Family Concert

“Magical Symphony”

Harry (Hong Kong) x Macao Orchestra

Programme

Host: Harry Wong
Conductor: Tony Cheng-Te Yeh
Macao Orchestra

Programme Notes

Georges Bizet: Overture to “Carmen”

Composed by French composer Georges Bizet, the four-act opera “Carmen” is one of the most frequently performed operas around the world. The overture to the opera includes two famous themes of bullfighters recurring in the opera. It begins with the powerful “Les Toréadors” (March of Toreadors), which presented the indomitable spirit of the bullfighter and the exciting atmosphere in the arena. “Chanson du Toréador” (Toreador Song) follows, portraying the image of the bullfighter as a man of great vigor and courage.

Paul Dukas: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

“The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” is a symphonic poem composed by the French composer Paul Dukas in 1897, highly descriptive and narrative. It is based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s 1797 poem of the same name, beginning with an old sorcerer departing his workshop, leaving his apprentice with chores to perform. The apprentice is lazy and unwilling to work, so he casts a spell on a broom to make it fetch water by pail for him. Since the apprentice has not been fully trained, he cannot stop the broom, and things get out of hand - the workshop is soon awash with water. Fortunately, the old sorcerer returns in time and breaks the magic. This symphonic poem by Dukas vividly presents the entire story, as if the scenes and characters were right in front of the eyes, making the audience feel as if they were there.

Leroy Anderson: Plink, Plank, Plunk

The American composer Leroy Anderson (1908-1975) was famous for short, light and witty orchestral works. In his early years, he played double bass in orchestras and became particularly interested in the use of the Pizzicato (plucking bowed string instruments). In order to demonstrate this playing technique that was often neglected by composers, he composed “Plink, Plank, Plunk!” in 1951, which was premiered by the Kansas City Philharmonic Orchestra on 11 November of the same year. From the beginning to the end of this piece, performers of a string orchestra have to pluck the strings of their instruments, interspersed with the strange sounds made by the performers rubbing string instruments with their palms, adding a witty touch to the piece.

Leroy Anderson: Forgotten Dreams

The composer Leroy Anderson was prolific in the 1950s. He composed “Forgotten Dreams” in 1954, initially for piano beginners, and eventually expanded it into a version for piano and string orchestra. With simple melodies, it conveys sincere feelings and a touch of nostalgia, full of dreamy atmosphere.

Leopold Mozart: Toy Symphony

Leopold Mozart (1719-1787), father of the famous master of Classical Music Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, was also an accomplished musician. “Toy Symphony” is his most famous musical work which is brief and simply written. In addition to string instruments, it features bird calls, toy wind-up sounds and bells, creating a childish atmosphere.

Edvard Grieg: “In the Hall of the Mountain King”, from Peer Gynt

“Peer Gynt”, is the 1857 incidental music by the Norwegian composer Edvard Grieg for the Norwegian theatre master Henrik Ibsen’s play of the same name, which tells the story of the adventures of Peer Gynt, a rogue. Peer Gynt left home to seek his fortune when he was young, but he had one disastrous adventure after another. After travelling around, old and impoverished, he returned to his hometown. In front of the knees of Solveig, the love of his life, the exhausted man finally found his true home. “In the Hall of the Mountain King” depicts the scene that the mountain trolls are reveling and threatening Peer, with characteristics of both dance and march. It is suddenly interrupted at the climax, signifying that the dance of the trolls has come to an abrupt end at the command of the Troll Mountain King.

Pyotr llyich Tchaikovsky: “Russian Dance”, from The Nutcracker

The two-act ballet “The Nutcracker” (1892) is about the story of Clara, a girl who gets a Nutcracker for Christmas and enters a strange, wonderful and exciting dream at night. The score for this ballet by Russian composer Tchaikovsky is a wonderful work, leaving many unforgettable melodies. In Act 2, “Russian Dance” appears in the Land of Sweets where Clara travels. Sweets from around the world present their dances, including the Arabic dance by “coffee”, the Chinese dance by “tea”, and Russian dance by “candy canes”.

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov: Flight of the Bumblebee

The works of the Russian composer Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) are particularly famous for their vivid depictions and his orchestral piece “Flight of the Bumblebee” is a typical example. This piece is an interlude for the composer’s opera “The Tale of Tsar Saltan”, composed in 1899-1900. It closes Act 3, Tableau 1, where the prince is transformed into a bumblebee and attacks the villain, creating chaos. This short and concise piece is recognizable for its frantic pace, with nearly uninterrupted runs of chromatic sixteenth notes, which requires a great deal of skill to perform.

Antonio Vivaldi: Recorder Concerto in G Major, RV 443 - 1st movement

Antonio Vivaldi, an Italian composer in the Baroque period (1678-1741), was particularly known for composing concertos. In his lifetime, he wrote more than 500 concertos of different types. The most common type features a prominent solo instrument in the collaborative performance with the orchestra, showcasing competition and interaction between the soloist and the ensemble. This is also the case with the “Recorder Concerto” written in 1728-1729. The recorder, as the soloist, showcases a clear and translucent tone with fast, light, and agile melodies reminiscent of a lively bird’s song, creating a striking contrast to the string-based music of the ensemble.

