Latest news with #OperaHongKong
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend August 15-17
This weekend, theatre buffs can enjoy a local rendition of a German opera classic, while fans of the Japanese manga series Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba can pop to a cinema for the much-anticipated first instalment of the franchise. Foodies can celebrate India's Independence Day with a tasty feast, while yogis should take the opportunity to take part in a 12-hour workshop. Read on for more details. 1. The Merry Widow Opera Hong Kong presents The Merry Widow at the Hong Kong City Hall on August 15 and 16. Photo: Opera Hong Kong Opera Hong Kong will present Franz Lehar's The Merry Widow – Die lustige Witwe in German – at Hong Kong City Hall on August 15 and 16. The production features German conductor Michael Koehler, opera director Tang Xinxin and a cast made up entirely of local singers, who will perform alongside the Opera Hong Kong Orchestra and Opera Hong Kong Chorus. The operetta follows the story of the wealthy widow Hanna Glawari, who is from a poverty-stricken Balkan region, in Paris as people strive to remarry her to a fellow countryman to keep her money in the country. The story is filled with charming waltzes and witty dialogue, and features a heartwarming romance.
South China Morning Post
08-08-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Opera Hong Kong brings The Merry Widow to the stage
Opera Hong Kong is set to bring a treat to the city's classical music scene this summer with two performances of Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár's beloved operetta, The Merry Widow, at City Hall on August 15 and 16. Advertisement For those intimidated by or unfamiliar with the art form, an operetta offers an inviting first step: short, humorous and more conversational in music and story than capital-O opera. Based on an 1861 French comic play, L'attaché d'ambassade, by Henri Meilhac, The Merry Widow has earned a reputation for being as approachable as it is melodically rich. Soprano Candice Chung is part of an all-local cast of young singers from Hong Kong appearing in The Merry Widow. Photo: Handout Premiering in Vienna in 1905, it tells the story of the recently widowed Hanna Glawari, in the fictional nation of Pontevedro, who has recently inherited a vast fortune from her late husband. With the country's finances in peril, the local nobles cook up a clever plan: to marry Hanna off to a fellow Pontevedrian, so her late husband's millions stay within their borders, setting the stage for the ensuing shenanigans. Opera Hong Kong has pulled together an all-local cast of young singers from within its own ranks for the performance. Leading the show are sopranos Candice Chung Ka-yan and Rianne Lau Cheuk-ying, sharing the role of Hanna, with tenors Henry Ngan Ka-lok and Lam Kwok Ho as her would-be suitor, Count Danilo, and baritone Albert Lim Chun as the scheming Baron Zeta. Soprano Rianne Lau will share the role of Hanna with fellow singer Candice Chung for the Opera Hong Kong performances. Photo: Handout Conductor Michael Koehler and opera director Tang Xinxin, both respected names on the international stage, round out the creative team.
South China Morning Post
04-08-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong concerts you don't want to miss, from student performers to gamers
We are well into the second half of 2025, but there are still many chances to immerse yourself in the joy of music. Hong Kong will be hosting many exciting concerts that offer a unique blend of musical experiences that can elevate your mood and energise your spirit. Here are six upcoming performances you won't want to miss. Fringe Youth: Class of 25' Cabaret When: August 15 at 7.30pm Where: The Jockey Club Studio Theatre This is your opportunity to enjoy all your favourite Broadway songs in one performance! A talented group of six students will showcase hits from Heathers, Shrek, Legally Blonde, Songs For a New World and Frozen in a half-staged concert style. This unique format combines elements of a traditional concert with some theatrical staging. Get your tickets here. Photo: Instagram/Classof25cabaret Agnes Huang School of Ballet: Peter Pan When: August 15 - 16 at 3pm Where: The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Rita Tong Liu Drama Theatre The Agnes Huang School of Ballet is set to enchant audiences with a captivating ballet adaptation of the beloved film Peter Pan. This production promises to bring the whimsical world of Neverland to life through the art of dance, showcasing the school's talented dancers as they portray iconic characters such as Peter Pan, Wendy, Tinkerbell and Captain Hook. Get your tickets here. Photo: Handout Opera Hong Kong: Lehar's The Merry Widow When: August 15 - 16 at 7.30pm Where: Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall This delightful operetta is sure to bring a smile to your face. Featuring a charming romance filled with waltzes and clever wit, it has been described as 'the sparkling jewel of the Viennese stage'. The production by Opera Hong Kong will be directed by Tang Xinxin and will showcase a cast composed entirely of local singers. As always, the Opera Hong Kong Orchestra, led by German conductor Michael Koehler, will provide the orchestral accompaniment. Get your tickets via Urbtix. Photo: Handout Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra: Heroes: A Video Game Symphony When: 7.30pm on October 31; 3pm on November 1 Where: Tsuen Wan Town Hall Auditorium Are you a video game enthusiast? If so, this concert is for you. The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Kevin Zakresky, will perform a selection of soundtracks from iconic video games. Get set for an exhilarating experience of live music, featuring scenes from your favourite games. Keep your eye out for tickets. HKYAF: Likes & Lies When: November 13 - 15 Where: The Box, Freespace, WestK This heartfelt musical delves into the complexities of friendship and romance in the digital age. Follow Savannah and Chun as they navigate their friendships and relationships through social media, exploring the challenges of modern connections and the quest for authenticity in a world filled with likes and filters. Tickets will be available from September on the official WestK website. Photo: Handout HK Phil: Frozen Live in Concert When: December 18 - 20 at 7.30pm Where: Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall It's hard to believe that it has been 12 years since the Frozen movie released. Did you ever think you'd have the chance to see it on the big screen again? Well, now you do. But here's the twist: the entire movie will be accompanied by a live orchestra. Get your tickets at Urbtix starting from August 14. Photo: Handout
Time Out
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Mozart's opera ‘The Magic Flute' is coming to Hong Kong
Hong Kong's first professional opera company, Opera Hong Kong (OHK), will present a contemporary rendition of The Magic Flute, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's last opera before his death and a staple in the global operatic repertoire. Director Shuang Zou has reinterpreted this two-part opera with a modern stage setting, embellished by costumes from renowned designer Dan Potra. The original storyline follows Prince Tamino as he gets sent on a quest by the Queen of the Night to rescue her daughter Pamina, armed with a flute that can transform sorrow into joy. Opera Hong Kong's new iteration of the 1791 classic is set in the modern city, and begins in an MTR station – sounds like it will be a quirky, fantastical journey as the characters travel between reality and dreams to achieve their happily ever afters. Mexican-German tenor Andrés Moreno García stars as Prince Tamino, while Pamina will be played by American soprano Sofia Troncoso, and the iconic Queen of the Night by Russian soprano Aigul Khismatullina. We can't wait to hear her perform the famously challenging 'Der Hölle Rache' aria! The production will be a collaboration between Opera Hong Kong, China National Opera House, and the State Opera South Australia, joined by the children's chorus of OHK, and promises to be a splendid audio-visual feast. After premiering in Hong Kong, the show will then go on to an international tour, so be the first to see it on stage.
