ENG-2008 — Page 450

374 | Recreation, Sport and the Arts

performances of the company's 10-day tour of Shanghai, Hangzhou and Ningbo in October.

The company is a venue partner of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and has launched a series of audience-building plans. The company's Education and Outreach Department continues to make the art of ballet accessible to the general public through various activities, reaching over 20 000 people during the year.

Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra

Founded in 1977, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra is the city's sole professional symphonic Chinese orchestra. Under the leadership of its current Artistic Director Yan Huichang, its 85 professional artists have been promoting the development of Chinese music. One prominent characteristic of the orchestra's art is its root in classical Chinese music and fusion with western music.

During 2008, apart from 130 performances, the orchestra organised the Hong Kong International Festival of Chinese Orchestras and the Hong Kong Drum Festival. It was invited to perform at the Hong Kong Day of the China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair and the inaugural season of the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing. The orchestra was also invited to perform at four major concert halls in Britain and on the bank of the Yellow River at Guide County, Qinghai, where it received excellent reviews.

Hong Kong Dance Company

Established in 1981 with the aim of promoting Chinese dance, the Hong Kong Dance Company was formally incorporated in April 2001 as a charitable and non-profit-making institution. Since its inception, the company has staged over 100 productions.

During 2008, the company staged 35 performances, attracting a combined audience of over 110 000. The productions included Qingming Riverside, Desperately Seeking Miss Blossom, Mulan, We Have a Dream and Snow Fox. The company also gave six performances in Beijing, Dongguan and Zhongshan, and was invited to take part in the pre-opening performance of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. In addition, the company also became a venue partner of Tsuen Wan Town Hall.

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra

The 90 full-time musicians of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Edo de Waart, built on the success of the four previous years which saw a significant increase in paid attendance and a higher participation rate in its education and outreach activities. In addition to the main-stage concerts in Hong Kong, the orchestra also gave performances in the Xinghai Concert Hall in Guangzhou and the Macao Cultural Centre. It collaborated with a number of major international artists including violinist Midori, cellist Yo-Yo Ma and soprano Sumi Jo. In September, the orchestra announced that Chinese pianist Yundi Li would become the Orchestra's Artist-in-residence. Throughout the year, the orchestra collaborated with the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Opera Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Arts Festival. It also hosted the Young Musician of the Year 2008 Final.

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