ENG-1987 — Page 320

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RECREATION AND THE ARTS

Hong Kong Repertory Theatre Founded by the Urban Council in 1977, the 24-member Hong Kong Repertory Theatre continued to gain strong support from local audiences. Under its Artistic Director, Dr Joanna Chan, the company offered a seasonal repertoire of four original plays by local playwrights, one Western comedy and one classical work adapted from a Chinese novel. Six major productions and four experimental small productions were staged, all in Cantonese. For a second time, the Repertory Theatre was invited to perform in Guangzhou in November with commercial sponsorship.

The company gave altogether 187 performances in the year, attracting 58 469 people, including free performances at schools and district community centres. It also organised the annual Drama Festival in July and August.

Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra

Founded by the Urban Council in 1977, the 85-strong Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra has been expanding its repertoire by commissioning local and overseas composers to undertake compositions and arrangements. In 1987, the orchestra gave 92 performances under the baton of its Music Director, Mr Kuan Nai-chung, Assistant Music Director, Dr Solomon Bard as well as local and overseas guest conductors, attracting 77 700 people.

Apart from regular concerts featuring the full orchestra at the City Hall, the group also presented ensemble concerts and free performances at civic centres, district community centres and schools. At the invitation of the Chinese Ministry of Culture, the orchestra participated in the First China Arts Festival held in Beijing in September. Its performance in the Chinese capital won high acclaim. To commemorate its 10th anniversary, the orchestra presented in October a special concert of works by local composers featuring 10 local conductors and soloists.

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 and now under the artistic directorship of Ms Shu Qiao, the 35-member company presented six major productions in 22 performances with admission charges. Regular performances at schools and community centres were free of charge, serving educational and audience building purposes. The total attendance was 52 748. In placing emphasis on dance drama, the company also provided opportunities for young choreographers to display their talents.

Hong Kong Arts Festival

The Hong Kong Arts Festival - now in its 15th year - brings to the local community an impressive array of talent from Hong Kong itself, as well as from different parts of the world. This year, in the four week in which it was held, it presented 115 performances to enthusiastic audiences.

Presentations of Wagner's opera The Flying Dutchman and the London Festival Ballet's Romeo and Juliet in the Lyric Theatre of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts were played to full houses.

Musical programmes of the festival included a variety of international artists from both Asian and Western countries, the London Gabrielli Brass, the Shanghai Folk Music Ensemble, the Shanghai Peking Opera Troupe, the Lindsay String Quartet, the Carlos Bonell Ensemble, British pianist Richard Rodney Bennett and organists Jane Parker-Smith