Hong Kong Sinfonietta Concert Film Series: All-Star Tiny Galaxy@Wontonmeen

EVENT DESCRIPTION

Who would have thought that behind a café on the busy Lai Chi Kok Road, there would be a tiny galaxy of music? Wontonmeen – an eclectic hostel – is known to independent musicians and jazz artists as an intimate place for music-sharing. Hong Kong Sinfonietta (HKS) entered the game in mid-2020 when Concertmaster James Cuddeford visited the space. Despite the heat, the humidity and a piano which needed some help, James was completely taken by the place. HKS has since recorded 10 episodes of “Tiny Galaxy Concerts@Wontonmeen”, though only half has been shown online.

All-Star Tiny Galaxy@Wontonmeen is a special extended edition featuring international stars performing at Wontonmeen, including Christoph Poppen, Aurélien Pascal, Adrien La Marca, Sergei Nakariakov and Perry So, who join James and star pianist Colleen Lee. We also get to know more about the historical gem that is Shamshuipo, and the talented young artist Vivian Ho, who created a few images of “tiny galaxies” for us.

Hong Kong is a tiny dot on the world map but, with music, it can become an infinite galaxy… beyond the stars.

Violin: Christoph Poppen
Violin: James Cuddeford
Viola: Adrien La Marca
Cello: Aurélien Pascal
Trumpet/Flugelhorn: Sergei Nakariakov
Piano: Colleen Lee (HKS Artist Associate 2010-2011)
Piano: Perry So
Director: Stanley Ho

With post-screening sharing session

Guest:
– Yip Wing-sie (Music Director Emeritus, Hong Kong Sinfonietta)
– James Cuddeford (Concertmaster, Hong Kong Sinfonietta)

 

Programme

Bach
From Suite No 3 in C for Unaccompanied Cello, BWV1009

Praeludium
Sarabande
Gigue

Prokofiev (Vadim Borisovsky arr)
Romeo and Juliet: Act I Scene 2: Balcony Scene

Hindemith
Sonata for Violin Solo, Op 31 No 2

Mozart
Duo for Violin & Viola in B-flat, K424: II Andante Cantabile

Schumann
Fantasiestücke, Op 73 (Arranged for Flugelhorn)

Glazunov
Albumblatt in D-flat for Trumpet & Piano

Schnittke
Silent Night for Violin & Piano (1978)

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

One of Hong Kong’s flagship orchestras, Hong Kong Sinfonietta has brought music closer to the community, and achieved significant local and international recognition for its passionate performances and innovative programming. Since 1999, Hong Kong Sinfonietta has collaborated with an illustrious array of international musicians and groups, including in recent years Ilya Gringolts, Martin Helmchen, Sergei Nakariakov, Jean-Guihen Queyras, Krzysztof Penderecki, Mariinsky Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, The Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet and Tanztheater Wuppertal Pina Bausch.

The orchestra is a regular guest at international arts festivals and has toured 41 cities around the world. As an avid believer of keeping music alive and contemporary, Hong Kong Sinfonietta commissions and performs new works every year and ventures into new initiatives, recently receiving wide acclaim for its Back On Stage concert film series, as well as the Tiny Galaxy Concerts online series featuring performances recorded at a fascinating hostel in Hong Kong. In 2021, the orchestra co-curated the “Life is Art” film festival with MOViE MOViE, while continuing to break down barriers between music and audience with free chamber concerts held regularly at Hong Kong City Hall.