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Talented guzheng players, Choi Ngar-si and sister Kit-yee, will join the Choi Ngar-si Guzheng Ensemble to bring the audience in Tsuen Wan and North District Town Halls famous guzheng pieces. The elder sister displays great exquisiteness and musicality in her rendition, while younger sister's rendition has been heralded for her superb mastery of rhythm and musicality.

Programmes performing in Tsuen Wan Town Hall are guzheng solo "Thoughts in Autumn", "High Mountain and Flowing Water", "Tears of the Xiang Concubine", "Channels of Fortune", "Sentiments of Autumn" and "Sakura"; guzheng and pipa duet "The Toll of the Temple Bell"; guzheng solo and concerto "Lan Hua Hua" and "Under the Moonlight"; guzheng ensemble "Song of Mount Ali", "Perfect Romance", "Going to the Fair" and "Huang He Lou"; and guzheng accompaniment "The Chance Encounter from The Reincarnation of a Beauty (score from Autumn Moon Above the Han Palace".

In North District Town Hall, there are guzheng solo "Autumn Moon Above in Han Palace", "Snow Mountain in Early Spring", "Water Flowing Down a Spring Stream", "The Moon of Jian Chang" and "Sakura"; guzheng and pipa duet "Laments of Lady Zhao Jun"; guzheng solo and concerto "Autumn Lotus (Unaccented on the third and sixth notes)"; guzheng ensemble "Flowers of Spring", "All Under Heaven", "In Celebration of Good Times", "The School Boy" and "Dance of the Yi Tribe"; guzheng ensemble led by harmonica performance "The Olive Tree"; and guzheng accompaniment "The Romantic Suicide from Princess Chang Ping (score from Meditation in the Boudoir)".

Presented by the Provisional Regional Council, the recitals will be held at the Cultural Activities Hall, Tsuen Wan Town Hall at 8 pm on January 22, 2000 (Saturday); and at the Auditorium, North District Town Hall at 8 pm on January 29 (Saturday).

Born in Hong Kong, Choi Ngar-si learnt piano, pipa and guzheng at an early age. Choi acquired guzheng techniques from renowned masters including Cao Zheng and Zhang Yan. She first joined the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra from 1977 to 1979, and she has been working for the Orchestra again since 1985.

Since 1975, Choi Ngar-si has given guzheng and pipa recitals on an annual basis. Over the years, she has visited a number of countries including Singapore, China, Japan, Taiwan, Canada, Netherlands, USA and Macau. In 1973, she set up the Choi Ngar-si Guzheng Ensemble.

Younger sister Kit-yee studied guzheng with So Chun-bo and sister Ngar-si. Choi went to Beijing on many occasions to pursue her studies in guzheng and acted as guest soloist with the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. Since 1975, Choi has given concerts jointly with her sister annually. She has also performed in Macau, Taiwan and Beijing with the Choi Ngar-si Guzheng Ensemble.

Apart from engaging in renditions, Choi Kit-yee is currently a freelance musician with the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, and instructor for junior students of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

Established in 1973, the Choi Ngar-si Guzheng Ensemble initially comprised six members including the Choi sisters and some of their top students. At present, the Ensemble has developed into an established guzheng ensemble with a membership of nearly forty.

Over the past two decades, the Ensemble has given concerts regularly, and has given altogether 73 concerts in various cultural venues. In 1985 and 1991, the Ensemble performed to rave reviews in Macau and Taipei respectively. In 1993, the Ensemble made recordings for its first album.

Tickets, priced at $60 in Tsuen Wan and $40 and $60 in North District, are available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities holding a concessionary card, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Recipients. Concessions for the latter two are available on a first-come-first served basis. Half-price ticket holders must produce evidence of their identity or age upon admission.

Please call 2734 9009 for telephone reservation and 2414 0144 (Tsuen Wan) or 2671 4400 (North District) for enquiries.

End/Thursday, December 30, 1999

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