The 50th Hong Kong Arts Festival opened with a scene from the Paris Opera Ballet's dance film Romeo and Juliet. Photo courtesy of the official website of the Hong Kong Arts Festival
Hong Kong, February 26 (Xinhua) -- The 50th Hong Kong Arts Festival officially opened on the 25th, with the theme of "Department", most of the programs under the new crown pneumonia epidemic were presented through the Internet, hoping to let the public feel the spiritual enjoyment brought by art.
Held annually since 1973, the Hong Kong Arts Festival offers a wide range of art forms, including music, opera, theatre, dance, film and cross-media. Over the past 50 years, it has become a highlight of Hong Kong's local and international art scene.
Carrie Lam, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, delivered a video speech at the opening ceremony of the 50th Hong Kong Arts Festival. Courtesy of the Information Service of the HKSAR Government
Carrie Lam, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said through a video speech on the same day that the Hong Kong Arts Festival is based on the local area and looks at the world, enriching the cultural and artistic life of the citizens, and has also contributed to Hong Kong's status as a Chinese and foreign cultural and artistic exchange center laid down by the national "14th Five-Year Plan", and this year it has taken the lead in launching a number of art and technology programs of different scales, which is bound to become a milestone in the development of Hong Kong's culture and art.
Carrie Lam also thanked the festival team for her meticulous planning, flexible response to the global epidemic, and continued to bring many wonderful artistic beauty to everyone. She also sincerely thanked the sponsors and donors for their strong support in making the Hong Kong Arts Festival a success.
The Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Chan Nam Lok, expressed the hope that the public would be able to enjoy the performances of the festival and face the "epidemic" situation head-on. Courtesy of the official website of the Hong Kong Jockey Club;
The President of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Tan Nam Lok, said the Jockey Club was delighted to have supported this cultural event for a long time since the first Hong Kong Arts Festival. The Jockey Club hopes that Hong Kong citizens will be able to enjoy the performances of the festival and enjoy physical and mental well-being, and face the challenges and opportunities of the "epidemic" situation and the future.
The opening performance of this year's Hong Kong Arts Festival is the Paris Opera Ballet dance film Romeo and Juliet, which can be viewed for free on the Hong Kong Arts Festival website from 25 to 4 March. Performances introduced at the festival also include the bavarian State Opera's operas "Dead City" and "The Nose", as well as concerts by the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra in Germany. (End)