Ho-Kau Chan

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Ho-Kau Chan
Chinese: 陳好逑
Born1932 (1932)
Hong Kong
Died23 July 2021(2021-07-23) (aged 88–89)
 Hong Kong
Other namesChan Hao-Gau, Chan Ho-Kau, Chan Hiu-Kau, Chen Ho-Kaw
OccupationCantonese opera singer, actress
Years activeSince before 1940
Parent(s)
Musical career
GenresCantonese opera
Peking opera
InstrumentsVoice
Associated actsHing Sun Sing Opera Troupe (Chinese: 慶新聲; Jyutping: hing3san1sing1)


Chung San Sing Opera Troupe (Chinese: 頌新聲; Jyutping: zung6san1sing1)


Ho Siu Lin Opera Troupe (Chinese: 好兆年; Jyutping: hou2siu6nin4) since 1997

Ho-Kau Chan (Chinese: 陳好逑; 1932 – 23 July 2021[3][4]) was a Hong Kong actress and Cantonese opera singer. She was credited with over 130 films.

Early life[]

In 1932, Chan was born in Hong Kong. Chan’s ancestral hometown is Panyu district, Guangzhou, Guangdong province.

Chan's father, Chan Kai-hung, founded the Kwok Sing Theatre (see Yim Fun Fong) where she was a student first under Ha Park-Cheung (Chinese: 夏伯祥; Jyutping: haa6baak3coeng4) among a group of tutors while in grade school until[5] the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in 1941.

After the war, she continued training under Tang[6] Chiu Lan-Fong (see Ka-Sing Lam) while in high school and then mostly under [6]Ju-Hua Fen (aka Fan Guk-Fa) in Chiu Ciu Academy (see John Lone) for over a decade since high school.

Career[]

Chan started her Cantonese opera singing career by working her way to the top from humble beginnings, notwithstanding her father's connections. Her choice was well-received by veterans including who was touring Vietnam in September 1951 with leading actress Cheung (Chinese: 張舞柳; Jyutping: zoeng1mou5lau5).

She spent months and years in Singapore and Vietnam before earning job offers in Hong Kong to join well-known or established troupes.[5] Starting in 1953, she worked with , a student of Sit, before returning to Vietnam for the last trip that ended in August 1955. Settling down back in Hong Kong, she was hired as the second female lead to work with Lai-Zhen Yu by Ching Wa-Hang[7](Chinese: 靚華亨; Jyutping: zing6waa4hang1), the female Guan Yu.

Chan became notable and joined the Hing Sun Sing Opera Troupe (慶新聲粵劇團) in 1962 as a Hua Dan or lead female Cantonese opera singer. She then joined the Chung San Sing Cantonese Opera Troupe (頌新聲粵劇團) in 1965 until the male lead retired. Chan is known for her role as a married woman or woman warrior opposite this particular co-lead generally.

Chan is otherwise also known for Huashan (lively girl) roles such as Hongniang, Tam Kee-yee and Pan Jinlian on stage opposite generations of various co-leads since 1960. She had similar roles also in 1962 film Battle at Sizhou, for example, as Clam spirit.[6]

In 1953, Chan crossed over as an actress in Hong Kong films. Chan first appeared in A Battle in An Old City, a 1953 film directed by Chang Mung-Wan. Chan appeared in many Cantonese opera films including as Madam Wong in The Precious Lotus Lamp (1956), Love and Hate (aka The Feud) (1956), The Naughty Princess and Her Lover (aka Between You and Me) (1957), and The Fox-Spirit's Romance (aka The Strange Fox) (1957). Chan's last film was Secret Agent No. 1, a 1970 Crime film directed by Walter Tso. In 1961 film Three Battles to Secure Peace for Nation, Chan established her woman warrior status opposite future fellow co-lead on stage for the next thirty plus years. Chan was credited with over 130 films.[1][2][8]

Repertoire[]

  1. The Battling Sounds (1963 film version)
  2. The Pitiless Sword (1964 film version), (aka Paragons and Heroism)
  3. Uproar in Jade Hall
  4. A Chronicle Written in Blood
  5. Who Should Be the Commander-in-Chief?
  6. Romance and Hatred (second debut in 1984, 18 years since first debut)
  7. Time To Go Home
  8. Enlightenment of Goddess of Mercy (aka From Miaoshan to Guanyin) (Chinese: 《觀音得道》)[3][9]
  9. Mirror of the Universe[1]
  10. The Marriage of the Top Scholar
  11. The Predicament of Zhu Bian's Homecoming (see Discography)
  12. Xi Shi[10]
  13. Zhou Yu (as Xiao Qiao)
  14. Fan Lihua Executing Own Son at the Gate (Chinese: 《梨花罪⼦》)[11]
  15. Lu Meng-zheng - A Poor Scholar[12][13]
  16. The Riverside Pavilion (as Tam Kee-yee), (see Guan Hanqing)
  17. The Return of Lady Wenji (as Lady Wenji), (see Cai Yan)
  18. Interrogating the Red Maid in Romance of the West Chamber (as Hongniang, the matchmaker)
  19. Sizhou City (Peking opera)[6]
  20. Yin Yang River (Peking opera)[6]

Filmography[]

Films[]

This is a partial list of films.

