Bo-Ying Lee

Bo-Ying Lee (Chinese: 李寶瑩 is a former Chinese actress and Cantonese opera singer from Hong Kong. Lee is credited with over 45 films.

Bo-Ying Lee
Chinese: 李寶瑩
Lee in the 1960s
Other namesLee Bo-Ying, Lee Bo Ying, Lee Po-Ying, Li Baoying, New Fong Yim-Fan
EducationSt. Francis' Canossian College[1]
Occupation(s)Actress, Cantonese opera singer
Years activeSince before 1954[2] to early 1989
Known forBo-style
Musical career
GenresCantonese opera
Instrument(s)Voice
Formerly ofReckeners Cantonese Opera Troupe;[3]
Da Qun Ying Yue Ju Tuan (Chinese: 大羣英粤劇團[1])

Early life

Lee’s ancestral hometown is Daliang Subdistrict, Shunde District, Foshan, Guangdong province. Lee started singing because her father took her to a training class of the South China Athletic Association. She has one sister and two brothers. Her father passed away during her months of overseas performance at intermission of her first film.[1]

Career

Lee started her career as a Cantonese opera singer on radio and her vocal style eventually became known as the Bo-style.

Lee became an actress in Hong Kong films first in It's Fun Getting Together, a 1954 comedy directed by Chow Sze-Luk. Lee appeared in White Gold Dragon (1954), Third-master Sha, the Heart-Stealer (1954), and How the Scholar Tong Pak-Fu Won the Maid Chau-Heung (1954). Lee appeared as a lead actress in The Scholar Whose Ambition Is to Marry a Princess, a 1955 Cantonese opera film directed by Wong Tin-Lam, and in The Opera Boat at Star Island (aka The Opera Boat in Singapore), a 1955 Drama film directed by Ku Wen-Chung. Lee also appeared as Princess Iron Fan in The Adventures of Nazha, a 1965 Historical Drama directed by Siu Sang and Miu Hong-Nee. Lee's last film was Night of the Opera Stars (aka Goddess of Mercy Celebrates Her Birthday at Xiang Shan), a 1966 Documentary film directed by Wong Hok-Sing. Lee is credited with over 45 films.[4][5]

Repertoire

Lee earned her the nickname the Mini-Yim Fun Fong through vocal performances, live on radio as well as albums with Mee Shing (Record) Co. Hong Kong.[2] On stage opposite different co-leads, her choices had been either new debuts or selected from Fong's Repertoire. The female lead had the title role in most of her picks since when a new Troupe was created for her stage performances right before Fong retired. She never played second to or even more junior roles with any female leads on stage.

  1. The Butterfly Lovers opposite Lam Kar Sing (two versions, quit her career within months and 80 performances overall opposite Lam since the debut of second version)
  2. The Immortal Zhang Yuqiao, the Most Respectable Courtesan (with blessing of Yim Fun Fong)[3]
  3. How Prince Xinling Stole the General's Seal to Save the State of Zhao (only opposite Ho Fei-Fan), film version released 30 May 1957 in Hong Kong
  4. Zheng Cheng-Gong (only opposite Ho Fei-Fan as original cast)
  5. Willow Beauty by playwright So Yung (Chinese: 蘇翁) (opened in 1973)
  6. San Kan Yu Mei Liu Jinding (Chinese: 三看御妹劉金定)[6]
  7. The Story of Li Wa (Chinese: 李娃傳) [7]
  8. Martial Heros [7]
  9. Lovers Destiny (Chinese: 新啼笑因緣) opposite Tang Bik-wan[8]
  10. Injustice Done to Tou Ngo[7]
  11. Beauty Fades From Twelve Ladies' Tower
  12. Goddess of the Luo River
  13. The Dream Encounter Between Emperor Wu of Han and Lady Wa
  14. Story of Wang Bao Chuan
  15. A Buddhist Recluse for 14 Years
  16. An Order to Annihilate Dragon Mountain by playwright So Yung
  17. The Royal Decree of Exemption from Death by So Yung (蘇翁)
  18. Forty Years of Cherished Love+
  19. Romance of Liu Yi (柳毅傳書)+

+ Exceptions out of respect for the very senior male lead upon his return to perform in Hong Kong. Same occasion, they put Immortal Zhang Yuqiao, the Most Respectable Courtesan back[9] on stage, first time ever since Fong.

Theater Performance
  • Veteran organizer (Chinese: 成多娜) created a new test troupe for her stage performances right before Fong retired opposite two young up-and-coming co-leads, similar to the style of Fong who hired different, albeit veteran, male co-leads as and when Fong saw fit.
  • Lee never played second to any female leads or even more junior roles on stage.
  • Neither was Lee the original cast of her Repertoire until, years since debut on stage in the very late 1950s, opposite Ho Fei-Fan and others who had decades of experience working with such brand new female co-leads.
  • 1977, with Da Qun Ying Yue Ju Tuan, [10]Kreta Ayer People's Theatre, Singapore[11]
  • 1978, 6th Hong Kong Arts Festival
- Butterfly Lovers
- War and Never-ending Love by playwright Poon Cheuk
  • 1979, The Love Story of the Carp[12]
  • 1981, one title for 8 shows on 7 days, Hong Kong[13][14]
  • 1983, Chinese Opera Fortnight
  • 1984, four titles/shows on three days in Paris, France[15]
- San Kan Yu Mei Liu Jinding
- Lady White Snake
- Goddess of the Luo River
- The Dream Encounter Between Emperor Wu of Han and Lady Wa
  • 1985, Chinese Opera Fortnight

Filmography

Films

This is a partial list of films.

