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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1982

BACH CHOIR TO VISIT HONG KONG

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THE BACH CHOIR WILL VISIT HONG KONG NEXT WEEK WITH A MESSAGE FROM ITS PRESIDENT, HRH THE PRINCE OF WALES, TO SPREAD THE +GREAT TRADITION OF AMATEUR CHOIRS THAT PERFORM ́TO PRO- FESSIONAL STANDARDS+.

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY MEMBERS OF THE CHOIR, UNDER THE MUSICAL DIRECTORSHIP OF SIR DAVID WILLCOCKS, WILL BE COMING TO GIVE FIVE CONCERTS HERE.

THE FIRST CONTINGENT OF THE CHOIR LEAVES BRITAIN BY CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS ON APRIL 5 FOR A TOUR THAT WILL END ON APRIL 16.

THE CHOIR'S GRAND FINALE WILL BE A PERFORMANCE OF THE BERLIOZ GRANDE MESSE DES MORTS IN WHICH THEY WILL BE JOINED BY MORE THAN 300 MEMBERS OF LOCAL CHOIRS AND FIVE BRASS BANDS, INCLUDING THE BAND OF THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE AND THE BAND OF THE GURKHA REGIMENT.

DURING ALL THEIR CONCERTS, THE CHOIR WILL BE PERFORMING WITH THE HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA LED BY CARL PINI.

IN THIS MESSAGE PRINCE CHARLES SAID THE VISIT OF THE BACH CHOIR TO HONG KONG WILL BRING GREAT PLEASURE TO THOUSANDS AND ALSO ACT AS AN INSPIRATION TO LOCAL CHORAL SOCIETIES. THERE COULD BE NO BETTER AMBASSADOR FOR THE ENGLISH CHORAL TRADITION.

+THE BACH CHOIR OF WHICH I AM PROUD TO BE PRESIDENT IS A LEADER AMONG SUCH CHOIRS AND I HAVE ENJOYED SINGING WITH THEM ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS UNDER THE DISTINGUISHED MUSICAL DIRECTOR, SIR DAVID WILLCOCKS.+

COMMENTING ON THE FORTHCOMING TOUR, SIR DAVID WILLCOCKS SAID +THE BACH CHOIR IS DELIGHTED TO BE PAYING ITS FIRST VISIT TO HONG KONG, AN EXCITING MUSICAL CENTRE WHERE TWO CULTURES MEET. THERE IS NO CHOIR AS LARGE AS THE LONDON BACH CHOIR, SO THE OPPORTUNITY IS BEING TAKEN TO PRESENT MAJOR WORKS SUCH AS BRITTEN'S WAR REQUIM AND BACH'S ST MATTHEW PASSION.+

THE HONG KONG COMMISSIONER IN LONDON, SIR JACK CATER, SAIDI +WE ARE DELIGHTED THAT THE CHOIR WAS CHOSEN TO VISIT HONG KONG AND ENRICH OUR GROWING CULTURAL REPUTATION,+

THE CHOIR'S TOUR OF HONG KONG IS BEING SPONSORED BY CATHAY PACIFIC AIRWAYS, THE LONDON GOLD MARKET AND THE HONG KONG HOTELS ASSOCIATION.

THE TOUR IS BEING PROMOTED BY THE URBAN COUNCIL.

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