The Humane Side of Empress Dowager Cixi

Empress Dowager Cixi, who ruled the Qing Dynasty in China for 47 years behind the curtains, has long been criticised as autocratic and ruthless. What might happen then when the Western-educated Princess Deling meets this redoubtable Empress? Under Fredric Mao’s astute direction, this China National Peking Opera Company production Empress Dowager Cixi and Princess Deling, sponsored by Wing Lung Bank, departs from a stereotypical portrayal to depict the humane side of the Empress.

Remember to join the discussion between playwright He Jiping, director Fredric Mao and actress Yuan Huiqin, who plays the role of Cixi, in the pre-performance talk on 10 March, on the characteristics of traditional and modern Beijing operas. If you want to take a closer look at the elaborate costumes and watch the artists as they put on their make-up, go for the backstage tour on the same day!

Come Celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Verdi’s Birth

This year the Festival celebrates the 200^th anniversary of the birth of Verdi by bringing you an extraordinary selection of the works by the renowned Italian Romantic composer!

From January to February, the Festival offered a sumptuous selection of eight different opera films from the 26 Tutto Verdi collection captured live by Italy’s Teatro Regio di Parma, at The Grand.

If you missed the films, you certainly won’t be able to resist a live performance, but you’ll have to hurry, tickets are selling fast! In fact we already have a sell-out show with La Traviata, sponsored by HKR International, and performed by the San Carlo Theatre, Naples. With set designed by triple Oscar-winner art director Dante Ferretti, demand for this simply stunning production has been high, so congratulations if you have been able to get tickets!

There are fortunately a few tickets left for the equally magnificent Viva Verdi, the spectacular Festival Finale performance sponsored by ICBC (Asia), featuring Italian conductor Roberto Abbado and the San Carlo Orchestra and Chorus. Book while you still can, and don’t miss this historic event, sure to be a truly unforgettable evening at the opera!

©Luciano Romano

©V Baranovsky

Rise of New Stars

The Festival is fully committed to promoting young artistic talent, proven through the many projects we’ve presented over the years. One particularly successful project has been the “Credit Suisse Emerging Artists Series”, sponsored by Credit Suisse. The Series provides a unique platform for budding musicians from around the globe to show off their extraordinary talent.

How can you mould a string quartet into a jazz band? How can a single piano sound just like a percussion ensemble? What is it like to hear a story told through the clarinet, mime and dance? Quatuor Ebène, Ralph van Raat and Martin Fröst are going to answer all of these questions and more, serving up a scintillating repertoire of classical and contemporary music.

Join us in witnessing the rise of the stars of tomorrow!

©Julien Mignot

©Annelies van der Vegt

©Mats Bäcker

A Highly Successful Champagne Luncheon Featuring CSO President

The Hong Kong Arts Festival has always offered an eclectic selection of activities to enhance public engagement in the arts. This year, we have organised the ‘Champagne Luncheons with Leading International Arts CEOs’. Two of the world’s leading CEOs in the arts share their managerial experiences with local leaders from cultural and business sectors, all whilst enjoying a delightful meal and a glass of champagne.

The first luncheon on January 29 was a great success, with tickets selling out far in advance. While the attendees were relishing the fine three-course lunch provided by Grand Hyatt Hong Kong and Moët & Chandon champagne, they listened closely to Deborah Rutter, the charismatic President of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association. Guests heard how she circumvented the economic recession faced by the Orchestra in recent years. She also shared how innovative audience development strategies enabled the CSO to maintain a clear leadership position in the cultural world, and discussed what it will now take to sustain organisational growth going forward.

The second luncheon has been arranged for March 20, featuring Rosanna Purchia, General Manager of Teatro di San Carlo, the oldest continuously active theatre in Europe. During the luncheon she will reveal how constant strategic reinvention enables her to balance venerable traditions with contemporary realities in the rapidly evolving world of great opera. Due to the overwhelming response, only a limited number of tickets remain, so do REGISTER NOW to secure your seat!

