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Hong Kong Arts Festival 2015

Hong Kong Arts Festival 2015
The 43rd Hong Kong Arts Festival runs from February 27 to March 29, 2015. Over 34 days, 49 international and local ensembles and solo artists will stage 137 performances of music, opera, drama and dance at venues across the city. Read interviews and profiles of some of the leading performers, event previews and reviews.
A scene from The Bolshoi's production of Marco Spada. Photo: Bolshoi Theatre
Performing arts in Hong Kong

What to watch from Bolshoi Theatre’s free YouTube screenings

Free live-stream recordings from Russian theatre amid coronavirus shutdown that arts fans shouldn’t miss include The Tsar’s Bride, with an all-star cast of dancers, and Boris Godunov. UK’s National Theatre Live to also offer free screenings.

Classical music

Concert review: Drama Queens - a refined concert of baroque arias

Classical music

Arts festival seeks funds for 'world-class' event next year

Review: Flames of Paris shows Bolshoi Ballet at its flamboyant best

The Bolshoi Ballet made a triumphant return to Hong Kong with Flames of Paris, which combines spectacular dancing with dramatic power. 

Ekaterina Krysanova excelled as Jeanne in "Flames of Paris". Photo: Elena Fetisova/Bolshoi

Review: Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic

Vivid rhythms, colourful orchestration and shaping the dramatic arc of the music are some of the things Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic do so well together, as they showed in performing John Adams' City Noir and Dvorak's Symphony No 9 From the New World.

Dudamel's Mahler 6 like seeing the world with a new pair of glasses

Playing Mahler’s Symphony No 6 is like riding a shaggy monster, but conductor Gustavo Dudamel guided the magnificent Los Angeles Philharmonic through the lurching ups and downs with passion and precision. The modest young maestro gave no hint of showing off, but revealed his mastery of the music by his convincing pacing, expressive details and clarity of structure.

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Dance review: Dutch National Ballet's Cinderella

The Dutch National Ballet returned to the Hong Kong Arts Festival with a much-anticipated production of Cinderella created in 2012 by leading international choreographer Christopher Wheeldon. Visually strong, the work has some original ideas, striking moments and an enchanting Cinderella from Anna Tsygankova, but suffers from being over-plotted and under-choreographed. It's a better show than it is a ballet.

A scene from Cinderella, a visually strong production with some original ideas and striking moments. Photo: Angela Sterling
Hong Kong gigs

Cassandra Wilson, Mitch Frohman and Wayne Krantz Trio play Hong Kong

Circus: Smashed - Gandini Juggling

Juggler Sean Gandini estimates that 40,000 apples have so far been used during the performances of Smashed. The hour-long juggling spectacle, presented as part of the Hong Kong Arts Festival, requires 80 apples of the right colour and diameter for each of its performances.

Stage version of Pride and Prejudice still speaks to modern audiences

A scene from Gate Theatre's Pride and Prejudice.

The Gate Theatre stages Pride and Prejudice in Hong Kong

It is a universally acknowledged truth that a public-domain novel in possession of a larger following must be in want of an adaptation. The Gate Theatre of Dublin first staged Pride and Prejudice in 1994 — before Colin Firth and his wet Darcy shirt changed the equation in a now-classic BBC miniseries — and the company's take on Jane Austen's 1813 book has stayed popular since.

Ladies-in-waiting: (from left) Aoibhin Garrihy, Lorna Quinn, Rachel Gleeson, Kerrie O’Sullivan and Genevieve Hulme Beaman in Pride and Prejudice.

A fascinating and gorgeously sung journey through early opera

Brilliant young virtuosos from Le Jardin des Voix Academy were ably accompanied by the Orchestra of Les Arts Florissants on a journey through 200 years of early opera in this Hong Kong Arts Festival concert.

Sshhh! Dos and don'ts for concert-goers in Hong Kong (and everywhere)

Chinese Orchestra shrugs off controversy with a stirring performance

The city’s flagship ensemble showed no sign of a recent mutiny as it unleashed a powerful sound in the absence of three backbone players in a performance for the Hong Kong Arts Festival.

The Chinese Orchestra in full flow on Saturday. Photo: Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra

Review: The Amahs' disjointed storytelling lets down this marathon tearjerker

In this new Hong Kong Arts Festival commission the overall storytelling of the drama is weak, even disjointed at times

The Amahs tells the story of three housemaids (also called ma jeh in Cantonese) who became “sworn sisters” after a chance meeting in 1953. Photo: Handout
Classical music

Jeers and anger after clapping spoils performance of world-class orchestra in Hong Kong

The jeering and finger-pointing familiar to followers of the city's political scene infiltrated its musical shrine when audience members started clapping at the wrong moment.

'Reality theatre' Fight Night - a democracy game show

'Fight Night', a piece of 'reality theatre' with a game show format, aims to stimulate audiences to think about elections, democracy and political manipulation.

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Interview: actress Lisa Dwan on performing Samuel Beckett monologue 'Not I'

Theatre-goers will see actress Lisa Dwan pay more than lip service to Samuel Beckett monologue at the Hong Kong Arts Festival, writes Victoria Finlay.

Actress Lisa Dwan has compared the performance to running a marathon. Photo: Faye Thomas

The Amahs explores Hong Kong's 'Lion Rock spirit'

Hong Kong Arts Festival production The Amahs follows the lives of three women migrants to the city from rural China, and encapsulates Hong Kong's can-do spirit.

Seven arts festival shows sold out, and several others almost full

How conductor Gustavo Dudamel communicates his love of music to audiences

Conductor Gustavo Dudamel communicates his love of music to the audience and his orchestra.

Baton master: Gustavo Dudamel in action.

Jazz fans, mark your calendars for some top events in 2015 in Hong Kong

Bobby McFerrin. Photo: Corbis

White Collar | Sponsorship goal for Hong Kong Arts Festival a tall order amid market uncertainty

Corporate sponsorship of the city's biggest annual arts event has doubled in the past 10 years. While increased support from companies reflects a greater willingness to promote arts, the state of the economy remains a factor in corporate largesse.

Hong Kong Arts Festival promises stellar line-up of performances

The city's largest arts event has pledged to continue its diverse programming with local and international artists as it waits to hear whether government funding will be renewed.

Hong Kong arts festival seeks more funding for future growth

Hong Kong will host its largest contingent yet from Russia's Bolshoi opera and ballet in next year's arts festival, but organisers hope to do more - if the government will increase funding.

The 2015 Hong Kong Arts festival will feature the largest contingent from Russia's Bolshoi opera and ballet yet to visit the city. Photo: AFP
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