Jockey Club Musicus Heritage Stories: Castle of Traditions at University Hall, HKU
11.14.2024
(14 November 2024, Hong Kong) Musicus Society presents a new installment of its heritage concert series this December. Three Castle of Traditions concerts will take place over a single day on 7 December at University Hall, a building that dates back to 1861. Audiences are invited to enjoy programs of chamber music performed by fantastic string players inside this listed monument in Pokfulam, and explore the oldest building of the University of Hong Kong — currently a residential hall — in an exhibition and guided tour after each concert. The program is funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.
Acclaimed overseas artist to collaborate with young Hong Kong performers
In this free admission program, Musicus Artistic Director and cellist Trey Lee welcomes the accomplished Finnish virtuoso Antti Tikkanen, co-artistic director of the hugely successful Kuhmo Chamber Festival, who brings his extensive experience of performing around the world. Joined by local string players Aaron Chan, Fan Hiu-sing and Evette Chiu, they will perform music by Purcell, Boccherini, Onslow and Saariaho inside a former chapel featuring impressive architecture. These carefully selected works span various periods of music history from the Baroque to the contemporary and illustrate the evolution of how chamber music has sounded and looked on-score through the generations.
Program Highlights
Romantic composer George Onslow was hailed as “the French Beethoven” for his prolific chamber works, and his string quintet nicknamed “The Bullet” was inspired by a shocking shooting accident. Moving to contemporary times, the late Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho was celebrated for her deeply sensorial works and voted “the greatest living composer” in a 2019 poll by the BBC Music Magazine. Aure for violin and viola distills the expressive power in a pared-down instrumentation.
Delve into history in the complementary exhibition and guided tour
These heritage concerts feature a special photography exhibition curated by Hiuman Lam, founder of Hong Kong Reminiscence. It traces the unique history of University Hall, which was initially a private residence called Douglas Castle. Its subsequent owner, the Paris Foreign Missions Society, transformed it into the home and workspace of missionaries. In their care, the building also notably housed the Nazareth Press, which printed religious and humanities titles in up to 28 languages.
University Hall, The University of Hong Kong
7.12.2024 (Sat)
The program includes concert, guided tour and exhibition. Free admission and by invitation only. For enquiries, please visit: https://bit.ly/ms24-ct
PROGRAM
Performers
Violins: Aaron Chan, Fan Hiu-sing
Viola: Antti Tikkanen
Cello: Trey Lee
Double Bass: Evette Chiu
Downloadable images here.
Remarks
The presenter reserves the rights to change the program and substitute artists should unavoidable circumstances make it necessary.
In no event shall the Funder have any liability of any kind to any person or entity arising from or related to any actions taken or not taken as a result of any of the contents herein.
For media enquiries, please contact Musicus Society:
Sherlock Lam, Marketing Manager
Tel: (+852) 3758 2734 | Email: sherlock.lam@musicussociety.org
Scarlet Cheng, Project Manager
Tel: (+852) 3793 3356 | Email: scarlet.cheng@musicussociety.org
About Jockey Club Musicus Heritage Stories
Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust since 2019, Jockey Club Musicus Heritage Alive program has promoted music at heritage sites through special performances and outreach activities. The program also enhances the public’s knowledge of Hong Kong’s culture and history by presenting concerts that reflect their heritage settings, giving people an understanding of the layers of a global city — the relationship of a people with historical sites and the stories behind them. In addition to this, it also serves as a platform for international artists to collaborate with our own young talents, to bring their artistry to new heights. This program won the Star of Outstanding Award at the 2022 Global Awards for World Heritage Education Innovative Cases, organized by the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO.
Having met with a positive response from audiences and the community, Musicus is supported by funding from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in summer 2022 for another three years, with the project named as Jockey Club Musicus Heritage Stories. The new series invites composers and artists from other art forms to take part, presenting new perspectives on historical sites. The series also includes heritage guided tours, artist residencies and school tours designed to benefit concert audiences, students and the community at large.
