The heart and the spirit of Hong Kong

— the raison d'être behind the HKCO fund-raising concert

Chow Fan-fu

Like all fund-raising concerts of any performing arts companies, A Musical Soirée with the HKCO cannot be simpler and more straightforward in purpose, which is to raise as much funds as possible. But as the Chinese title suggests, if the ‘heart’ and the ‘spirit’ of Hong Kong are brought into play, there is more reason than mere fund-raising.

For most similar occasions, the way to achieve the purpose is to have as many tickets sold (especially the high-price tickets for VIP seats) as the group can muster, and prepare a programme that includes celebrity performers in order to attract more support. Yet the latter is easier said than done. It is one thing to ask for support ‘in cash and in kind’, but another to have people going on stage to perform. What it takes is the organisation’s ability to persuade them, its good standing, and most important of all, whether the funds raised are worthy of its cause.

As expected, the guest performers on this occasion are luminaries of the community. While some are closely related to the HKCO, such as Barbara Fei, who is one of its Senior Music Advisers and a member of its Board of Governors, there are others who have no particular ties with the Orchestra - John Chan Cho-chak, Iven Kam Ho Suk-yee, Emily Mok, Leung Nai-kong and Leung Wu Kwai-man, Moses Cheng Mo-chi, Chiu Ng Yuet-lau, Linda Wong, and Raymond Young. The only common factor for these guests is that they are all willing to go on stage to sing, play instruments, paint, perform recitation, or be the MC. They have consented to perform because, like members of the audience who are willing to buy tickets for the show, they find the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra’s years of efforts in driving Hong Kong music forward is worth endorsing. The Orchestra’s musical achievements grow from something deeper, something that can best be described as ‘the heart and the spirit of Hong Kong’. The same ethos distinguishes this fund-raising concert, on stage and in the auditorium.

One might imagine the performing guests must have worked hard to make this guest appearance. But a look at their credentials would rewrite that impression. There are seasoned amateur (meaning ‘non-professional’) performers like John Chan, whom I already heard singing Cantonese operatic arias in English when I was still in school, and Moses Cheng, whom I heard as a tenor with the choral group, the Pro-Musica Society of Hong Kong, in the 1970’s. Then there are huqin players who have been taking lessons for years under the tutelage of famous virtuosi - Ricky Li under Xu Hui, and Kelvin Wong under the father-and-son duo, Wang Guotong and Ray Wong. Others are aficionados of almost professional standards in music and art, having dedicated years to the art form they love.

To the general public, the only guest performer in question about being ‘up to par’ might be Carlye Tsui, who will be performing as guest conductor of the Orchestra. While it is true that it would be the first time she picks up the baton for a professional orchestra (or even any orchestra for that matter), it is also the first time that she comes into the spotlight as the helmsman behind the HKCO. Tsui was the founding Chairman of the Board of Governors of the orchestra upon its incorporation in 2001. She was re-elected several times over the decade, including the latest appointment in 2009. In other words, she has been the most confidence-inspiring ‘conductor’ of the HKCO behind the scene for years. The only difference on this occasion is that she might need a few pointers from professional conductors before she steps onto the podium, in order to achieve the highest standard she always expects, from her colleagues as well as herself.

All in all, this fund-raising concert is a realization of the core values of the Orchestra as an arts group based in Hong Kong, of Hong Kong and for Hong Kong. Its success underpins the community’s support of the Chinese orchestra they love.