A deserving birthday tribute to a leading light in Chinese music

Maestro Xia Feiyun is an indisputable authority in Chinese music. He is the first conductor professionally trained in the genre, and over the years, he has groomed generations of talents in music. He has maintained close connections with the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, having served not only as its Resident Conductor between 1992 and 1993 but also guest-conducted on several occasions. As the Maestro celebrates his 80th birthday in 2016, the HKCO finds it an honour to present ‘Xia Feiyun at 80 – A Tribute Concert’. On the occasion, we will revisit some of the works that the Maestro has been given his definitive interpretations. They include Ambush from All Sides and Moonlight On the Spring River, two of the “Ten Notable Ancient Tunes” in China; film scores that are immediately recognizable to the Hong Kong audience, Prelude of Dagger Society and Theme of the Pioneers; and Scenes of Yunnan from the exotic southwestern region of China, etc. He will be joined by the suona virtuoso, Liu Ying, in an enthralling paean to heroes in Righteous Courage that Soars to Heaven from the modern Peking Opera, Taking Tiger Mountain by Stratagem. Sheng virtuoso, Weng Zhenfa, will perform Reflections in the Quiet of the Night composed by Xiao Jiang.  

Other pieces to round up the birthday fireworks are: Lovers’ Sorrow, an ancient tune from Cantonese music, to be performed by HKCO’s Gaohu Principal, Wong Lok Ting, and The Fishermen’s Triumphant Song, a powerful piece from Zhoushan gong and drum music, to be performed by Gao Shan on the percussion. Come join the celebration party as the Maestro fills the concert hall with his magic!