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Dear Friends, Happy year of the rat! It was Hans Christian Andersen who once said, "Most of the people who will walk after me will be children." Indeed, on 26 January many children with their mums and dads in tow made their way to the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall for some cultural indulgence. Literature and classical music filled the hall: for wriggle pots there were dot-to-dots, and a guest diver in flippers turned up on stage and gave out fish balls! You can read the South China Morning Post review of the concert by clicking here. The event was particularly memorable for me as it was also the first time Harry, my younger son who just turned three, attended a concert. Naturally I wish I could be seated next to my two sons in the audience but this is always the downside to being on stage! So it was with added excitement that we sat together at home and listened back to the concert on RTHK Radio 4. You can also do the same by simply clicking here. It was especially interesting to observe my sons and their reaction to the music and narration this time as there was no orchestra to “watch”. To my surprise they sat there for more than an hour listening intently to the music. Lior Navok’s storm scene in the Little Mermaid was so gripping that Harry was worried that the prince was really going to drown. Matthew Hale’s captivating rendition of Juanita the Spanish Lobster, however, stole the show. Sixteen minutes of fabulous singing and hilarious story-telling accompanied by imaginative orchestration (violins strumming like Spanish guitars) left us wanting more!! The good news is that we will be hearing more of Matthew Hale who will be narrating our performance of the “Magic Jungle” during the Hong Kong International Arts Carnival in July. Music for young people was very much our focus during the month of January. Prior to the Little Mermaid concert I had the privilege of visiting the Ying Yip Primary School at Tin Shui Wai. Besides getting to know the children and hearing their music performances I was also treated to a tour of the area which included a visit to the newly opened Wetland Park. On a subsequent visit my CCOHK colleagues joined me in preparing an educational concert on woodwind instruments at the school. Our meaningful exchange was documented by RTHK on the television programme "4D Cultural Magazine" which you can view by clicking here. The programme features an interview in Cantonese and includes an overview of my work with the orchestra. The generosity of several community-orientated companies also made it possible for these students from Tin Shui Wai, aged between eight and twelve, to come and enjoy our Little Mermaid concert. This was the children’s first ever visit to the Hong Kong City Hall to attend a concert. Do take a look at their comments and feedback in the Sounding Board section of this newsletter. The theme of young people continues in the month of April. Together with the Consulate General of Israel in Hong Kong we are delighted to present the Hong Kong debut of the internationally renowned Gurfinkel Clarinet Duo. The duo comprises fifteen-year-old brother twins born to a family of esteemed clarinet players in Israel (their father Michael Gurfinkel is the principal clarinettist of the Israel Symphony Orchestra). It is rare to see twins launch into professional careers as WOODWIND players while still studying at school. I can think of no other example except Julian Bliss who does not have a twin brother!! Be sure not to miss the Gurfinkel Clarinet Duo! Their impressive resume includes performances both in Israel and abroad with names such as Yuri Bashmet, Vladimir Spivakov and Zubin Mehta. Prior to their Hong Kong concert they are touring the USA as soloists with the Israel Chamber Orchestra. Hong Kong audiences can enjoy their performance in the “Twins on Winds” concert on 3 April at the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall. A special educational performance for children of Tin Shui Wai and Yuen Long schools will also be held at Yuen Long Theatre with the support of the Hongkong Bank Foundation. One of the works the Duo will play in Hong Kong is Mendelssohn’s Concert Piece No. 1 for two clarinets. To hear a snippet of them performing this work with the Moscow Virtuosi Chamber Orchestra conducted by Spivakov simply click here. See you at the "Twins on Winds" concert on 3 April! Leanne Nicholls |
Director’s Notes