The 52nd Hong Kong Arts Festival officially concluded today
More than 1,400 outstanding international and local artists staged 47 programmes in over 150 performances Over 92% of tickets available at the box office were sold(Hong Kong, 22 March 2024)The 52nd Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF) celebrated its official finale today (22 March) with a performance of A Sigh of Love by the Shanghai Ballet. The Finale Toasting Ceremony was held after the performance at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The Officiating Party included Guest of Honour Mr Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, who was joined by Professor Kingman Lo, Vice-Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival; Mr Joe Wong Chi-cho, Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr Vincent Liu Ming-kwong, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services; Dr Liu Yagan, Chairman and Executive Director of ICBC (Asia); Ms Winnie Yip, Head of Charities (Culture, Sports and Community Engagement) at The Hong Kong Jockey Club; and Ms Flora Yu, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival. The Festival Finale performance was exclusively sponsored by ICBC (Asia).[Download photos of the closing ceremony here]The one-month long Hong Kong Arts Festival this year presented more than 1,400 acclaimed artists from at home and around the world in over 150 performances of 47 programmes. The featured works included 10 new works/world premieres, five Asian premieres and two co-productions. Over 92% of tickets available at the box office were sold. In addition, about 100 free events took place over two weekends at HKartsFestival@TaiKwun, while approximately 340 Festival PLUS and education activities, including two exhibitions, were also organized by the HKAF. The Festival is estimated to have reached more than 300,000 people from Hong Kong, mainland China and overseas through its diverse range of performances and events this year.The HKAF sincerely thanks the Hong Kong SAR Government via the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, commercial sector sponsors, other charitable foundations, Patron’s Club members, individual and institutional donors, in-kind and other supporters, as well as the Hong Kong Arts Festival Foundation patrons for their contribution. The Festival also thanks over 1,400 exceptional international and local artists, as well as audience members and event participants for their support.
PROGRAMMES OF THE 52ND HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVAL IN 2024The 52nd HKAF in 2024 offered a splendid range of programmes from different genres:Opera programmes included:• Richard Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos performed by the Bayerische Staatsoper (Bavarian State Opera)• The First Troupe of the China National Peking Opera Company performing Princess Changping, The Cosmos Sword (excerpts), Reconciliation between the General and the Prime Minister (excerpts), Escorting Su San to Trial and The Zhuge Liang Trilogy• The Peony Pavilion (Complete Version) performed by the Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe • Shanghai Pingtan Troupe• Cantonese opera The Oracle by Canto OpDance programmes included:• A Sigh of Love performed by the Shanghai Ballet• Jérôme Bel, directed and translated by Enoch Cheng, performed by Dick Wong, with a special appearance by Mui Cheuk-yin• Le Corsaire performed by the Teatro alla Scala Ballet Company (La Scala Ballet)• Farruquito—Flamenco• NO.60 by the Pichet Klunchun Dance Company• Arab Arts Focus—Losing It with creators and performers Samaa Wakim and Samar Haddad King; and Resonance with choreographers and performers Peggy Lam and Salma Salem• Arab Arts Focus—Anchoring with choreographer and performer Salma Salem; and The Contours of Silence with choreographer and performer Sudhee Liao and director Samar Haddad KingMusic programmes included:• Celebrating 40 Years—Mother Nature performed by Angélique Kidjo • Chamber Concert by Soloists of Bayerisches Staatsorchester• Bright & Black performed by the Baltic Sea Philharmonic• Nutcracker Reimagined performed by the Baltic Sea Philharmonic• Van Gogh In Me performed by the Netherlands Chamber Choir• Hankyung arte Philharmonic with conductor Wilson Ng and pianist Minsoo Sohn• Family Concert by the Hankyung arte Philharmonic• Vivaldi's L'estro armónico performed by Concerto Italiano• Concert by violinist Akiko Suwanai with the Festival Strings Lucerne and Daniel Dodds• Minsoo Sohn Piano Recital• Birthday Programme, Music of the Sistine Chapel and Darkness to Light by The Tallis Scholars• The Promise performed by Wende• Garden of Repose—a Multimedia Choral Concert by Sanders Lau, Ivanhoe Lam and the choir NOĒMA• Fly LIVE! Senri Kawaguchi & Hong Kong Sinfonietta• Music About China—A Dialogue between the Bianzhong and the Organ by the Hong Kong Chinese OrchestraTheatre programmes included:• Arab Arts Focus—Untitled 14KM by Youness Atbane• Courville by Robert Lepage and Ex Machina • Tempest Project by Théâtre des Bouffes du Nord• Julius Caesar by Contemporary Legend Theatre• Miss Julie, adapted by Amy Ng and directed by Tony Wong• Royal Lyceum Edinburgh Theatre—Truth’s a Dog Must to Kennel by Tim Crouch• The Smile Off Your Face and A Game of You by Ontroerend Goed from Belgium with Hong Kong artists• Playing Fields by The ChopMusical programme included:• China Resources Group Proudly Sponsors I Am What I Am the Musical by composer, music arranger and music director Leon Ko, lyricist Chris Shum, playwright Cheung Fei-fan and director Terence Sin, featuring Jordan Cheng, Kit Chan, Chu Pak-him, Belinda Chan Lam-yan, Fung Chi-yau and Sam Lau in the leading rolesMultimedia programme included:• Miwa Matreyek's World of Animation
