Dear Friends,
The Festival team has put together yet another wonderful selection of programmes for the 37th HKAF, and it is my great pleasure to present some highlights to you.
We present two operas not yet staged in Hong Kong so far: the ground-breaking 20th-century masterpiece, Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk by Shostakovich with Aira Rurane as the sensuous and passionate Katerina; and Handel's Alcina, in which we are delighted to feature Emma Bell in the title role after her appearance in the same role at the Paris Opera.
Baroque specialist Ton Koopman leads the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra in two evenings of 18th-century music with works by Handel and Haydn very much in evidence to mark two important anniversaries. Distinguished violinist and conductor Thomas Zehetmair adds to the exploration of baroque repertoire with Haydn's choral mass, Harmoniemesse performed by the Northern Sinfonia and Chorus. They will also perform Beethoven's great Ninth Symphony in a separate programme.
Musical luminaries to join the 37th HKAF include the Chicago Symphony Orchestra with maestro Bernard Haitink, playing music by Mozart, Strauss and Mahler; and the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin led by maestro Ingo Metzmacher, renowned for their interpretation of Austro-German repertoire, performing Brahms, Berg and Bruckner. These are concerts not to be missed! Also not to be missed is young winner of the Smithsonian Institute Lifetime Award, Omar Sosa and his Afreecanos Quartet – a stylish and sensitive convergence of musical journeys!
In theatre, the 37th HKAF explores the Chinese theatre experience: from traditional classic yue opera performed by nationally top-ranking Shanghai Yueju Opera theatre, to Murder in San José, a new work by Hong Kong's own Chong Mui-ngam; and the National Ballet of China returns with a new interpretation of The Peony Pavilion, much anticipated after their beautiful Raise the Red Lantern seven years ago. In the English literary tradition, the English National Ballet brings Alice in Wonderland to life, and Peter Hall revives Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion. Taking the theme of identity and personhood from these masterpieces, we push the exploration further: to definitions of humanity in the surreal world of Franz Kafka with Vesturport's visceral and incredibly physical production of Metamorphosis; and in The Wooster Group's highly sophisticated production of Eugene O'Neill's The Emperor Jones, we see one man's will pit against the forces of history.
In music, theatre and dance, the 37th HKAF will take us to inspired heights, to enchanted islands and to Wonderland. The journey begins on 6th February 2009. Look out for the complete line-up on 16th October this year and book your tickets early!
Tisa Ho
Executive Director
