Hungry Ghost Festival

Venue: Around the streets of Penang
Organizer: Penang State Government
Contact: 04-6505136

The Chinese believes that on the 7th Lunar month the Gates of Hell will open and the hungry ghosts will be free to roam in the living world for a month.

In Penang, the Taoists erect make-shift sheds and make offerings to the King of Hell and the hungry ghosts.

Chinese Opera in various dialects and puppet shows are staged to “entertain” the deceased.

Enclosed is a list of locations for the Chinese Opera or Phor Thor and Puppet shows in Penang island. Compiled by Persatuan Tiong Guan Pulau Pinang:

Teow Chew Opera Shows:

1. 19th – 22nd Aug 7.30pm @ 1108-A, MK 13, Jalan Paya Terubong, Penang
2. 19th – 23rd Aug 7.30pm @ Vacant land at 24, Lorong Seck Chuan, Penang
3. 20th – 26th Aug 7.30pm @ Vacant land at 1006, Mk 2, Bayan Lepas, Penang
4. 21st – 23rd Aug 7.30pm @ Vacant land at 291, Jelutong Barat, Penang
5. 23rd – 26th Aug 7.30pm @ Vacant land at 618-A Jalan Ayer Itam, Penang
6. 23rd – 25th Aug 7.30pm @ Taman Tun Sardon, Glugor, Penang
7. 24th – 25th Aug 7.30pm @ Tingkat Paya Terubong, Penang
8. 25th – 27th Aug 7.30pm @ 615, Jalan Jelutong, Penang
9. 26th – 28th Aug 7.30pm @ 534A Tanjong Bungah, Penang
10. 27th – 5th Sept 7.30pm @ In front of Block 1, Taman Sri Bunga, Jelutong
11. 28th – 1st Sept 7.30pm @ Vacant land at Brown Estate, Penang
12. 30th – 31st Aug 7.30pm @ 247, Jalan Himat Relau / Jalan Bukit Kechil, penang
13. 30t – 1st Sept 7.30pm @ Jalan Mount Erskine, Penang
14. 30th – 1st Sept 7.30pm @ Vacant land at Lintang Paya Terubong, Penang
15. 31st – 2nd Sept 7.30pm @ Behind market of Lip Sim Lama, Penang
16. 2nd – 3rd Sept 7.30pm @ 663B Sungai Ara, 11700 Penang
17. 4th – 6th Sept 7.30pm @ Jalan Phee Choon and Penang Road
18. 5th – 7th Sept 7.30pm @ Jalan Mount Erskine, Penang
19. 6th – 8th Sept 7.30pm @ 29-31 Lorong Kinta, Penang
20. 6th – 10th Sept 7.30pm @ Inside Pusat Belia, Lebuh Achin, Penang
21. 8th – 11th Sept 7.30pm @ Beside 1028A, Jalan Rambai 1, Penang
22. 8th – 12th Sept 7.30pm @ Jalan Semak Api, Penang
23. 11th – 12th Sept 7.30pm @ Block 6, Lintang Kg Melayu, Penang
24. 12th – 13th Sept 7.30pm @ 74, Jalan Tanjong Tokong, Penang
25. 12th – 16th Sept 7.30pm @ 591, Jalan Teluk Awak, Tanjung Bungah, Penang
26. 15th – 16th Sept 7.30pm @ Block 7A, Lebuhraya Thean Teik, Air Itam, Penang
27. 15th – 17th Sept 7.30pm @ 1, Jalan Anson Pasar, Penang
28. 16th – 18th Sept 7.30pm @ 308, Jalan Jelutong, Penang
29. 19th – 21st Sept 7.30pm @ 725F Jalan Sungai Dua, Penang

Hokkien Opera Shows:

1. 20th – 22nd Aug 7.30pm @ Lorong Selamat, Penang
2. 20th – 22nd Aug 7.30pm @ Vacant land at Taman Free School, Penang
3. 25th – 26th Aug 7.30pm @ Temple Jeutong timor (Pentas Tetap)
4. 26th – 28th Aug 7.30pm @ Tanjong Tokong Laut (Pentas Tetap)
5. 26th – 29th Aug 7.30pm @ Lebuh Tye Sin, Penang
6. 1st – 3rd Sept 7.30pm @ Jalan Osman Bin kadir, West Jelutong, Penang
7. 3rd – 6th Sept 7.30pm @ Lebuh Raya Thean Teik, Farlim, Penang
8. 4th – 7th Sept 7.30pm @ Rumah Pangsa, Noordin Street, Penang
9. 9) 4th – 8th Sept 7.30pm @ Car park of Lebuh Nagore, Penang
10. 10) 13th – 14th Sept 7.30pm @ 32, Lorng Prangin, Penang

