ENG-1986 — Page 313

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RECREATION AND THE ARTS

contemporary works from China and overseas, and original pieces by local playwrights. Seven major productions and four small-scale or workshop-style productions were staged,

all in Cantonese.

The company also gave regular, free performances at schools and district community centres. Its 146 performances attracted 65 100 persons. It also organised the annual Drama Festival in July and August.

Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra

The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra is a professional Chinese music orchestra formed by the Urban Council in 1977. It has been introducing new musical works by commissioning local and overseas composers to undertake compositions and arrangements. The orchestra's 74 performances under the baton of its new Music Director, Mr Kuan Nai-chung, its Assistant Music Director and local and overseas guest conductors drew audiences totalling 97 300 during the year. Apart from the regular concerts at the City Hall, the orchestra gave free concerts at various other civic centres, as well as at schools and district community halls.

During the year, the orchestra also staged its first popular concert series at the Hong Kong Coliseum in the Festival of Asian Arts and had its first record made for release in 1987.

Hong Kong Dance Company

The Hong Kong Dance Company is the only professional dance company in Hong Kong to present traditional and folk Chinese dances and new dance dramas choreographed on Chinese and Hong Kong themes. Founded by the Urban Council in 1981, it continued to gain popularity with its attractive and innovative dance programmes staged regularly in both the council's venues and community halls. In 1986, the company gave 64 perform- ances, some of which were free performances at schools and district arts festivals. The total attendance was 43 650. A highlight was the premiere of a new dance drama Yue Fei choreographed by Ms Shu Qiao, the company's new Artistic Director, and Mr Ying Eding, which was adapted from the story of the famous hero of the Song Dynasty.

Hong Kong Arts Festival

The Hong Kong Arts Festival marked the fourteenth year with more than 120 performances in the four-week programme, which once again attracted 95 per cent capacity audiences.

One of the highlights of the 1986 Hong Kong Arts Festival was the appearance of Glyndebourne Festival Opera which was making its first visit to Asia. It was presented by the Academy for Performing Arts for the official opening of its superb new Lyric Theatre. Another major event was the largest and most important sculpture exhibition ever mounted anywhere in Asia, The Art of Henry Moore containing more than 250 pieces of his work. The extensive concert programme included the Minnesota Orchestra conducted by Sir Neville Marriner, the Vienna Chamber Orchestra, the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, New London Consort, the Medici String Quartet, Albert Bolliger, the Brass Band, Cyprien Katsaris, Helene Delavault, and pipa master Liu Dehai. The variety of dance performances included Balletap USA, the Scottish Ballet, the Desrosiers Dance Theatre and City Contemporary Dance Company, while drama presen- tations were given by the Compass Theatre, Theatre Sans Fil, the Chinese Youth Arts Theatre (Beijing) and Hong Kong's own Repertory Theatre and Chung Ying Theatre Company.

The festival is presented in association with the Council for the Performing Arts, the Urban Council and the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club.