The Musicus Fest 2018 arrived at a jubilant conclusion on 18 November, where Artistic Director Trey Lee shared the stage with nyckelharpa soloist Emilia Amper, star violinist Dong-suk Kang, Hong Kong violist Born Lau and pianist Cheong Hoi-leong, in a riveting performance supported by the award-winning Trondheim Soloists from Norway.
Running for the 6th year, this annual international music festival kicked off with an Opening Ceremony officiated by Mr. Matthew Cheung, Chief Secretary for Administration of the HKSAR, followed by a concert featuring an assembly of critically acclaimed artists of classical, jazz and folk genres. Highlights of the evening included the world premiere of Trey Lee’s new arrangement of Piazzolla’s Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, where jazz guitarist Eugene Pao joined Lee and the Trondheim Soloists. The Abrégé folk suite for nyckelharpa and string orchestra also received rousing ovation from the audience.
With a mission to promote music through cross-cultural collaboration, the festival’s Chamber Music Gala on 16 November provided a perfect platform for local talents to perform with artistic directors from renowned music festivals around the world. Acclaimed violinist Dong-Suk Kang, violist Vladimir Mendelssohn, cellists Alexander Hülshoff and Trey Lee, international pianist Colleen Lee shared the stage with rising local talents Wong Pui-ying, Cheong Hoi-leong and Brian Choi in a disparate program of chamber gems.
Reaching out to a wider audience, the Children’s Concert: Marco Polo Returns to Carnival, a sequel to last year’s original production, took place on 17 November. The cast featured celebrity actress Corinna Cheng, commedia dell’arte actresses from Germany, Italy and Taiwan, as well as Chinese and Western instrumentalists, young actors and dancer from Hong Kong. The performance was enthusiastically received by audience members of all ages.
Apart from the four concerts, the Musicus Fest 2018 also presented a series of education and community events, including Master Classes and school visits by festival artists.
A recipient of the Springboard Grant under the Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Musicus Society gratefully acknowledges its sponsors and partners for Musicus Fest, including Credit Suisse, CITIC Telecom CPC, as well as the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
