*****************************************************************

Dear Friends of the CCOHK,
We are pleased to launch the SIXTH issue of CITY RHYTHM.

Contents of This Issue

A. Coming Events
In April the UK's top classical mandolin player, Alison Stephens, joins the CCOHK in a performance of popular and virtuosic mandolin concertos.

B. Spotlight
Interview with Mr. Joe Kirtley, principal horn-player of the CCOHK.

C. Sounding Board
Audience feedback from our January concert with the violin prodigy Diana Yukawa.

D. Artist Scoop
Extra snippets of our guest artists. Artist featured in this issue: Alison Stephens.

E. Music Amuses
Did you know that Paisiello, who wrote two mandolin concertos and a mandolin serenade in his opera "The Barber of Seville", was Napoleon's favourite composer?

Did you know that the use of the mandolin contributed to one of the many mishaps which marred the premiere performance of Rossini's "The Barber of Seville"?

F. CD Corner
Recommended CDs of mandolin music recorded by Alison Stephens.

H. Quiz
Answer the quiz and win FREE concert tickets to our April concert.

Enjoy the newsletter now !

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

A. Coming Events

Don't miss our next concert which features:

1. The UK's top classical mandolin player, Alison Stephens, who performs on recordings with the London Mozart Players as well as the soundtrack of the film "Captain Corelli's Mandolin".

2. Baritone singer, Richard Frewer, who has performed as soloist in concerts with the famous conductor Sir John Elliot Gardiner in the UK and who currently resides in Hong Kong.

3. Conductor, Nicholas Routley, who lived in Hong Kong for several years during the 1980's and 1990's and influenced many Hong Kong musicians in his capacity as senior lecturer at the Music Department of the University of Hong Kong and as founder/conductor of the RTHK singers.

Here are the concert details:

***** Mandolin Magic *****

Date : 2 April 2003 (Wednesday)
Time : 8:00 p.m.
Venue : Hong Kong City Hall Theatre

Programme

Vivaldi : Concerto for strings in D minor
Vivaldi : Concerto for mandolin in C major, RV 425
Paisiello : Concerto for mandolin in C major
Mozart, Gretry, Haydn & Beethoven : Opera serenades & concert arias for baritone, mandolin & orchestra
Haydn : Symphony No. 39 in G minor

Tickets

$ 200 $ 150 (with half-price concessions)

Now available at all URBTIX outlets

Tel. No. : 2734 9009

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

B. Spotlight

Interview with Mr. Joe Kirtley, principal horn-player of the CCOHK.

Where are you from and how long have you been in Hong Kong?
I was born and grew up in a very small town in Oklahoma in the United States. After living in various places in the States (from Florida to Alaska), I settled in Seattle. I came to Hong Kong in 1979. Nowadays when people ask me where I am from, I will say Hong Kong since I have lived here for twenty-three years - the longest period I have stayed anywhere.

What do you enjoy most about playing in the CCOHK?

The orchestra offers interesting programmes and features very good soloists and conductors. Moreover every player joins the orchestra because he or she loves to play music. Many of the players have busy schedules but they always give 100% of themselves when playing in the orchestra. I treasure that as a special quality of the CCOHK.

Which CCOHK guest artist has made the biggest impression on you?
I particularly like the trombonist and conductor Alain Trudel. He is a fantastic brass player. As for his role as a conductor, I felt a special connection to his style of rehearsing and the way he approached music.

Which CCOHK concert has been the most memorable for you?
They have all been memorable for different reasons. However the common memory for all the concerts is of the orchestra trying to play its best and enjoying the experience.

You played in the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO) for many years. How would you compare your experience of playing in the CCOHK with that of playing in the HKPO?

I played in the HKPO for sixteen years. HKPO was a full-sized professional orchestra that gave at least two concerts per week, performing a wide variety of standard and contemporary music. The job of a HKPO player was both demanding and challenging. In contrast, the CCOHK is a small chamber orchestra which offers a very different repertoire. Its Executive and Artistic Director, Leanne Nicholls, has done a great job in finding repertoire that is lesser performed, challenging to play and interesting for the audience to hear. In fact the pieces the CCOHK presents are often ones that I have never played before and are being performed for the first time in Hong Kong.

