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Zhao Songting was a maestro in dizi music. He dedicated his life to the preservation and development of the art of dizi and his remarkable achievement is admirable.

To pay a special tribute to the dizi virtuoso, Du Rusong, a National Class One Dizi Performer from Hangzhou, together with renowned local performers of Chinese and Western flutes such as Sun Yongzhi, Lam Si-kwan and Choo Boon-chong, will collaborate with the Hong Kong Music Lover Chinese Orchestra under the baton of Wai Sing-fat in "A Tribute to Dizi Virtuoso Zhao Songting" concert. Famous pieces by Zhao including "Morning", "Three Five Seven", "Orchids in Spring", "The Flying Partridges" and "The Scenery of River Wu" will be performed. Besides, Zhao's only Janpanese protege from Japan, Heihachiro Tsukamoto, will also appear in the concert playing shakuhachi.

To enhance the audiences' appreciation of Chinese and Western flutes, a two-week exhibition entitled "The World of Flutes - An Exhibition of Flutes of Different Places and Periods" will be organised at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. In addition to traditional bangdi, qudi and dongxiao, a wide variety of flutes such as paidi, bass dizi, koudi and yanfeichi invented in the past decades will also be exhibited. A demonstration and a pre-concert talk will also be held to supplement the concert.

Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the "A Tribute to Dizi Virtuoso Zhao Songting" concert will be held at 8 pm on March 16 (Sunday) at the Auditorium, Tsuen Wan Town Hall. Tickets priced at $120, $100 and $80 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).

Exhibition titled "The World of Flutes - An Exhibition of Flutes of Different Places and Periods" will be held from March 1 to 14 at the Foyer, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. A Demonstration Performance will be held at 6 pm on March 7 (Friday) at the Foyer, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Du Rusong, Choo Boon-chong, Cheng Yuk, Hu Runqin will make introduction to the dizi family and give a demonstration of traditional dizi pieces as well as jazz and pop music with the instrument. Admission is free.

A Pre-concert Talk conducted in Putonghua & Cantonese will be organized at 7.30 pm on March 7 (Friday) at Room AC2, Level 4, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Speakers include Du Rusong, Cheung Heung-wah and Tam Po-shek. Admission is free with seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.

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; for internet booking, please visit www.urbtix.gov.hk. To search more information on internet, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp.

End/ Monday, February 17, 2003

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