China News Service, Hong Kong, March 25 (Reporter Dai Xiaolu) The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra's "Music Travel in China - Dialogue between Chime Bells and Organs" concert was held in Hong Kong on the evening of the 23rd. It recently obtained the qualification for Hong Kong's "High-end Talent Pass Program" The famous former National Basketball Association (NBA) player Stephon Marbury also came to watch.
Marbury (right), a famous player who has obtained Hong Kong's "High Talent" qualification, attended the performance of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. Photo courtesy of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra
Before the performance, Marbury met and communicated with the members of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, Professor Yan Huichang, artistic director and lifelong conductor, and took a closer look at the unique chimes. Marbury said that this was his first time to enjoy a performance by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra. "I saw a wonderful performance from the heart by the conductor, performers and a group of Sheng students. It really opened my eyes. This is a classic, Heart-warming concert.”
At the concert, Yan Huichang joined the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra's guest concertmaster Zhang Chongxue, the internationally renowned organist Shen Yuan, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra's sheng principal Chen Yiwei and other members of the ensemble. The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra's European tour in 2020 was very popular with local music fans. "Reed", composed by Wang Yiyu, also performed "Dreamland", a work commissioned by the orchestra from Hong Kong composer Ng Cheuk-yin, and "Second Symphony" composed by Kwan Nai-chung for a large Chinese orchestra and organ, leading the audience into the "Reed" "Conversation with "Bell".
Yan Huichang said that both the East and the West have a musical instrument known as the "sound of the king", namely the chimes in the East and the pipe organ in the West. This performance hopes to showcase the history of cultural exchanges between China and the West, while also demonstrating Hong Kong's special status as a gathering of Chinese and Western cultures.
It is worth noting that 86 sheng players from Hong Kong and Mainland China were invited to participate in this performance, and the youngest performer was only 7 years old. Yan Huichang said that he was very pleased to see so many young people participating in the performance. "There are successors to Chinese culture!" (End)