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.
原作：新疆民歌
改編：王洛賓
主唱：田鳴恩
在那遙遠的地方
有位好姑娘
人們走過了她的身旁
都要回頭留戀的張望
她那粉紅的笑臉
好像紅太陽
她那活潑動人的眼睛
好像晚上明媚的月亮
我願拋棄了財產
跟她去放羊
每天看著那粉紅的笑臉
和她美麗金邊的衣裳
我願做一只小羊
跟在她身旁
我願她拿著細細的皮鞭
不斷輕輕每天打在我身上
