Top Hong Kong soprano Louise Kwong laments lack of funding for classical singers
Lack of subsidies meant prize-winning singer had to take on teaching jobs to make ends meet
Hong Kong lacks a regular platform for classical singers who have to depend on teaching to make ends meet when not performing, a local top soprano says.
Louise Kwong Lai-ling, who beat 160 contestants to take the best soprano prize at the 18th Ferruccio Tagliavini International Competition in Vienna in 2012, was happy with the opportunity to perform since returning to her home city four years ago but had to make do with teaching on days when not performing.
Soprano makes history with three wins in Austria
“Teaching constitutes more than half of my income and 100 per cent when there’s no performance,” the Hong Kong-born diva told the Post before departing for a young artist programme at the Rome Opera House for 19 months starting this month.
“Instrumentalists enjoy support as members of orchestras, but we singers have no such professional bodies for support.”
Kwong said the government subsidy for vocal arts “looks imbalanced” compared with annual funding of more than HK$100 million (US$12.8 million) for three professional orchestras.
“For an opera company to support year-round performances, say a production in each quarter, it would require a proper venue and stable funding, but Hong Kong is short of both,” she said.
