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SCMP Reporter

Canto-pop singer Anthony Wong Yiu-ming will join forces with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra

(HKPO)  to give a electrifying performance.

HKPO vs Anthony Wong LIVE - Bauhinian Rhapsody will be staged at the Hong Kong Coliseum from March 10 to 12.

The concerts are part of the HKPO's annual  performances which combine Canto-pop with classical music.

Past collaborations have featured Sally Yeh, Sandy Lam Yik-lin, Jacky Cheung Hok-yau, Alan Tam Wing-lun and Hacken Lee Hak-kan.

But this will be the first time the orchestra is combining classical with electronic music.

Wong, the front man of electronic duo Tat Ming Pair, said the concerts will be something new for him as well as the orchestra.

'It will be a big challenge for everyone. We had our first rehearsal earlier this month.

The conductor had to follow the pulse generated by the computer, which was very different from what an orchestra usually plays,' said Wong at a press conference to announce the concerts last week.

'Since it's something new, we started rehearsals earlier.'

The HKPO will be led by its chorus master, Australian conductor Simon Kenway, one of the music directors for Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge.

Renowned local musicians - Leung Kei-cheuk (aka Gaybird) and Chiu Tsang-hei - are the music producer and music director, respectively.

Mathias Woo Yan-wai, director of theatre group Zuni Icosahedron, will be in charge of the visual effects.

Wong said the concerts will feature about 20 songs, including his rearranged works.

There will also be  a tribute to legendary Canto-pop composer Joseph Koo Ka-fai. The orchestra and Wong will play re-arranged versions of Koo's  songs. Other songs include movie theme tracks, such as those from James Bond films.

'The songs had to be re-arranged to create more opportunities for the orchestra to play. Singing with an orchestra of 80-plus professional musicians is not easy, and I can already feel the pressure,' said Wong, who is regarded as the pioneer of electronic music in Hong Kong. 'Another challenge is to transform light Canto-pop into more  glamorous orchestra music. Luckily we have Gaybird, who has had classical music training at the Academy for Performing Arts.

'I am really glad the HKPO is giving me the chance to play around with music.'

Tickets at $400, $200 and $100 are available from Urbtix. For reservations, call 2734 9009 or 2111 5999.  For programme details, visit www.hkpo.com.



Concerts a mix of electronic and classical