Programme

Rigoletto is an opera in three acts by the Italian genius Giuseppe Verdi, set to a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave based on the play Le roi s'amuse by Victor Hugo.  Premiered in Venice in 1851, the work was Verdi's first international triumph and ranks among the most frequently performed operas in the world.  The protagonist of the tragic story is a hunch-backed court jester who encourages his master, the Duke of Mantua, to indulge in a licentious and lustful life until his own daughter, Gilda, falls victim to the Duke's seduction.  Rigoletto's plot to have his master murdered backfires and results in Gilda's death.  Verdi imbued this work with enchanting melodies, strong dramatic situations, powerful characterization and intense emotions. This special production by Musica Viva of Hong Kong features a team of world-renowned opera stars who have sung with the Metropolitan Opera of New York, Chicago Lyric Opera, Royal Opera of London and some of the most prestigious companies world-wide, performing with excellent young artists of Hong Kong.  The production is directed by Lo King-man and conducted by Lio Kuok-man.

Programme

Duet: "Sull'aria" from Le nozze di Figaro by Mozart
Shirley Yeung, Soprano and Jessica Ng, Soprano

"Connais-tu le pays" from Mignon by Thomas
Nancy Li, Mezzo-soprano

"Art is calling for me" from The Enchantress by Victor Herbert
"Think of me" from The Phantom of the Opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber
Claudia Chan, Soprano

"Recondita armonia" from Tosca by Puccini
"Heidenroslein" by Schubert
Simon Chan, Tenor

"Je suis encor tout etourdie" from Manon by Massenet
"O mio babbino caro" from Gianni Schicchi by Puccini
Ng Yen Yen, Soprano

"Piangero la sorta mia" from Giulio Cesare by Handel
Lovina Hui, Alto

"Der Hoelle Rache" from Magic Flute by Mozart
Jessica Ng, Soprano

"Per me giunto" from Don Carlo by Verdi
"L'ultima Canzone" by Tosti
Li Yat Sing, Baritone

"Si, michiamano Mimi" from La Boheme by Puccini
Shirley Yeung, Soprano

"Pace, pace" from La forza del destino by Verdi
Pancy Wong, Soprano

"Amigos para siempre" by Andrew Lloyd Webber
All singers

Accompanists: Albert Kwong, Patience Fung

The Cast

Cavalleria Rusicana
Santuzza: Janara Kellerman (1)(3), Mezzo-soprano; Carol Lin (2), Mezzo-soprano; Louise Kwong (4), Soprano
Turriddu: John Daniecki (2)(3), Tenor; Jeffrey Hartman (1)(4), Tenor
Alfio: Grant Youngblood (2)(3), Baritone; Brian Montgomery (1)(4), Baritone
Lola: Melody Sze, Mezzo-soprano
Lucia: Cynthia Luff, Mezzo-soprano
     
I Pagliacci    
Nedda: Kristin Sampson (1)(3), Soprano; Yuki Ip (2)(4), Soprano
Canio: John Daniecki (1)(4), Tenor; Jeffrey Hartman (2)(3), Tenor
Tonio: Grant Youngblood (1)(4), Baritone; Brian Montgomery (2)(3), Baritone
Beppe: Alex Tam (1)(3)(4), Tenor; Christopher Leung (2), Tenor
Silvio: Nicholas Provenzale, Baritone

Performances (1): 4 Jan; (2): 5 Jan at 2:45pm; (3): 5 Jan at 7:45pm; (4): 6 Jan

Chorus of The Opera Society of Hong Kong
Chorusmaster: Raymond Fu

Synopsis

Cavelleria Rusticana

The story is set in a Sicilian village around 1890.  On Easter morning, Turiddu is heard singing about his beloved, Lola, who is now married to the merchant-carter, Alfio.  Santuzza, a young woman who has been seduced and impregnated by Turiddu, arrives at the tavern of his mother, Lucia.  Santuzza is desperate because of her heavy sense of guilt.  The dialogue of the women is interrupted by the entrance of Alfio.  Despite his outspoken pride and affection for his wife, Alfio also becomes suspicious of Turiddu's relationship with Lola.  While the villagers are attending mass, Santuzza encounters Turiddu.  She confronts him and hopes to win him back.  However, all is in vain.  Not only does Turiddu forsake her, she is also mocked by Lola who passes by.  Santuzza curses Turiddu as he enters church after Lola.  Out of rage and jealousy, Santuzza revenges by revealing the affair to Alfio.

