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Friday June 1
“You know the world is getting smaller when the French Open winner is an American named Chang.” Thus went a famous advertising line shortly after the pocket dynamo Michael Chang had his biggest tennis triumph. Similarly, you know the world is officially small when Yoko Kikuchi, a Japanese pianist, joins the HK Sinfonietta and Norwegian conductor Bjørn Sagstad to commemorate Edvard Grieg’s 100th and Jean Sibelius’s 50th death anniversaries. The concert, A Nordic Encounter, will include Grieg’s Piano Concerto, Sibelius’s Symphony No 1 and Norwegian Artists’ Carnival a work by Grieg’s contemporary, Johan Svendsen. A Nordic Encounter; June 1 at 8pm in the HK City Hall Concert Hall and tickets are $100 to $220 from URBTIX, 2734 9009. |
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June 1-24
Hear a clock ticking? If so, maybe it’s coming from within that crocodile; you know, the one stalking Captain Hook! Or, maybe, if you’re a fan of J M Barrie’s mischievous little boy who refused to grow up, it’s just that you’re counting down the days, hours, minutes and seconds before Peter Pan flies into town and begins a 26-show season at the HKAPA, Lyric Theatre. A musical that will be staged in English with Chinese subtitles, its evening performances start at 7:30pm and its matinees at 2:30pm. Tickets are from $225 to $888 from HK Ticketing, 31 288 288. |
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Monday June 4
“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Thus wrote American philosopher George Santayana in The Life of Reason: Or, The Phases of Human Progress (1905-1906). To which bc would like to add that this might well be so for those who seek to distort or change the past. So, on June 4, remember 1989 and the events that the name Tiananmen is now indelibly associated with; spare a thought for the victims of the massacre, commemorate the cause for which they made their sacrifices, and get yourself to the evening candlelight vigil in Victoria Park. Amidst today’s copious consumerism, self-absorption and rampant profiteering, it’s important to remember how non-violent protest was squashed. Stand up and exercise your rights, for you won’t know they’re gone until you need them. |
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Tuesday June 5
Getting increasingly concerned about the environment? Then remember to commemorate World Environment Day (WED) along with the rest of the world. Since 1972, the United Nations has made use of each June 5 to stimulate worldwide awareness of environmental issues and encourage political action over a particular environmental subject. In 2007, the subject is Melting Ice – A Hot Topic? Although the effects of climate change on the ice- and snow-covered areas of the world is not an issue that appears to concern Hong Kongers all that much, the consequences will most definitely be felt all over the world. (Think rising sea levels.) Spare a thought – or more – on WED to this topic. And while you’re at it, also check out the United Nations Environment Programme’s 77 ways to celebrate this day at www.unep.org/wed/2007/english/
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June 5-9
Think CSI meets Fame. That’s what the folks behind the No Chance in Hell Hotel promise this comedy-drama-thriller set in the back streets of Sydney’s King’s Cross will be. With characters like a hard-bitten veteran cop and a rookie Police Academy graduate among others with big dreams, it’s easy to see what they mean. Shows are approximately one hour and 15 minutes in length. Showtime at the Fringe Studio is at 7:45pm on June 5 to 7 and 7pm and 9pm on June 8 and 9. Tickets are $250 from HK Ticketing, 31 288 288. |
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June 8-15
You’ve read the internationally best-selling book. Now go see the Chung Ying Theatre Company’s stage adaptation of Mitch Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie. Best-actor winners Chung King Fai and Edmond Lo star in this Asian premiere of a Cantonese presentation (with English subtitles) of the inspirational true story of the 14 Tuesdays author Mitch Albom spent with the font of wisdom that was his old professor, Morrie Schwartz. With 8pm performances from June 8 to 10 and 12 to 15, 3pm matinees are scheduled for June 9 and 10. Tickets for Friday, Saturday and Sunday shows are $200 and $140 while tickets for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday shows are $180 and $120. (There are no shows on Monday.) Tickets are available from URBTIX, 2734 9009. |
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June 8-24
It is debatable whether the radio broadcast of War of the Worlds that panicked America or the movie Citizen Kane made Orson Welles more famous. Anyway, that movie as well as The Magnificent Ambersons, Touch of Evil and The Lady from Shanghai are among the filmic offerings on the schedule of Repertory Cinema 2007’s wonderful Welles retrospective which will run from June 8 to 17 at the HK Film Archive’s Cinema, on June 19 at the HK Science Museum’s Lecture Hall and on June 23 and 24 at the HK Space Museum’s Lecture Hall. Tickets for all the screenings (whose starting times range from 2pm to 9:30pm) are priced at $50 from URBTIX, 2734 9009. |
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Sunday June 10
Enter the dragons on the water: June 10 will see the running of the first Lamma International Dragon Boat Festival. A total of 55 teams and up to 800 local and overseas paddlers will be competing in the Men’s Open, Women’s Open and Mixed Division race categories on a six-lane, 500-metre course specially created for the festive sporting event. The races will be staged off Lamma Island’s Tai Wan To Beach (Power Station Beach). Racing will commence at 8.45am and should be completed by 5.30pm of the same day. Spectators are welcome without admission charges. For more information, head over to www.lammadragonboat.com |
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Monday June 11
Rum And Coca Cola may be a perfect drink as the weather turns all summery on us but it’s also, together with Chattanooga Choo Choo, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy (from Company B) and The Lullaby Of Broadway, among the musical numbers made famous by the Andrews Sisters that will feature in the 33-song programme of Raising the Roof 2007: A Choral Extravaganza. But while the Kassia Women’s Choir’s 15 minutes will be entirely devoted to the music of America’s Wartime Sweethearts, the four other participating choirs – who also each get 15 minutes for their own programmes – will join them for a few extra-special en masse choir moments with favourites made famous by entertainers as diverse as the Rat Pack, Sarafina!, Simon & Garfunkel, George Michael and Jay Chou. The one-night-only event will take place on June 11 at the HK Cultural Centre’s Concert Hall. Tickets go for $120, $180 and $220 from URBTIX, 2734 9009. |
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On Sale Now
Circus Oz has been described the Australian rock ’n’ roll version of Canada’s Cirque du Soleil. This acclaimed contemporary circus will roll into town on September 20 for a total of 13 shows but the tickets for the local leg of their Laughing at Gravity tour are already on sale. Priced from $395 up to $645, they’re available from various outlets including URBTIX, 2734 9009. |
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