“Hong Kong Music Series” featuring over 70 acclaimed Hong Kong music talents opened successfully in London last Friday

Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) officially kicked off the “Hong Kong Music Series” in London on 7 July. Making its mission to promote our home-grown artists to the world and celebrating the 20^th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, HKADC is pleased to bring over 70 acclaimed Hong Kong composers, musicians and performers to showcase their talent in five diverse and exceptional productions throughout July in Central London.

To lift the curtain of “Hong Kong Music Series”, a VIP Reception hosted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London followed by the Inaugural Concert Music Interflow – a Dialogue of Two Cultures were held at St John’s Smith Square on 7 July. It was honourable to have more than a hundred distinguished guests attending the reception to celebrate the start of the exciting month of “Hong Kong Music Series”. Dr Wilfred Wong, Chairman of the HKADC, expressed at the reception that by providing opportunities for the Hong Kong musicians to showcase their talent in one of the international music capitals, HKADC hoped to show the world the creativity and vibrancy of the Hong Kong music scene and to strengthen cultural ties between Hong Kong and London.

The evening at St John’s Smith Square was honoured with the attendance of H.E. Ambassador Liu Xiaoming, the Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom, and made memorable as a full-house concert with an audience more than 500. The Inaugural Concert Music Interflow – a Dialogue of Two Cultures featured both well-established and emerging Hong Kong musicians who had brilliantly displayed their virtuosity in a selection of classical and contemporary works written by both Hong Kong composers and British composers. The blend of Eastern and Western music perfectly created a unique musical dialogue and, in particular, between UK and Hong Kong.

On the same night of the Inaugural Concert and 8 July, Hong Kong Episodes, charmed nearly three hundred London audiences at Wilton’s Music Hall with evocative imagery of Hong Kong cityscape by architect Anthony Lai together with the original music written by Teriver Cheung, international jazz guitarist and composer Fung Lam, the youngest Chinese composer and first Hong Kong composer ever commissioned by the BBC. Many of the audiences highly acclaimed the performance and were impressed by the brilliant music by these young music talents.

Three more productions will continue to carry on the vibe to provide Londoners a taste of the unique Hong Kong music in the “Hong Kong Music Series”. On 10 and 11 July, a “3-in-1” concert Fingerman X Beloved Clara X SMASH produced by Music Lab, a young group led by charismatic pianist Wong Ka-jeng, is going to provide an innovative experience to London audiences. Then, on 15 Jul, Beyond the Senses – Atmospheric Music Theatre by Law Wing Fai at Shaw Theatre will bring audiences to enter into a realm of oriental aesthetics. Two performances of Datong: The Chinese Utopia will mark “Hong Kong Music Series” to a close at Richmond Theatre on 27 and 28 July respectively. This Hong Kong-produced three-act chamber opera will transport audiences to the 20^th century Chinese scholar Kang Youwei’s time with fabulous voices and music.

The Hong Kong Music Series is funded by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as an accredited event celebrating the 20^th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. It is supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, London, sponsored by the Pure Land Foundation and John Swire & Sons Ltd., and received promotional and accommodation support by the Dorsett Hospitality International.

For details and ticketing of the productions, please refer to “Hong Kong Music Series”’s website: www.hongkongmusicseries.hk

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