The action is suspended by the idyllic Intermezzo.  After the mass, Turiddu and the villagers gather for wine at the tavern.  Alfio's refusal to drink with Turridu provokes a challenge to a duel of knives.  According to a long tradition of rustic chivalry, Turiddu takes the initiative with an embrace and a bite on Alfio's right ear, meaning the two shall fight till death.  Turiddu bids an impassioned farewell to his mother and asks her to take care of Santuzza if he does not return.  As the duel takes place in a nearby orchard, Mamma Lucia and Santuzza wait anxiously.  Blood-curdling shouts are heard in the distance.  A woman stumbles in, crying "Turiddu has been killed."

I Pagliacci

Prologue.   The story takes places on the Feast of Assumption in a Calabrian village in southern Italy around 1870.  Before the curtain rises, the actor Tonio delivers a prologue, telling the audience they will see a real-life drama.

Act I.   The curtain rises with the arrival of a troupe of traveling actors, greeted enthusiastically by the village folk. Canio, the head of the troupe, describes that night's offering.  When someone jokingly suggests that Tonio is secretly attracted to his young wife, Nedda, he vehemently cautions that he will tolerate no such thing.  As Canio takes off with fellow actor Beppe to join the villagers in a tavern, Nedda is left alone.  Worried that Canio might soon discover her affair with Silvio, one of the villagers, she sings of her longing for freedom.  Tonio sneaks in and tries to make love to Nedda.  She scorns him and repels him with a whip.  Tonio leaves, swearing vengeance.  Silvio arrives and persuades Nedda to elope with him at midnight.  The rendezvous is seen by Tonio, who seizes the chance to break the news to Canio.  The enraged husband bursts in, Silvio escapes in time and Nedda is threatened at knifepoint to reveal her lover's name, but she adamantly refuses.  Tonio advises Canio to catch Nedda's lover in the evening.  As Canio dons his costume and makeup for the play, he expresses his bitterness for the life of a clown - he must laugh although his heart is breaking.

Act II. As night falls, the villagers eagerly anticipate the featured comedy, Pagliaccio e Colombina.  In the absence of her husband, Pagliaccio (Canio), Colombina (Nedda) dismisses her servant, Taddeo (Tonio) and sets the table for dinner with her lover Arlecchino (Beppe).  Pagliaccio returns home unexpectedly and Arlecchino escapes through the window.  Taddeo mockingly assures Pagliaccio of his wife's innocence.  The parallels between Pagliaccio and himself fuel Canio's jealousy to no end.  No longer playing the comedy, Canio demands that Nedda reveal her lover's name.  Despite Nedda's futile effort to continue playing her part, Canio's blood-thirsted demeanor can no longer be restrained.  He stabs Nedda and then Silvio, who has revealed himself from the crowd and tries to intervene.  The audience, who has previously marvelled at the realism of the play, is left dumbfounded as Canio cries out "the comedy is ended."

Date: Monday, 29 October 2012
Time:  8:00pm
Venue: Concert Hall, City Hall, Hong Kong

Soloists: Nancy Yuen, Alex Tam, Brian Montgomery
Chorus and Orchestra of The Opera Society of Hong Kong
Conducted by Raymond Fu

Programme:

Favorite opera choruses from our repertoire:
Triumphal March from Aida by Verdi
Humming Chorus from Madama Butterfly by Pucinni
Soldiers' Chorus from Faust by Gounod
Anvil Chorus from Il Trovatore by Verdi
Witches Chorus from Macbeth by Verdi
"Va, pensiero" from Nabucco by Verdi
Finale "Im Feuerstrom der Reben" from Act II, Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II
Finale from Turandot by Puccini

Chorus with soloists, children's chorus, guest soloists, and special opera excerpts:
"Avec la garde montane" from Carmen by Bizet
"Les voici" from Carmen by Bizet
Toreador Song from Carmen by Bizet
"Un bel di, vedremo" from Madama Butterfly by Puccini
"Si, mi chiamano Mimi" from La Boheme by Puccini
"Quanta e Bella" from L'elisir d'amore by Donizetti
"Cruda funesta smania" from Lucia di Lammermoor "Donizetti
Excerpts from Act I, Turandot by Puccini


Ticketing: $300   $200   $100
Tickets will be available at all URBTIX outlets, on Internet and by telephone from late September 2012.
URBTIX Internet Ticketing: http://www.urbtix.hk
Credit Card Telephone Booking: 21115999
30% discount for Students and Senior Citizen.
10% discount for purchase of 10 tickets or more.

Audition for new chorus members to join in our 20th Anniversary Concert (now closed).

