Lung Kim Sang

龍劍笙
(Alternate Cantonese Romanization of the name: Lung Gim Saang, Loong Kin Sang)

Lung Kim Sang 龍劍笙 (Long Kiếm Sanh) was born Sabrina Lee Poh Sang 李菩生 (Lý Bồ Sanh) in 1944 into a family of 8 siblings. Lung Kim Sang is a stage name given by Ms. Lee’s mentors, master Cantonese opera performers, Yam Kim Fai and Pak Suet Sin. More often, she is affectionately known and called by friends and fans as Ah Pau 阿刨.

Ms. Lung Kim Sang
Photo Source: Radio Television Hong Kong (香港電台 RTHK) - Press Release 新聞稿

When the Sin Fung Ming Cantonese Opera Troupe held an open enrollment in 1960 to recruit chorus/dancing unit for Yam Kim Fai and Pak Suet Sin’s new production work of Cantonese opera “The new Legend of the White Snake” [白蛇新傳] Baak Ji San Cyun, Lee Poh Sang applied in response to the open call.

After eight months of intense training, she was selected to be a part of the Sin Fung Ming Cantonese Opera Troupe. Under Yam/Pak’s guidance, Lung Kim Sang learned the art, especially specializing in playing male roles (e.g. young scholar 粵劇小生 jyut kek siu saang) like master Yam’s herself.

In 1965, Chor Fung Ming Cantonese Opera Troupe was officially formed under the wings of Yam/Pak’s Sin Fung Ming Cantonese Opera Troupe. The original selection of trainees from the open enrollment was to head Chor Fung Ming. The troupe started out by performing Cantonese Opera excerpts (once made famous by Sin Fung Ming) then to complete Cantonese operas starting in the late 60s. Chor Fung Ming eventually succeeded Sin Fung Ming as Yam Kim Fai and Pak Suet Sin retired in 1972.

For the following 20 years (during the 70s & 80s), Lung Kim Sang performed opposite Mui Suet See as the two led Chor Fung Ming in performances locally and overseas tours to Southeast Asia, North America and Australia.

In 1992, Lung Kim Sang made the announcement to retire from stage. She was then immigrated to Vancouver, Canada.

Only twelve years later, in 2004, Lung Kim Sang came back to stage on the occasion to commemorate the 15th anniversary of her master Yam Kim Fai’s death.

Re-united along side her long time stage’s partner Mui Suet See and with the supporting performance from Yam Bing Yi and Chu Kim Dan, she reprised an excerpt from the Cantonese opera “The Reincarnation of Lady Plum Blossom” in a commemoration cum charity program called Zhong Pi Ni Chang Ge Bian Che [重披霓裳歌遍徹] Cung Pei Ngai Soeng Go Bin Cit.

It was the show that officially kicked off a series of returning to stage production of complete Cantonese Opera classics "Dream of the West Chamber" in 2005 and "Princess Chang Ping" in 2006. Both starred Lung Kim Sang and Mui Suet See.

Credits and/or Citations:
The above written artist's profile does incorporate researched information from various sources including reading materials from the Internet (e.g. wikipedia.org), TV/radio interviews, movie DVD Stars' Files and so on.
  • http://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/龍劍笙

  • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loong_Kin_Sang

  • Stars' Files from the 1977 movie musical adaptation of Cantonese Opera The Legend Of Purple Hairpin [紫釵記] Zi Caa Gei - released by Universe Laser & Video Co., Ltd.
Ms. Lung Kim Sang's photo [http://www.rthk.org.hk/APSuppics/mfile_66_47940_4.jpg] is sourced from Radio Television Hong Kong (香港電台 RTHK) - Press Release 新聞稿 [http://www.rthk.org.hk/press/chi/20021025_66_47940.html].

Comments

Popular Posts