***********************************************************
The spectacular line-up of concerts and fringe programmes lined up for the five-day Manhattan Hong Kong Music Festival (MHKMF) in New York will foster more exchanges and communications between the musicians and artists of Hong Kong and those in New York, as well as create closer cultural ties between Hong Kong and the United States, said the speakers at a press conference in New York on October 25 (New York time).
This inaugural music festival is co-presented by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) and the Manhattan School of Music (MSM) and supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, New York (HKETONY). More than 22 acclaimed musicians from Hong Kong and New York will collaborate for the first time on stage in concerts at the MSM, Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Centre from October 30 to November 3. They will perform works by outstanding Hong Kong composers of different generations and other pieces by five distinguished American-Chinese composers. To showcase the vibrant mix of East and the West, Chinese and Western classical music will also be performed, including "The Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto" and works by Mozart, Brahms, Schumann and Stravinsky as well as some contemporary and exotic Chinese music.
The Director of HKETONY, Miss Anita Chan, was pleased to see the first musical collaboration of two of the world's international cities come to fruition. "This music feast with a rich repertoire of classics of both Chinese and Western music promises to be a true reflection of the dynamic and vibrant culture of the two great cities," she said.
She said the music festival was very timely as this year is the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The showcasing of musicians and artists' talents and creativity bears testimony to the thriving music and cultural scene in Hong Kong since its reunification with the Motherland.
The Vice-President (Academics and Performance) of MSM, Dr Marjorie Merryman, said that through innovative and colourful programmes, an exciting opportunity for dynamic dialogue could be created between two of the world's great cultural centres. Collaborating through the international language of music, Hong Kong and MSM performers would play side by side with freedom and passion, finding inspiration in each other's strengths. "All programmes were chosen to put the vitality, diversity and cutting edge of Hong Kong into sharp New York focus," she added.
Highlighting some of the programmes, the Festival Artistic Director, Professor Johnny Poon, said the Gala Orchestra Concert will present a perfect mix of Western classics, Hong Kong's exciting composition and the most familiar Chinese works to the Western audience. "The Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto" will be performed by MSM's Symphony Orchestra with Hong Kong musicians, and Hong Kong's eminent soprano Yuki Ip will delight the audience with Mozart and Stravinsky's beloved arias, while acclaimed violinist Li Chuan-yun will be the soloist for the Concerto. Additionally, Lam Fung's "Illumination" has received tremendous acclaim, resulting in a series of commissions by the BBC Philharmonic - the youngest Hong Kong Chinese composer ever to be commissioned by the prestigious organisation.
The Manhattan Hong Kong Music Festival begins on October 30 with a video installation and sound performance by leading Hong Kong sound and new media artist Samson Young at the Lincoln Centre. The Gala Orchestra Concert will be held on November 2 at the Borden Auditorium at MSM. The festival will culminate with the "Chinoiserie Moderne: Beyond Exoticism" concert at Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall the following day (November 3).
The President of MSM, Dr Robert Sirota, also attended the press conference. During the media event, musicians from both Hong Kong and the MSM also provided a sneak preview of the festival programmes. Acclaimed Hong Kong pianist Mary Wu performed Zhou Long's "Wu Kui" and the traditional Guangdong piece "Colourful Cloud Chasing the Moon" (Caiyun zhuiyue). Violinist Wang Xiao, currently a full scholarship student at MSM, performed excerpts from "The Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto" accompanied by Wang Yin-fei on piano. Baritone Yungpeng Wang, also from the MSM, performed "Vien Leonota" from La Favorita accompanied by award-winning pianist Kwong Ming-hay.
Full details of the festival programme can be found at www.manhattanhkmusicfestival.com/eng/ and www.msmnyc.edu/Concertgoer/Manhattan-Hong-Kong-Festival .
The following facebook and twitter accounts have been set up for the festival:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ManhattanHongKongMusicFestival?fref=ts
Twitter : twitter.com/MHKMF
Ends/Friday, October 26, 2012
Issued at HKT 13:07
NNNN