"Opera Passion" 20th Anniversary Gala Concert reviews:
Review by Prof Liu Ching-chih, Hong Kong Economic Journal, 7 November 2012 (in Chinese)
Review by Prof Rupert Chan, Hong Kong Economic Journal, 15 November 2012 (in Chinese)

Children chorus singers (ages 6-12) are now invited to audition and join us on stage to perform in two programmes:
Avec la garde montane and Les voici from Carmen by Bizet, and
La sui monti dell'Est from Turandot by Puccini

Rehearsals:
28 Sep 12 (Fri) 6-7:30pm Li Hall, St. John's Cathedral
5 Oct 12 (Fri) 6-7:30pm Li Hall, St. John's Cathedral
12 Oct 12 (Fri) 6-7:30pm Fanny Li Hall, St. John's Cathedral
18 Oct 12 (Thu) 7-8:30pm Li Hall, St. John's Cathedral
25 Oct 12 (Thu) 7-8:30pm Leighton Hill Community Hall*
27 Oct 12 (Sat) 7:30-9:30pm Leighton Hill Community Hall*
(*Leighton Hill Community Hall, 133 Wong Nai Chung Road , Happy Valley, Hong Kong)

Performance:
29 Oct 12 (Mon) Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall
(Call Time 6:45pm on stage, performance at 8pm)

Second Audition date: 25 September 2012 (Tuesday)
Time: 7:00pm
Venue: Cultural Activities Hall, Sai Wan Ho Civic Theatre (2/F)

First Audition date: 11 September 2012 (Tuesday)
Time: 6:30-7:30pm
Venue : Fanny Li Hall, St. John's Cathedral, 4-8 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong

Send in an audition request for your children now:
http://tinyurl.com/oshk-audition1209

Audition confirmation will be given via email.

Children Chorus requirements:
Age: 6-12
Audition will consist of singing a short song of own choice (please bring 2 sets of scores to audition). Accompanist will be provided.

Thank you for joining us!

Experienced singers are now invited to audition for chorus members.

Rehearsals on Tuesdays and Fridays starting 4 September with additional rehearsals after mid-October.

Audition date: 27 August 2012 (Monday)
Time slots: 7:30-8:00pm; 8:00-8:30pm; 8:30-9:00pm; 9:00-9:30pm
Venue : Li Hall, St. John's Cathedral, 4-8 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong

Send in your audition request now:
http://tinyurl.com/oshk-join-us
(indicate preferred time slot(s) in the Other Information box)

Send in deadline : 20 August 2012 (Monday) 
Audition confirmation will be given via email.

Chorus members' basic requirements:
Age: 18 or above
Chorus experience: 3 years or more (with formal vocal training preferred)
Audition will consist of singing an aria of own choice (please bring 2 sets of scores to audition) and a sight-singing test. Accompanist will be provided.

Chorus rehearsals will be held 7-10 pm every Monday and Thursday from mid-October on.

Our chorus audition will be held on 1 October 2011 (Saturday) 2-6 pm at GP2, 9/F, Backstage, Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon.

Apply online now.

Transportation: Guangzhou-Kowloon Through Train
Accommodation: White Swan Hotel / Crowne Plaza Hotel City Centre

OPERA NIGHT: 7 May 2011 (Sat) 8pm
Tosca by Puccini, a joint production by Rome Opera House and the Guangzhou Opera House
Performers info (in Chinese)
Ticket Price: 2280 (VIP) 1680 1280 880 680 380 180 (RMB)
Venue: Guangzhou Opera House

Tour Budget: About HK$1,500 (incl. hotel accommodation, transport and meals), plus opera performance ticket (depending on the price category)

If you are interested, please call Ms Si-lai Li (94605319) to book your place and ticket for the tour, or ask for more information about this tour.

More info at Facebook event (account login required).

25 March 2011 - Notice is hereby given that the 2011 Annual General Meeting of The Opera Society of Hong Kong will be held on the following date, time and place:

Date:  Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Time: 7:30pm (registration from 7:15pm)
Place: David Kwok Room, St John's Cathedral, Central, Hong Kong

Meeting agenda, minutes of the last AGM held on 10 May 2010, and financial reports and accounts and other documents have been sent to all eligible members on 25 March 2011. Please contact our Honorary Secretary Margaret Sang at 94513166 if you have not received them. See you all at the AGM on 13 April 2011!

Producer/Director: Lo Kingman
Conductor: Lio Kuok-man
Chorusmaster: Raymond Fu
Performance: 21-23 January 2011 (Fri-Sun), including matinee show on 22 Jan (Sat)
Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hal

Audition for L'Elisir d'Amore chorus members.

3 October 2010 - The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present Donizetti's well-loved romantic opera L'Elisir d'Amore (The Elixir of Love) in January 2011. The Opera Society of Hong Kong, Mr Raymond Fu, Chorusmaster, is the performing chorus in this full opera production. 

Experienced singers are now invited to audition for chorus members. Four performances will be held on 21-23 January 2011 (Friday-Sunday), including a matinee show on 22 January, at the Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall.  More details.