About University Hall
University Hall is the oldest building owned by the University of Hong Kong. It was originally a castle belonging to a Scottish businessman, Douglas Lapraik, built in a blend of Tudor and Gothic styles in 1861 and named after him as “Douglas Castle”. The Paris Foreign Missions Society acquired the building in 1894 and expanded it by adding a chapel, a crypt and a printing press building, and renamed it “The Nazareth”. After the Second World War, they ceased operations in Hong Kong and the facility was purchased by the University of Hong Kong in 1954. It was converted into a residential hall for male students from 1956 and renamed “University Hall”.
The exterior of University Hall is a declared monument, which is characterized by its embattled parapets, towers, and pinnacles, while the internal structure features arches, wide colonnaded verandas and a chapel with a hammerbeam roof.
About Musicus Society (www.musicussociety.org)
Musicus Society was founded by a group of music lovers in 2010 under the vision of renowned cellist Trey Lee, with a mission to promote cross-cultural collaboration of music internationally. Apart from the annual Musicus Fest, which provides a meeting point for artists from across the world, the Musicus Heritage Community Concert Series brings world-class artists to local heritage sites. Moreover, the Musicus Inspires! educational program aims to nurture aspiring young musicians in Hong Kong, as well as cultivate students from all social backgrounds. Directed and initiated by renowned cellist Trey Lee, Musicus Soloists Hong Kong (MSHK) comprises some of Hong Kong’s top next-generation artists who are based all over the world. They are focused on becoming a leading chamber ensemble representing Hong Kong internationally. Musicus Society is a registered charity and financially supported by the Art Development Matching Grants Scheme of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Acclaimed overseas artist to collaborate with young Hong Kong performers
In this free admission program, Musicus Artistic Director and cellist Trey Lee welcomes the accomplished Finnish virtuoso Antti Tikkanen, co-artistic director of the hugely successful Kuhmo Chamber Festival, who brings his extensive experience of performing around the world. Joined by local string players Aaron Chan, Fan Hiu-sing and Evette Chiu, they will perform music by Purcell, Boccherini, Onslow and Saariaho inside a former chapel featuring impressive architecture. These carefully selected works span various periods of music history from the Baroque to the contemporary and illustrate the evolution of how chamber music has sounded and looked on-score through the generations.
Program Highlights
Romantic composer George Onslow was hailed as “the French Beethoven” for his prolific chamber works, and his string quintet nicknamed “The Bullet” was inspired by a shocking shooting accident. Moving to contemporary times, the late Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho was celebrated for her deeply sensorial works and voted “the greatest living composer” in a 2019 poll by the BBC Music Magazine. Aure for violin and viola distills the expressive power in a pared-down instrumentation.
Delve into history in the complementary exhibition and guided tour
These heritage concerts feature a special photography exhibition curated by Hiuman Lam, founder of Hong Kong Reminiscence. It traces the unique history of University Hall, which was initially a private residence called Douglas Castle. Its subsequent owner, the Paris Foreign Missions Society, transformed it into the home and workspace of missionaries. In their care, the building also notably housed the Nazareth Press, which printed religious and humanities titles in up to 28 languages.
University Hall, The University of Hong Kong
7.12.2024 (Sat)
The program includes concert, guided tour and exhibition. Free admission and by invitation only. For enquiries, please visit: https://bit.ly/ms24-ct
PROGRAM
Performers
Violins: Aaron Chan, Fan Hiu-sing
Viola: Antti Tikkanen
Cello: Trey Lee
Double Bass: Evette Chiu
| Free Concert 1 & Guided Tour | 1:30pm | |
|---|---|
| Onslow | String Quintet No. 15 in C minor, Op. 38, “The Bullet” I. Allegro moderato ed espressivo and II. Menuetto. Presto (Dolore) |
| Saariaho | Aure for violin and viola |
| Boccherini | String Quintet in D, Op. 39, No. 3, G. 339 I. Allegro vivo |
| Duration of the concert is approximately 30 minutes, without intermission. Free seating. A 45-minute heritage guided tour will be arranged after the concert. | |
| Free Concert 2 & Guided Tour | 3:00pm | |
|---|---|
| Boccherini | String Quintet in D, Op. 39, No. 3, G. 339 II. Pastorale. Amoroso ma non lento and III. Finale. Presto |
| Onslow | String Quintet No. 15 in C minor, Op. 38, “The Bullet” III. Andante sostenuto (Convalescenza) and IV. Finale. Allegro (Guarigione) |
| Duration of the concert is approximately 30 minutes, without intermission. Free seating. A 45-minute heritage guided tour will be arranged after the concert. | |
| Free Concert 3 & Guided Tour | 4:30pm | |
|---|---|
| Boccherini | String Quintet in D, Op. 39, No. 3, G. 339 |
| Saariaho | Aure for violin and viola |
| Purcell | Fantasia No. 11 in G, Z. 742 |
| Onslow | String Quintet No. 15 in C minor, Op. 38, “The Bullet” |
| Duration of the concert is approximately 1 hour, without intermission. Free seating. A 45-minute heritage guided tour will be arranged after the concert. | |
Downloadable images here.