Johannes Brahms: Hungarian Dance No. 5

The German composer Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) completed a set of 21 Hungarian Dances in 1869. Originally composed for piano four hands, “Hungarian Dances” were later arranged for piano solo and orchestra as well as a wide variety of instruments and ensembles. Among them, the most famous one is undoubtedly No.5. This Allegro Dance in G minor has a strong Hungarian Gypsy style, passionate and bold. The middle passage in a major key is light and bouncy, with a sense of humor. The piece is varied in terms of tempo, strength, color and emotional level, with strong musical expression and appeal.

Programme Notes: Danni Liu
(Translation: Boss Translation)

Cheng-Te Yeh

“Cheng-Te Yeh is a gifted young conductor, He has the great conducting technique and tasting, He always show the wonderful music and the personality in the podium and orchestra.”

* Lan Shui,
Laureate Conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Honorary Conductor of the Copenhagen Philharmonic Orchestra

“Tony is such a talented conductor, and his strong, and passionate qualities enable him to coordinate well with orchestra.”

* Leonid Grin,
Music Director of the National Symphony Orchestra of Chile

Cheng-Te Yeh is currently Assistant Conductor of the Macao Orchestra. As one of the most active conductors among the younger generation in Taiwan Region, he also served as assistant conductor in orchestras there from 2019-2022. With a passion for orchestral performance, Yeh possesses precise, refreshing conducting skills, and is adept at presenting music in passionate style. In addition to conducting orchestral works and premiering contemporary pieces, he also directs and plans a diversity of crossover concerts for theatre, dance drama and of folk music and pop music, winning praise, and feedback from various sectors.

Harry Wong

Harry Wong (A.K.A. Harry Goh Goh) is well known among children and adults for his humourous personality and amazing magic.  After completing his studies in music education and commercial music at University of Liverpool, he started off his career as a musician and a teacher. He is one of the leading specialists in the local music education field. His series of music textbooks, Music Today, and his recorder methods have been widely adopted by primary schools throughout Hong Kong with significant contribution to all music students and teachers.

Harry had his first Children T.V. Programme with Radio Television Hong Kong in 1986 and continues to be a Children TV Program Host for TVB, ATV, and i-Cable Kids Channel. Harry has been a performing guest for Hong Kong Dance Company, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and hosting concerts for Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra yearly. He regularly producing new shows for family audience of Hong Kong, Macau, Britain, Canada and Germany, etc. He is also a prolific M.C. and entertainer for corporate events which brings him to different parts of the world.

Harry’s passion brings children a happy childhood through his latest creative Television programme ‘Harry Good Neighbour’ on air from Fall 2016.

Macao Orchestra

The Macao Orchestra (OM) is a local professional orchestra with a repertoire of Chinese and Western classics throughout the times.

In 1983, Father Áureo de Castro of the St. Pious X Academy of Music and a group of music lovers founded the Macao Chamber Orchestra. In 2001, the Macao Chamber Orchestra was extended into an orchestra with double winds and it was renamed the Macao Orchestra. Since 1 February 2022, Macao Orchestra (OM) has been managed by the Macao Orchestra Company, Limited, which is wholly owned by the Macao SAR Government. Starting from 2023-24 concert season, Lio Kuokman serves as Music Director and Principal Conductor of the orchestra. Macao Orchestra collaborates regularly with numerous internationally renowned musicians, conductors and ensembles, offering the public a rich diversity of classical musical events.

Macao Orchestra

Music Director and Principal Conductor
Lio Kuokman

Assistant Conductor
Tony Cheng-Te Yeh

First Violins
Hou Zezhou (Acting Concertmaster)
Yang Keyan (Acting Associate Concertmaster)
Zhou Chen ++
Cao Hui
Zheng Liqin
Guo Kang

Second Violin
Li Na **
Li Wenhao
Liang Mu
Chen Yanle

Violas
Li Jun ++
Zhang Yitian
Li Yueying
Yuan Feifei

Cellos
Yan Feng ++
Radim Navrátil
Zhong Guoyu

Double Basses
Chen Chao ++
Krasen Ivanov Zagorski *

Flutes
Weng Sibei **
Yang Hui-Chun *
Lin Yi-Chuan

Oboes
Kai Sai **
Park Minyoung

Clarinets
Chuang Wei – Ling ##
Lee Kai Kin

Bassoons
Yung Tsangshien **
Zhu Wukun

Horns
Hsueh Chen – Yuan ##
Yu-Han Ho
Lee Kin Tat Alfred *
Un Cheok Hin

Trumpets
Wang Chenguang ##
Yu Long Ching *
Wong Lok Yung *

Trombones
Chiu Hon Kuen ++
Ng Tsz He *
Lo Kwok Hin *

Tuba
Yongyut Tossponapinun *

Timpani
Chang Hio Man ++

Percussion
Fung Chan Chi Wai
Chan Chun San *
Lui Tin Yau *

Harp
Leong Tong I *

**Section Principal
++Acting Section Principal
##Guest Section Principal
* Guest Musician