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As the Music Office celebrates its 35th anniversary, over 600 young musicians will perform in the "2013 Music Office Annual Gala" at 3pm on February 17 (Sunday) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. The melodious Sunday programme will present a variety of Chinese and Western music works for the audience to enjoy.
The musicians are trainees from the Music Office of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and are members of the Music Office Youth Choir, the Hong Kong Youth Strings, the Hong Kong Junior Chamber Ensemble, the Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band, the Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra and the Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Under the batons of Dr Angelina Au, Ng Ka-ming, Lee Sing-wan, Pak Wing-heng, Tsui Ying-fai and Dr Joseph Kam, the trainees will showcase spectacular renditions of Chinese and Western music.
The programme highlights include Joseph Koo's "Music for the Millions" and Eric Whitacre's "Water Night", to be sung by the Music Office Youth Choir. "Music for the Millions" will serve as a tribute to the Music Office's contributions in the promotion of music throughout the past 35 years to bring up the next generation of young musicians in Hong Kong. "Water Night" is inspired by the poem "Agua nocturna" by the Nobel Prize-winning Mexican poet Octavio Paz, and the unique blend of sonorities captures the mystique and aura found in the poetry. The Hong Kong Youth Strings and the Hong Kong Junior Chamber Ensemble will jointly present "Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis" by Vaughan Williams. The work was written for the Three Choirs Festival held in the Midlands in the UK, and it gained great success at its premiere in 1910.
Alex Shapiro's "Paper Cut" will be performed by the Hong Kong Youth Symphonic Band, the wind trainees and band members of the Music Office with the unusual element of paper and myriad other sounds. The Hong Kong Youth Chinese Orchestra will perform Chen Ning-chi's "The Ancient Capital", which portrays a solitary traveller's historical journey to the deserts, the prairies and Xian city. The Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra will perform Wagner's "Prelude to Act I from 'Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg'", which describes a talented singer, Walther von Stolzing, in love with a beautiful young lady.
Other performances include "Ritmo", with a strong driving rhythm and hints of a Spanish flavour; "Jungle Dance", an animated piece portraying a grand celebration in the jungle; "Danzón No. 2", a signature piece of Mexican contemporary music; "Universal Joy" from "Hong Kong Turns Over a New Page", which celebrates the reunification of Hong Kong with China; "Overture to 'La forza del destino'" by Verdi; and "Highland Cathedral", featuring an exquisite bagpipe melody and intricate arrangement.
Awards will also be presented to over 40 outstanding trainees and members of the Music Office's bands, choirs and orchestras.
Tickets priced at $100, $80 and $60 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 7523 or 2582 5311 or visit the website
www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/MusicOffice/en/events_2012_12_31.php.
Ends/Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:01
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