ENG-1982 — Page 294

RECREATION AND THE ARTS

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Yuen Long. It accompanied the Bach Choir from London and artistes from the New York Metropolitan Opera for concerts presented by the Urban Council, and participated in an opera production. In addition, many distinguished guest artistes played with the orchestra during the year.

The orchestra made its first commercial digital recording in January, and sales during the year exceeded 10 000 copies. In the summer, a contract was signed with a recording company to make six recordings a year over the next two years for world-wide distribution.

Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra

Formed by the Urban Council in 1977, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra has contributed extensively to the popularity of Chinese music. It has also achieved significant success in combining Western orchestral works with Chinese music and traditional Chinese musical instruments. It expanded its full-time membership from 62 to 67 in 1982 and plans to replace all part-time musicians with full-time players.

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During the year, the orchestra gave 55 concerts which were attended by 67 660 people; it represented Hong Kong at the Commonwealth Arts Festival in Brisbane, Australia, in September; and several overseas soloists and guest conductors performed with the orchestra.

Hong Kong Repertory Theatre

During the year, the Hong Kong Repertory Theatre, which became a professional company with the Urban Council's sponsorship in 1977, gained increasing popularity in its Cantonese productions. Full-house attendances were recorded for the theatre's performances at the City Hall which attracted a total of 40 983 people to the nine productions staged. The theatre employs 16 full-time actors, a number of freelance artistes and production staff.

Chung Ying Theatre Company

The Chung Ying Theatre Company is a professional, full-time company comprising Hong Kong actors and technical staff joined during the season by actors and production staff from the United Kingdom. The company's main activities involve public performances and an extensive schools' programme performed at venues ranging from the City Hall, the Arts Centre and Tsuen Wan Town Hall to schools and public areas.

Several plays in English and Cantonese were presented during the year including a Greek classic and an adaptation of a modern German play. The company made two schools' tours with productions in English and Cantonese and, in December, performed medieval mystery plays in a number of churches in Kowloon and Hong Kong.

Hong Kong Dance Company

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Formed by the Urban Council in 1981 to promote the art of traditional Chinese dance and to present newly choreographed work on Chinese historical themes, the Hong Kong Dance Company presented its first production a full-length dance drama - in January. During the year, a performance by the company was featured as the opening programme of the seventh Festival of Asian Arts and the company represented Hong Kong at the Commonwealth Arts Festival in Brisbane. A total of 36 performances was given during

year, attended by 34 392 people.

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Hong Kong Academy of Ballet

Consisting of Hong Kong's first professional ballet company and vocational ballet school, the Hong Kong Academy of Ballet is now in its fourth year of operation. Although the