  • 1953 A Battle in An Old City
  • 1956 The Precious Lotus Lamp - Madam Wong
  • 1956 Love and Hate (aka The Feud) [14]
  • 1957 The Naughty Princess and Her Lover (aka Between You and Me)
  • 1957 The Fox-Spirit's Romance (aka The Strange Fox) [15]
  • 1958 A Buddhist Recluse for 14 Years (as Lu Qiao Chinese: 綠翹)
  • 1958 The Tragic Story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai
  • 1959 Tragedy of the Emperor's Daughter (aka Di Nü Hua)
  • 1960 Ten Schoolgirls (actress and vocal)
  • 1961 Three Battles to Secure Peace for Nation
  • 1961 Female General Mrs. Yang
  • 1961 Secret Book (Part 1, Part 2) (aka The Magic Crane) - Lee Ching Luen [16]
  • 1962 Secret Book (Part 3, Concluding Episode)
  • 1962 Knight of the Victory Marked Flag (aka Banners of Victory)
  • 1962 Battle at Sizhou (as Clam spirit opposite Fan Guk-Fa, her master)[6]
  • 1963 The Battling Sounds
  • 1964 The Pitiless Sword
  • 1965  [zh] (Part 1, Part 2 Concluding Episode)
  • 1965 Sword of Swords, the sequel
  • 1965 Story of the Sword and the Sabre (Part 3, Part 4)
  • 1966 Night of the Opera Stars (aka Goddess of Mercy Celebrates Her Birthday at Xiang Shan) – Documentary [9]
  • 1969 The Virgin Sword - Yip Sheung-ching. [17][18]
  • 1970 Three Desperados (aka The Desperados, Three Desperadoes) [19][20]
  • 1970 Secret Agent No. 1 [21]

Theater Performance[]

  • 1984, Chinese Opera Fortnight
- Time To Go Home
- The Sounds of Battle (aka The Battling Sounds, 1963 film version)
- Romance and Hatred
- Merciless Sword Under Merciful Heaven (aka The Pitiless Sword, 1964 film version)
  • 1993 A Heartbreaking Reunion [22] (aka Butterfly Lovers)
  • 2002 Hong Kong Arts Festival presented a series in her honour, entitled 'The Virtuosity of Chan Ho-kau'[23]
- The Return of Lady Wenji
- Love in a Time of Bloodshed
- The Predicament of Zhu Bian's Homecoming
- Of Love and Enmity
- Conspiracy behind the Marriage of Princess Yin Ping[24]
  • 2004[25] The Villain, The General and the Heroic Beauty on 1 December 2004 in a series named Showcase of masterpieces by master playwrights of the yearly event Bravo! A Cantonese Opera Fiesta!
  • 2017 Excerpt, Pan Jinlian Seducing Her Brother-in-law (Chinese: 《金蓮戲叔》)[26]
  • 2018 The Return of Lady Wenji [27]

Discography[]

Awards[]

  • 2006 Honorary Fellow. The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. [1]
  • 2008 MH for her achievements in Cantonese Opera.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d "Honorary Fellow - Chan Ho-Kau". hkapa.edu. 2006. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Chan Ho Kau - CCCH9051 Group 35". hku.hk. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  3. ^ a b Obituary(in Chinese)
  4. ^ 粵劇花旦陳好逑離世 (in Chinese)
  5. ^ a b Google Book Search keyword 「在九龍深水埗基隆街的二三三號三樓創辦了一間國聲戲劇社,..如鄧肖蘭芳、夏伯祥、... 當時的陳好逑是在協智唸書,她課餘之暇,常常到國聲劇社去。」
  6. ^ a b c d e f In "The Capture of the Evil Demons", Chan's all-action persona finds full expression in her role as Clam Spirit, showcasing her talent for spin-ups, ribbon dancing and banner-waving. (aka Battle at Sizhou)
  7. ^ Leng Wah Hang (as Ng Hei) in How Ng Hei Slew His Wife to Prove His Allegiance (1955)
  8. ^ "Chan Ho-Kau". hkmdb.com. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Film Screenings – Goddess of Mercy Celebrates Her birthday at Heung Fa Shan". filmarchive.gov.hk. 15 September 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2020.
  10. ^ 30-31 October 2009 Gala concert to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China
  11. ^ 1999 Hong Kong Art Festival, Cantonese Opera-An All-Star Night, Lei-fa Reprimanding her son (title per list of "Past Hong Kong Arts Festival Cantonese Opera Programmes" in Cantonese Opera Treasures published for 2010 event)
  12. ^ Renowned actress Chan Ho-kau is a leading contemporary expert in interpreting the operatic role of 'Ching-yi'. She has been absent from the stage for a long time. 02 March 1999 Fantastic Cantonese Opera "Lu Meng-zheng -- A Poor Scholar"
  13. ^ HK Arts Festival Past Programmes-1998
  14. ^ "Love and hate (1956)". senscritique.com. 1956. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  15. ^ "The Fox-Spirit's Romance". hkmdb.com. 18 April 1957. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  16. ^ "The Secret Book". lcsd.gov.hk. 11 March 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  17. ^ "The Virgin Sword". dianying.com. 1969. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  18. ^ "The Virgin Sword". hkmdb.com. 22 August 1969. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  19. ^ "Three Desperados (1970)". senscritique.com. 1970. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  20. ^ "Three Desperados". hkmdb.com. 26 February 1970. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  21. ^ "Secret Agent No. 1 (1970)". senscritique.com. 1970. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
  22. ^ "Virtuosity and Innovation - The Masterful Legacy of Lam Kar Sing". heritagemuseum.gov.hk. 20 July 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  23. ^ HK Arts Festival Past Programmes-2002
  24. ^ 「文武雙全陳好逑」觀後評 (in Chinese) Review 2002 March 26
  25. ^ 「全城大戲候 粵劇演不完」 (in Chinese) The 2004 Cantonese Opera Day plus Bravo! A Cantonese Opera Fiesta!
  26. ^ As Pan Jinlian in May 2017
  27. ^ "Chinese Opera Festival 2018: Cantonese Opera The Return of Lady Wenji". lcsd.gov.hk. 2018. Retrieved 14 December 2020.

External links[]

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