Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), Madama Butterfly 2009 is produced by Musica Viva and directed by Lo Kingman. With soloists, orchestra, and Chorus of the Opera Society of Hong Kong, Carmon Koon, Conductor, and Raymond Fu, Chorusmaster.

Date: 2-4 January 2009 (Fri-Sun)
Time: (to be confirmed)
Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall
Tickets: (to be confirmed)

Watch here for more details on the concert as they are announced.

Audition for Madama Butterfly chorus members is now open. More details.

Chorus rehearsals will be held 7:30-10:00 pm Mondays and Thursdays starting from the end of October.

Chorus members' basic requirements:
Age: 18 or above
Chorus experience: 3 years or more (with formal vocal training preferred)
Audtion will consist of singing an aria of own choice and a sight singing test.

Audition will be held on Sunday 26 October 2008, at 7:30-10 pm, at Rehearsal Room, Kwai Tsing Theatre, 12 Hing Ning Road, Kwai Chung, N.T., Hong Kong.

Madama Butterfly 2009 will provide an exciting opportunity to learn, to perform, and to enjoy as a full-scale opera production. Interested singers are most welcome to apply for chorus audition online NOW.

Alternatively, you may download and mail in your completed application forms:

Application Form - Chorus for Madama Butterfly (English)
Application Form - Chorus for Madama Butterfly (Chinese)

Application deadline: 22 October 2008. Audtion appointment will be confirmed by telephone. For enquiries, please call Shirley Yeung at 90243593.

La Périchole is a French operetta based on a piece written by Offenbach and staged extravagantly by Jérôme Savary, a French theatre director, scriptwriter, and actor who widened the popularity of music theatre in France through his special blending of the opera, operetta, and musical comedy.

A Le French May 2008 opera program directed by Jérôme Savary. With Marie-Stéphane Bernard as La Périchole, Marc Laho as Piquillo, Chorus of the Opera Society of Hong Kong, Ariele Zanini, piano, and The Hong Kong Sinfonietta conducted by Jérôme Pillement. Performed in French with English and Chinese subtitles.

Date: 15-17 May 2008 (Thurs-Sat)
Time: 8:00 pm
Venue: Grand Theatre, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Tickets: $620 $480 $320 $190, available in all URBTIX outlets

2 April 2008 - Notice is hereby given that the 2008 Annual General Meeting of The Opera Society of Hong Kong will be held on 24 April 2008

Date: Thursday, 24th April 2008
Time: 9:00 pm (registration at 8:30 pm)
Place: Fanny Li Hall, St. John's Cathedral, Central, Hong Kong

Meeting agenda, minutes of the last AGM held on 19th April 2007, and audited financial documents have been mailed to all eligible members on 2nd April 2008. Please contact secretary Margaret Sang at 94513166 if you do not receive them in the coming week.

All Opera Society members, friends and family are welcome to join us on Saturday, 24 November 2007 at a special poolside BBQ party. Come celebrate the Opera Society's 15th anniversary and the conclusion of our Haydn's Die Schöpfung (The Creation) concert!

Programme:
2:00-6:00 pm Games: swimming, mahjong, karaoke, tennis, cyberbar, billiard, sauna (advanced booking through Li Si-lai is required; check charges from the website of the venue http://www.officersclubcsd.com.hk)
6:30-9:30 pm Poolside BBQ Buffet dinner, games, dance, gifts, LUCKY DRAW.

Cost:
Chorus Members (The Creation) $100, others $200 (2 non-alcoholic drinks included). Payment must be made before the party and no refund if no show)

Time and Place:
Date: 24 November 2007 (Saturday)
Time: 2:00 pm - 9:30 pm
Venue: Officers' Club, Correctional Services Department (No, you don't get detained!)
Address: 51 Tung Tau Wan Road, Stanley, Hong Kong  (view map)
Tel: 28131105
Website: http://www.officersclubcsd.com.hk
Public transportation: see http://www.csd.gov.hk/print/english/hkcsm/hkcsm_transport.html
Free parking for drivers (please send car number to Li Si-lai).

