Gala concert a milestone in the arts for the city

Tonight sees a milestone reached in the development of western-style opera in Hong Kong when Opera Hong Kong (OHK) hosts an inaugural fund-raising gala concert, Love For Hong Kong, For Opera, at the Lyric Theatre of the Hong Kong Academy For Performing Arts. OHK, formally launched in July this year, is the city's first opera company. The two-hour event features 100 performers, including nine high-profile opera singers from Hong Kong, Germany, Austria, the United States and Spain. They will be performing with the Orchestra International of Italy, accompanied by the chorus of the Opera Society of Hong Kong. Warren Mok, Hong Kong's own international tenor and OHK founder, will lead tonight's performance. Gracing the stage with him tonight are Austrian baritones, brothers Paul Armin Edelmann and Peter Edelmann, and Mark Thomsen, one of America's leading tenors. The sopranos are Lea Woods Friedman, from Hawaii, Meagan Miller, hailed by The New York Times for her 'gorgeous and lively tone', and Alexandra Sapan, a native of New York. Elizabeth Batton is the mezzo-soprano. The basses singing tonight are Brian Jauhiainen, who has performed in Europe, America and the Beijing Music Festival, and Victor von Halem, an experienced and dynamic singer who began his career performing with the late Herbert von Karajan. The conductor is Francesc Bonnin, assistant to the music director of the Fundacio Teatre Principal de Palma in Spain. He has conducted many renowned artists, including Ivo Vinco, Carlos Chausson and Matteo Manuguerra. Mr Mok says tonight's concert is the non-profit opera company's first attempt to raise funds. 'We are starting from ground zero,' he says. 'We are a privately-owned company and haven't got a dollar from the government.' OHK hopes to secure financial backing from the government, the commercial sector, opera fans and private individuals who care about the arts in Hong Kong. It also hopes to have its own opera house in the future. OHK is keen to share the responsibility for bringing opera to Hong Kong with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Mr Mok says the department has done its best, but more effort is required for the next level of development. Tonight's concert is also a networking opportunity. Dozens of VIP guests have purchased 'reserve A' tickets at $5,000 each, which entitles them to attend an exclusive pre-show cocktail party. 'At the party we will introduce our company and its plans to the guests, and we would also like to exchange ideas with them,' Mr Mok says. 'Hopefully, they will become our future sponsors.' General public tickets start at $280 with price bands of $480, $680, $1,200, and $3,000 for seats near the VIP area. At the time of going to press, only a limited number of $1,200 and $680 seats were available, and the rest had sold out. The concert is expected to raise about $1 million for the OHK. Besides helping to bring more opera concerts to Hong Kong, this seed money will help realise OHK's goal to develop the public's appreciation of opera. 'We will do outreach programmes, touring schools and giving mini-opera concerts,' says Mr Mok, emphasising that opera is not an exclusive art. This point will be proven at the inauguration concert, which comprises pieces for opera aficionados and novices alike. 'There are many classic opera tunes ... and everyone has them in their subconscious, such as the melodies from Carmen. It's what I would call opera pop. Everyone can enjoy it,' he says. Mr Mok had been long considering launching OHK, but it was only an idea until he attended a dinner with art enthusiasts and friends, including Paddy Lui Wai-yu, managing director of Stanford Hotels International and committee member of the Hong Kong Arts Development Council. 'We brought up the subject and everybody just voiced support,' Mr Mok says. Many of these supporters later became directors of the board, contributing both money and time to get the ball rolling. OHK is chaired by Moses Cheng Mo-chi, solicitor and chairman of the Football Betting and Lotteries Commission, with Kan Fook-yee, barrister and member of various public service boards, the vice-chairman. Others on the board are also public figures, and there is a long list of advisers and founding members. Mr Mok's reputation and connections have helped to attract supporters, as well as getting tonight's concert prepared in just two months. Mr Mok is also artistic director of this year's Macau International Music Festival. He was able to persuade many of tonight's performers to come to Hong Kong for the concert.