Maria de Buenos Aires

EVENT DESCRIPTION

With the gradual relaxation of social distancing measures and the reopening of performance venues, City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC) presents the Hong Kong premiere of Maria de Buenos Aires, directed and choreographed by internationally renowned choreographer Helen Lai. She joins forces with dance artists and musicians from CCDC and beyond to reveal the cross-genre charm of dance and tango opera. The performance will be staged from 13th to 15th May 2022 at Auditorium, Kwai Tsing Theatre.

Under the mysterious aura of Maria de Buenos Aires where the real collides with the imagined, Maria transcends life and death in a story entangled in destruction and redemption, setting in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Hong Kong premiere line-up brings together internationally esteemed choreographer Helen Lai, young conductor Vivian Ip, multi-award-winning local opera singer Carol Lin, and Bel Canto Singers Artistic Director and opera singer David Quah, along with a live music ensemble and CCDC dance artists. The team is determined to demonstrate the trans-disciplinary allure of dance and music.

Argentine composer Astor Piazzolla was acclaimed as the King of Tango. During his lifetime, he was the soul of tango music. Even until today, he is still one of the most celebrated composers internationally. 2022 marks the 30th anniversary of his passing. Director and choreographer Helen Lai would like to take this opportunity to present Piazzolla’s only published tango operita, Maria de Buenos Aires, as a tribute to the musical giant.

Maria de Buenos Aires is a collaborative production between CCDC and Taiwan’s Weiwuying. Premiered in Taiwan last year, the production was critically acclaimed by dance critics and audience alike.

Maria de Buenos Aires’s director and choreographer Helen Lai said, “[I am] looking forward to working with various great artists. I’ve always loved Piazzolla’s work. This story is surreal and magical. Maria has different faces – provocative, tender, vulnerable but also powerful, making up is a very interesting character.”

Maria de Buenos Aires unveils this year’s new dance season Dance Mud Spring, ushering in a fresh and energetic spring with the audience. At the prime of the year, Dance Mud Spring breaks through the soil, cultivating more representative local works.

Production and Creation
Direction and Choreography | Helen LAI
Conductor | Vivian IP
Female Singer (María) | Carol LIN
Male Singer (Cantor) | David QUAH
Narrator (Duende) | Fernando REZK

Operita | María de Buenos Aires
Music | Astor PIAZZOLLA
Text & Libretto | Horacio FERRER

Set Design | CHEN Wei-Kuang
Lighting Design | KUO Chien-Hao Executive
Lighting Design | Lawmanray
Costume Design | FAN Huai-chih
Sound Design | Anthony YEUNG

Dance Artists
Dancer Artists | Felix KE, Eric KWONG, Bobo LAI, Peggy LAM, Shirley LOK, QIAO Yang, Zelia TAN, Bruce WONG, Simpson YAU
Guest Dance Artists | LAI Tak-Wai, Jacko NG, CHEUNG King-yu

Live Music Performance
Accordion | Nazar TABACHYSHYN First Violin | Nina WONG
Second Violin | Winnie LAW
Viola | Joelion KEUNG
Cello | Daniel LEONG
Double Bass | Evette CHIU
Piano | Linda YIM
Guitar | Chris COLLINS
Flute | Marco LEUNG
Percussion | Raymond VONG, Lily HOI
Music Coordinator | KC Art Management Limited

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

City Contemporary Dance Company (CCDC), the flagship of modern dance in Hong Kong, undertakes to blaze the path of contemporary dance scene with extraordinary performances representing contemporary Hong Kong culture. Founded by Willy Tsao in 1979 and directed by Yuri Ng, CCDC has presented more than 200 highly-acclaimed original works by leading choreographers and innovative collaborations with artists from other media. City Contemporary Dance Festival pioneer in Asia to reimagine the possibilities of modern dance. It is renowned for translating the vigour and creativity of Hong Kong’s multifaceted culture. Since 1980, the Company has accepted 273 overseas invitations to represent Hong Kong in performance at the world’s foremost dance stages and festivals, it has been called as “The artistic soul of contemporary Hong Kong”