Ms Rutter, President of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association, shared
how she circumvented the economic recession faced by the Orchestra in recent years

Guests listened closely to Ms Rutter

Mr Ronald Arculli, Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society, presenting a souvenir to Ms Rutter

A Breath-taking Musical Experience

It was the spring of 1492, when the Sephardic-Jewish communities were driven from Spain, carrying nothing with them but their Ladino music and the faded memories of their homeland. Now, more than 5 centuries later, with the language of Ladino threatened with extinction, world music diva Yasmin Levy uses her rich and passionate voice to spread Ladino culture across the world.

With a fiery fusion of Ladino songs, Andalucían flamenco and influences from the Middle East her hauntingly emotive sound has a distinctive edge with a modern twist, promising a breath-taking experience for world music lovers. With only one show on 9 March, tickets are gold dust, so don’t miss out! Also don’t miss the documentary, Ladino – 500 Years Young, on 7 March which follows the rise of Yasmin Levy from the moment she discovers she can sing, all the way to international success!

Levy’s concert is part of this year’s Sino Group Arts Celebration Series, a world class musical showcase which also features the century-old Chicago Symphony Orchestra on 29 Jan and, on 15-16 March, young star Esperanza Spalding whose sensational jazz hits won her the Grammy’s in 2011. 

“Artists-in-Residence” Project Enters its Third Successful Year

The Festival’s “Artists-in-Residence” project, sponsored by BNP Paribas, continues to unite world-class artists with Hong Kong’s secondary schools, offering our local students a whole host of extraordinary new learning experiences.

From November 2012, the participating students embarked on an action-packed 5 months. Award-winning French-Algerian dance group Compagnie La Baraka started the ball rolling, introducing their unique dance form combining yoga and contemporary dance, whilst local choreographer Rock Fang coached the students on the art of Hip Hop, with its distinctive rhythms and dynamic style.

Did you make it to the public showcase on 23 February at HKAPA Atrium Lounge? It was simply stunning! Students performed their co-choreography with Abou Lagraa, the Artistic Director of La Baraka, and Rock Fang. The audiences were clearly impressed by the dance moves and students’ enthusiasm on stage!

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Abdou, a dancer of Compagnie La Baraka, taught students the company's
signature dance which combined yoga, modern dance, hip-hop and ballet

Students learnt Hip-hop from local choreographer Rock Fang

Abou Lagraa, artistic director of Compagnie La Baraka, gave final coaching before
the public showcase

Young Students Invited to Enjoy World Class Ballet

For the seventh consecutive year, with support from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Festival brings truly inspirational performances by world-class artists to young local students. For this year’s Student Matinee Programme, the American Ballet Theatre presented Dance Gala, enabling local students to experience first-hand the talent, passion, and excellence of this internationally-renowned company.

The Festival also organised around 30 guided talks prior to the matinee ballet performances, to enrich students’ understanding of the dance form, and to encourage their creative learning. Students learnt about the history of this great art form, the differences between classical and contemporary ballet, and even tried on Pointe shoes! They were amazed by the techniques shown by the ballet dancers in the video excerpts and, unable to contain their excitement, they all said they couldn’t wait to watch the show!

The shows on 23^rd and 24^th February were hits among our young art lovers. Students and teachers were all thrilled by the world class performance by ABT dancers, and many reflected they would like to join the programme again next year!

Students participated actively in the pre-performance guided talk

Students tried on pointe shoes in the guided talk

Over 3000 students enjoyed the 2 matinee performances

The Hong Kong Arts Festival is Now Open!

The hotly anticipated Hong Kong Arts Festival was officially opened on 21 February with the world renowned American Ballet Theatre presenting Dance Gala – Programme I, sponsored by HSBC. Of course the fun won’t stop there! In the following weeks the Festival will dazzle the city, bursting through community hot spots and major performing venues all over Hong Kong, with an incredible array of over 140 performances and close to 100 PLUS events!

