Sumptuous musical feast at top-class festival
I disagree with Michael McCaffrey's description of this year's Hong Kong Arts Festival as being 'lacklustre' (Sunday Morning Post, March 24).
I found it to be one of the most exciting Arts Festivals in recent years, especially on the musical front. The two Bolshoi operas, Boris Godunov and The Love for Three Oranges, were not only visually stunning productions, they also reached a lofty artistic level. There were also some very satisfying concerts given by the Leipzig Gewandhaus and the NHK Symphony orchestras.
Of the five theatre and dance productions mentioned by Mr McCaffrey, I only watched one, the ballet Raise the Red Lantern, which I agree was glamorous but somewhat unengaging. However, your correspondent appears to have missed the brilliant and provocative Roadmetal Sweetbread and Between Life and Death.
Like Mr McCaffrey, I would thank the Arts Festival Society for bringing us such eye-opening productions from around the world every year. Many, if not all, do reach a very high standard.
CALVIN LEE
North Point
I refer to the letter from Trieu Hue-binh headlined 'Rude latecomers ruined night at the opera' (Sunday Morning Post, March 17), regarding a performance by the China National Beijing Opera Theatre, at the City Hall, on March 3.
Admission arrangements are not the same for all performances. For orchestral concerts, drama, operas and dance performances, latecomers will only be admitted at a convenient break. With Chinese Opera, in line with traditional culture, the normal practice is to admit people during the performance. The venue management have discussions with the presenter prior to a performance to decide on the appropriate arrangement.
For the March 3 event, the presenter, the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society, decided to stick with the traditional practice.
MAGGIE PANG
for Director of Leisure and Cultural Services
