RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
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Regional Council Presentations
The Regional Council presented a diverse programme of music, opera, drama, dance, film shows and other performing arts to cater to the tastes of local residents and to build up new audiences.
In presenting established artists of high standing and appeal, as well as novel programmes, the council aims to broaden the horizons of concert-goers. In 1991, overseas artists appearing under the council's auspices included French pianist Jean-Marc Luisada, Polish pianist Kry Jablonski, the Jeune Ballet de France, the Regensburger Domspatzen Boys' Choir from Germany, the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra with the Prague Choir, as well as Chinese instrumental music virtuosi including maestros Liu Dehai, Min Huifen and Gong Yi.
To add to the cultural appeal of the 1991 Hong Kong Arts Festival programme, the Regional Council combined with the festival organisers to presenting international performers such as Fou Ts'ong with the Sinfonia Varsovia from Poland, the Cumbre Flamenca from Spain, the Flying Karamazov Brothers from the United States, and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.
The year also saw enhanced co-operation between the Regional Council and the Urban Council. Performances given by the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra at the Regional Council's town halls received popular acclaim. The two councils also exchanged artist groups in year-round programmes. The Canadian mime group Theatre Beyond Words and the Lufeng Shadow Puppet Troupe from Guangdong, for instance, were featured in the summer festivals of the Regional and Urban Councils.
Local professional companies were high on the list of Regional Council presentations. For the first time, the council commissioned the Hong Kong Ballet to produce a full-length ballet, The Tales of Hoffmann. Other artists performing for Regional Council audiences included the Chor Fung Ming Opera Troupe, Chung Ying Theatre Company, City Contemporary Dance Company and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
The council maintains close links with district arts organisations. During the year, the New Territories District Children's Choir participated in the International Children's Arts Festival; the Cultural and Educational Association of New Towns presented a number of dance-dramas for children and a Chinese dance-drama The Fan of Peach Blossoms for the grown-ups.
In 1991, the number of programmes presented by the council was 563, reaching a total audience of 389 981.
International Children's Arts Festival
The International Children's Arts Festival, into its second year in 1991, is an annual event organised by the Regional Council to bring cultural activities to young audiences. Highlights of the 1991 festival included performances by the Regensburger Domspatzen Junior Boys' Choir from Germany, the Jeune Ballet de France, and the Dance and Drama Theatre Sun Ergos from Canada. Contributions by local artists included Hong Kong Symphony Orchestra's all time favourite of young people, Peter and the Wolf, as well as the Animal Carnival, a Family Concert by Yip's Children's Choir, and drama productions Circus Tsim Tsim by Anonymity Dramatic Club and Teen Tribes by Sha Tin Theatre Company. In total, the festival featured 39 stage performances, 16 film shows, an