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Reggie Ho

1. The Great Mass

Opera is a treat for ears and eyes, and this is especially true of an extravagant Mozart production that's slated to be a novel experience for Hong Kong audiences. Crossing ballet with classical music, the century-old Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Leipzig Opera Choir and the Leipzig Ballet have come up with 'a sublime neo-classical masterwork with an intelligent dramaturgy that storms the gates of heaven'.

Photo: Andreas H. Birkigt

2. Sylvie Guillem in Akram Khan's Sacred Monsters

The world is getting smaller, cultures are converging and creative sparks are flying. Sylvie Guillem, one of the world's pre-eminent ballerinas, joins Akram Khan, a leading light in contemporary dance, in a dazzling collaboration that blurs the boundaries between classical and contemporary dance. With additional choreography by Lin Hwai-min  of Taiwan's Cloud Gate Dance Theatre.

Photo: Eiichiro Sakata

3. Lost Village

The archaeological discovery of an ancient Chinese village brings to a halt the construction of a Japanese factory. As Chinese and Japanese officials, scholars, archaeologists, students, businessmen and trophy-hunters descend on the controversial site, the local tea house becomes the hub of encounters and conflicts. Written and directed by Oriza Hirata  from Tokyo and Li Liuyi  from Beijing, this unprecedented theatrical collaboration  involves a 13-strong cast of actors from Tokyo's Seinendan Theatre Company and the National Theatre Company of China.

4. The Actors'  Gang - 1984

Sixty years after the appearance of George Orwell's 1984,   the novel's famous words, 'Big Brother is watching you',  continue to haunt our age.

The Actors' Gang, founded in 1981 by Oscar-winning star, director and writer Tim Robbins, is known for its edgy new work and bold renderings of old favourites. The company's artistic strengths are well demonstrated in this reading of Orwell's prophetic novel.

Photo: Jean-Louis Darville

5. My Life as a Dancer - the evolution

Sixteen Hong Kong dancers spanning three generations of performance artists gather on one stage for the first time. The local contemporary dance scene explodes in a spectacular showcase of talents.

Photos: Leo Yu of The Blue Hydrant. Photo of Abby Chan by Joanna Tam

6. Youssou N'Dour

When Peter Gabriel gave a concert in Senegal in the 1980s, Youssou N'Dour  was in the audience. was not aware that he had one of the west's biggest stars in his fan base. Today, the 'singer with a voice so extraordinary that the history of Africa seems locked inside it' is one of the world's biggest stars and a collaborator with the likes of Sting, Paul Simon, Neneh Cherry  and Wyclef Jean.  His invention of modern Senegalese pop music with roots from his country's traditional mbalax  culture has put Senegal on the music map.  N'Dour has not forgotten his roots and his music continues to address social issues in Africa.

Photo: Pierre Rene-Worms

7. All-Star Jazz with the SFJAZZ Collective

Jazz lovers in town are often hard pressed to get their fix, but the Arts Festival serves as their annual respite. One of the most notable programmes for them this year is a performance by the SFJAZZ Collective, which features eight of the finest, most in-demand performer-composers  in jazz today. The ensemble never repeats itself, and a different programme of new pieces and fresh arrangements is created every year. In their debut Hong Kong concert, the collective will perform the music of legendary jazz pianist and bebop pioneer Thelonious Monk, plus original material written by its eight members.

Photo: Drew Altizer

8. Yuri Simonov and the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra

The Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra with music director Yuri Simonov  will open the 35th Hong Kong Arts Festival with three nights of the best Russian classics selected from its celebrated repertoire. They will be joined by three outstanding soloists, Russian pianist Konstantin Lifschitz, violinist Boris Belkin and young Chinese pianist Shen Wenyu.

9. The Hong Kong Children's Choir  - Sing Out

Starting with merely 39 members in 1969, The Hong Kong Children's Choir has grown to be the biggest choir in the world with more than 5,000 members. It is the cradle of the city's young singing talent, and it has performed in nearly 60 cities in the world. For the 35th Hong Kong Arts Festival, it will pay tribute to several local composers with performances of musical pieces familiar to those who grew up in the city, in addition to a wide range of choral pieces ranging from the sacred to the secular.

10. Propeller - The Taming  of the Shrew / Twelfth Night

With the belief that Shakespeare's plays should be friendly to all, theatre group Propeller's founder has brought to the world fresh, dynamic productions of the legendary writer's works. For the first time, the troupe is leaving the idyllic English countryside where it is based for bustling Hong Kong. For its debut in the city, Propeller performs  The Taming of the Shrew and Twelfth Night (What You Will). The group's previous productions have enjoyed successful seasons in London's West End and in New York.

Photo: Philip Tull



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