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Renowned local a cappella ensemble "Gay Singers" will sing popular songs of the past three decades in two concerts next year.
These well-known songs, which are part of Hong Kong's collective memories, include "Luk Siu Fung", "The Lonely Wanderer", "Loving Nobody But You", "Stony Broke", "Instinct", "Cartoon Themes Suite", "My Pride" and "Virtues of Harmony", and funny Cantonese songs rewritten in the 1980s, such as "Broken Business, Broken Soul", "No Sweat, No Loss" and "Grave Visit".
"Gay Singers" are eight graduates of The Chinese University of Hong Kong: Chiu Wai-tak, Pau Fung-mei, Yu Suet-ying, Chiu Pak-shing, Fung Kwok-tung, Yue Ting-hang, Siu Tin-chi and Tam Yu-leung. Their repertoire and rendition basically follow the Western classical vocal tradition with a contemporary "fusion style" that incorporates the classical and the modern in an East-West mix.
Their outstanding performances have attracted media attention. "Gay Singers" were featured in the "Hong Kong Connection", an RTHK documentary series, have performed in a charity gala to raise funds for the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals, and recently cut the first-ever a cappella version of the Chinese national anthem for NOW TV.
The group was also invited to participate in celebration activities on the Mainland in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Hong Kong SAR and to appear in the "Space International a Cappella Festival" presented by the national television station of South Korea, EBS.
Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, "A Cappella series: Gay Singers" concerts will be staged at 8pm on Sunday, February 24, 2008, at the Theatre, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, and on Friday, March 14, at the Auditorium, Kwai Tsing Theatre. Tickets priced from $90 to $160 are now available at URBTIX outlets. Senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients may have 50% off (limited quotas for students and CSSA recipients on a first-come, first-served basis). A 10% discount applies to Friends of LCSD performing venues or on purchase with "A Cappella Series: Chapter 6".
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.hk; for more information, visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp.
The Gay Singers workshop (conducted in Cantonese) will be held at 7.30pm on Friday, February 22, 2008, at CR1, 7/F, Backstage, Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Free admission vouchers are available for collection from January 22 onwards at the enquiry counter of Hong Kong Cultural Centre on a first-come-first-served basis. Tickets are limited to two per person.
Ends/Friday, December 21, 2007
Issued at HKT 10:00
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