Haha the title of this blog post made me laugh. I was in China over the summer and unfortunately our trip to the Opera got cancelled, worse than that, it was because of the victims of the floods. But from what I heard I might have got lucky, by not having to go!
As long as I've already offended the connoisseurs--count yourself lucky for having missed the opera Frangipan! Lots of things I love about HK, but despite my best efforts I can't endure more than 5 minutes of any Chinese opera or Kung Fu movie.
This post is spot on! I love the costumes, the acrobats, even the crowds. But try as I might, I can't stand the music. I've tried. I've gone to Chinese operas, I've listened to recordings, I've taken my parents to traditional Chinese orchestras -- to me, it still sounds like dying cats. The most I can stomach are Chinese songs with Western instrumentation, like the Butterfly Lovers concerto. Traditional Chinese music is one topic I feel incapable of writing about since I just can't get myself to appreciate it.
Well ok YTSL, I enjoyed Ashes of Time, and there was a David Mamet movie on a martial arts theme I was able to make it all the way through. But these connoisseurs of hand-to-hand combat who seem to corner me at every BBQ, going on endlessly about the relative merits of this style vs that style--I can't take it any more!
Aaaah... sounds like what you are allergic to are the "old school" kung fu movies (and their fans). Hmmm... if you like "Ashes of Time" (which I love), maybe you'd also like "The Blade" (which was seen at the time as Tsui Hark's answer to "Ashes of Time")? :)
10 comments:
Hickey must be a sinophile.
I wonder if Hickey heard any huang mei diao (AKA Yellow Plum Opera)? It's my favorite type of opera (and yes, I include Western opera in that mix).
Thanks for the tip YTSL, I'll give one of those a listen. Maybe it's an acquired taste...
YTSL, I like Huang Mei Diao too!
The one Mr. HKP and I saw at the park was the Chiu Chow Opera (from Shantou)
RC
Haha the title of this blog post made me laugh. I was in China over the summer and unfortunately our trip to the Opera got cancelled, worse than that, it was because of the victims of the floods. But from what I heard I might have got lucky, by not having to go!
As long as I've already offended the connoisseurs--count yourself lucky for having missed the opera Frangipan! Lots of things I love about HK, but despite my best efforts I can't endure more than 5 minutes of any Chinese opera or Kung Fu movie.
This post is spot on! I love the costumes, the acrobats, even the crowds.
But try as I might, I can't stand the music. I've tried. I've gone to Chinese operas, I've listened to recordings, I've taken my parents to traditional Chinese orchestras -- to me, it still sounds like dying cats.
The most I can stomach are Chinese songs with Western instrumentation, like the Butterfly Lovers concerto.
Traditional Chinese music is one topic I feel incapable of writing about since I just can't get myself to appreciate it.
HKP -- you can't endure 5 minutes of *ANY* kung fu movie? NONE at all?! *faint* if so. :S
Well ok YTSL, I enjoyed Ashes of Time, and there was a David Mamet movie on a martial arts theme I was able to make it all the way through. But these connoisseurs of hand-to-hand combat who seem to corner me at every BBQ, going on endlessly about the relative merits of this style vs that style--I can't take it any more!
Hi again HKP --
Aaaah... sounds like what you are allergic to are the "old school" kung fu movies (and their fans). Hmmm... if you like "Ashes of Time" (which I love), maybe you'd also like "The Blade" (which was seen at the time as Tsui Hark's answer to "Ashes of Time")? :)
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