  • 1954 It's Fun Getting Together
  • 1954 White Gold Dragon [16]
  • 1954 Third-master Sha, the Heart-Stealer
  • 1954 How the Scholar Tong Pak-Fu Won the Maid Chau-Heung
  • 1955 The Scholar Whose Ambition Is to Marry a Princess [17]
  • 1955 The Opera Boat at Star Island (aka The Opera Boat in Singapore)
  • 1960 The Revenge of a Forlorn Wife
  • 1960 Ten Schoolgirls - Lam Doi-Yuk Choi Ping-Kei. [18]
  • 1962 The Jade Hairpin (opposite Ho Fei-Fan)
  • 1962 The Royal Wedding in the Palace (as Xi Shi)[19]
  • 1965 The Adventures of Nazha – Princess Iron Fan [20]
  • 1966 Night of the Opera Stars (aka Goddess of Mercy Celebrates Her Birthday at Xiang Shan) – Documentary [21]

Discography
  • 1954, Lotus Fragrance (Chinese: 荷花香,美聲), S-113, (Shellac, 10"), one side[2]
  • 1959, [22]Two Fools in Hell (LTLP-16)
  • 1960, Lotus Fragrance (Chinese: 荷花香,美聲), M4536[2]
  • 1965, Gung Hei Faat Coi (Chinese: 恭喜發財,美聲), S507[2]
  • 1968, Family Affair (CLT-12-5 or CKL-5128)
  • 1968, Of Love and Enmity
  • 1968, Wu Shuang Story (Chinese: 無雙傳, TSLP 2062)
  • 1969, Why Not Return? (2xLP, Gat)
  • 1969, Lam Chung
  • 1970, Huan Chang San Guai (Chinese: 歡場三怪, CST-12-1001)
  • 1970, Drums Along the Battlefield (LP, Album)
  • 1971, The Revenge Battle
  • Meeting at the Pavilion (aka Butterfly Lovers)
- one version with Yam Kim-fai (CSLP1005, First released in 1968)
- one version with Lam Kar Sing
  • Lady White Snake
  • Young's Female Warrior
  • Chai Tou Feng (Chinese: 釵頭鳳, aka Forty Years of Cherished Love)
  • Di Qing's Night of Three Hurdles (aka Shuangyang Princess Chasing The Runaway Husband, TSLP 2063)
  • 1981, Qing Gong Yuan (Chinese: 清宮怨) with Xiaofeng Chen and others[23]

Solo
  • Don't Forget Your Heartfelt Friends (FHLP 541, 1974)

Awards
  • 1981 BH for her artistic contributions towards Cantonese Opera.

References
  1. "Today"(Chinese: 今日的李宝莹), Page 11, Nanyang Siang Pau, 2 November 1977.(in Chinese)
  2. 美聲唱片公司作曲家黎寶銘乃邀請李寶瑩簽約,加入該公司灌錄唱片。 Mee Shing (Record) Co. Hong Kong
  3. Publication by Hong Kong Urban Council, Chinese Opera Fortnight (1983) : Cantonese opera : Reckeners Cantonese Opera Troupe (aka "Li Qun Yue Ju Tuan")
  4. "Playscript, Vocal and Music Zone". lcsd.gov.hk. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  5. "Lee Bo-Ying". hkmdb.com. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  6. Publication 1980 by Urban Council, Hong Kong
  7. From 13 to 16, December 1985, Chinese Opera Fortnight, Hong Kong
  8. Guided write-up: "Lovers Destiny", Release Date 2 December 2020, Cantonese Opera Young Talent Showcase, The Chinese Artists Association of Hong Kong.
  9. Modern Times Weekly, 15 August 1986, page 28 and page 34, SFU Digitized Newspapers
  10. Troupes to come for fund raising, The Straits Times, 2 February 1981, Page 10.
  11. 看李宝莹演：「一枝红艳露凝香」 , Nanyang Siang Pau, 27 August 1977, Page 18.(in Chinese)
  12. 21-26 March 1979, City Hall Concert Hall, Yim Kuen Fat as Conductor, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, presented by Hong Kong Urban Council
  13. 李宝瑩成为粤剧砥柱, Xin Ming Ri Bao, 20 June 1981, Page 8.(in Chinese)
  14. Operatic revival, The Straits Times, 3 July 1982, Page 4, Reel Number: NL12639
  15. 在巴黎观赏粤剧, Lianhe Zaobao, 14 July 1984, Page 46.(in Chinese)
  16. "White Gold Dragon". hkmdb.com. July 16, 1954. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  17. "The Scholar Whose Ambition Is to Marry a Princess (1955)". senscritique.com (in French). 1965. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  18. "Ten Schoolgirls". hkmdb.com. July 28, 1960. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  19. Mrs. Au-yeung Thanked Fund-raising Effort, Page 13, Wah Kiu Yat Po, 6 January 1963 (aka 1962 Chun man dì huang Jia at IMDb)
  20. "The Adventures of Nazha (1965)". senscritique.com (in French). 1965. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  21. "Film Screenings – Goddess of Mercy Celebrates Her birthday at Heung Fa Shan". filmarchive.gov.hk. September 15, 2019. Retrieved November 29, 2020.
  22. Related Film
  23. Tai Ping Yang Ying Yin Gong Si.(1997) Chinese: 太平洋影音公司
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