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RECREATION AND THE ARTS
violinist Christian Ferras, cellist Pierre Fournier and guest conductors, Henry Shek, Alun Francis, Michi Inoue and Choo Hoey. The orchestra also presents a platform for talented young soloists and composers from Hong Kong.
More than half the budget for the orchestra's 1978–9 season was met by the Urban Council and the remainder was funded by the government and the private sector.
Indicative of the progress being made by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra was the cutting of its first record Chinese Orchestral Works including The Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto. Sales surpassed all expectations. Another development during 1978 was the secondment abroad of a number of contracted Hong Kong Philharmonic musicians to take advanced studies.
City Hall
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One of the most ambitious cultural centres in Southeast Asia, the City Hall stands at the centre of Hong Kong's artistic life. Opened in 1962, the City Hall's two buildings the High and Low Blocks house a 1,500-seat concert hall; a 470-seat theatre; an intimate new recital hall for 116 people; two exhibition halls; lecture and conference rooms; two restaurants and two bars; the Hong Kong Museum of Art and four floors of libraries.
In 1978 the Urban Council, which administers City Hall, presented 64 overseas artistes and groups, some of whom appeared with the generous assistance of various consulates and cultural organisations, such as the United States International Com- munication Agency, the Goethe Institute and Alliance Française. Among the inter- nationally-acclaimed artistes who performed were cellists Pierre Fournier, Jonathan Williams and Markus Stocker; pianist Gyorgy Sandor; violinists Gil Morgenstern and Christian Ferras; the Eastman Wind Ensemble; the Philarte Quartet; the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra; the Stuttgart Ballet Company; the Cleveland Orchestra; guitarist Julian Byzantine; the Mozarteum Orchestra; the NDR Symphony Orchestra and the Dublin Festival Theatre Company.
The Urban Council takes an active interest in promoting local artistic talent. During the year, the Urban Council promoted Hong Kong artistes in 12 dance presentations; 25 Chinese and Western opera performances; 22 instrumental recitals; 16 vocal recitals and other activities. The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, in its fifth professional season, performed more than 70 concerts under its principal con- ductor and musical director, Hans Günther Mommer. Twenty concerts were given by the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra under the baton of Ng Tai-kong and other guest conductors. The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra was established in 1977. For its second professional season the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, which produces both Chinese and Western plays in Cantonese, signed up 10 full-time actors and a large number of part-time artistes.
In addition to Urban Council presentations, local music groups and soloists gave 174 concerts and Chinese and English amateur drama groups presented 38 perform- ances in the City Hall.
The Second International Film Festival of Hong Kong, sponsored by the Urban Council, attracted more than 27,000 people who attended 113 film shows in the City Hall theatre and lecture hall. Another 28,000 people visited two exhibitions which were part of the event. More than 40 films from 21 countries and 18 films from Hong Kong