Press Release
HKBU Symphony Orchestra to hold Annual Gala Concert taking audiences on a journey through time and technology
Tuesday, 13 June 2023
The Hong Kong Baptist University Symphony Orchestra (HKBU Symphony Orchestra) will present its Annual Gala Concert on 15 June (Thursday) at 8:00pm in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, inviting audiences on a kaleidoscopic journey through time, technology, film, music, text and computer graphics.
The Concert will open with the devilishly delightful Danse Macabre by Saint-Saëns performed by the orchestra synchronously with a silent horror movie of the same name created in 1922 by American director Dudley Murphy. Leveraging their knowledge and expertise in video and image restoration, HKBU computer scientists are building a cutting-edge system that employs the latest AI models to breathe new life into old classic films, in an admirable attempt to bring the bygone century back to the present digital age.
The Concert will also feature award-winning virtuosic young pianist Mr Chiyan Wong, who will perform Liszt’s Totentanz. Born in Hong Kong, Mr Wong is acclaimed for his audacious performances across a wide repertoire, from Baroque to contemporary.
Another highlight of the Concert will be the work of Australian computer graphics artist and musician Mr Andrew Quinn. He will present a unique perspective of heaven through his creation of real-time visuals for the orchestral performance of Mahler’s Ruhevoll from his Symphony no. 4, providing audiences a mesmerising artistic experience.
The HKBU Symphony Orchestra will also join forces with Cantoría Hong Kong, a mixed choir comprising students from the HKBU Academy of Music, to perform the monumental choral-orchestral work Gloria by Poulenc.
Professor Johnny M Poon, Dean of HKBU’s School of Creative Arts, who is also the Music Director and Conductor of the HKBU Symphony Orchestra and the Collegium Musicum Hong Kong, said: "This year’s Concert will bring to the stage an artistic exploration of the grotesque and sublime. With a selection of music and visual elements with strong ties to the concept of life and death, we are trying to piece together a new vision of heaven and earth in all its splendour.”
“We take great pride in presenting an innovative concert which is a testament to HKBU’s dedication in inspiring creativity and fostering artistic excellence," added Professor Poon.
Introduction to the performers:
Pianist Mr Chiyan Wong
Mr Chiyan Wong is a Hong Kong-born pianist. His audacity and vision have captivated listeners, in a repertoire ranging from the early Baroque to the 21st century. He has performed at prestigious venues worldwide, including the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées in Paris and the Liszt Academy in Budapest. Wong's recordings have received critical acclaim, including the Franz Liszt International Grand Prix du Disque for his debut album. He completed his doctorate on Busoni at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and now lives in Berlin.
Computer graphics artist Mr Andrew Quinn
Mr Andrew Quinn is an Australian computer graphics artist and musician, living in Milan. He has worked on digital effects for films such as The Matrix and Tomb Raider. In the past 10 years he specialised in real-time visuals for orchestral performance, video installations for multiscreen and immersive environments, also video mapping and digital sets for interactive dance productions, opera and contemporary music using TouchDesigner.
Music Director and Conductor Professor Johnny M Poon
Professor Johnny M Poon is the Music Director and Conductor of the HKBU Symphony Orchestra and the Collegium Musicum Hong Kong. During his distinguished career, Professor Poon has been the Music Director of the Evansville Collegium Musicum in the US, Associate Conductor of the Operafestival di Roma in Italy, and Artistic Director of the Harlaxton International Chamber Music Festival in the UK. He has also been a guest conductor with orchestras in Russia, the Czech Republic, the USA, Germany and Hong Kong.
HKBU Symphony Orchestra
The HKBU Symphony Orchestra is one of the oldest university orchestras in Hong Kong comprising the University’s finest musicians. Regular concerts include concerto and orchestral performances featuring a wide repertoire of Romantic masterpieces and 20th century classics, as well as works by contemporary composers. The Orchestra has performed with world-renowned artists including Chuanyun Li, Laura Fygi, Changyong Liao, Warren Mok, Ryu Goto, Mengla Huang, Dan Zhu, Valentina Lisitsa, Simone Lamsma, Nicole Cabell, Anne Akiko Meyers, Eriko Daimo, Liping Zhang and Andrew von Oeyen.
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