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One of the most famous liuqin recitalist Wang Hongyi, also a National Class One Performer in China, will be in Hong Kong to give her liuqin recital at the Hong Kong City Hall in April.

Wang is the daughter and prized pupil of Wang Huiran, esteemed "Father of the Liuqin", will be scaling new heights in a concert showcasing her unparalleled techniques. Programme of the concert include "Spring Comes to River Yi", "Canel of Happiness", "Sing a Mountain Song of Love", "Swords", and many more.

She began learning the instrument under her father, the famous liuqin virtuoso, Wang Huiran at the age of six, and was accepted by the Qianwei Chinese Orchestra as soloist and Liuqin Principal at the tender age of ten. She graduated from the Department of Fine Arts of Shandong Normal University in 1988. Between 1991 and 1995, she was a soloist with the Song and Dance Ensemble of PLA General Political Department. In 1993, she was appointed by the Central Conservatory of Music as a full-time instructor in liuqin, the first ever position created by the Conservatory. In 1997, she was Artistic Consultant and soloist with the Zhuhai Women's Chamber Orchestra for Chinese Music. Wang has performed in major shows in more than twenty cities and provinces in China, many of which were important State occasions. In 1993, she was invited to perform at a concert entitled 'Twentieth Century Chinese Music Classics' where she premiered the liuqin concerto, "The Sound of the Lute on a Moonlit River".

Wang has also performed with many famous Orchestras including the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Macao Chinese Orchestra, Kao-hsiung Chinese Orchestra, China Broadcasts Folk Orchestra, Symphony Orchestra of PLA General Political Department, Shandong Symphony Orchestra, Qianwei Folk Orchestra of Jinan, etc. "People's Music" describes her liuqin performance as "incorporating the subtlety and sensitivity of the women of the South and the open-hearted robustness of the women of the North, gleaning the characteristics of femininity and generosity of heart. Hers is a perfect combination of techniques, life experiences and interpretation of content."

Accompanied with Wang in the concert will be The Symphony Orchestra of Pearl River Film Production Company, which is a professional performing arts troupe at Provincial Class One Level. In the past forty years, the troupe has recorded soundtracks for over three hundred films, documentaries and television series produced by Pearl River Film Production Company as well as film companies and television stations of China and abroad where received wide acclaim. It has also performed in hundreds of shows, concerts, Chinese music and operatic music concerts, as well as drama and dance.

"Liuqin Recital by Wang Hongyi", presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will be staged at 8pm on April 12 at the Hong Kong City Hall Theatre. Tickets priced at $150 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessions will be granted to senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (Discount tickets for students and CSSA recipients available on a first-come-first-served basis). Special 10% will be offered to every purchase of standard tickets for this concert and "Song Fei Solo Recital - Thirteen Strings". Please refer to programme leaflets for other discount schemes.

For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321; for ticketing enquiries and reservation, please call 2734 9009; for credit card telephone booking, please call 2111 5999. To search more information on internet, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp

A pre-concert seminar hosted by Wang Hongyi and Wang Huiran (conducted in Putonghua) will be organised at 7.30pm on April 11 (Thursday) at AC2, 4/F, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Admission is free on a first-come, first-served basis.

End/Friday, March 1, 2002

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