Musicus Fest 2017 Concluded With Resounding Success –
A spectacular event celebrated by luminaries and music lovers in town
Musicus Fest 2017, held from 22 to 26 November, ended on a high note with seven concerts featuring a prolific program and the biggest line-up of artists ever.
The fifth edition of Musicus Fest started off with the Breguet’s Celebration of Excellence Festival Opening: Out of Austria on 23 November. The collaboration of illustrious father and son team, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Dimitri Ashkenazy, Artistic Director Trey Lee and the prize-winning Mantua Chamber Orchestra from Italy met triumphant ovation from the audience. The occasion was graced by the presence of distinguished guests that Mr Leung Chun-ying, Former Chief Executive and Mr Lau Kong-wah, JP, Secretary for Home Affair.
The Breguet’s Celebration of Excellence Chamber Music Gala on 24 November presented the renowned Chinese guitar virtuoso, Xuefei Yang, collaborating with local talent young flutist David Ma as well as acclaimed international chamber musicians, including violist Vladimir Mendelssohn. The power and passion of the Spanish-themed program won raving reviews.
The Children’s Concert: Marco Polo Goes to Carnival premiered on 25 November was an original production to celebrate the 5th Musicus Fest. The whimsical spectacle featuring improvised acting, Venetian masks ballet and live music performed with Chinese and Western instruments, was enthusiastically received with cheers and applause from audience members of all ages.
The Festival drew to an exhilarating close with the Finale Concert: La Grande Bellezza Italiana on 26 November. Artistic Director Trey Lee and local violin prodigy Hannah Tam shared the stage with two acclaimed singers, Sophie Klussmann and Mauro Borgioni. The four soloists were joined by the Mantua Chamber Orchestra under the baton of maestro Umberto Benedetti Michelangeli. Highlights of the concert included selections of Mozart’s Italian arias and Vivaldi’s Double Concerto for Violin and Cello, and Boccherini’s Symphony No.4 in D minor, in which students from the Ensemble Training Program performed side by side with members of the Mantua Chamber Orchestras, leading the festival to a grand curtain call.
Present at the Festival Finale were Mr Yang Yirui, Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; as well as Mr Tung Chee-hwa, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.
Apart from the concerts, the public and students also benefited from the series of education and community events, such as the Musicus Heritage Concert at the HKU Hung Hing Ying Building, as well as free Master Classes and school visits by various festival artists.
A recipient of the Springboard Grant under the Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Musicus Society gratefully acknowledges its sponsors and partners for Musicus Fest, including Lead Partner Credit Suisse, Breguet, CITIC Telecom CPC, Leisure and Cultural Services Department, Cathay Pacific, New World Facilities Management Company Limited, Youth Square, the Faculty of Arts of the University of Hong Kong and the HKU Foundation, the Salisbury YMCA, as well as The Italian Cultural Institute at the Consulate General of Italy.
