400 ❘ Recreation, Sport and the Arts
The LCSD continues to work closely with local cultural organisations like the Chopin Society of Hong Kong through supporting its presentation of the third Hong Kong International Piano Competition with contestants from all over the world adjudicated by a 10-member jury panel headed by Vladimir Ashkenazy.
Entertainment Programmes
In 2011, the LCSD organised 28 major carnivals and 632 district art shows which had an audience of 1 157 200.
Outdoor extravaganzas included Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn lantern carnivals, featuring local intangible cultural heritage elements as well as ethnic song. and dance performances by arts groups from Fujian and Henan and a New Year's Eve 'countdown' carnival. A series of community thematic carnivals as well as outdoor events providing performance platform for talented young people, such as the Youth Band Marathon, were also organised.
To enhance social inclusion and harmony of local and Asian communities in Hong Kong, the LCSD again organised the 'Asian Ethnic Cultural Performances' featuring the arts of seven Asian countries.
Arts Education and Audience-building Projects
During the year, the LCSD organised 1 296 arts education and audience-building activities in schools, community halls and other public venues to promote the arts and encourage more people to take part in cultural activities.
A pilot programme, 'Community Oral History Theatre Project', introduced in Sham Shui Po in 2010 which gave elderly people a chance to perform their memorable experiences on stage, was extended to Kwun Tong in 2011 following favourable response to the programme. Another new initiative called the 'Performing Arts Criticism Project for Senior Secondary Students' was also unveiled in the year.
Major Cultural Events
Hong Kong Arts Festival
Held annually in February and March, the Hong Kong Arts Festival is one of Asia's most prestigious international festivals. In 2011, the event had an audience of over 154 000 people.
The festival showcased 14 world premieres and nine Asian premieres and was opened with a recital by mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli. The festival also featured a strong dance programme such as signature works of the celebrated New York City Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet's Hobson's Choice.
A highlight was the week-long residency of three of Leipzig's oldest cultural institutions: Leipzig Opera, Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra and St Thomas Boys Choir (Thomanerchor). Together, they presented Wagner's monumental opera Tristan und Isolde, orchestral works of Dvořák, Bruckner, and choral programmes of Bach. In music theatre, the festival featured Berliner Ensemble's The Threepenny Opera and
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.