With an average age of 16, this ensemble represents a new generation of Cantonese opera practitioners.
While preserving traditional opera's iconic stagecraft, vocal traditions and costume aesthetics, this production integrates modern sensibilities through innovative staging. The result is a rejuvenated artistic interpretation that honors heritage while resonating with audiences.