Hong Kong City Chinese Orchestra to stage three concerts
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     The Hong Kong City Chinese Orchestra will collaborate with Mainland and local musicians in three concerts in January next year, featuring an array of popular classics of Chinese orchestral music. Details of the concerts are as follows:

January 3 (Saturday), 8pm
Theatre, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre
Tickets: $120 and $180
Conductors: Ching Sau-wing and Chan Kwok-fai
Performers: Chan Ko-on (alto erhu), Ng Hiu-hung (zheng), Wong Shun-wing (suona), Wong Sze-wing (dizi) and Cheng Cha-wen (dizi)
The programme includes "Flying Apsaras", "Drinking Song of the Yi's", "Nocturne to the Victoria Harbour", "Song of Fishermen in the East Sea", "Dream of the Red Chamber Suite", "Somewhere Far Away", "The Sanmen Gorge Capriccio", "Reflection of the Moon on the Water", "San-Liu (In Three-Six Mode)", "Capriccio on Song of the Homebound Fishermen", "Festivity of the Masses" and "Grasshopper Fights with Cock".

January 10 (Saturday), 8pm
Auditorium, Tai Po Civic Centre
Tickets: $100 and $140
Conductors: Qu Chunquan and Ching Sau-wing
Performers: Chan Ko-on (alto erhu), Sébastien Lai (zhongruan), Wong Shun-wing (suona) and Chan Chun-nin (dizi)
The programme includes "The Way to Brightness", "Spring Festival Overture", "Colourful Clouds Chasing the Moon", "Dream of the Red Chamber Suite", "Festival of the Mountain Village", "Guangdong Music Medley", "Flying Apsaras", "Galloping on the Prairie", "Reflection of the Moon on the Water", "Grapes Are Ripe in Turpan", "The Sound of Camel Bells on the Silk Road", "Festivity of the Masses" and "Hanging up Red Lanterns".

January 18 (Sunday), 3pm
Auditorium, Yuen Long Theatre
Tickets: $100,$120 and $140
Conductor: Qu Chunquan
Performers: Ching Sau-wing (erhu), Yu Hong (zheng) and Sébastien Lai (zhongruan)
The programme includes "Ambuscade from All Sides", "Spring Festival Overture", "Dream of the Red Chamber Suite", "Listening to the Pines", "San-Liu (In Three-Six Mode)", "Guangdong Music Medley", "Honghu Capriccio", "Flying Apsaras", "Lady Yang's Heavenly Dress" and "Talking to Myself".

     Qu Chunquan is an internationally renowned conductor and composer, and a National Class One Conductor. He has written and arranged a large number of works for ensemble, chamber, instrumental solo, vocal, theatre and Chinese opera performance. He has been presented many awards for his outstanding achievements in performance and composition by the Ministry of Culture, the Department of Radio and Television (now the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television) and the City of Shanghai.

     Ching Sau-wing is a renowned erhu performer. He graduated from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music having studied erhu under Min Huifen, Xiao Baiyong and Xu Jiangde, and composition and conducting under Xia Feiyun and He Zhanhao. He has won many prizes including a class one award at the National Traditional Instruments Solo Competition. He has been devoted to promoting Chinese music in Hong Kong through training ensemble groups and serving as conductor in many concerts.

     Chan Kwok-fai is a seasoned music practitioner in Hong Kong. He works as a conductor and is also a yangqin instructor in the Music Department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Music Office. His achievements in the academic field are clearly demonstrated by the many outstanding students trained by him, who have themselves become professionals in yangqin teaching and performance.

     Since its establishment in 1994, the Hong Kong City Chinese Orchestra has strived to promote Chinese culture, enhance the development of Chinese music and foster related exchange activities between interested groups locally and abroad. In 2000 the Orchestra organised a series of five concerts and 11 seminars under the title "A Retrospective Look at Chinese Music in the Twentieth Century". The first of its kind in the Chinese music realm, the programme attracted great interest overseas and in Mainland music circles.

     The concerts by the Hong Kong City Chinese Orchestra are presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Tickets are now available at URBTIX. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their minders, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (limited tickets for CSSA recipients are available on a first-come, first-served basis). A maximum discount of 20 per cent is offered for the group booking package. Please refer to programme leaflet for details.

     For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/program_696.html. Ticketing enquiries can be made on 3761 6661 and credit card telephone booking on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.

Ends/Monday, November 24, 2014
Issued at HKT 15:13

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