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Famous Cantonese Opera Artists

The reason why we can still enjoy the charming Cantonese opera today is that many Cantonese opera performers and enthusiasts have made significant contributions to its inheritance and development. The following renowned Cantonese opera artists have won the love of the audience with their exquisite acting skills and profound artistic attainments. They have also made substantial contributions to the inheritance and development of Cantonese opera.

Famous Cantonese Opera Artists

Hong Xiannu | 红线女 hóng xiàn nǚ | 紅線女 Hung Sin Nui

Hung Sin Nui (1925-2013), whose original name was Kwong Kin Lim, was a famous contemporary Cantonese opera performing artist in China and the founder of the Hung School of Art. Hung Sin Nui created many famous female stage images from ancient and modern times, both at home and abroad. She was excellent in singing, reciting, acting, and martial arts in opera. She was open-minded in learning the basic skills of other art forms, adept at learning the artistic techniques of other famous opera artists, and dedicated to reform and innovation, making indelible contributions to the revitalization and development of Cantonese opera. Her representative works include "Searching for the Academy", "Guan Hanqing", "Zhaojun's Departure to the Frontier", "Mountain Township Turbulence", etc.

Bai Xuexian | 白雪仙 bái xuě xiān | 白雪仙 Pak Suet Sin

Her original name was Chan Suk Leung. She is a famous Cantonese opera performing artist and the daughter of Bak Kyu Wing. In 1967, she founded the Shing Foh Ming Film Company and produced Cantonese-language films. She and her partner have supported many successors of Cantonese opera, constantly striving for the inheritance and development of Cantonese opera. Her representative works include "The Story of the Purple Hairpin", "The Emperor's Daughter", etc.

Ren Jianhui | 任剑辉 rèn jiàn huī | 任劍輝 Yam Kim Fai

Ren Jianhui (1913-1989) , a famous Cantonese opera performing artist, has loved Cantonese opera since childhood. She practiced the basic skills of Cantonese Opera when she was very young, laying a good foundation. Ren Jianhui's contributions to Cantonese Opera lasted throughout her life. She not only promoted the prosperity of the female role but also devoted a lot of effort to the innovation of Cantonese Opera and the cultivation of the new generation. Ren Jianhui also won the honor of being one of the top ten stars in Mandarin and Cantonese films for eight consecutive years with her outstanding performances. Her representative works include The Princess Cheung Ping and The Purple Hairpin.

Luo Jiabao | 罗家宝 luó jiā bǎo | 羅家寶 Law Kar Po

Luo Jiabao (1930-2016), a Cantonese opera performing artist, was known as the "Prince of Xiaosheng". He combined the strengths of various schools and his own voice conditions to create a unique artistic singing style called "Xiacang", which became a popular singing style among the audience. Because his nickname was "Xia", people called him "Brother Xia", and his singing style was also named "Xia Qiang". The characteristics of "Xia Qiang" are that the timbre is sweet and mellow, the pronunciation is clear, the rhythm is stable and easy to learn and sing, becoming one of the most popular and widespread Cantonese opera singing styles. His representative works include Blood Stained the Black Hat, Yuan Chonghuan and Forty Years of Dream Broken and Fragrance Vanished.

Ni Huiying | 倪慧英 ní huì yīng | 倪慧英 Ngai Wai Ying

The leading actress of the Guangzhou Cantonese Opera Troupe and a national first-class actor. She is known as the "Golden Voice" and the "King of Xiaoqu". Ni Huiying is a Cantonese opera performing artist with complete skills in voice, appearance and art, and is excellent in both civil and martial arts. She has worked hard on the stage of Cantonese opera. With a heart that loves the cause of Cantonese opera and is persistent in the pursuit of art. She has made great contributions to the innovation and development of Cantonese opera. Her representative work is Female Generals of the Yang Family.

By Mia Li
Web Editor

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