{"id":2186,"date":"2026-03-13T22:03:41","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T02:03:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/?post_type=csat-story-chapter&#038;p=2186"},"modified":"2026-08-19T17:29:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T21:29:23","slug":"closing","status":"publish","type":"csat-story-chapter","link":"https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/en\/story\/closing\/","title":{"rendered":"Closing"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"csat-block wp-block-csat-blocks-split-content wp-block-csat-blocks-split-content-outer\">\n\t\t<div class=\"inner-container animate-me\" data-animation=\"fadeInUp\">\n\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-csat-blocks-block-split-content\">\t<div class=\"csat-block wp-block-csat-blocks-split-content-inner vertical-top contains_csat-blocks-block-rich-text\">\n\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-csat-blocks-block-split-content-inner\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-csat-blocks-block-rich-text\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Today, Cantonese opera in Canada remains a living and evolving art form. Performers and organizations are creating new, hybrid works, including bilingual productions and experimental pieces that blend traditional opera with contemporary forms like rap. At the same time, schools, workshops, and community programs are introducing the art form to younger generations, ensuring its continuity. This adaptability allows Cantonese opera to continue finding new audiences and new ways of being seen and heard, while building community and creating a sense of belonging for Chinese Canadians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether through watching water-sleeve gestures, exploring the elaborate costumes, listening to the histories of performers, I hope you gained an appreciation for Cantonese opera and the communities that support it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I encourage you to return and dive deeper, discovering how Cantonese opera thrives and continues to pass knowledge, inspire new performers, and strengthen communities. Perhaps one day, like me, you may even take part in creating a performance or telling your own story through this rich art form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u2014 <strong>Karen Tam<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div class=\"csat-block wp-block-csat-blocks-split-content-inner vertical-top contains_csat-blocks-block-media-element contains_csat-blocks-block-rich-text contains_csat-blocks-block-media-element\">\n\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-csat-blocks-block-split-content-inner\">\t<div class=\"wp-block-csat-media-element fit-image-figure has-parent\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"media-element image-container\" data-image-width=\"5000\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"image-frame launch-media-modal media-thumbnail type-image media-element-2167\"\n\t\t\t\t   href=\"https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/en\/gallery\/portrait-of-karen-tam\/\"\n\t\t\t\t   data-media-element=\"2167\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Image details &mdash;  <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"5000\" height=\"3338\" src=\"https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/03\/karen-tam-portrait.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;&gt;Karen sits on stage, looking at the camera while dressed in a colourful short-sleeved dress and glasses. Behind her is a large hand-painted cutout of a tiger, adding a vibrant backdrop to the scene.&lt;\/span&gt;\" loading=\"eager\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/03\/karen-tam-portrait.jpg 5000w, https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/03\/karen-tam-portrait-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/03\/karen-tam-portrait-1024x684.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/03\/karen-tam-portrait-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/03\/karen-tam-portrait-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/03\/karen-tam-portrait-2048x1367.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/03\/karen-tam-portrait-500x334.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/03\/karen-tam-portrait-599x400.jpg 599w, https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/03\/karen-tam-portrait-345x230.jpg 345w, https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/03\/karen-tam-portrait-794x530.jpg 794w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 5000px) 100vw, 5000px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"image-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-container\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Artist Karen Tam in front of her installation, <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scent of Thunderbolts,<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at the Toronto Biennial of Art in 2024.<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-csat-blocks-block-rich-text\">\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-block-csat-media-element fit-image-figure has-parent\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"media-element image-container\" data-image-width=\"5120\">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"image-frame launch-media-modal media-thumbnail type-image media-element-74\"\n\t\t\t\t   href=\"https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/en\/gallery\/students-of-starlight-chinese-opera\/\"\n\t\t\t\t   data-media-element=\"74\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sr-only\">Image details &mdash;  <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"5120\" height=\"3413\" src=\"https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/01\/tba-may-truong-084-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;&gt;Two smiling students pose with long staves crossed above their heads, standing in front of Karen Tam\u2019s &lt;\/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;&gt;Scent of Thunderbolts&lt;\/span&gt;&lt;\/i&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;&gt; installation.&lt;\/span&gt;\" loading=\"eager\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/01\/tba-may-truong-084-scaled.jpg 5120w, https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/01\/tba-may-truong-084-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/01\/tba-may-truong-084-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/01\/tba-may-truong-084-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/01\/tba-may-truong-084-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/01\/tba-may-truong-084-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/01\/tba-may-truong-084-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/01\/tba-may-truong-084-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/01\/tba-may-truong-084-345x230.jpg 345w, https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/180\/2026\/01\/tba-may-truong-084-795x530.jpg 795w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 5120px) 100vw, 5120px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"image-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"caption-container\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Two students of the Starlight Chinese Opera with Karen\u2019s <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scent of Thunderbolts <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">installation.