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

A concert series "20th Century Masterpieces by Chinese Musicians" under the umbrella programme of the "Chinese Arts Festival - A Celebration of Music" will start today (Friday) presenting three different programmes filled with captivating music.

The first concert held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre(HKCC) this evening was the "Selections of the Century" conducted by Chen Xieyang and Cao Ding. It was a combination of orchestral, instrumental, vocal and choral works.

Prior to the concert, a cocktail reception was held to celebrate the Chinese Arts Festival and the HKCC 10th anniversary.

The second concert to be held at 8 pm tomorrow (Saturday) at the HKCC features symphonies and concertos under the baton of conductor Chen Xieyang.

The last concert will be presented at 8 pm on Sunday (October 31) at the Hong Kong City Hall with Cao Ding as the conductor. It will be a vocal concert with choral and solo performances.

Accomplished virtuosi for the "20th Century Masterpieces by Chinese Musicians" are dizi soloist Dai Ya, erhu soloist Ma Xianghua, pipa soloist Zhang Hongyan. The vocal performers are Liu Changyong, Cheng Zhi, Wang Xiufen, Yin Xiumei, Liu Shan, Mou Xuanfu, Dai Yuqiang, Huang Hong, Wu Pei, Xu Jing, Li Chujian.

The performances are staged with the assistance of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the China National Symphony Orchestra Chorus, and a local chorus organized by the Hong Kong Association of Choral Societies Limited especially for the concerts together with Allegro Singers and Yuen Long Children's Choir.

The series of "20th Century Masterpieces by Chinese Musicians" has been staged in different cities since 1992. It is th fruit of the hard work of an organizing committee jointly formed by musicians from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan with the aim of highlighting the achievements of Chinese music over the century. Works to be included in the series are recommended by the music circle in the three places to the committee for selection. The committee has picked 124 compositions written by Chinese composers after 1906, among which, 40 will be presented this time in Hong Kong.

The "20th Century Masterpieces by Chinese Musicians" concerts are priced at $80, $120, $160 and $200. Senior citizens, people with disabilities and full-time students can enjoy half-price discounts while group and package bookings can enjoy a maximum of 20-percent discount.

For further information on the Festival, please collect a booking folder now available at all URBTIX outlets or visit the website: www.caf99.org. For programme enquiries please call 2734 2900 (Urban Venues) or 2601 8709 (New Territories Venues). Ticket reservation can be made on 2734 9009.

End/Friday, October 29,1999

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