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Hong Kong Week pools artistic passion and vibrant music in Vienna (with photo)
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     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin) and the Vienna Boys Choir Music Academy Foundation hosted the welcome performance of the Hong Kong Week in Vienna to showcase the flourishing classical music ambassadors from Hong Kong and Vienna on August 14 (Vienna time) at the concert hall MuTh. About 100 guests attended the concert.
      
     At the welcoming reception prior to the concert, the Director of the HKETO Berlin, Ms Betty Ho, highlighted Hong Kong's vibrant cultural scene in her speech, "As a metropolitan where East meets West, Hong Kong provides a unique breeding ground for young artistic talents. Every year, there are over 8,000 performances in Hong Kong, attracting an audience of more than 3 million."
      
     The concert was divided into two acts. Providing a rousing start, the contemporary music ensemble Chromoson performed pieces by the Austrian Hong Kong Composers Connection. In the second half, young talents from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts presented the Cantonese version of "The Song of the Earth" by Austrian composer Gustav Mahler under the baton of the music conductor Sharon Andrea Choa.
      
     Performing arts constitute a core element of Hong Kong's cultural identity. Ranging from classical music to contemporary dance and Chinese opera, they showcase Hong Kong's artistic diversity and unique character as a melting pot of cultures. Creative industries are important economic drivers for Hong Kong. They help enhance the innovation capacity of the economy and can be a powerhouse for future economic growth. According to the latest statistics, Hong Kong has around 39 200 cultural and creative industry-related establishments, with about 207 500 practitioners engaged in total.
      
     The Hong Kong Week runs from August 14 to 17 in Vienna, comprising the inaugural performance on August 14, Beethoven Piano Sonatas Marathon on August 15 and 16, and a Chinese Night on August 17, featuring 40 talented musicians from Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Week is an integral part of the Hong Kong - Vienna Music Festival – a multi-dimensional platform to foster cultural collaboration between Hong Kong's and Vienna's music talents. It aims to cultivating talents with global consciousness and cross-cultural competence as well as contributing to Hong Kong's emerging creative ecosystem. The six-week Festival, taking place both in Hong Kong and Vienna this summer, is bringing together 700 participants, including distinguished musicians, artists, music teachers and local students.
      
     The Hong Kong - Vienna Music Festival is organised by the Vienna Boys Choir Music Academy Foundation. The Foundation was launched under the auspices of Consul General of Austria in Hong Kong, Dr Claudia Reinprecht and the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Carrie Lam.

About the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin

     HKETO Berlin is the official Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government representative in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Austria as well as Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland.
 
Ends/Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Issued at HKT 0:12
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Photo

The music ambassadors from Hong Kong and Vienna performs at the welcome performance of the Hong Kong Week in Vienna on August 14 (Vienna time).