Deadline for registration: 17 November 2007 (Saturday)

Contact person: Li Si-lai 94605219; 28918997 (fax); lsledcc@hotmail.com

**Donations of prizes for the lucky draw are welcome!**

2007 marks the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Opera Society of Hong Kong.  We commemorated this milestone year by presenting a concert at the City Hall on 20 November 2007:

The Opera Society of Hong Kong 15th Anniversary Concert
Die Schöpfung (The Creation)
by Joseph Haydn
(to be sung in German)

Date: Tuesday, 20 November 2007
Time:  8 pm
Venue: Concert Hall, City Hall, Hong Kong

Soloists:
Anna-Clare Monk (Soprano)
Sam Kan (Tenor)
Kewei Wang (Baritone)

Chorus and Orchestra of The Opera Society of Hong Kong 
Conducted by Raymond Fu

See CONCERT POSTER for more details and ticket information.  Click here for soloist and conductor biographies on concert flyer.

Concert Sponsorship Acknowledgements:

Darizi.com 
Lloyd Morgan
The Smile foundation
Y5 Zone
Eastern District Children's Choir
The Learners Chorus
Opera Hong Kong
Maplewood Education Services
Crystal Education Publlications
Hong Kong Handbell Academy
Chez Les Copains
Premier Music
Mei Fong Studio

(Our 15th Anniversary Concert is presented under the rental subsidy scheme of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Support by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council and the St. John's Cathedral, Hong Kong, are also acknowledged.)

Audience from Afar

8 May 2008 - Our 15th Anniversary Concert reaches a global audience through YouTube, where we uploaded excerpts of our performance. Here's a message from Will Wyche of Palm Springs, California sent in to our website directly:

I [am] recovering from a long illness and while surfing the net stumbled on your November 2007 performance of Die Schöpfung, specifically Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes. Under the circumstances in the early dawn in Palm Springs, it made the breaking sun truly explode and my heart leap! Not having been filled with so much wellness in years--and to view the video with such cosmopolitan mixture of faces of humanity in perfect tonal, dynamic, and rhythmic forte, your performance was created [in] a structural unity and musical strength that was just gloriously overpowering! (even on YouTube!) ... Well, Opera Society of Hong Kong, you have no idea your reach to places and states of being--both good and ill--that is truly infinite! I throw garlands of accolades at your feet! For you are HEALERS WHICH THIS WORLD NEEDS SO TIMELY! Indeed, BROADCAST IT! THE WORLD PUBLIC WILL SOMEDAY THANK YOU SO MUCH as I certainly do!!!

Thank you for your message, Will. We are most happy to have our singing reach out beyond our concert performance. Your message is not just an endorsement of our hard work; it's a most convincing statement of the power of music on both listeners and performers alike.... Those of us who share Haydn's faith, and that of yours, will have one more reason to hail ALLELUIA.... We wish you and your dearest brother Michael happiness, good health and many more elating moments in music.

Now on YouTube

Hear the Opera Society of Hong Kong sing Haydn's Die Schöpfung on YouTube:
Die Himmel erzählen die Ehre Gottes
Vollender ist das grosse Werk
Von deiner Güt', o Herr und Gott

2 November 2007 Update - If you are a member of the Opera Society of Hong Kong, you can place a special message in the concert house programme by becoming a member sponsor of the concert. Join your fellow members in stamping your mark at this milestone celebration concert event! Help bring this concert successfully to our audience and the general public!

Opera Society member sponsorship details and response form.

Check out also Concert Sponsorship details for companies, and organizations.

14 July 2007 - All Opera Society members are cordially invited to perform at our 15th anniversary celebration concert on Tuesday, 20 November 2007.

We'll be singing Die Schöpfung (The Creation) by Joseph Haydn with soloists and orchestra at the Concert Hall, City Hall, Hong Kong.

More details on the concert.

Our Hon Secretary Margaret has kindly arranged sending flowers to the hospital on behalf of the Society, and she will send the invoice to Herbert for reimbursement, ha ha!

The Opera Society of Hong Kong presented a charity concert in May 2007 with a special program From Opera to Musical featuring favorite choruses from operas by Puccini, Verdi, Wagner, famous opera ensembles from works by Bizet, Donizetti, Delibes, and popular arias and songs by guest soloists from operas by Mozart, Lehar, Purcell, Offenbach and from musicals by Claude Michelle Schoenbert (Les Miserables) and Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll and Hyde) and other works.

Concert poster.
Full Concert Program (Acrobat pdf, 669 KB).
View photos at concert and rehearsals.

3 May 2007 (Thursday) at 8:00 pm
St. John's Cathedral, Garden Road, Central
Chorus of the Opera Society of Hong Kong
Guest soloists Katusha Tsui-Fraser, Soprano, and David Quah, Tenor
Chamber Orchestra of the Opera Society of Hong Kong
Conductor: Raymond Fu

Concert Reception with snacks and drinks served at Li Hall, 7:15 pm.