FESTIVAL PLUS AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIESIn addition to the main programme, the Festival also offered about 340 Festival PLUS, educational and outreach events in performance venues and community locations.Festival PLUS offered a comprehensive range of cultural activities including talks, masterclasses, workshops, backstage tours, meet-the-artist sessions, film screenings, as well as exhibitions to enrich the community’s Festival experience.The HKAF’s Young Friends Scheme remained popular amongst students this year. More than 90 school tour showcases and in-school workshops reached more than 13,000 students, and around 4,000 secondary and tertiary school students became members of Young Friends. Discounted student tickets were in high demand and more than 11,000 were made available, fully supported by donations to the Student Ticket Scheme.With the support of corporate sponsors, the HKAF organises a wide range of outreach programmes via the school-based projects as well as arts appreciation performances and workshops targeted at young students. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust continues to sponsor the Student Matinee programme, enabling several thousand students, who might otherwise have lacked the resources or opportunities, to attend two performances by the Hankyung arte Philharmonic.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe Hong Kong Arts Festival is most grateful to its funder and sponsors for their support. These include: the Hong Kong SAR Government via the Leisure and Cultural Services Department; The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust; ICBC (Asia); China Minsheng Bank; China Resources (Holdings) Co., Ltd; HKR International; Industrial Bank Co. Ltd. Hong Kong Branch; Primasia Foundation Limited; Shun Hing Group; Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund; SPDB International Holdings Limited; Official Airline Cathay Pacific Airways Limited; Official Premium Car Partner Dah Chong Hong (Motor Leasing) Limited; Official Outdoor Media Partner POADmedia Limited; Official Video Technology Partner TFI Digital Media Limited; and Major Hotel Partners Grand Hyatt Hong Kong and The Langham, Hong Kong.
ABOUT THE HONG KONG ARTS FESTIVALLaunched in 1973, the Hong Kong Arts Festival is a major international arts festival committed to enriching the cultural life of the city. In February and March every year, the Festival presents leading local and international artists from all genres of the performing arts, giving equal importance to great traditions and contemporary creations. The Festival also commissions and produces work in theatre, music, chamber opera and contemporary dance by Hong Kong’s own creative talents and emerging artists, many of which have subsequently had successful runs in Hong Kong and overseas. Every year, the Festival also presents more than 250 “PLUS” and educational activities that offer diverse arts experiences to the community as well as tertiary, secondary and primary school students. In addition, through the “No Limits” project co-presented with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, the Festival strives to create an inclusive space for people of different abilities to share the joy of the arts together.For more information about the Hong Kong Arts Festival, please visit www.hk.artsfestival.org.
MEDIA ENQUIRIESFor further enquiries, please contact:• Ms Katy Cheng (Marketing Director): (852) 2828 4930 / katy.cheng@hkaf.org• Ms Tobie Chan (Marketing Manager): (852) 2828 4931 / tobie.chan@hkaf.org
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Officiating Guests at the Finale Toasting Ceremony of the 52nd Hong Kong Arts Festival on 22 March included: (from Left to right) Mr Vincent Liu, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services; Dr Liu Yagan, Chairman & Executive Director of ICBC (Asia); Prof. Kingman Lo, SBS MBE JP, Vice- Chairman of the Hong Kong Arts Festival; Mr Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Mr Joe Wong Chi-cho, Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism; Ms Winnie Yip, Head of Charities (Culture, Sports and Community Engagement) of The Hong Kong Jockey Club; and Ms Flora Yu, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Arts Festival.
Mr Chan Kwok-ki, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, gives a speech at the Finale Toasting Ceremony.