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The musical production "Rock Hard"- staged by the Yat Po Singers at the Shanghai Grand Theatre tonight (May 8) - has raised the curtain on a spectacular performing and visual arts programme for Expo 2010 Shanghai China (Shanghai Expo) that will be rolled out over the next six months by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
The Director of Leisure and Cultural Services, Mrs Betty Fung, said: "Hong Kong's participation in Expo 2010 Shanghai signifies a big step forward in the co-operation between Hong Kong and Shanghai in culture and the arts.
"I hope this fruitful co-operation and cultural exchange will continue, not only in Shanghai, but also in other Mainland provinces and cities."
"Rock Hard", an a cappella theatre production, premiered in 2008 at the Hong Kong New Vision Arts Festival and won the 2009 Golden Sail Music Award for Best Serious Music Composition.
Stage director and designer Yuri Ng describes "Rock Hard" as a crossover of songs and story telling by a group of boy scouts (played by the a cappella singers) and a solo dancer (played by Hong Kong's renowned choreographer Mui Cheuk-yin).
"We are extremely excited to have been able to present to a Mainland audience our talented young artists through an innovative play on both traditional and urban legends," said Mr Ng.
The Mainland premiere of "Rock Hard" in Shanghai attracted an attendance rate of over 90%. It also raised the curtain on a series of other cultural performances involving Mr Ng during the Shanghai Expo period.
Mr Ng will also choreograph an excerpt from "Firecracker" for the The Hong Kong Ballet's "Summer Delights" programme on June 4, and will direct/choreograph the closing performance of the HKSAR's Expo programme - "A Soldier's Story" by the Hong Kong Sinfonietta – on October 22.
After "Rock Hard", the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra will present the "Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra Concert" at the Shanghai Concert Hall on May 15 under the baton of conductor Yan Huichang.
During the Shanghai Expo period, 24 groups from Hong Kong will participate in 26 programmes comprising 70 performances at the Shanghai Expo site and other prominent performing arts venues in Shanghai. Four visual arts exhibitions will also be presented as key components of the cultural programme.
Programme details and ticketing information of other performances and exhibitions are available under the Event Calendar section on Hong Kong's Expo website, www.hkexpo2010.gov.hk .
Ends/Saturday, May 8, 2010
Issued at HKT 22:29
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