When the Queen of Sports meets the King of Instruments

Cameron Carpenter, the world’s most groundbreaking organist, is known for redefining the possibilities of the organ. As one of classical music’s great innovators, he has lit a fire under what is often perceived as one of the most staid musical instruments, with radical re-interpretations of works from the Western canon.

But his latest composition is a step into new territory, even for him. Carpenter has written his own score for the silent movie Sports Queen (1934), an early Chinese cinema classic. Starring the iconic Li Lili and directed by Sun Yu, it tells the story of a young woman who comes to Shanghai with a dream of becoming a top sprinter, but struggles with the distractions of urban life, eventually learning that true sportsmanship is the winning strategy. A clash between country and city, duty and willfulness, the film was part of an effort to prepare the country for the future by encouraging health and fitness, and promoting national strength.

Carpenter is set to perform the world premiere of his original composition live during a special screening of Sports Queen. This is sure to be an unmissable event for fans of classic cinema and groundbreaking musical exploration alike.

Experience the full spectrum of Carpenter’s artistry at the 54th HKAF—from cinematic storytelling to symphonic grandeur—played on the Cultural Centre’s magnificent four-storey-tall Rieger organ, with four manuals, one pedal board, 93 stops and 8,000 pipes.

Advance bookings will start at 10am on 16 October 2025