Remarks
- The heritage guided tour involves staircase walks. Guests should assess whether they are physically capable of participating.
- Barrier-free facilities and services are not provided at the venue.
- Please enter Pok Fu Lam Reservoir Road from Pok Fu Lam Road, then follow the stairs and slight slope on the left to the University Hall. The walk is approximately 2 minutes.
- Parking is not available at the venue. Please use public transport.
The presenter reserves the rights to change the program and substitute artists should unavoidable circumstances make it necessary.
In no event shall the Funder have any liability of any kind to any person or entity arising from or related to any actions taken or not taken as a result of any of the contents herein.
For media enquiries, please contact Musicus Society:
Sherlock Lam, Marketing Manager
Tel: (+852) 3758 2734 | Email: sherlock.lam@musicussociety.org
Scarlet Cheng, Project Manager
Tel: (+852) 3793 3356 | Email: scarlet.cheng@musicussociety.org
About Jockey Club Musicus Heritage Stories
Funded by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust since 2019, Jockey Club Musicus Heritage Alive program has promoted music at heritage sites through special performances and outreach activities. The program also enhances the public’s knowledge of Hong Kong’s culture and history by presenting concerts that reflect their heritage settings, giving people an understanding of the layers of a global city — the relationship of a people with historical sites and the stories behind them. In addition to this, it also serves as a platform for international artists to collaborate with our own young talents, to bring their artistry to new heights. This program won the Star of Outstanding Award at the 2022 Global Awards for World Heritage Education Innovative Cases, organized by the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region under the auspices of UNESCO.
Having met with a positive response from audiences and the community, Musicus is supported by funding from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust in summer 2022 for another three years, with the project named as Jockey Club Musicus Heritage Stories. The new series invites composers and artists from other art forms to take part, presenting new perspectives on historical sites. The series also includes heritage guided tours, artist residencies and school tours designed to benefit concert audiences, students and the community at large.
About University Hall
University Hall is the oldest building owned by the University of Hong Kong. It was originally a castle belonging to a Scottish businessman, Douglas Lapraik, built in a blend of Tudor and Gothic styles in 1861 and named after him as “Douglas Castle”. The Paris Foreign Missions Society acquired the building in 1894 and expanded it by adding a chapel, a crypt and a printing press building, and renamed it “The Nazareth”. After the Second World War, they ceased operations in Hong Kong and the facility was purchased by the University of Hong Kong in 1954. It was converted into a residential hall for male students from 1956 and renamed “University Hall”.
The exterior of University Hall is a declared monument, which is characterized by its embattled parapets, towers, and pinnacles, while the internal structure features arches, wide colonnaded verandas and a chapel with a hammerbeam roof.
About Musicus Society (www.musicussociety.org)
Musicus Society was founded by a group of music lovers in 2010 under the vision of renowned cellist Trey Lee, with a mission to promote cross-cultural collaboration of music internationally. Apart from the annual Musicus Fest, which provides a meeting point for artists from across the world, the Musicus Heritage Community Concert Series brings world-class artists to local heritage sites. Moreover, the Musicus Inspires! educational program aims to nurture aspiring young musicians in Hong Kong, as well as cultivate students from all social backgrounds. Directed and initiated by renowned cellist Trey Lee, Musicus Soloists Hong Kong (MSHK) comprises some of Hong Kong’s top next-generation artists who are based all over the world. They are focused on becoming a leading chamber ensemble representing Hong Kong internationally. Musicus Society is a registered charity and financially supported by the Art Development Matching Grants Scheme of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.