Music Hong Kong Travel Guides | Hong Kong | Arts and Entertainment | Music Hong Kong

The best-loved genre of music by far is Cantopop, but if that is hard to handle then there are many choices of classical with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, Chinese classical, Chinese opera, contemporary music and jazz, played in a variety of venues. Western pop and rock caters to a very mainstream market and there are no real surprises. Jazz is limited to a handful of venues around Central, the occasional big star performing at one of the Cultural Centres. For more avant-garde stuff, check the Fringe Club.

Cantonese Opera is an acquired taste but is definitely a very different musical experience and a highly respected art form dating back to the late 12th century, which combines heroic tales, action, Chinese legends, music and drama. Performances are often over three hours long and are lost on the novice if there are no surtitles, although from a purely visual spectacle its incredible costumes and make-up are definitely entertaining. The Sun Beam Cinema is one of the only traditional venues of pure Cantonese Opera, and one of the most authentic experiences of its traditional roots is at Temple Street Night Market. Other forms of Chinese opera, like Peking and Sichuan, can be seen at various Cultural Centres and are more likely to have surtitles.

Cantonese Opera Appreciation Tour, Hong Kong Heritage Museum 1 Man Lam Rd, Sha Tin, registration T 2508 1234. 1430- 1545 Sat. This tour around the museum’s section on Cantonese Opera is a great introduction before going to a performance, offering something of an insight into an otherwise often baffling experience.

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, 8/F Administative Building, HK Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui, T 2721 2030, http://www.hkpo.com 0900-1815 Mon-Fri, 0900-1300 Sat. Going strong since 1895 with 89 members, this is the city’s oldest and largest orchestra and has performed with stars like Isaac Stern, Yo-Yo Ma and Vladimir Ashkenazy. Music ranges from Bach and Bruckner to contemporary Asian and western music.

Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, http://www.hkco.org Founded in 1977, this is Hong Kong’s only professional Chinese orchestra and does a lot to promote Chinese music and culture with a combination of traditional modernized Chinese and western instruments.

Hong Kong Sinfonietta, T 2836 3336, http://www.hksinfonietta.org Since 1990, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta has promoted lesser-heard works by Chinese composers, and collaborated with Pavarotti, the Kirov and Bolshoi ballet companies.

The dance scene ranges between classical ballet from the Hong Kong Ballet to avant-garde movement, dance and drama from City Contemporary Dance Company. See also Venues listings below.

Hong Kong Ballet, T 2573 7398, http://www.hkballet.com One of the best classical ballet companies in Asia, ably led by Stephen Jefferies. The troupe has over 40 dancers mainly from Hong Kong and Asia. Recent performances include favourites like Coppelia, Turandot and Swan Lake, and the distinctly Asian style of The Last Emperor.

City Contemporary Dance Company, T 2326 8597, http://www.ccdc.com.hk A promoter of predominantly Chinese-influenced modern dance and contemporary culture, the company bills itself as “the artistic soul of contemporary Hong Kong”.

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