Arts’ Calling

Think the Chinese New Year is a restful time as shops and restaurants close for days? Not really. There are still things to do in the city. To start with, go and mingle with the happy crowd in one of the flower markets in Hong Kong. They are open in the daytime as well, but of course you’ll have more fun after 9pm. The markets will stay open till the early morning of February 18, when huge discounts will be offered as closing time approaches. So stay awake if you want some really cheap deals. Our favourite flower markets are the Victoria Park at CWB, Fa Hui Park at Mong Kong and Temple Fung Shui Square at Tai Po. Then head to Romance in Fairy Tales, a spectacular lantern display held from February 16-25 at the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade. Opening hours are from 6:30-10:30pm.

The Cathay Pacific International Chinese New Year Night Parade on February 18 will start at 8pm from the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets for spectator stands cost $150 from Hong Kong Tourism Board’s Visitor and Services Centres if you don’t want to squeeze yourself into the jam-packed crowds. The Lunar New Year fireworks display is at 8pm on February 19 this year, so use whatever means you can to get the best seat. Football fans will surely head to the Lunar New Year Cup on February 18 and 21, where Olympic teams from China, Australia and Jamaica will play each other and the Hong Kong League XI.

Ocean Park is throwing the Lunar Lucky Fiesta from February 18-25 with a Golden Piggy Lucky Draw at the entrances for ticket holders. And who could forget Disneyland when we mention festive fun? Catch the Disney Dragon Dance and specially staged Come and Celebrate show before March 4, and say Kung Hei Fat Choi to Mickey. For even more excitement, place your bets at the Chinese New Year Race Day at the Sha Tin Racecourse on February 20.

Friday February 23
After all the greasy food, fireworks and lai see, you should probably sit back and relax with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. The orchestra and Edwin Outwater, resident conductor of San Francisco Symphony from 2001-2006, are joined by lead Japanese violinist Natsuko Yoshimoto and percussion group Four Gig Head’s Chau Chin-tung for A Very Chinese New Year Concert. Traditional festive numbers such as Dance of the Yao People, Spring Festival Overture and Shostakovich’s Festival Overture, Op 96, are on the programme. The concert starts at 8pm on February 23 at Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall. Tickets are $100, $140 and $180 from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

Here’s your chance to catch The Vagina Monologues if you missed them last time. The charitable production for the V-Day campaign is debuting at Le Rideau, with a cast of over 20 women promoting awareness of physical and sexual violence against females around the world. All the proceeds of the show go to Christian Action’s Refugee Women Emergency Fund. Watch the controversial yet heart-warming play at Le Rideau from 8pm onwards. Tickets are $300 and available from Le Rideau Theatre Café and Gecko Lounge and Wine Bar, 2527 4680.

February 24-25
In a city with more than its fair share of Cantonese opera, it can be hard to get excited about yet another production, even though the art form is recognised as a world cultural heritage by UNESCO. But The Peach Blossom Fan is supposedly one of the five greatest Chinese opera classics and, performed by the reputable Jiangsu Province Kunqu Opera, is a feature of this year’s Arts Festival. The opera is set in the mid-1600s, during the fall of the Ming Dynasty, and follows the vicissitudes of the period through the story of a love affair between a poet and a courtesan. Watch the epic opera at 7:30pm at the Cultural Centre Grand Theatre. Tickets range from $100-$360 and are available from URBTIX, 2734 9009.

Until March 2
Which pop act would stage 13 concerts at the Coliseum for Chinese New Year? Surely, it has to be The Wynners! With front man Alan Tam (also known as the headmaster of the Hong Kong pop scene) and lady-killer bassist Kenny Bee, The Wynners were the band in the ’70s. They decided on a reunion on their 33rd birthday, and fans can’t be happier – five extra shows have been added to the originally scheduled eight. Turn back the clock and sing along with golden hits such as L-O-V-E Love and Sha La La. (Don’t you just know it is a retro thing by looking at the song titles?) Tickets from $100 to $400 are available from URBTIX, 2734 9009.