Co-organized with Rotary Club of Kingspark Hong Kong and Rotary Club of City Northwest Hong Kong.

Support of this charity concert through sponsorship of the Rotary RainLily Project - with objectives to educate awareness on sexual violence issues and to enhance the awareness of the services of the Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women and Rotary International.

Individual Sponsorship: $250 with one complimentary concert ticket and invitation to concert reception.

More information on Rotary RainLily Project and sponsorship.

Chorus members: Contact Shirley Fu at shirley@opera.org.hk for detailed schedules.

19 April 2007 - Our 2007 AGM was held following a rehearsal for the Rotary RainLily Concert. Attending members enjoyed an evening of singing, fellowship, and delicious snacks.

See photos from AGM 2007.

26 March 2007 - Notice is hereby given that the 2007 Annual General Meeting of The Opera Society of Hong Kong will be held on 19 April 2007:

Date: Thursday, 19th April 2007
Time: 8:30 pm
Place: Fanny Li Hall, St. John's Cathedral, Central, Hong Kong

Meeting agenda, minutes of the last AGM, and audited financial documents are being mailed to all eligible members on 28 March 2007. Please contact secretary Margaret Sang at 94513166 if you do not receive them in the coming week.

20 March 2007 - The Opera Society of Hong Kong has received a special offer for our members on tickets to the debut performance of soprano Renee Fleming in Hong Kong with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on 30 and 31 March 2007.

Renee Fleming is on her Asian tour giving concerts in Southeast Asia and China. The programme on 30 and 31 March in Hong Kong includes Richard Strauss's serene Four Last Songs, of which Renee Fleming is an acclaimed modern interpreter. HKPO Conductor Laureate David Atherton leads this all-Strauss programme which starts in the somber reflections of Metamorphosen, written following the bombing of Munich in 1944, and ends with the carefree, playful pre-war work Der Rosenkavalier. Pre-concert booking by 26 March 2007 required. Interested members please contact Shirley Fu at shirley@opera.org.hk for more details.

With our Christmas eve concert, our Boxing Day party, and the new year just behind us, the Executive Committee has quickly met on 22 January - over a sumptuous supper hosted by Li Si-lai and and her endeared family (thanks Si-lai, Stanley and Jonathan!) - and fixed the dates for major concert events in this anniversary year.

We plan to have our "From Opera to Musical" charity concert on Wednesday, 25 April 2007* at the St. John's Cathedral and our 15th Anniversary Concert on Tuesday, 20 November 2007, at the Concert Hall, City Hall, Hong Kong. Please mark these dates for now on your diary for these great opportunities to sing in this special anniversary year, and watch here for further announcements on the details on these concerts. Have a wonderful year ahead!

View photo of New Year Supper at Si-lai's.

* 24 January 2007 Update - We have confirmed with St. John's Cathedral the date Thursday 3 May 2007 for the "From Opera to Musical" charity concert. Details on rehearsal schedules will be sent out to all members shortly.

WEBCASTS and PHOTOS now available (see links below)! 

The glorious sounds of Vivaldi and festive Christmas carols were recreated by the Opera Society of Hong Kong amidst the tranquility of the Hong Kong Park and the glittering skyscrapers in Central. A FREE, open-air concert event for the whole family, televised and broadcast on RTHK.

The Chorus of the Opera Society of Hong Kong sang Vivaldi's Gloria in D, RV589, and Christmas carols, and the acclaimed young violinist Huang Mengla performed Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, Op. 8, with the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong. Guest conductor Johnny Poon.

Soloists: Yuki Ip, soprano; Carol Lin, mezzo-soprano.
200-member Combince Choir includes:
Wah Yan College Kowloon Boys' Choir
Diocesan Girls' School Choir
HKIEd Choir
Carmel Pak U Secondary School Choir
The Learners Chorus
The Singchronizers

Free Admission (First-come-first-served).

24 December 2006 (Sunday), 5pm, Olympic Square, Hong Kong Park.

RTHK Radio 4's "Seasons Greetings in the Park" celebrate X'mas with star violinist Huang Mengla and 300 singers and musician, RTHK Press Release, December 2006

WEBCAST at: http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/radio4/Seasons_Greetings_in_the_Park/20061224.html
or http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/tv/seasonsgreetingsinthepark/20061225.html

PHOTOS - these were taken by chorus members, friends and family members in the audience (will add more as they come in).

