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Hong Kong China Philharmonic Orchestra will mark its 30th anniversary next month with "The Yellow River Cantata" concert.
Under the baton of its music director and principal conductor Lim Kek-han and guest conductor Terry Leung, the orchestra will perform Xian Xinghai's masterpiece "Yellow River Cantata" with soprano Vivian Chan and baritone Petrus Cheung. It will also perform Schubert's Overture to "Rosamunde"; Brahms' "Violin Concerto in D" and Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture".
Inspired by Guang Weiran's poem written during the Sino-Japanese war, Xian composed "Yellow River Cantata" despite the physical difficulties of the time. It soon gained widespread popularity and became one of China's greatest cantatas.
In 1977, Lim Kek-han founded the Lim Kek Han Philharmonic Orchestra, which was later the Hong Kong China Philharmonic Orchestra. The orchestra holds a number of concerts every year and brings different kinds of music to audiences. Famous soloists and guest conductors have also been invited from the Mainland and overseas to perform with the orchestra. It works hard to introduce Chinese music rearranged in modern style to Hong Kong audiences and has held many Chinese music concerts. The "Yellow River Cantata" concert in 1982 in Hong Kong was well supported by the public. In the same year at the Asian Arts Festival, the orchestra gave an outdoor concert accompanied by a choir of 300 members. It was recorded by the Beijing Central People's Broadcasting and Television Unit and was broadcast nation-wide on the Mainland. In 1993 the orchestra changed its name to Hong Kong China Philharmonic Orchestra.
Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, "The Yellow River Cantata" concert will be at 8pm on Saturday, December 8, at the Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall.
Tickets priced at $100, $140 and $180 are now available at URBTIX outlets, while senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients may have 50% off (limited quotas for CSSA recipients on a first-come, first-served basis). A 10% discount applies to Friends of LCSD performing venues.
For enquiries about the programme, call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp. Ticketing enquiries and reservations can be made on 2734 9009 and credit card telephone bookings on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Monday, November 19, 2007
Issued at HKT 15:39
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