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SCMP Reporter

Hong Kong Arts Festival organisers have revealed highlights of the programme for its 2025 edition, including musical, theatrical, and dance performances.
1. Festival Opening: Orchestra of the Teatro Comunale di Bologna
Currently closed for renovation, the 261-year-old Italian opera house is closely associated with the composer Gioacchino Rossini. Its orchestra, under the baton of Donata Renzetti, will launch the 2025 festival with an exuberant programme of music by Rossini and Mendelssohn.
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall, Feb 28 – March 1

2. Bizet’s Carmen
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of French composer Bizet’s death, the Château de Versailles Spectacles, Bru Zane France, Opéra de Rouen Normandie and Palazzetto Bru Zane will present his enduring opera as it was first staged in 1875, based on the original production notes and designs.
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre, March 27-30
3. Nureyev & Friends – A Ballet Gala Tribute
Lam Chun-wing, the first Hong Kong dancer to join the Paris Opera Ballet, will be back in his home city to perform in this special gala dedicated to ballet’s most legendary star, Rudolf Nureyev. An exhibition of the late dancer’s costumes will be staged in the Cultural Centre foyer.
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre, March 21-22
4. The Waste Land by Amsterdam Sinfonietta and ISH Dance Collective
This collaboration, which crosses T.S. Eliot’s modernist classic with hip hop dance, promises thrilling live music and dancers who “climb high in the air and even walk up walls”.
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Grand Theatre, March 15-16

5. Insula Orchestra and accentus – Beethoven Wars: A Battle for Peace
French conductor Laurence Equilbey returns with her Insula orchestra and accentus choir to perform two rarely heard works by Beethoven, King Stephen and The Ruins of Athens, accompanied by a specially commissioned digital projection of science fiction and manga.
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall, March 26-28
6. Nagauta and Geisha: Treasured Traditions of Japan
To encounter the 300-year-old Japanese tradition of the geisha, you normally have to visit specific tea-houses in five districts of Kyoto. The arts festival brings the geisha to Hong Kong, where they will appear with musicians performing traditional Nagauta tunes both at Hong Kong City Hall and the more atmospheric Nan Lian Garden in Diamond Hill, East Kowloon.
Hong Kong City Hall Theatre and Nan Lian Garden Xiang Hai Xuan, March 4-8
7. Emma Rice – Wuthering Heights
Director Emma Rice transforms Emily Bronte’s epic story of love and revenge into an audacious and inventive piece of music theatre co-produced by Britain’s National Theatre, Wise Children, Bristol Old Vic and York Theatre Royal.
The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Lyric Theatre, March 26-29

8. Sir András Schiff and Capella Andrea Barca
Considered one of the world’s best interpreters of Mozart and Bach, pianist-conductor András Schiff and his chamber orchestra will perform some of Mozart’s best-loved music and six Bach keyboard concertos.
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall, March 18-19
9. Icons in Motion – Dance Legends: Cristiana Morganti, Louise Lecavalier and Mui Cheuk-yin
A rare opportunity to witness three true legends of contemporary dance performing their own work as soloists (in separate shows).
Hong Kong City Hall Theatre and Hong Kong Cultural Centre Studio Theatre, March 08-30
Think 10-10-10 for an easy way to remember for when advance booking starts for the 2025 festival: at 10am on October 10, tickets will go on sale for the 53rd edition.
For further details visit https://www.hk.artsfestival.org/en/programme. The full programme will be announced in October.


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Hong Kong Arts Festival 2025 to include geisha, Wuthering Heights musical, Bizet’s Carmen

Director Emma Rice’s music theatre version of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights is among highlights of the 2025 Hong Kong Arts Festival. There are treats for opera, ballet and classical music fans too, and a hip hop version of TS Eliot’s The Waste Land. Photo: courtesy of HKAF

A scene from a production of Bizet’s opera Carmen as it was first staged in 1875, based on the original production notes and designs. Photo: courtesy of HKAF

French conductor Laurence Equilbey returns with her Insula orchestra and accentus choir in two rarely performed Beethoven works, accompanied by a digital projection of science fiction and manga. Photo: courtesy of HKAF

Pianist-conductor András Schiff and his chamber orchestra will perform some of Mozart’s best-loved music and six Bach keyboard concertos during the 2025 Hong Kong Arts Festival. Photo: courtesy of HKAF

Hong Kong’s education system satirised in hilarious new musical Black Comedy Di-Dar

Luna Shaw and Eric Kot in a scene from Black Comedy Di-Dar. Photo: Carmen So/RightEyeballStudio

Luna Shaw and Eric Kot in a scene from Black Comedy Di-Dar, a new Hong Kong music theatre work from Windmill Grass Theatre that pokes fun at Hong Kong’s education system. Photo: Carmen So/RightEyeballStudio

A scene from Black Comedy Di-Dar. Photo: Carmen So/RightEyeballStudio

Eric Kot in a scene from Black Comedy Di-Dar. Photo: Carmen So/RightEyeballStudio

Herbie Hancock, dance from Wayne McGregor in Hong Kong arts hub’s 2024/25 season

Korean-American saxophonist Grace Kelly first gained international attention after performing during former US president Barack Obama’s 2009 inauguration. Photo: Pasha Riger

Thai dance artist Kornkarn Rungsawang will present his work “Mali Bucha: Dance Offering” during WestK’s 2024/25 performing arts season, but what else is going on? Photo: Bernie Ng

Paul Tam is the executive director of WestK’s performing arts division. Photo: West Kowloon Cultural District Authority

WestK’s coming performing arts season includes the Asian premiere of “Deepstaria”. Photo: Ravi Deepres

Patrick Lui (left) with three members of RubberBand at the presentation of WestK’s 2024-2025 performing arts season. Photo: West Kowloon Cultural District Authority

Rachid Ouramdane will show “Corps extrêmes” in Hong Kong. Photo: Pascale Cholette

A rendering of the Lyric Theatre complex, set to open in 2026 at West Kowloon. Photo: West Kowloon Cultural District Authority

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Festival highlights include a hip hop take on TS Eliot’s The Waste Land, András Schiff, a tribute to Rudolf Nureyev, and geisha in a garden


Carmen as it was originally staged, Wuthering Heights as music theatre, Andras Schiff and his chamber orchestra, and rarely heard Beethoven are among highlights of the 2025 Hong Kong Arts Festival.


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