New Vision Arts Festival stage programs offer 30% early bird discount until Sept 5

Organised by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the New Vision Arts Festival (NVAF) will be held from October 20 to November 19, showcasing an array of interdisciplinary programmes by overseas and local performing groups and artists. An early bird discount of 30 per cent off all full-price tickets for stage programmes will be offered from today (Aug. 18) to September 5.

The NVAF, held annually in autumn, strives to push boundaries across different cultures, disciplines and regions, introducing to audiences groundbreaking and innovative performing arts productions from around the world to broaden viewers' horizons. Ten amazing stage programmes will be featured during this year's festival. The brief introductions are as follows:

Opening programme: "Double Murder"

The internationally celebrated Israeli-British choreographer Hofesh Shechter, following his critically acclaimed 2014 performance in Hong Kong, will kick off this year's NVAF with his latest work, "Double Murder". Consisting of two halves of distinctly contrasting styles, the double bill conveys the message that only hope can counter loneliness and rupture.

"INK"

Following the world tour of "The Great Tamar", internationally acclaimed Greek choreographer Dimitris Papaioannou will return to Hong Kong and perform onstage for the first time in a decade. His works have always been known as being visual spectacles. For "INK", the master of spectacle will create a water-filled stage and present together with young German dancer Šuka Horn.

"RAIN"

Adapted from the famous work "Rain" by British novelist Somerset Maugham in the early 20th century, Japanese choreographer Ryu Suzuki partners with visual artist Shinji Ohmaki and sound artist evala in the dance work "RAIN", a programme that shines a light on human relationships under the pandemic.

"The Once and Future"

"The Once and Future" is a seamless blend of film, live music, vocal music and a laser display, inviting audiences to explore the essence of humanity together. The programme features a film directed by acclaimed Singaporean filmmaker Yeo Siew Hua, which was shot entirely in Argentina, with an original musical score written by composer Eugene Birman and performed live by the ZeMu! Ensemble Berlin, a group from the Berliner Philharmoniker. Also performing is young Indian vocalist Anandi Bhattacharya, who will personify artificial intelligence.

"Tao of Glass" (Asian premiere)

Co-created by minimalist music legend Philip Glass from the United States and British award-winning director Phelim McDermott, "Tao of Glass" marries 10 new music pieces with 10 meditations on life, death and Taoist wisdom, weaving into a most personal and touching collaboration of the two masters.

"Book of Mountains and Seas" (Asian premiere)

A contemporary vocal puppetry theatre work by highly popular American Chinese composer Huang Ruo and American puppetry master Basil Twist, "Book of Mountains and Seas" recasts ancient Chinese mythology, featuring singers from Denmark's Ars Nova Copenhagen alongside two Hong Kong percussionists to recount well-known myths.

"In the Name of Hanjin"

Multi-talented musician Hanjin Tan, who has jumped from pop to art tech, will partner with Banky Yeung, a one-of-a-kind theatre playwright and director, in the music theatre work "In the Name of Hanjin". The interdisciplinary collaboration fuses 3D immersive music, dance, stand-up comedy, installation art with Web3 elements, offering audiences an innovative theatre experience.

"The Old Man and His Sea"

A groundbreaking collaboration of Yuen Siu-fai and Tang Shu-wing, who are esteemed in their respective fields of Cantonese opera and theatre, will present "The Old Man and His Sea", a production adapted from Nobel laureate Ernest Hemingway's classic, fusing contemporary theatre with Chinese opera.

"Bach im Theater: St John Passion"

Fusing Baroque music with contemporary theatre, "Bach im Theater: St John Passion" by choral artist Patrick Chiu and choreographer Ivanhoe Lam bestows the crucifixion story and Bach's choral masterpiece with an entirely new character. The programme received rave reviews last year at its premiere in Bach's home country of Germany.

"Oh, To Believe In Another World" (Asian premiere)

Leading contemporary artist William Kentridge adds multimedia projections to Shostakovich's Symphony No. 10 in the production "Oh, To Believe In Another World" in which historical Soviet icons will be brought to life through puppetry in a film to be screened at a concert hall. Shostakovich's classic will be performed by the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, offering audiences a thought-provoking arts experience.

Tickets for the NVAF early bird offer will be available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) from tomorrow (August 18) until September 5. For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288, or use the mobile ticketing app "URBTIX".