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Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, "Joyful Rain on a Joyful Evening" performed by the Chinese Music Company of Hong Kong will be staged on Oct 5 and 6 (Sat and Sun) at 8pm at the Auditorium, Yuen Long Theatre and the Theatre, Sheung Wan Civic Centre respectively. Renowned Chinese music virtuosi including Music Director Tong Leung-tak (Erhu), Cheung Heung-wah (Dizi), Lui Kwan-on (Liuqin) and Tsui Hung (Pipa) will present numerous Chinese music and share with the audience a joyful night.
Programme includes orchestra "Joyful Rain" and "Moonlight on the Spring River". The concert will present the premier performance of "Joyful Rain" in public, the theme song of the concert; Chinese String Quartet "The Lantern Festival Fair"; Cantonese Music "Autumn Moon Upon Placid Lake" and "Surging Waves"; Dizi Solo "Xi-Pi-Hua-Ban"; Liuqin Solo "Love Song of the Torch Festival"; Erhu Solo "On the Grassland" and Pipa and Orchestra "Little Sisters on the Grassland".
Tong Leung-tak is a distinguished performer of the erhu as well as a famous teacher, composer and conductor. In 1956, he joined the Central New Film Philharmonic (now the China Film Philharmonic) and served as the erhu principal, concertmaster and acting conductor. During that time he was also engaged in teaching and composition. In 1977, he was invited by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra to serve as acting principal. He joined the Music Office as a Senior Music Officer in 1978. In 1995, he was concurrently a part-time teacher at the Music Department of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and a visiting professor of erhu at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. In 1991, Tong was presented with the Art Educationist of the Year award by the Hong Kong Artists' Guild.
Dizi soloist Cheung Heung-wah was born in Hong Kong. He went to the mainland China to receive further training from dizi virtuosi Zhao Songting, Luo Dezai and Huang Jincheng. At the same time he learned the zheng under Chan On-wah. He graduated from the Guangzhou Conservatory of Music in 1984 and joined The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts to teach dizi since then. Over the years, he compiled and wrote graded teaching materials for the dizi.
Liuqin soloists, Lui Kwan-on graduated with distinction from the Music Department of the National Opera Academy in 1984 and stayed on as a teacher. In 1992 she became the pioneer to give a yueqin solo recital at the Beijing Concert Hall. She has attracted media attention in mainland China and was covered in special feature programmes. She has cut a record on the yueqin in 1994.
Tsui Hung has performed with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra the pipa ballad, "Song of Pipa", and was a guest performer with the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Wang Kwong Chinese Orchestra and the former Regional Council. Tsui has also given many successful touring performances in many parts of the world with delegations of China and won great acclaim. She has released many solo albums on the pipa.
With the Hong Kong Chinese Virtuosi Ensemble as its foundation, the "Chinese Music Company of Hong Kong" is an organization formed by a group of young to middle-aged Chinese musicians under the guidance of renowned Chinese music virtuosi, teachers, critics and composers. While upholding the Chinese music tradition of performing in small to medium-sized ensembles, the Company concentrates on the development, research and promotion of the classical and folk music genres. Different kinds of activities are also organized to encourage Chinese music lovers for participation and learning. The ultimate goals are to popularize and develop Chinese music as an art form, promote international cultural exchange, and promulgate Chinese ethnic music to a wider audience.
Tickets priced at $100, $80 and $60 for the performance in Yuen Long Theatre and $100 and $70 for the performance in Sheung Wan Civic Centre are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-priced concessions will be granted to senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. (Limited tickets for Students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients available on a first-come-first-served basis). There will be a 10% discount for every purchase of 4-9 tickets, 15% for 10-19 tickets and 20% for 20 tickets or more. A 10% discount is also available for Friends of LCSD performing venues.
Programme enquiries can be made on 2268 7321 while ticketing enquiries and reservations on 2734 9009. For credit card telephone booking, please call 2111 5999. Please visit http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp for more information on the programme.
End/Saturday, September 7, 2002
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