On October 28, the Hong Kong String Orchestra appeared at the Shanghai International Arts Festival "Art Sky" with a new work "Flowers" adapted from the theme soundtrack of the TV series "Flowers", reliving the popular hits of the 1990s on the bowstring. On the afternoon of the pe

10html28htmlOn May 5th, the Hong Kong String Orchestra presented a new work "Flowers" adapted from the theme soundtrack of the TV series "Flowers" at the "Art Sky" of the Shanghai International Arts Festival, reliving the popular hits of the 1950s on the bowstring. . On the afternoon of the performance, the musicians came to the Hengfu Historical Reserve and held a music flash mob at the century-old Blackstone Apartments.

The popular TV series "Flowers" uses Wong Kar-Wai's unique lens language to tell the story of "Once Upon a Time in Shanghai" in the great era, and dozens of popular hits from the 90 era in the drama are the finishing touch. "Flowers" is available on major music broadcasting platforms 》ost rushed to the popular list for a while.

"Hong Kong pop music culture is a very important part of Hong Kong culture, and the story takes place in Shanghai. The two cities of Shanghai and Hong Kong are connected by 'flowers', which is the cultural and emotional resonance of Shanghai and Hong Kong." Founded by the orchestra People and art director Yao Jue said. The Hong Kong String Orchestra specially invited composer Foo Yuen-wai to combine Hong Kong pop music with Western string techniques, and adapted the golden songs of the era such as "What I Want in Life", "Unrepented" and "I Like You" into string versions to relive the glory days.

The flash mob attracted many citizens and tourists, and even children danced to the beautiful melody. The musicians of the Hong Kong String Orchestra also performed an impromptu performance of "Shanghai Beach" and many old Hong Kong songs.

Members of the Hong Kong String Orchestra held a "pop-up" at Blackstone Apartments

Ten years of a private orchestra

Yao Jue was born in a musical family, and has several educational experiences from Shangyin High School to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and then to the Juilliard School of Music. Open up a broad horizon for her. After graduation, she became active on the world stage as a soloist.

In 2013, she founded the Hong Kong String Orchestra, with its founding members 11html. The orchestra has two purposes: one is to provide a stage for local young musicians in Hong Kong so that they can become performers. The second one is to bring the joy and energy of music to every corner of Hong Kong.

"There are a large number of graduates from the Academy of Performing Arts every year. More than ten years ago, there were only two orchestras in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. Music students all flocked to these two orchestras, but the places were very limited. "Most graduates can only choose to teach to make a living," Yao Jue lamented, "Standing on the stage to show their talents is their ideal destination."

From soloist to orchestra artistic director, Yao Jue went from scratch. start. She understands the hardships and difficulties of running a private orchestra, and travels between the government, sponsors and partner organizations every day to seek resources and cooperation opportunities.

While exploring and growing, Hong Kong String Orchestra has set many "firsts" : Hong Kong's first classical music pop-up, the first to expand the online live broadcast platform in Hong Kong and the Mainland to launch a live online concert series, 1021 Guinness World Records for "Largest String Ensemble".

10html From April 26 to 12html April 16, the Hong Kong String Orchestra, which has just entered its second decade, embarked on a high-profile mainland tour, touring Qingdao, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, Chengdu, Xi'an, Zhongshan, Zhuhai, etc.14 city. Yao Jue said : "I hope that every time we perform, every minute and every second, we can 'catch' the audience's hearts, hear different styles of sounds, and let people see more colors and plasticity of the orchestra."

Hong Kong String orchestra musicians "pop-up" at Blackstone Apartments

innovatively present the beauty of traditional culture

There is no shortage of good classical orchestras in the Hong Kong performing arts market. The Hong Kong string orchestra must find another way and go its own way. The adaptation of folk songs and popular songs and the innovative expression of traditional Chinese culture have become the orchestra's unique artistic background.

