Since the early twentieth century, Hong Kong has always been an important venue for Cantonese opera development. After 1949, as a result of political turmoil in the Mainland, performers and troupes converged and resettled in the territory, leading to a tremendous prospering of Cantonese opera in the subsequent decade. This development is linked intimately with the rise of the electronic media.
Performers and troupes began to grasp the possibilities offered by film and radio to re-examine age-old performance practices with regard to acting, singing, script writing, instrumentation, and stage set-up. They brought in novel elements from the theatre and movie world, and participated in the production of films and records. With these acts, they are extending the movement to modernize Cantonese opera that began in the 1930s.
Wong Jum-sum was thoroughly immersed in the world of Cantonese opera from young. Through his close encounter with master performers like Hung Sin-nui, Ma Si-tsang, Yam Kim-fai, Pak Suet-sin and Tong Dik-sang, he witnessed first hand the modernization of Cantonese opera, and was mightily moved by the adventure and passion he saw.
The Sin Fung Ming Troupe, featuring the triumvirate of Yam Kim-fai, Pak Suet-sin and Tong Dik-sang, was another pillar of the modernization of Cantonese operas in the 1950s. Here you can listen to the legendary episode ‘Fragrant Sacrifice’, from the film version of Princess Cheung Ping.
撰曲：唐滌生
編劇：唐滌生
主唱：任劍輝（飾周世顯）
白雪仙（飾長平公主）
（白）
長平：倚殿陰森奇樹雙
世顯：當年誓約未能忘
長平：舊臣莫對花燭夜
世顯：不須侍女伴身旁，下去
（唱）
長平：落花滿天蔽月光
借一杯附薦鳳台上
帝女花帶淚上香
願喪生回謝爹娘
偷偷看，偷偷望
佢帶淚帶淚暗悲傷
我半帶驚惶
怕駙馬惜鸞鳳配
不甘殉愛伴我臨泉壤
世顯：寸心盼望能同合葬
鴛鴦侶相偎傍
泉台上再設新房
地府陰司裡再覓那平陽門巷
長平：唉惜花者甘殉葬
花燭夜難為駙馬飲砒霜
世顯：江山悲災劫
感先帝恩千丈
與妻雙雙叩問帝安
長平：唉盼得花燭共諧白髮
誰個願看花燭翻血浪
我誤君累你同埋孽網
好應盡禮揖花燭深深拜
再合巹交杯墓穴作新房
待千秋歌讚註駙馬在靈牌上
世顯：將柳蔭當做芙蓉帳
明朝駙馬看新娘
夜半挑燈有心作窺妝
長平：地老天荒情鳳永配痴凰
願與夫婿共拜相交杯舉案
世顯：遞過金杯慢咽輕嘗
將砒霜帶淚放落葡萄上
長平：合歡與君醉夢鄉
世顯：碰杯共到夜台上
長平：百花冠替代殮裝
世顯：駙馬盔墳墓收藏
長平：相擁抱
世顯：相偎傍
合：雙枝有樹透露帝女香
世顯：帝女花
長平：長伴有心郎
合：夫妻死去與樹也同模樣
