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Over 500 young musicians from six orchestras and choirs will perform in the "2011 Music Office Annual Gala" at 3pm on February 20 (Sunday) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall.
The musicians are trainees from the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, including members of the Music Office Youth and Children's Choirs, Hong Kong Youth Strings, Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band, Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra and Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Under the baton of Dr Angelina Au, Lau Yeung-chit, Pak Wing-heng, Lee Sing-wan, Kwok Kin-ming and Ng Ka-ming, the trainees will showcase the skills and techniques they have learnt through diversified Chinese and western repertories.
Programme highlights include legendary American composer Irving Berlin's "Blue Skies", performed by the Music Office Youth Choir and Children's Choir. The song was written in the year Berlin's eldest daughter was born and aptly expresses the high spirits of a first-time father. Hong Kong Youth Strings will showcase the renowned Czech composer and violinist Josef Suk's "Serenade for Strings in E flat major, 1st movement", which depicts the composer's joyful mood on falling in love. Chen Qian's "Come, Drink One More Cup of Wine", played by the Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band to the sound of the bands unique percussion, will transform the visual images of a painting into an audio experience for spacial imagination and interpretation.
The Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra will present "Scenery of Xiangxi", with traditional folk elements of the Tujia and Miao ethnic groups reflecting the positive and optimistic characteristics of the tribes of Hunan. The Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra will also perform "Variations IX-XIV" from Edward William Elgar's "Enigma Variations", which seeks to portray the composer and his close acquaintances.
The concert will also feature "I Believe in Springtime" on the wonder of nature; the choral masterpiece "The Blue Bird"; Franz Schubert's "Die Nacht (Night)", which portrays the beauty of a peaceful evening; the Xinjiang folk song "Youth Dance"; "Xerxes", which features an unusual concert march; the award-winning piece "Follow the Pagoda Tree to Get the Root of Our Ancestors"; the unique African-Cuban piece "Danza Lucumi"; the passionate and dramatic "Malagueña" from "Suite Andalucía"; and the Music Office's signature song "Music for the Millions".
Awards will also be presented to more than 40 outstanding trainees and members of the Music Office's bands, choirs and orchestras.
Tickets priced at $80, $60 and $40 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessions are available for full-time students, senior citizens, people with disabilities and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients.
Credit card booking can be made at 2111 5999, and internet booking can be made at www.urbtix.hk. For programme enquiries, please call 2796 1003 or 2582 5311 or visit the website www.lcsd.gov.hk/musicoffice.
Ends/Monday, February 7, 2011
Issued at HKT 15:05
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