Hitting the high notes

However, Hua Yue Ying was controversial for its fusion of modern elements, including symphonic music and pop dance. Some traditionalists rejected these innovations, but Li says: "The production preserves the essence of Cantonese Opera; we just used contemporary techniques in how we present it."

Over time, audiences accepted the new approach, and the arias from the production became popular, even appearing on karaoke apps.

Li's work wasn't just on the stage. The production was adapted into a film, blending Cantonese Opera with cinematic techniques, allowing the art form to reach younger audiences who might not otherwise have been exposed to it.

Li Jiayi, another star in the Cantonese Opera world, took a different path into the art form. Unlike Li Junsheng, she wasn't born into a family of opera performers but grew up in a household filled with Cantonese Opera enthusiasts.

Hailing from Zhongshan, Guangdong province, where Cantonese Opera was a community cornerstone, Li Jiayi recalls being fascinated by the art from a young age.

"I was drawn to the beautiful costumes, the singing style and the grace of the performances," she says. In her hometown, local opera troupes performed regularly, and private singing groups held weekly events.

At just 7, Li Jiayi sang in front of a live band for the first time. The audience was impressed by her accuracy in rhythm, tone and phrasing.

"Cantonese Opera songs subtly nurtured my artistic growth," she says.