3 days ago
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Maestro Tan Dun champions Hong Kong's unique art and cultural diversity on the mainland and abroad
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Tan Dun, the Oscar-winning composer, world-renowned musician, and conductor has empowered Hong Kong's young talents by providing them with global platforms, nurturing artists who are both technically proficient and engaged in international artistic dialogues since his appointment as Hong Kong's Ambassador for Cultural Promotion.
'Hong Kong is a city where Eastern and Western cultures converge. My goal is to bring the city's vibrant arts and culture to the world's most prestigious stages, ensuring that Hong Kong's voice is heard globally,' Tan says. 'I lead young Hong Kong artists in collaborations with top orchestras and directors worldwide. Meanwhile, it is also vital that the city's artistic identity remains deeply connected to its roots. That is why I guide young artists in exploring and sharing the most authentic and traditional aspects of Chinese culture.'
His mentorship of young Hong Kong artists underscores his commitment to expanding the city's cultural influence. Recent initiatives include 'High Mountains and Glaciers,' performed in Shanghai for UNESCO's World Water Day in March 2025, featuring percussionist Karen Yu; and the 'Tea' opera in Fuzhou with Yu, percussionist Elise Liu, and bass-baritone Apollo Wong. Soprano Candice Chung was starred in the 'Tan Dun Earth Day – Tea Garden Opera Festival' in Yunnan this April and will perform Tan's 'Nature's Requiem' with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the Radio France Choir in July.
'Échos des grottes de Mogao à Paris' at the Guimet - National Museum of Asian Arts in France.
The experience is rewarding for Hong Kong artists. Liu views the WE-Festival as an opportunity to reinforce Hong Kong's identity as an 'East-meets-West' cultural hub. 'We fuse Western instruments with Chinese percussion traditions,' she Chung, Tan's guidance has elevated her artistry. 'In my solo performances of 'Deer of Nine Colours' across the mainland and abroad, I portrayed four roles in 20 minutes—a challenging feat I've mastered,' she says. Chung adds that performing with different world-class orchestras allows her to deliver unique experiences to audiences. She also took part in a performance staged at Paris's Guimet - National Museum of Asian Arts in December 2024.
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