Li Shuqin, winner of the "Plum Blossom" prize of Yue Opera

Yue Opera is one of the major genres of operas in south china, prevalent in Guangdong, Guangxi and some places in Hong Kong, Marcao and Southeast Asia where the overseas Chinese are gathering. Cantonese is being used in the performers' singings and dialogues. The basic tune of Cantonese opera is Banghuang, retaining the Kun, Ge and Guang tunes as well as taking the advantages of Guangdong folk songs and the current tunes. In addition to Chinese traditional instruments like Er Xian, Gao Hu, San Xian and Yue Qin (the former two are bowed string instruments, the latter two plucked string instruments), its orchestra has adopted Western instruments such as violin, saxophone, cello and double bass. As absorbing the excellence of drama, paly and film in the performance, stage arts and lamp decorations, Cantonese opera formed its own features.

Editor: Wing