MUSIC ON THE RAILS

MUSIC ON THE RAILS

MUS I C ON T HE RAILS 26-27.11.2022 12:30-20:00 樂遊

場地伙伴 Venue Sponsor

主辦 Organiser

贊助 Sponsor

Music on the Rails! An Operatic Tram Experience Imagine opera singers serenading you from the open top of a vintage tram. That’s what happened on 26th and 27th of November ’22. Foundation for the Arts and Music in Asia arranged for eleven classically trained young Hong Kong singers and musicians to give the gift of live opera arias to everyone on the route from Sheung Wan to Causeway Bay. The tram took 12 trips over two days and the performers sang a programme of 25 different arias in total. The size of the public audience on the sidewalks couldn’t be calculated! For the first time ever in Hong Kong the people on the sidewalks could enjoy live opera performances as they went about their work; maybe they had never before heard the beautiful music from Carmen, Lakmé, Faust, Roméo et Juliette, Les Contes d’Hoffman, Les pêcheurs de perles, Le Nozze di Figaro, Die Zauberflöte, La Traviata, and many more. The reaction from both the public and the guests on the tram were wonderful, lots of clapping and photo taking. Music on the Rails combined classical vocal music with Hong Kong’s local “Ding Ding” tradition. Guests on board enjoyed an autumn romance with beautiful live music and Hong Kong street scenery, from the traditional quaint shops at Sheung Wan to the lively shopping hub at Causeway Bay. This was a unique experience that was unlike any other musical performances. Here’s what our guests had to say about their Music on the Rails experience. Also read about the experience from the point of view of the young singers who had never performed to an open-air audience of thousands before. Singing off the side of an open-air tram was very different from a concert stage! A real learning experience.

It was indeed a novel and highly entertaining experience and one can only marvel at the strength of the voices of the singers and being able to make themselves heard by us made for a very successful and enjoyable experience. - Angus Forsyth Solicitor Angus Forsyth & Co.

It was a wonderful afternoon. The performance was great. - Pauline Wong

Senior Program Manager Asia Society Hong Kong

We really had a wonderful time! The experience was magic. - Benjamin Cabouat Consul for Culture, Education & Science Consulate General of France in Hong Kong & Macau

It was a lovely experience. It was my 6-year-old son’s first experience on an open tram (one of his favourite modes of transport) and hearing opera. He enjoyed both a lot! - William Lane Artistic & Managing Director Hong Kong New Music Ensemble

I have had a wonder fu l t ime dur i ng the performance! It was the most unique and joyful tram journey that I have ever had in my life! Not only that it is such a special opportunity to meet and listen to the very talented opera singers in an intimate distance, the late afternoon breeze and the special background ‘music’ from the street and the tram itself was an exotic and enriching mixture of experience! - Denise Chau Events Manager Hong Kong Maritime Museum

I t ’s a very wonderful exper ience enjoying the enchanting music on the tram ride. It is a very good season to stage this program and the selection of the arias/ songs have a good balance as well. - Betty Au Senior Manager (Festivals Office) Leisure and Cultural Services Department

I enjoyed very much and the singers attracted a lot of people on the street ! - Anna Kwong Program Director (Center for the Arts) Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

It was great show and unique experence! - Kelvin Fung

Banquet Sales Manager Ladies Recreation Club

It was a lot of fun. Thank you for doing such a fun performance event! - Rumiko Hasegawa Founder and Managing Director More Than Musical

It's a wonderful ride, we enjoyed so much! - Ellen Lee Head of Content Development MCL Cinemas

We enjoyed the show a lot! - Ellen Law Senior Manager (Performing Arts, Artistic Programming) West Kowloon Cultural District

I sat on top in the open and was very close to the opera singers. This gave me such a good view of their acting and passion as they delivered the arias beautifully whilst moving from Causeway Bay to Western Market. The whole presentation was seamless. - Janet Spence FAMA Patron

Very good classically trained singers, young enthusiastic musicians enjoying the gig, sang well. Amazing view on the tramways of the Western district with old shops intermingled with new ones. Thoroughly enjoyable, highly recommended. - Jack Wong FAMA Patron

Thank you for organizing this lovely event! It is very enjoyable, and encourages me to attend more music events in the future.

- Linda Hung FAMA Patron

It was an amazing experience. Our audience was not limited to the people on board, but to every one who happened to pass by the route. I felt connected with the audience as I could read their reactions and facial expressions, which was totally different from performing in the theatre. - Dennis Lau Performer, Tenor

I feel so impressed by the idea of Music on the Rails in promoting opera. We were so close to the the pedestrians, seeing them waving hands with us and taking pictures. The direct interaction with the public is amazing, as we could hardly experience this in the theatre. - Christy Li Performer, Mezzo Soprano

As a local Hong Kong citizen, never have I ever imagined sharing classical music on a tram under the neon lights of Hong Kong island. I would like to thank everyone who had made this event possible, especially our audiences who clapped and cheered for us along the rails. Until next time! - Jeremy Leung Performer, Baritone

It was fun and enjoyable to perform for this project. Singing on the top of the tram under some iconic landmarks and bring opera to the public is a lovely mission. Being able to have close interactions with the passengers on board brings opera to another level, a truly intimate and sparkling moment. - Henry Ngan Performer, Tenor

This is my f i rst t ime singing on a moving vehicle as my “stage” and to be so close to the audience. I feel like we are able to connect people from different background and speaking different languages through music! - Samantha Chong Performer, Mezzo Soprano

CREDITS PERFORMERS

Soprano Amanda Ng Rachel Kwok

Tenor

Dennis Lau Henry Ngan

Mezzo Soprano

Baritone

Bonnie Liu Christy Li

Jeremy Leung Sammy Chien

Samantha Chong

Piano Alexander Isti Dora Cheng

PRODUCER

Samantha Chong

FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS AND MUSIC IN ASIA Chairman Laurence Scofield Vice Chairman Brenda Scofield Program Manager Apple Yuen Program Coordinator Nancy Liu

SPECIAL THANKS

Venue Sponsor Hong Kong Tramways

Sponsor Emperor Cinemas MCL Cinemas Photography Albert Yao Yang Sze Ngai