Cantonese Opera Shows:

1. 29th – 1st Sept 7.30pm @ In front of Jalan Semak Seni Pelangi, Penang

Puppet Shows:

1. 20th – 21st Aug 8.30pm @ Jalan Lenggong, Pulau Pinang
2. 27th – 29th Aug 2.30pm @ Lorong Samak Api 1, Penang
3. 1st – 2nd Sept 2.30pm @ In front of 192, Carnarvon Street, Penang
4. 1st – 3rd Sept 2.30pm @ Lot 2466 Kampung Jawa, Penang
5. 2nd – 3rd Sept 2.30pm @ In front of 717D Sungai Dua, Penang
6. 11th – 12th Sept 2.30pm @ Tanjung Bungah, 11200 Penang

Pro Musica 2009 - A Concert of Operatic Scenes & Arias

Location: Hotel Equatorial, Penang
Contact: Jasmin 604-2274006 / 012-5302633
Organizer: Suriana Events
Email: promusica (a) foliamy.com

Admission by Contribution of RM120, RM60 and RM30

Proceeds to the Pro Musica International Master Class Fund

Pro Musica means in favour of music (and its advancement), and is the group name for an ensemble of outstanding singers from the Flanders Opera Studio of Belgium. They first performed in Penang in 2007, and this year they will be presenting “A Night of Opera” at the Equatorial Hotel Penang on Friday, 21st August, in conjunction with students from the Pro Musica International Master Classes. The artistes are Sabine Conzen (soprano, Belgium), Ines Madeira (mezzo, Portugal), Enrico Casari (tenor, Italy) and Andrew Ashwin (baritone, UK), accompanied by Hein Boterberg and Geneviene Wong on the piano. They will be performing and exciting programme of operatic ensembles and arias by Handel, Beethoven, Donizetti, Rossini, Giordano, Puccini, Massenet and Gounod – and a special interlude of Ravel’s Asie (from Sheherazade) with guest dancers Ramli Ibrahim and the Sutra Dance Theatre.

This year, the Flanders Opera Studio and OperaPlus, both from Gent, Belgium, will again be holding the Pro Musica International Master Classes for advanced and promising singers, providing an intensive course in voice production, musicianship, the art of performance and piano accompaniment, conducted by Loh Siew Tuan, Ronny Lauwers, Hein Boterberg and Geneviene Wong. The eight day residential course will held at Bellevue on Penang Hill from the 14th to the 21st August, with selected students from Thailand and Malaysia, and will be open to observers. The students will be participating with the international artistes in the main concert, which will also held in Ipoh on the 22nd August and in Kuala Lumpur, at the UCSI University on the 24th August.

The Master Classes and Concerts aim to become a regular annual programme comparable the international Music Summer Schools, and will help to put Penang on the music educational map. To achieve this, patronage and continual sponsorships will be needed, as the fees have to be subsidised to enable promising local students to attend.

Reservations and admission cards by contribution for the concert will soon be available from the Equatorial and other outlets. The event will be under the distinguished patronage of the Ambassador of Belgium, the Ambassador of Italy, and the High Commisioner of Great Britain. The international artistes are being sponsored by the Robus Foundation of Belgium and other donors. Proceeds will be donated to the Pro Musica International Master Classes.

Admission will be by contribution to International Master Classes Fund @ RM120 (for front rows), RM60 (middle rows) and RM30 (other rows) by cash or cheque (to “Suriana Sdn Bhd-ProMusica “), and will be issued with receipts. For enquiries and advance bookings call Jasmin @ 04-2274006 or 012-5302633, e-mail: promusica@foliamy.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

With piano accompaniment by Hein Boterberg & students of International master Class under the artistic direction of Loh Siew Tuan & Ronny Lauwers (Director of OperaPlus & Director (respectively) of the Falnders Opera Studio)