************************************************************
Acclaimed guzheng virtuoso Rao Ningxin will stage two recitals for the delight of Hakka music lovers in March. Details are as follows:
March 5 (Saturday), 8pm
Theatre, Yau Ma Tei Theatre
Tickets: $160 and $240
March 6 (Sunday), 7.30pm
Xiang Hai Xuan Multi-purpose Hall, Nan Lian Garden
Tickets: $240 (free seating)
Programme: "Green Water of Lake Deng", "Song of the West Chamber", "Gulls on the Water", "Yu-Lian-Huan", "Night Rain on Plantain-framed Windows", "The Lotus Rising from the Water" and "Crying at the Mountain". "The Joyful Spring", "An Ingot of Gold", "To Arrange Flowers in Disorder" and "The Spirit of Du Yu" will only be performed in the first concert. "North to the Palace", "The Placid Lake" and "The Song of Chu's Defeat" will only be performed in the second concert.
For these concerts, Rao Ningxin and his son Rao Shuhang will perform on the guzheng solo, and will also be accompanied by Zhang Fan (xiao), Zheng Jianqin (touxian/gaohu) (March 5 only) and Xie Shengyi (ruan) (March 5 only).
Rao Ningxin is a guzheng educator and performer as well as an associate professor of the Department of Chinese Music of Xinghai Conservatory of Music and a supervisor on its Master's Degree programme in music. He is also the Vice Chairman of the Guzheng Society of the Chinese Musicians Association and consultant for the Cantonese Han Music Research Society of Dapu County. Rao was born into a family of Han musicians. His grandfather Rao Peijiu and his father Rao Congju were both Han music virtuosi. Rao has now been committed to the performance, education, compilation and promotion of guzheng music for a number of decades. His tonality is regarded by critics as rich and rhythmatic, and his repertoire comprises both classic and popular pieces. His live performances and teaching are known for their ingenuity. The Guzheng Society of the Chinese Musicians Association presented Rao with the Award of Outstanding Accomplishment in Chinese Guzheng Art in 2013.
Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, "Hakka Guzheng Concert by Rao Ningxin" is one of the attractions of the Lingnan Music Series and Nan Lian Garden Music Series. Tickets are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/program_1047.html .
A demonstration talk entitled "Hakka Han Music and Schools of Guzheng" (in Cantonese) will be held at 2.30pm on March 6 (Sunday) at the Xiang Hai Xuan Multi-purpose Hall of Nan Lian Garden. The speakers will be Rao Ningxin and Rao Shuhang. Admission is free with limited seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ends/Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Issued at HKT 10:31
NNNN