Chorus rehearsals will be held evenings 7-10 pm every Monday and Thursday starting from mid-November.

AUDITION FOR CHORUS MEMBERS

Our chorus audition will be held on 18 October 2010 (Monday) 7-9 pm at GR1, 6/F, Backstage, Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, 10 Salisbury Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon.

Interested singers apply online for audition now! Alternatively, you may download and mail in your completed application forms:

Application Form - Chorus for L'Elisir d'Amore (English)
Application Form - Chorus for L'Elisir d'Amore (Chinese)

Chorus members' basic requirements:
Age: 18 or above
Chorus experience: 3 years or more (with formal vocal training preferred)
Audtion will consist of singing an aria of own choice (please bring 2 sets of copy to audition) and a sight singing test.

** Application deadline: 11 October 2010.** Audition appointments will be confirmed by telephone. For enquiries, please call Ms Tse of Musica Viva at 69762877.

Thank you for joining in!

Date: 4 May 2010 (Tue)
Time: 8:00pm
Venue: Hall 5BC, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Tickets: $3,380, $2,280, $1,980, $1,280, $980, $680  via HK Ticketing

Tenor: Andrea Bocelli
Conductor: Eugene Kohn
Soprano: Sabina Cvilak
Flute: Andrea Griminelli
Special Guest: Delta Goodrem
Philharmonic Taiwan
Chorus of The Opera Society of Hong Kong
Chorusmaster: Raymond Fu

Programme includes operatic excerpts:  
Verdi: La donna e'mobile from 'Rigoletto'
Mascagni: Brindisi from 'Cavalleria rusticana'        
Cilea: Io son l'umile ancella from 'Adriana Lecouvreur'    
Verdi: Di quella pira from 'Il trovatore'
Puccini: O soave fanciulla from 'La Boheme'
Gounod: Kermesse Waltz from 'Faust'
Gounod: Il se fait tard from 'Faust'
Verdi: Brindisi from 'La Traviata'            

and selections from Andrea Bocelli's bestselling albums: 
Titomaglio: Voglio vivere cosi
Aniello: Vieni sul mar
Cottrau: Santa Lucia   
Lara: Granada 
Monti: Czardas
Denza: Funiculi, funicula
Sartori: Canto della terra

Experienced quality singers are welcome to apply for audition.

Andrea Bocelli Tour 2010 Hong Kong on Facebook.

Producer/Director: Lo King-man
Conductor: Lio Kuok-man
Chorus Master: Raymond Fu
Performance: 29-31 January 2010 (Fri-Sun), including matinee show on 30 Jan (Sat)
Venue: Concert Hall, City Hall, Hong Kong

Synopsis: Marie, found abandoned as a baby on the battlefield, was adopted and raised by soldiers. She is the darling of the regiment. When a Marquise tells the Sergeant that Marie is actually her niece and she must leave the regiment, the troops are heartbroken. The Marquise plans to educate and marry Marie in a manner befitting a lady of quality, but Marie wants only to return to her regiment and Tonio, the man she loves.

Audition for La Fille du Regiment chorus members.

Chorus rehearsals will be held evenings 7-10 pm Mondays and Thursdays starting from mid-November.

FIRST REHEARSAL & AUDITION

An audition for male chorus singers is scheduled at our first rehearsal on 12 November (Thu) 7:30-9:30 pm at GR2, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. Come join us for the rehearsal and we’ll hear your voice afterwards.

Interested tenors and basses please register for the audition by sending a email to chorus@opera.org.hk and provide your (a) Full Name (b) Voice Part (c) Contact phone and email (d) Chorus experience/music background.

OCTOBER AUDITION

Our first-round audition will be held on 10 October 2009 (Sat) 7-9 pm at St John's Cathedral, 4-8 Garden Road, Hong Kong. Interested singers are most welcome to apply for chorus audition online. Alternatively, you may download and mail in your completed application forms:

Application Form - Chorus for La Fille du Regiment (English)
Application Form - Chorus for La Fille du Regiment (Chinese)

Chorus members' basic requirements:
Age: 18 or above
Chorus experience: 3 years or more (with formal vocal training preferred)
Audtion will consist of singing an aria of own choice (please bring 2 sets of copy to audition) and a sight singing test.

Application deadline: 3 October 2009. Audition appointments will be confirmed by telephone in early October. For enquiries, please email Chorus Coordinator of the Opera Society of Hong Kong at chorus@opera.org.hk or call Ms Leung of Musica Viva at 97512834.

La Fille du Regiment will provide an exciting opportunity to learn, to perform, and to enjoy as a full-scale opera production. Thank you for joining in!