Concert report and audience responses in Finemusic, February 2007

The Chorus of Opera Society of Hong Kong has also sung the RTHK 4 open-air concert Messiah in the Park on Christmas eve 2005 at the Hong Kong Park.

Photos now available at: http://www.opera.org.hk/photo/photos.php?abid=7

Party Announcement:

Come join us at our Christmas party on Boxing Day at Stanley to celebrate the festivities amidst our winter concerts.

Date: Tuesday 26 December 2006 (Boxing Day)
Venue: Officers' Club, Correctional Services Department
51, Tung Tau Wan Road, Stanley, HK.
Tel.: 28131105

Programme:
2--6pm Games: Mah-jong, karaoke, tennis, cyberbar, billiard, sauna (advance booking through Li Si-lai is required; charges: check info at club website)

6:30--9:30pm BBQ Buffet dinner, carols, performance, games, dance, gifts, lucky draw

Cost : Society Members $100, others $200 (2 non-alcoholic drinks included) Please book and pay before the party and no refund if no show.

Free parking ( car numbers to Li Si-lai )
Public transportation info.

Deadline for registrationn : Sunday 10 December 2006
Function will be cancelled if fewer than 30 persons pay up.

Contact person : Li Si-lai at 94605219 or fax 28918997 or email at lsledcc@hotmail.com

23 November 2006 - The Opera Society of Hong Kong has been invited to perform at the Venetian Night project with the following details:

Repertoire (from memory):
- 'Boat song' from the Tales of Hoffmann by Offenbach
- 'Agnus Dei' and 'In Paradisum' from Requiem by Faure
- Pavane by Faure

Rehearsals start from November 29, 2006.
1. Nov 29 (Wed) 7:45-10pm [Li Hall, St. John's Cathedral]
2. Dec 7 (Thu) 7-8-pm [Harold Smyth Room, SJC]
3. Dec 12 (Tue) 8-10pm [with orchestra, venue to be confirmed]
4. Dec 13 (Wed) 7-10pm [at Bethanie, with orchestra]

Please contact Shirley Fu at shirley@opera.org.hk for more information and to confirm your participation in this project.

24 July 2004 - We shared our fun of members' singing operatic extracts and choral pieces on one fine Saturday afternoon at our Wanchai office.

View photos.

Dates: Every Tuesday commencing 6th July 2004
Time: 7:30pm - 9:30pm (2 hrs x 12 lessons)
Total learning hours: 24
Medium of instruction: Mainly in English

Venue: The Opera Society Studio, Rm 1102, On Hong Commercial Building, 145
Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, HK.

Fees: (depending on no of participants)
* Maximum intake per class: 15 (first-come-first-serve)
* If enrollment is less than 10, the class will be cancelled.
* For no of enrollment falls between 11 to 14, tuition fees will be
calculated pro rata and exact fare will be announced after confirmation of
registration.

Registration:
1. Interested members should first register through email to me on or before 25th June, 2004.
2. Registered members will be notified of exact amount of tuition fees on 28th June, 2004.
3. Enrollment will only be confirmed upon receipt of the tuition fees on or before 3rd July, 2004.

Monica Yu Ho Ming
Monica Yu Ho Ming has obtained her Bachelor of Musical Art degree from the University of Western Ontario, Canada in 2003. During her course of study at the faculty, she was under the vocal instruction of Elizabeth Peters and Theresa Thibodeau. Monica also continued to study French Language and Culture at a post-graduate level; she obtained her French Proficiency Certificate from Trois-Pistole French Language School, Quebec, Canada in 2002. She has been working as a Private French tutor for beginners and high school students since then. She was the language coach for the Hong Kong Opera Society Chorus in the recently-produced opera "Samson and Delilah." Currently, she is teaching Music and French at a local secondary school in Hong Kong.

Selections from Handel's Messiah
Ode to Joy from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony

Date: 21 June 1997
Time: 8:00 pm
Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre

Programme:
Haydn: L'infidelta delusa Overture
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto
Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky, Cantata Op. 78

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
Chorus of the Opera Society of Hong Kong
The Cecilian Singers
Diocesan Boys' School Senior Choir
William Preucil (violin)

Conductor: David Atherton
Chorusmaster: Wing-sie Yip