Cecilia Lee Fung-sing's Legendary Rise to Opera Stardom
Introduction
Inaugurated in 2003, Cantonese Opera Day returns for its 14th edition this year. As with previous editions since 2005, the Hong Kong Film Archive joins in the spirit of the occasion by curating a screening programme of operatic gems. This year's retrospective shines the spotlight on Cecilia Lee Fung-sing, the film and Cantonese opera legend. We are more than honoured to announce the special appearance of Lee, who will return from her adopted Australia to recount the twists and turns that led her to stardom as a wenwusheng (principal male roles).
Lee Heung-ying (Cecilia Lee Fung-sing) first burst onto the scene with her cross-dressing wenwusheng role under her now-famous stage name in Leung Hungyuk's Victory at Wong Tin Tong (1961). What she lacked as a greenhorn in Cantonese opera, she more than made up for in determination and effort. As well as apprenticing under her mentor Lee Bo-lun and studying the artistry of the Northern School of martial arts with masters Simon Yuen Siu-tin, Qi Yukun, Han Yingjie and Kwan Ching-leung, she received her vocal training from famed masters Wong To and Lau Siu-wing. Distinguished by her tall stature, handsome countenance and bright piercing eyes, she took to the role of wenwusheng like a natural, blazing a path of excellence with her singing prowess in pinghou (male voice), a plummy timbre marked by clear enunciation, coupled with hard work and perseverance. As her fame soared and her career reached new heights with Madame Wild Rose (1962), Lee was hotly most sought-after by major film companies, including Kowloon, Lux and Tai Seng.
She continued to work tirelessly to bring the theatrics of the stage to the screen. In Sister Yeung (1963), Operation Woods (1964), The Ambitious Prince (1965) and other operatic films, she displayed her impeccable artistry of Cantonese opera.
In 1966, Lee founded her self-named Cantonese opera troupe in Hong Kong and starred alongside Ng Sau-fong, a huadan (artist playing young female roles) in her signature work, The Florid Phoenix's Singing Echoes through Ten Thousand Li of Mountains and Rivers . The performance was followed by a tour around Southeast Asia with her troupe.
Lee moved to live in Sydney, Australia in 1991. Establishing Lee Yuen Chinese Opera in 1996, she continued her endeavours in promoting Cantonese operatic art and nurturing talent. At the ripe age of 83, she remains dedicated to charitable appearances in Cantonese opera performances and concerts.
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