Aaron Kwok continues masquerade with Hong Kong Coliseum encore

Aaron Kwok Fu-shing (郭富城) hasn’t released an album in three years, but there is a reason for his absence from the music scene: a string of films, including a lead role in “Cold War,” last year’s highest-grossing Chinese-language film in Hong Kong.

Still, lest fans forget, Kwok began his career as a dancer with TVB and made his way up the ranks to become one of the Four Heavenly Kings of Cantopop alongside Jacky Cheung, Andy Lau and Leon Lai. In a follow-up to last year’s similarly-named world tour, Kwok completed a concert series from Mar. 17-25 at the Hong Kong Coliseum.

Aaron Kwok performing at the Hong Kong Coliseum on Mar. 20, 2013. (photo by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine)

Kwok’s de Showy Masquerade World Tour Encore Live In Concert 2013 run featured many of the elements that has made his concerts so entertaining over the years: energetic ensemble dance numbers (the finale including a trampoline routine, at the end of which Kwok nearly fell off the stage during his Mar. 20 concert), outrageous costumes (including a floor-length skirt and mesh tops) and a string of hits from yesteryear dating back to “對你愛不完.”

Aaron Kwok takes a break to address the crowd during his three-hour show on Mar. 20, 2013, in Hong Kong. (photo by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine)

The stage at the Hong Kong Coliseum was situated in the middle of the arena, which allowed for portions of the platform to be raised and for Kwok to simply stand off to the side in order to be lowered underneath for costume changes. Each corner included a separate additional platform, allowing backup dancers and even Kwok himself to approach fans, which he did once to shake hands and another time to show off his dance moves.

Security guards accompanied Kwok as he approached fans during a couple of his ballads. (photo by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine)

Kwok’s youthful image isn’t limited to precise choreography and physique; the 47-year-old, after all, is the main endorser of the Physical Fitness and Beauty chain that features his six-packed image in advertisements and his name on the thundersticks handed to concert attendees. Kwok’s child-like wonderment even wanders into set design and interactions with the crowd. He sang one ballad atop a yellow Lamborghini Aventador LP700-4 Roadster, not unusual considering his love for collecting cars and racing in them. In another number, he sat on a horse seemingly plucked straight from a carousel, another odd choice until one learns about his love for horse racing.

On a couple of occasions, Kwok asked the crowd to switch on the little blue lights that they had received along with the thundersticks. Each time, after the lights dimmed and he found himself surrounded by small dots of blue all around an otherwise pitch black stadium, he exclaimed in Cantonese, “Wooooowwww…so pretty!”

Aaron Kwok de Showy Masquerade World Tour Encore Live In Concert 2013

Prior to entering the venue, attendees were handed thundersticks and small blue lights, both of which Kwok encouraged fans to use throughout the concert. The latter can be seen in the background here. (photo by Yuan-Kwan Chan / Meniscus Magazine)

Kwok’s next film role is in “The Monkey King,” scheduled for release this summer. The all-star cast includes Donnie Yen, Chow Yun-fat, Kelly Chen, Gigi Leung and Miss World 2007 Zhang Zilin. The film, shot in 3-D, is directed by Soi Cheang (“Motorway,” “Dog Bite Dog”).