This was our first joint concert with the Hong Kong Academy for the Performing Arts Vocal Department resulted in a glorious performance of Puccini's La Bohéme and marks a new direction for our orchestra.     We were joined by the APA Vocal Department Chorus, The Learners Choir and the Hong Kong Children's Choir.
We performed on 14th June 2009 at Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall for The Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society and on 16th June at APA Concert Hall for Haven of Hope Holistic Care Center.     Playing as an opera orchestra there were problems not encountered in “Symphony” concerts.  It took more rehearsals to get to grips with the opera but once we started rehearsing with the singers everything came together very well indeed.  The singers are a very well trained by the APA.

The principals Rodolfo (Chen Yong), Mimi (Etta Fung), Musettas (Phoebe Tam Lok Hin on 14 June) and (Lim Judy Ong on 16 June) were magnificent as were the supporting soloists.  That our orchestra was able to keep up with the singers is a tribute to our players and, of course to our conductor K.K.  We hope to have more performances of opera in concert in the near future.

On 3rd May 2009 we again presented the Shanghai Quartet from USA and they played beautifully.  The playing of Mozart was a revelation to all of us.  Crystal clear notes and articulation with delicate nuances and long phrases well paragraphed.  The ending of this Quartet has been dubbed as “Smiling Through Tears”.  This was passionately demonstrated. 

The Shanghai Quartet then gave the Hong Kong premiere of Penderecki String Quartet No.3 “Sheets from an unwritten diary”  commissioned by the Quartet.    The audience was held in awe not just by the music but by the masterly technique of the quartet.     All 4 parts have their fearsome difficulties with the viola getting the lion’s share!

Debussy’s only String Quartet was written for the Yasye Quartet.  Reaction to the first performance 29^th December 1893 was mixed to say the least.  The Shanghai Quartet once again played magnificently. 
　

World class pianist, Uriel Tsachor made a triumphant debut in Hong Kong on 12th April 2009 with our orchestra at the Cultural Center Concert Hall.  The concert was to raise funds for The Hong Kong Arthritis & Rheumatism Foundation Ltd.    His was a truly heroic performance worthy of the nickname “Emporer” of Beethoven’s 5^th & last piano concerto.  The power and dramatic contrast of the first movement was much in evidence and contrasted superbly with the most delicate song in the Adagio which without a break, burst into a most exuberant Rondo finale.  We hope to hear from him again soon. 

Due to the short period between this and the previous concert, we played the Symphonie Fantastique of Berlioz again after the intermission.     Once again our orchestra played very well.
　

We gave 2 charity concerts at the Cultural Centre Concert Hall on
15^th March 2009 for the Boy’s and Girl’s Association of Hong Kong and on
16^th March 2009 for World Emergency Fund
Programme: Mendelssohn’s violin concerto in E minor Op.64
                   Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique 

Once again we welcome the return of Danwen Jiang performing Mendelssohn’s violin concerto with us.  This concerto is possibly one of the most popular in the violin repertory and as expected Danwen played with consummate skill and musicianship.  She is very accommodating and kind to us and we look forward to her return soon. 

The Symphonie Fantastique lives up to its name and is a result of Berlioz’s intense love affair with Harriet Smithson, a British Actress.  The usual 4 movements symphony is extended to 5 and the names of the movement tells a story (of sorts).    It was again a challenging piece and again our orchestra rose to the occasion and played magnificently.

16^th November 2008  Cultural Center Concert Hall for The Hereditary Gastrointestinal Cancer Registry of H. K. University
17^th November 2008 for Arts with The Disabled Association of Hong Kong
Prgramme: Tchaikovsky piano concerto No.1 in B flat minor and Rachmaninov Symphony No.2 in E minor Op.27

These 2 concerts were full of unusual circumstances.  Our original pianist, Robert Roux, unfortunately suffered an injury and he recommended Kris Becker in his place.    Kris is also a composer as well as a pianist in classical, jazz and popular music with most impressive credentials.  Again unfortunately, Kris fell ill just before the concert on 16^th but, through heroic efforts, was able to give a marvellous performance and was rightly well applauded.    He even managed 3 encores of his own compositiona!  However he had to be hospitalized soon after and was unable to play at the concert the following night.  Happily he made a full recovery and was back in U.S.A. in good health soon after.  We wish him a bright and active future.

The 2nd symphony marked the turning point of Rachmaninov’s composing career, after the poor reception to both the first symphony and first piano concerto.    Our orchestra played magnificently with an outstanding performance from our first clarinet Susan Edwards in the third movement (Adagio).  This entire movement was played as an encore on the 17^th!

Throughout both nights our members played very well indeed.

On 21^st September 2008 we played 2 concerts to raise funds for Bring me a Book at the Theatre Hong Kong City Hall.

Continuing our concerts mainly for the younger listeners we played:-

(1)       Vivaldi:     Four Seasons
                             Spring:     Allergro          Violin:       Carmen Chun              10 years

 (2)       Mozart:    Piano Concerto to No. 19 in F major
                             Allegro                            Piano:     Victor Lu                      10 years

 (3)       Haydn:     Cello Concerto No.1 in C major
                              Moderato                      Cello:       Zhang Fan Ge             14 years

(4)       Mozart:     Eine Kleine Nachtmusik - Allegro

 (5)       Prokofiev:     Peter and the wolf
                                   Narrator:     Richard Wallace

Two performances were given: one at 4p.m. and one at 7:30p.m.      All 3 young soloists played astonishingly well and were a great credit to their teachers.  The very young audience was most appreciative.

After the intermission, our 2^nd violin turned narrator, a Richard Wallace, gave a masterly controlled account of the narrator in Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf.  His time was impeccable as was his voice control suitable humorous when called for.

In total we played almost 7 hours that Sunday but all our members also had fun!