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[28th Orchestral Season]
Press Release (2 pages)
March 30, 2005
When the Chinese moon shines on Paris ¡V
Imagery in French and Chinese music
HKCO presents
¡§In the Mood for Paris ¡V Le French May¡¨
From May 20-21, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra (HKCO) is holding a selection of French and Chinese music concert, In the Mood for Paris ¡V Le French May at 8pm, at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. This is a concert series in celebration of the cultural and artistic exchange programme which started two years ago in France and is still going on in China.
As a cultural hub for not only France but also Europe, Paris has always provided an inspiring backdrop to artists, writers and musicians. The programme of this concert reflects some of the efforts of composers in Hong Kong and China in merging the musical idioms of Chinese and French music, as well as in enhancing the affinity in spirit between the two cultures.
From the Chinese repertoire are As the Moon Rises, an ancient tune; Clouds from Serendipity by Kuan Nai-chung; and Liu Xing¡¦s Animal Suite. From the French repertoire, there will be Clouds from Nocturne by Claude Debussy, and The Swan from Carnival of the Animals by Camille Saint-Saens, an arrangement for the harp and cello with Chinese orchestra.
The highlight of the programme is the premiere of two new works by two talented composers in Hong Kong. One is Musique du Milk Shake by Chan Ming-chi, an imaginative sketch of the conglomeration of artists from all parts of the world at Centre Pompidou in Paris who create a ¡¥milk shake¡¦ of various artistic styles. The festive mood is like the parades at temple fairs in China, when artists and craftsmen gather to showcase their skills and art. The second new commission is Ravel dans le jardin chinois by Hui Cheung-wai. He has selected excerpts of the works of Maurice Ravel (1875-1937) that are closest in style to Chinese music as the basis to work on, and created a new work that is a wonderful tapestry of Chinese-French cultures.
Also participating in this Le French May event are HKCO¡¦s very own Kot Kai-lik, seasoned player of the Chinese wind instruments, the suona and the guan; Tung Hiu-lo, cellist and currently Acting Assistant Gehu Principal of the HKCO; Chen Tscheng-hsiung, famous conductor from Taiwan who is known for his insightful interpretation of French music and French culture; and hailing from Paris, Sandrine Chatron, winner of many international harp competitions and currently a much sought after artist on the international scene. But no matter what a brilliant line-up there is on stage, we still need your warm applause to make this an evening to remember ¡V so make it a date and come and join us!
Tickets for In the Mood for Paris ¡V Le French May concert are now available at all URBTIX Outlets at $180, 150, 120 and 90. Half-price tickets are offered for senior citizens, people with disabilities and full-time students. Please refer to the programme leaflet for more details on discount schemes. Enquiries: 3185 1600; Booking Hotline: 2734 9009. Internet Booking: www.urbtix.hk; HKCO website: www.hkco.org
¢w End ¢w
Press Enquiry¡G Ms.Vivian Ip (Public Relation & Publicity Executive)
Tel ¡G3185 1601 / 9553 2244 Fax¡G2815 5615
E-mail¡Gvivianip@hkco.org HKCO Website¡Gwww.hkco.org
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Artists Biography
Chen Tscheng-hsiung / Guest Conductor
Chen Tscheng-hsiung was born in Ilan, Taiwan in 1941, and graduated from the National Taiwan College of Arts (now National Taiwan University of Arts) and the Mozarteum Musikhochschule in Austria. He has taught at his alma mater - the National Taiwan College of Arts, the Chinese Culture College (now Chinese Culture University), Tunghai University, Shih Chien University and the Taipei Municipal Teachers College. He has conducted many symphony orchestras, choruses, wind orchestras and Chinese orchestras in Taiwan. An erudite musicologist, he has a profound understanding of both Chinese and Western music. Chen was invited on many occasions to guest conduct reputable orchestras of other parts of the world. He is instrumental in introducing Chinese music cultures to the world and opening up new frontiers in cultural exchanges. Chen has produced many operas ¡V both Chinese and western ¡V and musicals, which he took on tour to all parts of Taiwan. In so doing, he has made possible the ideals of finding a ¡¥cultural equilibrium¡¦ and ¡¥bridging the gap between cities and rural areas¡¦. Chen retired in February, 2003, and has been working as a freelance conductor ever since.
Sandrine Chatron / Harp
Sandrine Chatron studied at the CNSM in Paris, under Marie-Claire Jamet, graduating in 1994 with a Premier Prix in harp and chamber music. Sandrine Chatron has performed as a soloist in many festivals in France, Italy, Spain, Morocco and Czech. She is currently solo harp of the Orchestre des Gardiens de la Paix, and she teaches in Paris. In 2002, she played in the Serie ¡¥Declic¡¦ organized by the AFAA (French Association for Artistic Exchanges at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and the French Broadcast.
Jimmy Chan / Blue Harmonica
Jimmy Chan developed a keen interest in the harmonica since a very young age, and has been trained in playing the tremolo and chromatic harmonicas for many years. He concentrated on researching and promoting the blue harmonica in 1998, and set up the first web site on the subject in Hong Kong in 2000, with a view to making more Chinese people understand this type of harmonica. Chan is currently a member of the Tommy Chung and The All Blues harmonica group, and served on the panel of judges of the Hong Kong Harmonica Festival 2003 and the 5th Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival.
Haruka Fujii / Percussion
Multi-Percussionist Haruka Fujii has toured internationally as a solo percussionist, marimbist, chamber musician, and hand drummer. She has performed in major concert halls and festivals throughout Asia, Europe, and North America.Fujii has won particular acclaim for her collaborations with the noted composer and conductor Tan Dun. She has also given the U.S. premieres of Franghis Ali-Zadeh¡¦s percussion concerto Silk Road, Akira Miyoshi¡¦s Etude Concertante and Maki Ishii¡¦s Afro Concerto.
Kot Kai-lik / Guanzi
Kot Kai-lik¡¦s forte is shown in playing the suona, guanzi, double guan, bili and the traditional wind instrument playing techniques. He is considered to be a brilliant exponent of the northern school of wind music. Kot joined the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra in 1987. His performance of Beating Dates won him the Hong Kong Composers' Guild Award. Critiques describe him as "a Chinese virtuoso with an excellent grasp of the basics. His solo guan performance is highly moving. A versatile performer and a talented Chinese music virtuoso indeed".
Tung Hiu-lo / Cello
Tung Hiu-lo graduated from the Strings Department of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Between 1991 and 1999, she was the bass section leader of the Shanghai National Orchestra, making her the youngest musician and the youngest section leader in the history of the Orchestra. Tung resettled in Hong Kong in late 1999, and soon joined the Hong Kong Sinfonietta as a full-time cellist while working part-time at the Music Office as a cello instructor. She joined the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra in September 2001, and has been Acting Assistant Principal since September 2003.
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