The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present a new lecture series "A History of Western Music - Classical Period" from February to March which be hosted by renowned music practitioner Dennis Wu, offering participants a systematic and easily comprehensible introduction to the concepts and features of music during the Classical period.  

     The series, comprising eight lectures, will introduce the styles, genres, forms as well as the development of instruments in the Classical period – one of the eras in the history of Western music that is difficult to define, yet well-loved by music fans. It will also feature the works of renowned composers during the period including Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, and their influence on the music creation of their times and that followed.

     Details of each lecture are as follows:

Topic: What is "classical style"
Date: February 9 (Thursday)
Content: To explore people's perception of "classical music", and briefly introduce the different traits and styles of classical music as well as social contexts that precede the Classical period.

Topic: The rise of symphony
Date: February 16 (Thursday)
Content: To explain how the symphony developed into an important music genre of Classical period, and introduce the works of composers such as Stamitz, Bach and Haydn.

Topic: Sonata, piano and sonata form
Date: February 23 (Thursday)
Content: Citing piano as an introductory remark, to introduce the different styles and forms of sonata as well as the evolution of keyboard instruments, and take an in-depth look at the works by Mozart and Beethoven.

Topic: Music for the chamber
Date: March 2 (Thursday)
Content: To introduce the origin and development of chamber music mainly with Haydn's works; and briefly review the rise of instrumental music and its importance in music history.

Topic: Courts and musical centres
Date: March 9 (Thursday)
Content: To explore how European cities, such as Mannheim and Vienna, were identified as musical centres in the 18th century with the support of their courts and patrons, and briefly introduce how classical music became popular from court patronage to public concerts.   

Topic: Opera
Date: March 16 (Thursday)
Content: To study Mozart's revolutionary impact on the opera creation at that time by combining music and drama.

Topic: Concertos and the rise of solo-performer
Date: March 23 (Thursday)
Content: To explain how the concerto was evolved from highlighting a group of performers to spotlighting a soloist to showcase the performer's individual virtuosity.

Topic: Coda: Ludwig van Beethoven
Date: March 30 (Thursday)
Content: To discuss the contribution of Beethoven in building on the heritage of the past and opening a path to the future during the Classical period, and explore what makes classical music 'classic'.

     Dennis Wu has been involved in classical music-related work for many years as a music critic, composer, producer, and more. He was the producer and host of a number of programmes on Radio Television Hong Kong's Radio 4. He is also a frequent speaker at various music talks. Wu is currently the Director of Marketing of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.

     All lectures will be conducted in Cantonese and be held at 7.30pm at the Recital Hall of Hong Kong City Hall. Tickets for each lecture priced at $60 (free seating) are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For credit card telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1467.html.

     To safeguard public health, all persons entering indoor venues under the management of the LCSD must wear their own masks.

Ends/Wednesday, January 11, 2023
Issued at HKT 10:30

NNNN