Interview by William Chan
The celebrated biographical musical, “Xian Xinghai” (星辰大海·冼星海), produced and first performed locally in 2023, is currently touring the Chinese mainland this and next month. Audiences in Chengdu, Heyuan and Zhuhai, Shunyi District in Beijing and the cities of Jinan and Dezhou in Shandong Province will be able to experience this original production from Macau that has become a cultural talking point in the rest of China.
In an online interview with the Post last week, local producer Ken Sou Io Kuong gave his insights into the upcoming tour and the distinctive Macau perspective at the heart of the production.
“This time, our tour runs from November through December, covering five cities with 14 performances,” Sou said. “On December 4, thanks to the invitation of the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), we’ll return to Macau and share a very special performance with local audiences at 8 p.m. at the Macau Cultural Centre Grand Auditorium.”
The musical, performed by Hou Kong Dance Group, was first staged in Macau in 2023, and after two years of creative refinement, the production returns, more evolved and with a stronger emphasis on Macau’s role in the life and legacy of Xian Xinghai.*
The musical now opens at the Xian Xinghai Memorial Museum in Macau, dramatising the touching moment when Xian’s daughter donates historic artefacts associated with her father. This provides a unique narrative lens, highlighting both personal and public history, and sets the foundation for the story of one of China’s greatest composers.
“Even for us locals, few realise that Xian Xinghai – a contemporary giant of Chinese music – was born in Macau, and his spirit of perseverance and national pride continues to inspire others,” Sou noted, adding that the production aims to give Macau youth and different communities a reason to stand firm in their local roots while looking outward to embrace broader opportunities – within the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and across the globe.
Xian’s own life journey embodies this ethos: born in Macau, raised in Guangzhou, hindered by his background from attending school but driven to pursue music in Singapore, reincorporating those lessons in Beijing and Shanghai, and eventually travelling to France and beyond. “It’s about seeking self-improvement and embracing a broad vision, and it’s a spirit we hope more local people can take to heart as they step out into the world,” said Sou.
A particularly meaningful aspect of the musical’s evolution is its core creative team, which remains deeply grounded in Macau. “Our main creative team – including directors, producers, and lead actors –are all based in Macau,” Sou emphasised. “Traditionally, Macau’s performing arts scene has struggled to develop at a large scale, given our local market’s limits. But through this project, we’ve seized the moment, twice winning support from the China National Arts Fund, and truly taking a piece of Macau’s culture beyond our borders.”
The musical is performed bilingually in Cantonese and Mandarin, mirroring Xian Xinghai’s own life –growing up in Guangdong, shaped by Lingnan folk music and culture, later moving through different regions of China as his revolutionary work advanced. “Our original songs anchor the show – it’s mainly new works – but, of course, Xian Xinghai’s famous music is woven throughout,” Sou noted. “Audiences will recognise pieces like the legendary ‘Yellow River Cantata’, ‘On Taihang Mountain’, ‘Song of the National Salvation Army’, and ‘February Comes’, among other classic compositions.”
Sou noted that the “Xian Xinghai” musical has already become a landmark for Macau’s creative industries, a showcase for local talent, and a testament to the power of cross-border artistic cooperation. “As the production tours major mainland cities, it continues its mission: celebrating a national icon, encouraging local youth to dream big, and reminding every audience member of the value of perseverance, creativity, and connection between local roots and national aspirations,” he said.
The tour will start in Heyuan, a prefecture-level city in northeastern Guangdong, next Friday.
*Xian was born into a Tanka (boat dwelling) family in Macau in 1905, and his father died before he was born. His Cantonese name is Sin Sing Hoi. He moved frequently with his mother, living in Singapore and Guangzhou. In 1938, he relocated to Yan’an, where he became the dean of the Music Department at the Lu Xun Institute of Arts. There, he composed the famous “Yellow River Cantata.” – Post
Hou Kong Dance Group performs Musical “Xian Xinghai” in June in Shenzhen. – Photos provided by Ken Sou
