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Recognised as one of today's most talented operatic basses, Chinese vocalist Tian Haojiang will stage a one-man music theatre production entitled "Sing Brother Sing" in October.
Three days before his next performance of "La Bohème" in the US, Tian received a call from Beijing with news that his elder brother was seriously ill and on his deathbed. Tian was granted leave of three days to travel back to Beijing and had to return to the States in time for the next opera performance. In the three hours in which he met his brother, they sang together and recalled the past that they shared or wished they had shared. The time they spent together became the inspiration for the semi-autobiographical "Sing Brother Sing".
Tian has chosen some 14 songs for the production, ranging from childhood songs and Russian songs in Chinese translations to revolutionary propaganda songs and operatic arias, for which he will provide his own musical accompaniment on the piano, guitar and accordion. The renowned Lin Zhaohua from the Beijing People's Art Theatre is the production's artistic director. "Sing Brother Sing" was premiered at the National Centre for Performing Arts in Beijing in 2012.
Since his Metropolitan Opera debut in New York during the 1991-92 season, Tian Haojiang, a native of Beijing, has performed in more than 1,300 performances of 40 operatic roles worldwide. In addition to appearing at the Metropolitan Opera for 19 years in 26 operas, Mr Tian has also been highly praised for his appearances at many international theatres such as the Berlin State Opera, Teatro Comunale in Florence, Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, Arena di Verona, Teatro Col㣳n in Buenos Aires and the Canadian Opera.
"Sing Brother Sing by Tian Haojiang" is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. It will be performed in Putonghua with Chinese and English surtitles and will be held at 8pm on October 26 and 27 (Saturday and Sunday) and at 3pm on October 27 (Sunday) at the Studio Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $360 and $480 are now available at URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by telephone credit card booking. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their minders, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (limited tickets for CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis). A maximum discount of 10 per cent is offered for the Great Music booking package. Please refer to the programme leaflet for details.
Other programmes in the Great Music series include "Encore Series - Violin Recital by Kyung-Wha Chung" on October 31 (Thursday) and "Encore Series - Magdalena Kožená and Private Musicke" on November 10 (Sunday). The two concerts will take place at the Concert Hall of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/program_320.html. Ticketing enquiries can be made on 2734 9009 and telephone credit card bookings on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Thursday, August 29, 2013
Issued at HKT 12:39
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