The 43rd Hong Kong Arts Festival opens today
Featuring 1,400 artists in 137 performances with 88% tickets already sold
Tickets for available performances still on offer during Festival period

(Hong Kong, 27 February 2015) The 43rd Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF) officially opens today with a performance by Christian Thielemann and the Staatskapelle Dresden. This year’s HKAF presents about 1,400 acclaimed artists from around the world in 137 performances, including 16 new works/world premieres and 10 Asian premieres. Of the 110,000 available tickets, over 98,000 (88 percent) have been sold as of today, and sales is expected to further increase during the Festival period.

To accomplish its mission of enriching the cultural life of Hong Kong, this year’s HKAF not only continues to present renowned overseas artists, but also carries on the tradition of commissioning new works and showcasing the creative talents of the city. Among the local productions this year are chamber opera Datong- The Chinese Utopia, theatre production The Amahs, and the HK Jockey Club Contemporary Dance Series.

The 43rd HKAF continues to reach out to a broad spectrum of the Hong Kong community through its 300-plus outreach events comprising: events for Young Friends, other education activities with schools and community groups, and PLUS for the general public.

The opening ceremony of the 43rd HKAF is officiated by The Hon C Y Leung, The Chief Executive of the HKSAR; The Hon Ronald Arculli, Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival; Dr Simon S O Ip, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; Ms Florence Hui Hiu-fai, Under Secretary for Home Affairs; Ms Michelle Li Mei-sheung, Director of the Leisure and Cultural Services; and Ms Tisa Ho, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival. They were joined not only by artists, but also representatives of major sponsors and donors, who generously contribute over 30% of the Festival’s annual revenue.


Officiating Guests and the Festival’s Executive Committee members photographed at the 43rd Hong Kong Arts Festival’s Opening Ceremony. (Front row, from left to right: Ms Michelle Li Mei-sheung, Director of the Leisure and Cultural Services; Dr Simon S O Ip, Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; The Hon C Y Leung, The Chief Executive of the HKSAR; The Hon Ronald Arculli, Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society; Ms Florence Hui Hiu-fai, Under Secretary for Home Affairs; Ms Tisa Ho, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival. Back row, from left to right: Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society Mr Victor Cha, Executive Committee members of the Hong Kong Arts Festival Society The Hon Mr Justice Ribeiro, Ms Nikki Ng, Mrs Yu-san Leong and The Hon Martin Liao)

Tickets to all HKAF performances can be purchased at all URBTIX outlets (online booking: www.urbtix.hk or telephone booking: 2111 5999). In addition, tickets to performances at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts will also be available at all HK Ticketing outlets (online booking: www.hkticketing.com or telephone booking: 31 288 288)

About the Hong Kong Arts Festival (www.hk.artsfestival.org)
Launched in 1973, the HKAF is a major international arts festival committed to enriching the life of the city. In February and March every year, the Festival presents about 140 performances and serves an audience of close to 150,000. The Festival features the world’s top artists as well as stars of tomorrow and gives equal importance to great traditions and contemporary creations. The Festival also commissions and produces work in theatre, chamber opera and contemporary dance by Hong Kong’s own creative talents and emerging artists, a number of which have had successful runs in Asia after their Hong Kong premiere. Every year the Festival also presents over 200 outreach events comprising: events for Young Friends, other education activities with schools and community groups, and PLUS for the general public. The Festival is a non-profit organisation, with just under 30% of annual revenue from government funding, around 40% from the box office, and over 30% from sponsorships and donations from corporations, individuals, and charitable foundations.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Please contact:
Wendy Chung (Opera and Classical Music) Tel: 2828 4931 Email: wendy.chung@hkaf.org
Alexia Chow (Chinese Opera, Theatre and Dance) Tel: 2828 4933 Email: alexia.chow@hkaf.org
Nick Chan (World/Jazz Music, Theatre) Tel: 2828 4932 Email: nick.chan@hkaf.org

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