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Hong Kong audiences will have the chance to enjoy the subtle elegance of guqin music in a series presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
The "Guqin Music Series", featuring guqin masters from the Mainland and Hong Kong, will run from this month until November.
The history of the guqin - a seven-stringed zither - can be traced back 2,500 to 5,000 years. Chinese music expert Mr Lai Kin said that over the centuries, guqin music had been the most representative genre of Chinese music. He said that in June last year, the Mainland applied to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for special heritage listing for the art of guqin. UNESCO has since listed guqin music as a Masterpiece of Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Musicians in the series include Zeng Chengwei, Li Gengyun, Wang Jianxin (Xiao/Xun), Li Xiangting, Wu Zhao, Chen Changlin, Teo Kheng Chong, John Chen, Lau Chor-wah, Tse Chun-yan and Sou Sitai. Also, Ho Pak-cheong (harmonica), Tong Kin-woon (qinge), Zhang Yuehua (chanting) and Kwok Kin-ming (ruanxian) will appear in the last concert in November.
Details of the series are as follows:
Guqin Recital by Zeng Chengwei
August 19 (Tuesday), Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Guqin and Xiao Recital by Li Fengyun and Wang Jianxin
September 7 (Sunday), Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Guqin Recital by Li Xiangting
October 3 (Friday), Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Guqin Recital by Wu Zhao and Chen Changlin
October 26 (Sunday), Studio Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Guqin Culture and Guqin Masters of Hong Kong
November 10 (Monday), Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall
November 15 (Saturday), Cultural Activities Hall, Sha Tin Town Hall
All concerts will be held at 8pm. Tickets priced at $150 (Hong Kong Cultural Centre and Hong Kong City Hall) and $120 (Sha Tin Town Hall) 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 (limited tickets for students and CSSA recipients are available on a first-come, first-served basis). There will be a 10% discount for Friends of LCSD performing venues.
The "Guqin Music Series" discount scheme applies to a single purchase of tickets for more than one concert of the series (except "Guqin Recital by Zeng Chengwei) - 10% off for each purchase of standard tickets for two concerts; 15% off for each purchase of standard tickets for three concerts; and 20% off for each purchase of standard tickets for four concerts.
For details about free talks and an exhibition relating to the series, please refer to individual programme leaflets.
For programme enquiries, call 2268 7321; for ticketing enquiries and reservations, call 2734 9009; for credit card telephone bookings, call 2111 5999; for Internet bookings, visit www.urbtix.gov.hk; for more details and information, visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp.
End/Tuesday, August 12, 2003
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