Topic: How to create inspiring female leads: from classic characters of the Mei Lanfang school to Cao Qiqiao and Virginia Woolf's Orlando

Speaker: Wei Hai-min (playing Cao Qiqiao)

Wei Hai-min is a world-famous Peking Opera diva, specialising in the Mei Lanfang School. She is renowned for her scintillating interpretation of different roles in both traditional and contemporary Peking Opera. Wei is famous for playing Cao Qiqiao in The Golden Cangue as well as performing the title role in Wang Xifeng Wreaking Havoc at the Ning Residence. In 2009, she starred in Robert Wilson's Orlando. Wei's recent starring role in contemporary Peking Opera Meng Xiaodong, in which she played the legendary performer and sang in lao sheng (old man role) style, captivated audiences.

Here, Wei Hai-min demonstrates performance and vocal techniques, and discusses her approach to playing different leading roles.

Topic: Eileen Chang meets Peking Opera – adapting The Golden Cangue for the GuoGuang Opera Company of Taiwan

Speakers: Wang An-chi (Artistic Director and Playwright), Lee Shiao-pin (Director), Wei Hai-min (playing Cao Qiqiao)

Writer Eileen Chang is renowned in 20th century Chinese literature for her inventive imagery and razor-sharp observations about the female psyche and relations between the two sexes. While The Golden Cangue, one of her most profound works, has been widely adapted for theatre, movie and television drama, a Peking Opera version offers intriguing new possibilities.

In this talk, playwright Wang An-chi, Artistic Director, GuoGuang Opera Company of Taiwan, Professor of Taiwan University, and Taiwan Literature and Art Achievement Award winner, explains how she adapted Chang's elegant, satirical writing for the stage. Director Lee, renowned for his versatility and his pioneering blending of traditional and contemporary theatre, discusses how he broke away from the confines of the printed page to create "characters in the round". Peking Opera star Wei Hai-min demonstrates how she overcame the challenges of playing complex protagonist Cao Qiqiao.

Topic: New Endeavours in Nanguan Music

Nanguan virtuoso Wang Xinxin began her musical career in Quanzhou, Fujian Province. Now stationed in Taiwan, she has devoted herself to revitalising this traditional form of music in recent years. Here, Wang recalls encounters on her musical journey and explains the features that make the ancient music special. Wang and renowned director Lukas Hemleb also discuss the artistic vision that led them to create Feather and how they gave Nanguan a contemporary touch.

Speakers:
Wang Xinxin (Music Director and Lead Performer)
Lukas Hemleb (Director)

Topic: The Cult Memo

Pun Siu-fai, the artistic director and choreographer, will discuss the artistic concepts behind Mr. Vampire, the process of recreating a cult classic, and his collaboration with other artists on this musical dance drama.

Speaker:
Pun Siu-fai (Artistic Director and Choreographer)

Topic: The Vision behind the Musical Movie

Zhu Wen is an accomplished screenwriter and director from the Mainland. Well-known scripts include the screenplay for the movie Seventeen Years, which went on to secure the Director's Award for Zhang Yuan at the Venice Film Festival in 1999. Zhu's own directorial works include the award-winning Seafood and South of the Clouds. His recent Film Thomas Mao has also received critical acclaim. In this talk, Zhu will share the insights and inspiration that led to Mars News Ensemble.

Speaker:
Zhu Wen (Film Director)

Topic: The Process of Production of The Peony Pavilion

The core members of creative team of The Peony Pavilion (Sino-Japanese version) will talk about the process of preparing and producing the programme, how to interpret a classic play of Kunqu opera with new ideas, and the experience of Sino-Japanese cooperation. Definitely give audience an insight into this unforgettable performance.

Speakers:
Bando Tamasaburo (Chief Director / Main Cast), Jin Fei (Director of Beijing MENGHUATINGYUAN Culture Media Co., Ltd.)

Topic: Speakers discuss the project into…, the composers' experiences in the Pearl River Delta region and the concepts behind their compositions

A good opportunity for an in-depth view of the compositions and the underlying Composer-in-Residence programme that Ensemble Modern, Siemens Arts Program and Goethe-Institut Hongkong conducted in the Pearl River Delta from 2008 to 2009 and whose results will be heard in the concert.

Speakers:
Roland Diry (Managing Director, Ensemble Modern)
Michael Müller-Verweyen (Director, Goethe-Institut Hongkong)
Johannes Schöllhorn (Composer of Niemandsland)

Photo: MAP Office