Hong Kong flautist Kwan Kwan-lam to perform in November LCSD series
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department's "Hong Kong Artists" series presents flautist Kwan Kwan-lam on 9 November at City Hall Theatre. The concert features traditional Chinese pieces and collaborations with six local musicians, showcasing her expertise in dizi and xiao music.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced on 8 October that the "Hong Kong Artists" series will present a dizi (Chinese flute) concert by flautist Kwan Kwan-lam on 9 November at 8pm at City Hall Theatre. Tickets priced at HK$220 are available via Urbtix website or phone at 3166 1288.
The first half of the programme, themed "from light to intense" regional colours, opens with the Zhejiang-style piece Wujiang Fengguang. It continues with a Cantonese instrumental quintet performing the suite Xingshi, Bugao, Jingtao, reflecting Lingnan character. Oasis pairs dizi with hand drum to evoke Xinjiang rhythms, followed by Shancun Ying Qinren, inspired by Shanxi opera, and excerpts from Feige, a piano-accompanied piece incorporating southwestern minority musical elements, creating a Chinese-Western musical dialogue.
The second half begins with Kwan leading Shenqiu Xu, followed by Yinzhong Niao, a classic adapted from Hebei suona music. The contemporary piece Cang expresses a yearning for and praise of beauty in the world. The classic dizi piece Sanwu Qi is performed with ban (woodblock) and gu (drum), highlighting Zhejiang opera style. The finale, Tianji, uses agile dizi tones to depict a hawk over snowy mountains, concluding the journey.
Six local musicians join Kwan: Chan Kai-hin and Lam Poon-kwai (huqin), Chan Wing-hei (yangqin), Chan Sze-tung (ruan), Lo Hok-chun (percussion) and Liu Tsz-ching (piano). Kwan earned a Master of Music from the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, studied under Sun Yongzhi, principal dizi of the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, won a gold award at the 5th National Dizi-Xiao Competition, and founded Tong Yam to promote Chinese flute music.
The LCSD's "Hong Kong Artists" series provides a platform for local artists. October concerts include saxophonist Ng Hon-chung on 8 October and pianist Lee Tsz-long on 27 October. Package and group discounts are available.
