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A concert highlighted by the theme of "animals" can be joyful and interesting.

With a title of "The Animals Came in One by One", such a performance will be held by Hong Kong Sinfonietta at 8 pm on February 9 and 10 (Friday and Saturday) respectively at the Auditorium of Sha Tin Town Hall (STTH) and Tuen Mun Town Hall (TMTH). Certainly, it will be full of fun!

While the Music Director, Mr Tsung Yeh, plays the role of conductor and piano soloist, famous pianist Ms Nancy Loo makes interesting narration besides playing the piano. Programme of the concert includes the following:

Excerpts from The Comedian Suite, Op. 26      Kabalevsky

The Fourth Movement in "The Bear"             Haydn

(from Symphony No. 82)

Dance of the Swans                            Tchaikovsky

(from Swan Lake Suite, Op. 20a)

The Story of Babar                            Poulenc

Animals Suite                                 Liu Xing

The Carnival of the Animals                   Saint-Saens

The Hong Kong Sinfonietta was formed in 1990 by a group of young local musicians, most of whom had been trained at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Today, it is evolving into the second fully professional symphony orchestra in town.

Since 1993, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta has been the official orchestra of the annual international contemporary music festival "Musicarama". In February 2000, the orchestra was invited by Radio Television Hong Kong to be the official orchestra for its "Grand Millennium Concert", where it performed to high acclaim excerpts of ten works voted "Millennium Classics" by the public.

As Music Director of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta in 1999-2000 season, Tsung Yeh's is also Music Director of the South Bend Symphony Orchestra in the United States.

Besides various engagements in North America, Mr Yeh regularly conducts orchestras in Poland, Russia and the Czech Republic. In China, he is a frequent guest conductor for orchestras in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Taipei and Taichung. In August 2000, he made his conducting debut in Japan with the Shinsei Symphony Orchestra as part of the 21st Asian Composers League Conference.

Nancy Loo, a famous Hong Kong-born pianist, won numerous awards in international competitions including the first prize at the Fourth Rina Sala Gallo International Competition in Monza of Italy in 1976.

As an active performer, Ms Loo has given recitals in England, Europe, North America and East Asia. In Hong Kong, she performs regularly with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, as well as local and visiting artists. She was named one of the "Ten Outstanding Young Persons' in 1978.

The performance is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Tickets priced at &120, $90 and $60 for STTH, and $100, $80 and $60 for TMTH are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price tickets are available for full-time students, senior citizens and people with disabilities. Please call 2734 2935 for programme enquiries and 2734 9009 for ticketing enquiries and reservations.

End/Tuesday, January 9, 2001

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