Three Hong Kong orchestras, the Hong Kong Festival Wind Orchestra, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and the Asian Youth Orchestra, are performing in Europe this summer with the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels (HKETO, Brussels). 
      
     As a highlight of celebrations in Europe to mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), the concerts are giving European audiences an opportunity to appreciate the wealth of creativity and musical talent of Hong Kong. 
      
     The Hong Kong Festival Wind Orchestra (HKFWO), comprising 40 young musicians, gave performances at the Lisbon International Youth Music Festival in Portugal on July 21, 22 and 25 (Lisbon time).
       
     HKFWO then proceeded to Barcelona in Spain, where it gave a special concert on July 27 (Barcelona time) to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the HKSAR. 
      
     Entitled "Moonlight Dragon - When East Meets West", the concert at Casino L'Aliança del Poblenou featured both Chinese and Spanish musics, played by HKFWO with Duo Antwerp, formed by Dani Bellovi, a Spanish bass clarinettist and Adilia Yip, a Hong Kong percussionist living in Belgium.   
      
     Addressing the audience before the concert, Deputy Representative of HKETO, Brussels Mr Sam Hui said that 20 years after the establishment of the HKSAR, Hong Kong was thriving under the "one country, two systems" principle. One remarkable development over the last 20 years was that Hong Kong is fast becoming an international, cosmopolitan centre for culture and the arts.
      
     "We are constructing one of the world's largest cultural projects, the 40-hectare West Kowloon Cultural District, along the waterfront of our beautiful harbour," Mr Hui said.
      
      "Its theatres and museums are being completed one by one, giving us another place for our citizens and visitors to relax, draw inspiration and experience cultural and arts diversities. We are also fortunate to have many talented artists and musicians in our city," he added.
      
     One of Hong Kong's flagship orchestras, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta also performed at major music festivals in Portugal and France.   
      
     Under the leadership of Music Director Yip Wing-sie, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta gave concerts on July 21 and 23 (Marvão time) at the historic Marvão Castle, during the 4th Marvão International Music Festival held in the Portuguese walled city from July 21 to 30 (Marvão time). It then proceeded to France, where it performed on July 25 and 26 (France time) in the beautiful setting of Parc du Château de Florans at the 37th International Piano Festival of La Roque d’Anthéron, held from July 21 to August 19 (France time).
      
     The Hong Kong Sinfonietta also performed at one of the oldest music festivals in Europe, the 68th Menton Music Festival in France, on July 29 (France time). 
      
     Another of Hong Kong's finest orchestras, the Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO), will also give special HKSAR 20th anniversary performances in Europe in August and September as part of its international summer tour.
      
     Conducted by its Artistic Director, Richard Pontzious, the AYO will perform before 600 people at the Airbus Leadership University in Toulouse, France on August 21 (France time). The event is organised by HKETO, Brussels in collaboration with Cathay Pacific Airways and Airbus.
      
     In Spain, the AYO will give concerts in Santander and San Sebastian on August 22 and 23 (Spain time) respectively.
      
     HKETO, Brussels has also invited AYO to perform at the Centre for Fine Arts - Bozar in Brussels, Belgium on September 5 (Brussels time), as the grand finale of its international summer tour.

Ends/Tuesday, August 1, 2017
Issued at HKT 21:50

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