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In celebration of its 10th anniversary, the biennial World Cultures Festival will feature an array of artistic gems from around the globe this autumn to showcase rich and diverse cultures.
Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, World Cultures Festival 2015 - A Decade of Exquisite Arts will be held from October 16 to November 15.
Opening the festival will be the tango performance "The Song of Eva Perón" by Tango Buenos Aires from Argentina. With works ranging from newly created pieces to more traditional ones, this new production pays homage to Argentina's much-loved former First Lady with highly expressive dancers using the language of the sultry tango to enact turning points in Perón's life. A top live band and vocalist will add to the sizzling atmosphere, delivering original works and classics. The programme will be performed from October 16 to 18 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre.
The festival will also allure audiences with three programmes with Grammy winners from three different continents. Irish music with an improvisational twist will be performed by the Chieftains, founded by internationally renowned Irish uilleann piper Paddy Moloney more than half a century ago; American conjunto band Los Texmaniacs will present exuberant Latin and European migrant folk mixed with contemporary rock, blues, country and R&B; and Beninese diva Angˆmlique Kidjo will draw on Afropop and Afrobeat, jazz and soul, reggae and folk to deliver vibrant vocals in an iconic blend of music.
Led by the legendary veteran kabuki artist Tamasaburo Bando, the all-male performers of Kodo will summon up immense power from within to push physique, percussion techniques and emotive resonance to the highest realm and reveal the limitless potential to energise taiko artistry in "Dadan 2015".
The Shanghai Yue Opera House, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, will showcase renowned performers and emerging talents in a captivating selection of works to mark the closing of the festival. They are "Empresses in the Palace", a winner of the Outstanding Repertory Award at the Third China Yue Opera Arts Festival; the Yue opera classic "Butterfly Lovers"; the stirring original work "A Poet's Lament"; and Yue opera excerpts. The programme will be performed from November 11 to 15 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre.
The festival will also feature:
* Georgian National Dance Company Sukhishvili
* "Hong Kong Episodes" by Teriver Cheung and Fung Lam with Jean-Michel Pilc
* Jinjo Crew's "Ablaze" (Korea)
* Dhoad Gypsies from Rajasthan (India)
* Hong Kong Professional Winds' "Bands Around the World"
* Hong Kong Repertory Theatre's "Circle Mirror Transformation"
* Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra's "Majestic Drums XX"
* Hong Kong Sinfonietta's "Penderecki & Shostakovich"
Apart from presenting performances, the festival will also offer a series of extension activities including the outdoor concert "Global Island", the World Cultures Salon Series, the "Words On Fest" Writing Award Scheme, "Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances", exhibitions, workshops, lecture demonstrations, foyer and outdoor performances, a sharing session, pre-performance appreciation talks and meet-the-artist sessions.
Tickets for World Cultures Festival 2015 - A Decade of Exquisite Arts will be available at URBTIX from tomorrow (September 2). Half-price tickets are available for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their minders, and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Other booking discounts of up to 20 per cent are available.
Programme brochures are available at URBTIX outlets or at the website, www.worldfestival.gov.hk. For programme enquiries, please call 2370 1044.
Internet bookings can be made at www.urbtix.hk. Credit card telephone bookings can be made on 2111 5999 and tickets can also be purchased via the mobile ticketing app "My URBTIX".
Ends/Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Issued at HKT 17:38
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