You have taught and influenced many musicians in Hong Kong. How would you compare your work as a teacher to your career as a performer?

A performer's objective is to deliver a musically interesting performance. To achieve this goal, he or she needs to achieve technical perfection, perform the music as given on the score, present the conductor's interpretation of the composer's intentions and add some personal artistry into the playing.

In contrast, a teacher gives the students the best information he or she has acquired through experience. The students then digest the information and incorporate it in their performance. While the performer is totally responsible for the performance, a teacher does not have complete and direct control over the performance.

Another difference between a performer and a teacher is that the teacher must serve as a guide in the personal development of the student. In my case, I see my role as a teacher as more than just a conveyor of horn or musical technique. I try to relate learning the horn with learning to be a valuable member of society. I strive to teach all of them the concepts of responsibility, time management, organization and individual and team responsibilities. I emphasize perseverance and help my students apply the principles they learn in their music education to sports, business and their personal life. My goal is to help them become conscientious, responsible and "professional" members of the community.

Name one of the most important milestones in your music career.
It was when I chose to become a professional horn-player instead of a teacher. At the time I had returned to my parents' home, interviewed for a number of teaching positions and was offered several good ones. However I was also given the option of going to Seattle to study the French horn and start work on a performing career. I spent three days trying to choose between a secure teaching position and a performing career with lots of uncertainties. While lying on the bed I finally made up my mind. I decided to go to Seattle to follow my dream, namely, to enter the world of professional playing despite the risks involved. I knew then and there that if I started teaching I would never again have the opportunity to become a professional player. I realized that if I became a professional performer, I could do BOTH things I loved.

What message do you have for our friends?
As I get older and hopefully a little wiser, I tend to ponder more about what really matters in life. For me, music-making is important. However, being with loved ones, family and friends is even more important. Therefore I would ask you, as friends of the CCOHK and me, to attend our concerts with your loved ones, family and friends so that we can all share the joy of music-making together.

If you would like to see some of the important people, places, and events in my life please visit my web-site at http://www.geocities.com/carol_joehk/

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

C. Sounding Board

Friends who attend our concerts and are successful in having their comments published will win 2 FREE tickets to one of our future events.

In this issue we are pleased to share with you the following COMMENTS FROM OUR AUDIENCE MEMBERS who attended our recent "Diana Yukawa : Hong Kong Debut " concert on 29 January 2003:

Although Diana Yukawa is very young, her violin technique is sophisticated. The accompaniment of the CCOHK makes the concert a marvellous one. An excellent performance!
---------- Mrs. Ching (Tai Po)

My impression of the performance is that it is very romantic, musical, brilliant, full of feelings and exciting. I came here with my father for a lovely evening out and all the effort the orchestra and Diana Yukawa has put into it has made my day. I really enjoyed this concert!
---------- Ms. Ferguson (The Peak)

All the performers played magnificently. Although they come from different countries, they were in perfect rapport with each other. Quite a feat. Diana Yukawa was outstanding. She has attained a high level of artistry at such a young age. Very admirable.
---------- Mr. Wong (Chai Wan)

Clear, bright execution of the works. Professional and a worthy alternative to the Hong Kong Philharmonic!
---------- Mr. Williamson (Pok Fu Lam)

The programme of the concert was interesting. It enabled beginners like me to experience the joy of listening to classical music without feeling bored. I had a delightful evening. Thank you!
---------- Mr. Tsao (Ap Lei Chau)

When Diana Yukawa was very young, I saw her on TV in Japan and enjoyed her violin playing. I had not seen her for a long time until tonight. I found that she had become much more mature. She played marvellously!
---------- Mrs. Izumi Iwata (Tsing Yi)

Congratulations to these four friends, who have each won 2 FREE TICKETS to one of our future concerts. We will be in touch with you soon!