The Festival’s programmes are hugely popular among the audiences, with 88% of the audience tickets sold already. Have you got tickets to your favourite shows yet? Be sure to grab them NOW before they are sold out!

At the grand opening of the 41st Hong Kong Arts Festival, Chief Executive
of the HKSAR The Hon C Y Leung performed the eye-dotting ceremony

Officiating Guests and the Festival’s Executive Committee members photographed at the
41st Hong Kong Arts Festival’s Opening Ceremony. (Front row, from left to right: Mrs Betty
Fung, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services; Mr Peter Wong, HSBC Asia-PacificChief
Executive ; Dr Simon Ip, Deputy Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; The Hon
C Y Leung, Chief Executive of the HKSAR; The Hon Ronald Arculli, Chairman of the Hong
Kong Arts Festival; Mr Tsang Tak-sing, Secretary for Home Affairs; Ms Tisa Ho, Executive
Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival. Back row, from left to right: HKAF Executive 
Committee members Mr William Li, Prof David Gwilt, Mr Victor Cha, The Hon Mr Justice
Ribeiro, Ms Nikki Ng)

The American Ballet Theatre performed Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes
on the Opening performance ©Gene Schiavone
 

Change of Venue: Quatuor Ebène Masterclass for String

The venue of Quatuor Ebène Masterclass for String has been changed to TWGHs Wong Fut Nam College (1C Oxford Road, Kowloon Tong). Date and time are unchanged. Thank you for your kind attention.

2 Mar 10:00am – 12:00pm

TWGHs Wong Fut Nam College
& Queen’s College
 

Click here for details.

Quatuor Ebène : Another Masterclass for Strings!

Violist of  Quatuor Ebène, Mathieu Herzog will give guidance to young instrumentalists of Queen’s College on performing String Quartet and Quintet pieces. Free admission for the public with limited quota. Register NOW!

2 Mar 10:00am – 12:00pm

Queen's College

Click here for details

Last Chance for Champagne Luncheon Early Bird Discounts (ends 31 Dec)

Do not miss the chance to enjoy Early Bird Discounts for the “Champagne Luncheons With Leading International Arts CEOs”! Discounts end on 31 December! Register NOW!

29 Jan 2013: Leadership and Leverage
Speaker: Deborah F. Rutter, President, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association
Click here for details

20 Mar 2013: Tradition and Transformation
Speaker: Rosanna Purchia, General Manager of Teatro di San Carlo
Click here for details

More Than Great Performances!

Exciting, exploratory, creative, informative, these are words that have been used to describe past Festival PLUS programmes. And this year’s Festival PLUS is more diverse than ever.

In Opera Treasures of Yau Ma Tei, discover the connection between Cantonese Opera and Yau Ma Tei through a series of cultural walks, talks and workshops. Enjoy the high drama of Verdi’s operas in the Tutto Verdi Film Series featuring the world renowned Teatro Regio di Parma. About Dance makes ballet, contemporary, hip hop, and dance-illusion come alive through masterclasses, backstage tours, and meet-the-artist sessions. In Maestro’s Art, multi-talented maestros introduce you not only to conducting but also to their art as musicians. Let Global Theatre show you wondrous imaginary worlds through discussions and backstage tours. And in Champagne Luncheons with Top Arts CEOs, learn from top executives of two arts institutions as they share their insights in managing in a changing world.

PLUS much more!

Online Registration NOW Open!

Welcome to 2013 Festival PLUS!

Online registration is now available. Unless otherwised specified, admission to all programmes are free. 

Application is easy - select your favourite events and place them in your shopping cart. When you are ready to check out, just click the "check-out" button and follow instructions to complete your registration and online payment gateway (if applicable). 

We look forward to seeing you at the 2013 Hong Kong Arts Festival!