HKMU unlocks access to Cantonese opera for global audience with new online repository

To promote and preserve the rich cultural heritage of Cantonese Opera to a global audience, "Ina Ho Cantonese Opera Research Centre" at the Hong Kong Metropolitan University (HKMU) announced the launch of an online "Cantonese Opera Repository" with the university library.

Through releasing the first batch of English translations of classic Cantonese opera scripts online, the Repository aims to make Cantonese opera more accessible to worldwide researchers and Cantonese opera enthusiasts. 

Promote Cantonese Opera through English translation

On the first anniversary of the Center’s opening, a launch event for the Repository was hosted on Friday (Mar 21) under the theme “Translation as a Global Preservation”. 

Speaking at the event, HKMU Acting Dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences Eva Man Kit-wah underlined the significance of the Repository, adding that it fulfils the center's aim of promoting Cantonese Opera overseas through English translation.

Additionally, it strengthens HKMU’s strengths in digital preservation by transforming traditional arts scripts into digital formats accessible to researchers and the public, thereby achieving the goal of “Translation as Global Preservation”, according to Man.

University Librarian Owen Tam Man-lik highlighted the University Library’s commitment in promoting its digital archives and developing open access resources.

Tam expressed confidence that digitisation and network technology can help overcome geographical barriers, allowing cultural resources to be shared more widely and conveniently with people all over the world.

Tam also expressed hope for the Repository to grow and attract more young people and individuals from all over the world to appreciate and study Cantonese Opera's cultural legacy.
 

Attract young people to appreciate cultural legacy

Director of the Centre Kelly Chan Kar-yue introduced the first batch of English translations of classic Cantonese opera scripts, highlighting the translators included cultural notes to help English readers understand the context and specific terms in the scripts, which allow a deeper appreciation of the plays and traditional Chinese culture. 

Moreover, translators on the Centre’s Cantonese Opera translation team, Sheryl Zhang and Matthew Wong shared their experience and challenges during the translation process. 

While the first batch of translations features six excerpts from Forty Years of Cherished Love are now available online,  along with three libretti and six excerpts have been preliminarily translated. 

The three classic libretti included : Fourteen Years of Love-Hate Entanglements Ended in Buddha’s Palace, The Reunion by a White Hare and The Immortal of River Luo. 

The collection also features three excerpts from the classic Chinese literary masterpiece The Dream of the Red Chamber, namely “Vision of the Realm of Parted Souls”, “Love Burns, Petals Fade”, and “Burial of Fallen Flowers”.

Meanwhile, three other excerpts – “The Return of Lady Wenji”, “Meeting in Dreams at River Luo” and “Eighteen Movements on a Nomadic Reed Flute” are currently undergoing editing and proofreading and will be added to the Repository soon. 

Established in August 2023, the Centre focused on research, promotion, dissemination, as well as propagation of Cantonese opera to both citizens and oversea audiences.