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The Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra (HKYSO) of the Music Office under the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will perform its annual concert next month. The concert will feature orchestral classics and the theme song from director Hayao Miyazaki's animated feature film "Laputa: Castle in the Sky", promising a wonderful musical journey for the audience.
The HKYSO Annual Concert, titled "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra", will be held at 3pm on December 8 (Sunday) at the Concert Hall of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Under the batons of conductors Ng Ka-ming, Dr Joseph Kam and Pak Wing-heng, about 200 members of the HKYSO and other young musicians will perform in the concert.
The programme will include Franz Schubert's "Symphony No. 3 in D major", consisting of four elegant and delightful pieces, as well as Benjamin Britten's "The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra", which was originally commissioned for the educational documentary film "Instruments of the Orchestra" in 1946 for the UK Government, demonstrating the full repertoire of the various sections of the orchestra.
Other selections include Gabriel Fauré's elegant "Pavane, Op.50", which originates from a court dance of the 16th century in Europe and Edward Elgar's "Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1, Op. 39," which was inspired by Shakespeare's "Othello", and highlights the string and wind sections.
The Island Youth Strings, the Kowloon Youth Strings and the New Territories Youth Strings will guest-perform Joe Hisaishi's lovely melody "Laputa: Castle in the Sky", Henry Purcell's "Abdelazer Suite - Rondeau" and Tchaikovsky's beautiful "Serenade for Strings, Op.48 - Waltz".
Since its establishment in 1978, the HKYSO has provided advanced-level orchestral training for young musicians, and many orchestra members have gone on to become eminent professionals. The orchestra has collaborated with many internationally acclaimed conductors and soloists. In May 2010, the HKYSO was invited by UNICEF to perform a joint concert with renowned pianist Lang Lang. In June 2013, the HKYSO was also invited to perform a charity TV show for Caritas Hong Kong with famed pianist Colleen Lee and various pop singers.
The HKYSO has also played the role of music ambassador for Hong Kong and has participated in concert tours to France, Israel, Cyprus, the UK, Australia, the US, Singapore and the Mainland to promote cultural exchange. In October 2010, the HKYSO performed during Hong Kong Week at the World Expo 2010 Shanghai China, and participated in exchange programmes with young musicians in Shanghai.
Tickets priced at $80, $60 and $40 for the concert are now available at URBTIX. Half-price concessions are available for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their minders, and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Credit card telephone bookings can be made at 2111 5999 and Internet bookings can be made at www.urbtix.hk.
For programme enquiries, please call 2796 1003 or 2582 5311 or visit the website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/MusicOffice/en/events_2013_10_22.php.
Ends/Tuesday, November 19, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:36
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