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Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the Nan Lian Garden Music Series will offer Japanese koto concerts in early February.
The concerts will feature two traditional Japanese musical instruments, the koto and the shakuhachi, in a mixed programme that will give patrons a taste of both the old world and new Japanese music. With the inclusion of guitar in the first concert, music lovers will be able to enjoy famous and familiar Japanese tunes rendered in both traditional and contemporary fusion styles. The programme on February 1 will include "Furusato" (Thoughts of Home), "Kawa no Nagare no Youni" (Like the Flowing of a Stream), "Kōjō no Tsuki" (Moon above the Castle Ruins) and more. The programme on February 2 will include "Chidori no Kyoku" (Song of the Plover), "Haru no Umi" (The Sea in Spring), "Midare Rinzetsu" (Disorder) and more.
Performing at the concert are Katou Minoru (guitar on February 1 only), Sakata Ryozan (shakuhachi) and Otani Keiko, Obina Kuniko and Noda Mika (koto). Katou Minoru is a guitarist and composer. He was responsible for the entire oeuvre of guitar pieces for the series of "Tora-san" movies under the collective title of "Otoko Wa Tsurai Yo" (It's Hard Being a Man). Sakata Ryozan is a Grand Master of the Toyama Stylistic School of shakuhachi. He is a multiple winner in many competitions, including the First Prize at the 13th Tozan-ryu Honkyoku Contest, and a recipient of honours from the Ministry of Education. Otani Keiko is the principal player of the "Nagi no Kai" ensemble group. Obina Kuniko is a member of the ensemble group formed by Miyagi Michio and a Senior Instructor of Koto Music in the Miyagi Society. Noda Mika is a player of the ancient 13-string koto with the "gagaku" group Reigakusha, and has built a repertoire that includes both classics and modern works written for the "gagaku" instruments. The group received a Special Award in the 2002 Kenzo Nakajima Music Prize and an Award for Excellence in the Record Section at the 2002 Arts Festival.
"Japanese Koto Concert" will be staged at 8pm on February 1 (Friday) at the Theatre of Sheung Wan Civic Centre and at 2.30pm on February 2 (Saturday) at the Xiang Hai Xuan Multi-purpose Hall, Nan Lian Garden. Tickets priced at $220 and $150 for Sheung Wan Civic Centre and $220 (free seating) for Nan Lian Garden are now available at all URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by credit card telephone booking. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their minders, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (limited tickets for full-time students and CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis). For more information about group and series booking discounts, please refer to the programme leaflet or the Nan Lian Garden Music Series programme brochure.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321; for ticketing enquiries call 2734 9009. For credit card telephone bookings, call 2111 5999. Internet bookings are available at www.urbtix.hk. Visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/program_126.html for more information on the programme.
A meet-the-artist session will be held after the concert on February 2 (conducted in Japanese with Cantonese translation). Patrons are welcome to join. Admission is free.
Other attractions of the Nan Lian Garden Music Series include "Erhu Recital by Wang Guotong", "Concert by Wind and Silk", "Fujian Nanyin Concert" and "'When Petals Fall in Serenity...' Pipa Recital by Wong Chi-ching".
Ends/Friday, January 11, 2013
Issued at HKT 16:46
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