Four Rhymes of the Pear Garden - Butterfly Lovers · Mu Guiying [Priority Package Offer]

Program Introduction

"Four Rhymes of the Pear Garden: The Butterfly Lovers · Mu Guiying" is a symphonic feast deeply rooted in the traditions of Chinese opera. Under the baton of conductor Hu Bo-duan, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra reinterprets five classic works across four major theatrical traditions: Beijing, Kunqu, Cantonese, and Yue opera. This concert transforms the nuanced art of Chinese opera—its singing, recitation, action, and acrobatics—into captivating orchestral movements, offering a profound experience of the interplay between traditional drama and symphonic Chinese music.

Highlights

• Reimagined Classics: The concert opens with Wu Hua's "Pear Garden Fantasia," setting the stage for the theatrical journey. The programme includes the beloved Gaohu concerto "The Butterfly Lovers," which seamlessly merges the romanticism of Yue opera with symphonic Chinese music. Additionally, "Spring Dream," inspired by the Kunqu classic "The Peony Pavilion," delicately captures deep emotions through intricate instrumental arrangements.
• Featured Vocalist: Celebrated young Cantonese opera virtuoso Lin Yingshi joins the stage to perform the classic Cantonese aria "Zhaojun Out of the Frontier," originally composed by Ma Sitsang and arranged by Guan Naizhong, poignantly depicting Zhaojun's longing for her homeland.
• Grand Finale: The concert concludes with the symphonic poem "Mu Guiying Takes Command," arranged by Guan Naizhong, which utilizes Beijing opera motifs to vividly portray the legendary heroine's heroic spirit.

Performers

• Conductor: Hu Bo-duan
• Eco-Gaohu: Mao Qinghua
• Vocals: Lin Yingshi
• Orchestra: Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra

Ticketing Information

• Performance Dates: April 9, 2027 (20:00) and April 10, 2027 (17:00)
• Ticket Prices: HK$480, $380, $300, $250
• Discounts: Priority package offers are available. Booking 5 or more concerts grants a 20% discount (excludes half-price tickets). Half-price concessions are available for full-time students, seniors aged 60+, people with disabilities and their minders, and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients.

Venue & Access

The concert will be held at the Tsuen Wan Town Hall Auditorium.