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Wuji Ensemble, which has infused local Chinese music with youthful energy, innovation and a strong stylistic identity, will give a concert in March, "Sailing on the Moon River - a new world of Chinese music".
The Chinese characters "wuji" mean "boundless", "endless" and "continuously evolving". The ensemble is made up of eight members who are either current students or graduates of tertiary institutions, all highly skilled and experienced performers sharing a love of music and culture. Young, dynamic and refreshing in their approach to music, knowledgeable in the arts and enterprising in their vision, these musicians have become a cultural icon with their performances on the Chinese plucked-string instruments, the ruan and the pipa. The group moves easily between the cultures of East and West, is highly contemporary in concept, and demonstrates the lively, engaging spirit of its home base of Hong Kong.
Under the leadership of artistic director Law Sing-fai, music director and pipa soloist Wong Chi-ching and erhu soloist Shao Lin, the group will perform a rich programme including ruan ensemble "Moon River", pipa ensemble "Dragon Boats" and "The Great Ambuscade", and erhu and zhong ruan duet "River in the Snow".
Since 2003, Wuji Ensemble has been dedicated to creating a performance platform for local musicians, cultivating cultural insights and nurturing their art. It has organised and presented a number of diverse performances and activities since its inception. They include theme concerts, multimedia concerts, chamber concerts, talks, performing at scenic spots and appearing as guest artists on various occasions. The group has participated in international arts festivals in China and other parts of the world to introduce Chinese culture with a strong Hong Kong identity. It has also hosted instrumental competitions, music composition contests, youth music festivals and master classes, in order to fully explore the ensemble's potential, flexibility, diversity and visionary outlook.
Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, "Sailing on the Moon River - a new world of Chinese music" by Wuji Ensemble will be staged at 8pm on March 1 (Sunday) at the Theatre, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre. Tickets priced at $180 and $140 are now available at all URBTIX outlets. Half-price concessions will be granted to senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. (Limited tickets for Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients are available on a first-come, first-served basis.) Please refer to programme leaflets for details of the group booking discount.
For programme enquiries, call 2268 7321; for ticketing enquiries and reservations call 2734 9009. For credit card telephone bookings, call 2111 5999. Internet bookings are available at www.urbtix.hk . Visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp for more information on the programme.
Ends/Saturday, February 7, 2009
Issued at HKT 10:01
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