Hung Sin-nui

Hung Sin-nui

Hung Sin-nui (红线女1924-2013), born Kuang Jianlian, is a renowned contemporary Cantonese opera master and movie actress in China. She invented a unique sweet, crisp, smooth and coquettish Hung-tone style of singing by incorporating the techniques of Beijing Opera, Kunqu Opera, and Western opera singing methods.

Life & Career

Hung grew up in a family of Cantonese opera performers in the Guangdong city of Kaiping. She moved to Hong Kong during the World War Ⅱ and started her opera career at the age of 12 under her aunt Ho Fu-lin's mentorship, taking on her first stage name Siu Yin Hung.

She took to the stage with the stage name Hung Sin-nui (Red Line Girl) in 1940 and made her screen debut in 1947 in the film "Unforgettable Love".

Under the guidance of opera maestro Ma Sze-tsang (who became her husband later), Hung developed a unique singing voice. In 1952, Hung founded Zhenshanmei Cantonese Opera Troupe in Hong Kong.

In 1955, she and Ma settled in Guangzhou where they led the Guangdong Cantonese Opera Troupe in many productions. She has been living in Chinese mainland ever since, devoting herself to the promotion of Cantonese opera.

On Dec. 8, 2013, the Cantonese opera queen died of a heart attack in a Guangzhou hospital, aged 89.

President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Keqiang and the other five members of the Politburo Standing Committee, as well as former President Hu Jintao and former Premier Wen Jiabao, sent flowers and messages of condolence at a memorial service for the grand dame of Cantonese opera.

Hong Kong showbiz heavyweights including Andy Lau Tak-wah and Lisa Wong Ming-chuen attended the service at Yinhe Yuan funeral home in Guangzhou.

Family

Hung was married twice, first to well-known Cantonese opera actor Ma Sze-tsang from 1944 to 1955 and then to a writer Hua Shan from 1970 to his death in 1985. Hung had two sons and one daughter from her first marriage. Her son Ma Dingsheng is a military commentator with Phoenix TV.

Posts & Titles

Hung was vice president of the Guangdong Cantonese Opera Troupe, vice chairwoman of Guangdong Branch of the China Theatre Association, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a deputy to the 3rd and 4th National People's Congress.

Achievements

Regarded as a national treasure, the opera star and actress appeared in about 200 operas and more than 100 films.

In 1985, she received the Outstanding Artist Award from the United Nations Asian Performing Arts Association and the Performing Arts Award from the United Nations Symphony Association.

In 2001, she was named the Most Outstanding Artist of the Year at the Lincoln Center in New York.

In 2009, she received an Honorary Academy Award from the China Theatre Association.