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The following is issued on behalf of the Provisional Regional Council:

Piano masterpieces by Weber, Debussy, Chopin and Liszt are so fascinating to the hearts of numerous music lovers. However, orchestral interpretation of those golden classics is certainly a more colourful option to display their unbeatable charm.

As a bonus, you will be able to enjoy the advanced facilities of the $468 million new venue, Kwai Tsing Theatre, adjacent to the MTR Kwai Fong Station at 12 Hing Ning Road, Kwai Chung.

Presented by the Provisional Regional Council (Pro RC), "Piano Inspiration", featuring the above interpretation, will be held by the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, with co-operation of the winner of the 1991 International Mozart Piano Bicentennary Competition, Mary Mei-loc Wu.

The concert will be staged at 8 pm on October 31 (Sunday) at the Auditorium of Kwai Tsing Theatre, a brand new venue built by the Pro RC for performing arts and

Conducted by Joe Chan, orchestral interpretation of the following pieces will be played: "Invitation to the Dance" by Weber (arranged by Berlioz); "Clair de lune" by Debussy (arranged by Luck); "Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum", "Jumbo's Lullaby" and "Golliwog's Cakewalk" fro "Children's Corner" by Debussy (arranged by Caplet); Polonaise Op. 40, No, 1 'Military'" by Chopin (arranged by Glazunov) and "Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2" by Liszt (arranged by Muller-Bergaus); in addition to Schumann's "Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54".

The Hong Kong Sinfonietta, formed in 1990 by a group of young local musicians, holds regular concerts and provides full orchestral support to local and visiting performing groups. In the past nine years, it presented more than 90 concerts, many of them featuring talented local artists, composers and conductors. More than 50 works performed were written by local composers.

In 1999, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta appointed Mr Tsung Yeh as its music director, who had been principal conductor of the orchestra since 1997.

The piano soloist of the Schumann's concerto, Mary Mei-loc Wu, was acclaimed to be "one of the most gifted pianists of her generation" by her piano teacher, Vlado Perlemuter. As a founding member of the Bauhinia Piano Trio which appeared in the 1997 Hong Kong Arts Festival performing music by renowned 20th century composers, Mary Wu regularly appears at the Radio Television Hong Kong Radio Four as performer and programme presenter. She is also artist-in-residence at the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

She has won many prizes in international competitions, which includes the first prize at the Royal Overseas-League Competition, the International Mozart Bicentennary Competition of Asia and the Abraham and Phyllis Katz Competition in New York.

Tickets are priced at $40. Half-priced tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above and people with disabilities holding concessionary cards, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients.

For telephone reservation and enquiries, please call 2734 9009 and 2406 1139 respectively.

End/Thursday, October 14, 1999

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