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

D. Artist Scoop

Alison Stephens is considered to be the leading classical mandolin player in the UK. At the age of 17 she gave her professional concerto debut at the Barbican in London and has since played across the UK and around the world to great acclaim. She has appeared as soloist with the London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the London Sinfonietta and the Royal Shakespeare Company and in recital with guitarist Craig Ogden. Ms. Stephens has worked on several projects inspired by the best-selling novel "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" by Louis de Bernieres. These include a sell-out production at the 1999 and 2000 Edinburgh Festivals, followed by tours across the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. She also played on the soundtrack of the film. Her recent recording of the Hummel mandolin concerto with the London Mozart Players was rel eased by Chandos to rave reviews.

For more information on this exceptional artist please visit the following website:

http://www.alisonstephens.com

Alison Stephens will join the CCOHK in a performance of popular and virtuosic mandolin concertos by Vivaldi and Paisiello and some rarely heard operatic excerpts for mandolin, baritone and orchestra. Don't miss this special and unique concert!

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

E. Music Amuses

Did you know that Paisiello, who wrote two mandolin concertos and a mandolin serenade in his opera "The Barber of Seville", was Napoleon's favourite composer?

Did you know that the use of the mandolin contributed to one of the many mishaps which marred the premiere performance of Rossini's "The Barber of Seville"?

The mandolin with which we are most familiar today is the Neapolitan classical mandolin. It was particularly popular in the 18th century when it was used by Handel in England, Mozart in Vienna, Hummel in Germany, Gretry and Auber in France and Vivaldi and Paisiello in Italy. From 1760 to 1780 the classical mandolin was a very fashionable instrument amongst the French nobility, and many Italian musicians flocked to Paris to play and write for the instrument. Among them was Giovanni Paisiello, who is best known today for his first rendition of the libretto for the opera "The Barber of Seville" before Rossini seized the libretto and made it famous. Paisiello was highly esteemed by Napoleon who employed him in the French capital for two and a half years. This explains why Paisiello's mandolin concertos remain in the possession of the Bibliotheque Nationale in Paris t oday.

In fact the use of the mandolin contributed to one of the many mishaps which marred the premiere performance of Rossini's "The Barber of Seville". Some say that Paisiello, who was filled with envy and spite, deliberately sent people to make catcalls. The disaster was compounded by several mishaps, which included a singer's nose bleeding and a black cat walking across the stage. To cap it all, when Count Almaviva appeared and began his serenade, one of the strings on his mandolin snapped. Consequently he had to change the string on stage, and the audience went into an uproar.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

F. CD Corner

If you like classical mandolin music, then the following recordings are highly recommended:

1. Hummel Mandolin Concerto and other pieces

Alison Stephens - mandolin

London Mozart Players

Chandos CHAN 9925

2. Music from the Novels of Louis de Bernieres

Alison Stephens - mandolin

Craig Ogden - guitar

Chandos CHAN 9780

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

G. Quiz

Answer the quiz and win FREE concert tickets

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Question 1
Name the two works which the 17-year-old violinist Diana Yukawa performed with the CCOHK and which also appear on one of her CDs.

Question 2
Name the film which has created a recent surge of interest in the classical mandolin.

(For answers to these questions please check our website: http://www.ccohk.com/ )

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Send your answer by email to maryanne@ccohk.com on or before NOON on 13 March 2003 (Thursday) together with your name, telephone number and postal address.

The first two persons to submit the correct answers to all the questions together with his/her name, telephone number and postal address will win 2 FREE tickets to our "Mandolin Magic " concert on 2 April 2003 (Wednesday).

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

We hope you have enjoyed this newsletter. Do forward this to all your music-loving friends so that they can join in the fun and win free concert tickets too.

The editor of CITY RHYTHM is Mary Anne Pun.

If you have any questions, please e-mail her at maryanne@ccohk.com