Looking at the Hong Kong String Orchestra's mainland tour program, in addition to Western classical sounds such as Vivaldi and Dag · Veren, popular music such as "Gu Jiahui Mixed Golden Songs Echoes" and "Flowers Golden Songs" are also featured. In addition, there are also pieces such as "Cantonese Opera Fantasy" commissioned by the orchestra and composed by Yip Guohui, and "Fangma Folk Song" and "Qing Ping Diao" which are rich in Chinese traditional music culture. Yao Jue said: "As a Hong Kong orchestra, we must fully demonstrate Hong Kong's diverse culture that integrates Chinese and Western cultures, as well as its vibrant and innovative side."

And spreading the excellent traditional Chinese culture to the world is the key to Yao Jue and the Hong Kong String Orchestra Years of perseverance. "Use the world's common musical language to introduce Chinese culture to a global audience. String art is a good medium. The key is to create more good works." Yao Jue said that Chinese culture is the root of Chinese artists. Every overseas tour of the Hong Kong String Orchestra will deliberately arrange Chinese works to spread Chinese culture and tell Chinese stories.

Recently, Yao Jue collaborated with the Hong Kong Dance Company on a large-scale dance poem "Quick Snow and Sunny" - Random thoughts on Wang Xizhi's calligraphy. allows Western string music and Eastern calligraphy to blend and collide with different sparks. In Hong Kong, Yao Jue is also the first violinist to share the stage with a pop singer, which allows her to find a breakthrough for classical music to reach the general public. During this tour, the orchestra presented the world premiere of "Flowers of Golden Songs".

This year’s mainland tour also fulfills Yao Jue’s long-cherished wish – to introduce Lingnan culture to more audiences. She discussed with many composers and wanted to present Cantonese opera with a new look to today's young people, until she met Yip Kwok-fai, and the two hit it off. Yip Kwok-fai's "Cantonese Opera Fantasy" is also the first time the Hong Kong String Orchestra has commissioned a composer to create it. It will be premiered at the 4th "Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Culture and Arts Festival" to be held in April.

Hong Kong String Orchestra musicians lit up the hearts of children with music in a "pop-up" at Blackstone Apartments

2015 In 2015, with the support of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Yao Jue launched the "Music Energy Project". The plan includes three music education projects: bringing music to every corner of Hong Kong’s 18 district, so that grassroots families who have never entered a concert hall have the opportunity to appreciate classical music; through cooperation with primary and secondary schools, providing children from grassroots families in Hong Kong with Provide free music education, and establish a "Xianguang Show Orchestra" for children, giving them opportunities to participate in rehearsals and performances, and building a platform to realize their music dreams.

Over the past nine years, the Music Energy Project has benefited 700 many grassroots families in need. The children receive systematic music training, progress step by step, grow up, and finally stand in the spotlight. Just like the name of the band "String Light", uses music to illuminate children's hearts . Today, the children of "Xianguang" often participate in performances in communities and nursing homes together with young musicians from the Hong Kong String Orchestra to spread the joy of music. The orchestra, stage, and community form a closed loop with "music energy" as its core.

"Music is powerful. It not only teaches them playing skills, but also the spirit of self-improvement, optimism, positivity and perseverance." Yao Jue believes that although not all children can eventually embark on the path of professional performance, music has changed It brightens their mental outlook and lights up their hearts. "Using music to light up children's artistic life also lights up the future of Hong Kong."

Coincidentally, Yao Jue teamed up with eight major universities in Hong Kong to create the "Mentorship Program" to allow young musicians from the Hong Kong String Orchestra and college students to make friends through music. . "I hope that music can influence everyone around us layer by layer, form a cyclical music ecology, and build a more harmonious society." Yao Jue said.

Entering its second decade, Yao Jue, who continues to explore and innovate, has more expectations for the development of the Hong Kong String Orchestra. "Professionally, I hope that the Hong Kong String Orchestra can further improve and make more Western audiences fall in love with Chinese culture through our string art. At the same time, I also hope that our music can influence more children and change their lives." Family, life and future.”