<\/span><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"csat-block wp-block-csat-blocks-rich-text no-parent csat-block width_layout_contained\">\t\t\t<div class=\"inner-content\">\n\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-csat-blocks-block-rich-text\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t<div class=\"csat-block wp-block-csat-blocks-split-content wp-block-csat-blocks-split-content-outer\">\n\t\t<div class=\"inner-container animate-me\" data-animation=\"fadeInUp\">\n\t\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-csat-blocks-block-split-content\">\t<div class=\"csat-block wp-block-csat-blocks-split-content-inner vertical-top contains_csat-blocks-block-rich-text\">\n\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-csat-blocks-block-split-content-inner\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-csat-blocks-block-rich-text\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Learn More<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Well-known Operas:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong><strong><em>Di Nu Fa \/ Princess Chang Ping <\/em>\u300a\u5e1d\u5973\u82b1\u300b<\/strong><\/strong><br>Written by <strong>Tong Tik-sang<\/strong> in 1957, this beloved opera tells the tragic story of the last Ming dynasty princess, exploring themes of love, loyalty, and political collapse. It remains one of the most frequently staged pieces.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><strong><em>The Purple Hairpin<\/em>\u300a\u7d2b\u91f5\u8a18\u300b<\/strong><\/strong><br>Another classic by <strong>Tong Tik-sang<\/strong>, this Tang dynasty love story is renowned for its memorable arias and emotional depth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong><strong><em>Wu Song Fights the Tiger <\/em>\u300a\u6b66\u677e\u6253\u864e\u300b<\/strong><\/strong><br>A classic martial-role opera depicting the legendary hero Wu Song defeating a man-eating tiger with his bare hands. It showcases acrobatics, stylized combat, and percussion-driven action.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\t<div class=\"csat-block wp-block-csat-blocks-split-content-inner vertical-top contains_csat-blocks-block-rich-text\">\n\t\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-csat-blocks-block-split-content-inner\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-csat-blocks-block-rich-text\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cantonese Opera Associations<br>&amp; Programs in Canada:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Victoria, BC<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php\/?id=61551035041647\">Victoria Chinese Opera Club<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Vancouver, BC<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/vancanopera.com\">Vancouver Cantonese Opera<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Calgary, AB<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/profile.php?id=100093054515680\">Calgary Harmony of Arts Association<\/a><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.culturalcentre.ca\">Calgary Chinese Cultural Centre<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Edmonton, AB<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.jinwahsingedmonton.com\">Jin Wah Sing Musical Society Edmonton<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Toronto, ON<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.starlightopera.com\/en\">Starlight Chinese Opera Performing Art Centre<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Montreal, QC<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/yuetsing.ca\">Yuet Sing Cantonese Opera<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Halifax, NS<\/strong><br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/faistudio902\/\">Fai@Studio<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t\t<div class=\"csat-block wp-block-csat-blocks-rich-text no-parent csat-block width_layout_contained\">\t\t\t<div class=\"inner-content\">\n\t\n<div class=\"wp-block-csat-blocks-block-rich-text\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Other Resources:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Archives &amp; Collections<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/discoverarchives.library.utoronto.ca\/index.php\/beatrice-and-raymond-jai-cantonese-opera-collection-2\">Beatrice and Raymond Jai Cantonese Opera Collection, Richard Charles Lee Chinese Canadian Archives, University of Toronto<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/chung.library.ubc.ca\">Wallace B. Chung and Madeline H. Chung Collection, University of British Columbia<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/moa.ubc.ca\/\">Museum of Anthropology, University of British Columbia \u2013 Cantonese Opera Collection<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.historymuseum.ca\/collections\/\">Canadian Museum of History \u2014 Cantonese Opera Recordings<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/oac.cdlib.org\/findaid\/ark:\/13030\/kt8489q5fj\">Collection of Chinese Theater Images in California, Museum of Performance &amp; Design<\/a><br><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Multimedia<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">South China Morning Post \u2014 <a href=\"https:\/\/multimedia.scmp.com\/infographics\/culture\/article\/3036661\/cantonese-opera\/index.html\"><em>Cantonese Performing Art<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Books<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>Divine Threads: \u200b\u200bThe Visual and Material Culture of Cantonese Opera<\/em> by April Liu<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Chinatown Opera Theater in North America<\/em> by Nancy Yunhwa Rao<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Painted Faces on the Prairies<\/em> by Helen Kwan Yee Cheung<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Cantonese Opera<\/em> by Bell Young<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>A Song for Ba<\/em> by Paul Yee<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Paper Shadows: A Chinatown Childhood<\/em> by Wayson Choy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\t<div class=\"csat-block wp-block-csat-blocks-cta alignment_centered\" data-animation=\"fadeInRight\">\n\t\t<div class=\"inner-container alignment_centered\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\" btn-style_text-inside\" href=\"https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/en\/credits\/\">\n        \n        <span class=\"blocks-cta__text\">Credits<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"featured_media":2166,"template":"","class_list":["post-2186","csat-story-chapter","type-csat-story-chapter","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"lang":"en","translations":{"en":2186,"fr":3932,"yue":4732},"pll_sync_post":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/csat-story-chapter\/2186","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/csat-story-chapter"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/csat-story-chapter"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/csat-story-chapter\/2186\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5339,"href":"https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/csat-story-chapter\/2186\/revisions\/5339"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2166"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.histoiresdecheznous.ca\/v3\/scent-of-thunderbolts-parfum-des-foudres\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}