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Opera lovers will be excited to hear that one of Mozart's most popular operas, "The Magic Flute", is to be staged in Hong Kong in November.
"The Magic Flute" has been enchanting audiences worldwide for over two centuries ¡V from the fairy-tale love story of Prince Tamino and Pamina, to the solemn music of Sarastro, and the brilliant coloratura aria of the Queen of the Night - offering dazzling spectacle and thrilling vocal display.
The main story line of "The Magic Flute" tells how Prince Tamino, wishing to win the hand of Pamina, undergoes various ordeals, through which he gains a better understanding of the world. But not merely a love story, it also mingles the Masonic ideals of enlightenment and universal brotherhood with Viennese comedy in a seminal German opera.
"The Magic Flute" is a new production co-produced by Opera Hong Kong, the National Centre for the Performing Arts and Den Norske Opera & Ballett, with artistic personnel from all over the world, including the renowned Hong Kong tenor Warren Mok, together with Chen Ping and Per Larsen as producers, and the highly regarded director Paul Curran.
Paul Curran was appointed the Artistic Director of Norwegian Opera in 2009, and has a reputation for bringing novelty and colour to the operatic stage. Curran has directed numerous opera productions in prestigious opera houses in Europe and the United States. His directorial credits include "Tannh?user" for Teatro alla Scala, "La Bohˆome" and "Peter Grimes" for Santa Fe Opera, "Ariadne auf Naxos" and "Daphne" for Teatro La Fenice and the world premiere of "Pastorale" for Staatsoper Stuttgart.
An array of renowned local and overseas vocalists, including the celebrated Chinese soprano Huang Ying who sings Pamina in one of the two casts, will perform with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and Opera Hong Kong Chorus, under the baton of Jari H?m?l?inen.
Opera Hong Kong was founded in 2003 and is the first opera company in Hong Kong. Under the artistic direction of Warren Mok, Opera Hong Kong has produced "La Traviata", "Turandot", "Carmen", "Le Nozze di Figaro", "A?da" and "Don Carlo".
Jointly presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department and Opera Hong Kong, "The Magic Flute", performed in German with Chinese and English surtitles, will be staged at 7.30pm, November 5 to 9 (Thursday to Monday), at the Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. There will be admission-free pre-opera talks (in Cantonese) hosted by Prof Rupert Chan. "The Magic Flute" is one of the programmes commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
Tickets ranging from $150 to $900 are now available at URBTIX outlets. Senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients may have 50% off (limited quotas for students and CSSA recipients on a first-come, first-served basis). A maximum discount of 15% is offered for group booking. Please check the promotional leaflet for details.
For programme enquiries, 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, September 7, 2009
Issued at HKT 11:00
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