The Asian-Canadian Special Events Association (ACSEA, 加拿大亞裔活動協會) has invited Taiwan's Chai Found Music Workshop (CFMW, 采風樂坊) to stage special Lunar New Year performances at Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Courtenay's Sid Williams Theatre, and Mississauga's Living Arts Centre on Jan. 25, Jan. 27, and Feb 1.
"A Musical Banquet: A Feast of Sumptuous Classical Music (阿銘上菜)" is based on an unique Taiwanese tradition known as pan-toh (辦桌), which takes the form of a distinctive roadside feast shared among friends and family members. Renowned erhu player and founder of CFMW Huang Chen-ming (黃正銘) composed the music for this performance, which will be presented in the style of a stage play with the head chef preparing to serve the lengthy banquet.
The actors will replace dialogue with exaggerated body movements while the musicians will use kitchen utensils, firewood, and chairs as percussion instruments, providing a unique visual and audio experience for audience members. CFMW will also present their chamber-music interpretation and Sizhu ensembles — a classical style of musical arrangement using traditional Chinese string and woodwind instruments
CFMW was established in 1991 to preserve and promote Taiwan’s traditional music culture. Members have been actively combining Taiwanese local cultural elements with contemporary performance practices to bring more diverse elements to their music.
With the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles, CFMW aims to share Taiwanese traditional music with Canadian viewers through Taiwan's exceptional pan-toh food culture.
Vancouver
Date: Jan. 25, 2020
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Site:
https://lunarfest.org/vancouver-a-musical-banquet-a-feast-of-sumptuous-classical-music/
Courtenay
Date: Jan. 27, 2020
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Sid Williams Theatre
Site:
https://www.sidwilliamstheatre.com/events/lunarfest-presents--a-musical-banquet/
Mississauga
Date: Feb. 1, 2020
Time: 7:30pm
Venue: Living Arts Centre-Hammerson Hall
Site:
https://www.livingartscentre.ca/theatre-performances/2020-lunarfest-musical-banquet