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Four outstanding zheng virtuosi, namely So Chun-bo, Tsui Nang-keung, Xu Lingzi and Luo Jing, will collaborate to perform a concert in October.
Under the baton of Professor Chan Wing-wah, the virtuosi will perform an array of classic works, including "Visitors of the Desolate City", "The Butterfly Lovers", "Love of Lugu Lake", "In the Deep of the Night" and "On the Mountain Over the Clouds" as well as excerpts from "The Story of the Red Chamber". The concert will also feature guest performers Fang Wanru (piano), Ronald Chin (drum) and Chan Tsz-yan (zheng), with the accompaniment of the Wang Kwong Chinese Orchestra, the Hong Kong Zheng Orchestra, the Hong Kong Zheng Artist Association Zheng Orchestra and MAL+ Zheng Ensemble.
Professor Chan Wing-wah is a composer and conductor. He has composed musical works under various themes and his works have been regularly performed locally and overseas. He was Chairman of the Music Department and Associate Dean of Arts at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Professor Chan is currently a Deputy Director of the University of Hong Kong School of Professional and Continuing Education and the Chairman of the Composers and Authors Society of Hong Kong.
So Chun-bo has been recognised as a trailblazer in Hong Kong zheng music development. More than 2,000 players have received tuition from him. He founded the first zheng orchestra in Hong Kong, the So Chun-bo Zheng Ensemble (now named the Hong Kong Zheng Orchestra), in 1971, and has seen the zheng develop from originally being an instrument to be performed solo into one that is now performed in more than a dozen novel ways. Under his leadership, the orchestra has given more than 40 performances and made a series of recordings. So is currently a zheng instructor at the Music Department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Chairman of the Hong Kong Zheng Orchestra and the Director of the Hong Kong Zheng Academy.
Tsui Nang-keung is a national class-one musician. He graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and was trained under Cao Zheng and Zhao Yuzhai. He won a class-one award for solo zheng at the All China Ethnic Instrumental Music Competition in 1982. He has performed to critical acclaim in 16 countries in North America, Europe and Africa.
Xu Lingzi is a national class-one performer. She graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and upon graduation in 1983 joined the faculty of the institution, where she was subsequently presented with a commendation award and an outstanding teacher award. Xu has been seconded to be a soloist with the China National Orchestra in 1986. As a soloist, she has toured 20 countries and regions. Xu is currently a lecturer of Chinese music at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
Luo Jing graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music and was awarded the Fu Chengxian Scholarship. She joined the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra as a zheng soloist in 1995, and has toured over 20 countries and regions. Luo is currently the zheng principal of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra.
The concert by the Hong Kong Zheng Orchestra is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. It will be staged at 8pm on October 4 (Saturday) at the Auditorium of Sha Tin Town Hall. Tickets priced at $120, $150 and $180 are now available at URBTIX. 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 CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis). A maximum discount of 20 per cent is offered for group booking packages.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/program_624.html. Ticketing enquiries can be made on 3761 6661 and telephone credit card booking on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Thursday, August 21, 2014
Issued at HKT 11:02
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