RECREATION, SPORTS AND THE ARTS
Five performing arts organisations the Chung Ying Theatre Company, Hong Kong Ballet, City Contemporary Dance Company, Exploration Theatre and Hong Kong Arts Festival- continued to receive general support grants, totalling about $35.17 million in 1994-95. In addition, $3.97 million was awarded to the Hong Kong Sinfonietta as a seeding grant. Funds will continue to be allocated to arts organisations and artists to support projects.
Performing Groups
Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra completed its 19th professional year. It gave regular concerts at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the City Hall, and in various schools and cultural venues in the New Territories, with an attendance of over 150 000. A tour to Beijing was undertaken in March, followed by performances in Macau's International Festival in October.
The 1993-94 season offered a varied programme of classical and contemporary works. It featured such renowned guest artists as Lynn Harrell, Fou Ts'ong, Cho-Liang Lin, Yuri Simonov, Tang Muhai and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Chorus.
Hong Kong Repertory Theatre
The Hong Kong Repertory Theatre staged seven productions in 108 performances in 1994, attracting 51 300 people.
The highlight of the year was the October production Tales of the Walled City, which was a musical collaboration with the other two performing companies of the Urban Council the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and Hong Kong Dance Company. A total of 10 performances were staged at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre's Grand Theatre. The other six productions were either original works on Chinese themes or translated Western plays.
Apart from these main productions, the company also toured schools and community centres regularly, giving free performances, lecture-demonstrations and workshops. In 1994, the company gave 94 such performances and workshops to 28 330 people.
Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra
The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra is the territory's only professional Chinese music orchestra.
In 1994, the 85-member orchestra celebrated its 17th professional season, giving 97 performances and attracting 80 250 people. Apart from regular concerts, the orchestra presented ensemble concerts, participated in district arts festivals, and organised free outreach performances at community arts centres and schools.
The year was marked by its first joint concert with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Tales of the Walled City production in collaboration with the Hong Kong Dance Company and the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre. The orchestra also gave two performances in Kagoshima, Japan.
Hong Kong Dance Company
The Hong Kong Dance Company is the only professional Chinese dance company in the territory to present Chinese traditional and folk dances and full-length dance dramas.
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