Ma Wai-him's suona concert to showcase unique charm of Chinese opera music through heritage and innovation
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The first half of the concert is themed "remastering the classics". Iconic music works from different Chinese opera genres are selected for the programme, including Peking opera's "Driving the Tiger to the Mountain", Jinbei Bangzi's "Three in Confrontation", the Chaozhou small gong and drum "Song of the Donkey Ride", Ping opera's "Liu Qiao'er" (excerpt), Yu opera's "A Petty Officer Riding in a Sedan Chair" and Cantonese opera's "Romance of the Phoenix Chamber". Playing the suona alongside other traditional musical instruments such as kaqiang and kouxian, the musicians will enable audiences to experience different music styles of opera genres from various regions and enjoy the unique tones of Chinese musical instruments.
The theme of the second half of the concert is "innovative heritage". Ma Wai-him will present five world premieres featuring suona, namely "Snowflower", "The Lights of Time", "Ballad of the Dodder", "Peony Pavilion Fantasy" and "Enter the Stage". The works, which use Chinese opera as creative material and fuse with electronic music, cello and bass, will bring audiences musical experience with a forward art vision by blending traditional and contemporary elements.
Ma Wai-him is currently Principal Suona and a guan virtuoso of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra (HKCO). He completed his master's degree with a double major in suona and guan at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. He learned suona and guan from Guo Yazhi, Law Hang-leung, Liu Hai, Xia Boyan and Lo Wai-leung. He furthered his training in suona under Liu Ying and guan under Hu Zhihou on the Mainland. He has curated and performed as a soloist and host in several HKCO concerts, and also performed crossover works with pop music artists. In recent years, he has been exploring possibilities between tradition and innovation in the aspect of music composition.
"City Hall Virtuosi Series: Suona Concert by Ma Wai-him" will be staged at 8pm on May 31 (Wednesday) at the Theatre of Hong Kong City Hall. Tickets priced at $180 and $220 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 3166 1288. Package discounts will be available for ticket purchases with "City Hall Virtuosi Series: Viola Recital by Sun Yu" to be held on July 31. For discount schemes and programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1475.html.
Ends/Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Issued at HKT 14:46
Issued at HKT 14:46
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