LCSD Cultural Presentations

During the year, the LCSD presented 1 974 performances, covering a rich variety of performing arts programmes featuring top musicians from around the world as well as local artists. These attracted a total audience of 715 067 people.

Musical highlights involving visiting artists included the historic visit of the prestigious Berliner Philharmoniker under the baton of Chief Conductor Simon Rattle with a live outdoor relay of the concerts, the return visit of The Philadelphia Orchestra with Music Director Christoph Eschenbach as conductor and Chinese pianist Lang Lang as soloist, and a new production of the Italian opera Turandot. There were also performances by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Midori, guitarist John Williams and versatile instrumentalist Richard Harvey, Borodin String Quartet and jazz giant The Chick Corea Elektric Band.

Dance programmes during the year included the world famous Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan, Lyon Opera Ballet, the Russian National Ballet Theatre, Ballet Flamenco Sara Baras (Spain) and Tibet Autonomous Region Song and Dance Troupe.

On the multi-arts front, highlights included the spectacular Year of France in China event Ola Kala by Les Arts Sauts (France) at Victoria Park, Cookin' (Korea), and Jean Cocteau's classic movie Beauty and the Beast with live music accompaniment by venerable contemporary composer Philip Glass and his Ensemble (USA).

Major theatre hits of the year included an adaptation of the Greek tragedy Dionysus directed and designed by Tadashi Suzuki, one of the world's foremost theatre directors, and The Argument by Theatre O of Britain.

The promotion of the appreciation of Chinese opera has always been a key objective of the LCSD and the third Cantonese Opera Day was organised on the last Sunday in November. The event was part of the 'Bravo! A Cantonese Opera Fiesta!' series held in November and December to promote Cantonese opera. Throughout the year, the LCSD also presented newly commissioned Cantonese opera works. Chinese opera highlights from other regions, included Peking Opera Gala with a live telecast by CCTV, the Shanghai Shaoxing Opera Group, Shanghai Kunqu Opera Troupe, and Chinese Regional Opera of Jingnan.

The department continued to cooperate with consulates-general and cultural institutions to promote cultural exchange and sponsor cultural activity such as the Le French May. Support was also given to the Chopin Society of Hong Kong for the first Hong Kong International Piano Competition. Other major sponsored events included the International Children's Choirs Festival presented by Hong Kong Treble Choirs Association and Musicarama by Hong Kong Composers' Guild Ltd.

Entertainment Programmes

During the year, a total of 648 carnivals and entertainment programmes were organised by the LCSD in parks, playgrounds, community halls and the department's cultural venues. They attracted more than 1 million people.

Outdoor entertainment extravaganzas included the Lunar New Year Lantern Carnival, Summer Fun Carnival, Mid-Autumn Lantern Carnival, and the New Year's Eve Countdown Carnival. The newly introduced live entertainment DJ show series, Heat Wave Channel, which included a variety of music and dance performances and trendy game demonstrations, was staged in Stanley and Sai Kung during the summer. The Asian Ethnic Cultural Programmes, which featured local Asian nationals performing their traditional and modern music and dance, were well received by the community.

Arts Education and Audience-building Projects

The LCSD emphasises the importance of artistic endeavour and increasing public access to the arts through its educational and audience-building programmes.

During the year, the department held a total of 923 arts education and audience-building activities. The School Culture Day Scheme mobilised schools to bring their students to the department's performing venues, museums and libraries during school hours to take part in programmes specially designed for them. The School Arts Animateur Scheme sought collaboration with local performing arts groups to offer arts training programmes at schools.

Community programmes during the year included the Artist-in-residence Scheme, which offered workshops and arts training programmes at performing venues, the Community Cultural Ambassador Scheme, which helped different sectors of the community explore and develop an interest in the performing arts, and the District Cantonese Opera Parade. In addition, the Cultural Services Volunteers Scheme, encouraged members of the public to volunteer to help promote arts and culture in their leisure time. By 2005, some 2 300 volunteers had been recruited under the scheme.

Film and Video Programmes

Apart from presenting a diverse range of film programmes, the LCSD also cooperates with local consulates, and cultural and film institutions on year-round presentations. Major programmes in 2005 included French Cinema: From Classic to Contemporary; Centennial of Chinese Cinema — Sun Yu: Poet of Cinema; and Pearl River Delta: Movie, Culture, Life and the International Children's Film Carnival. The Repertory Cinema series showcased 'Alain Resnais — Travelling in Time' and 'Shen Fu and Shui Hua — China in the Past'. The LCSD also sponsored major local film events such as the annual Hong Kong International Film Festival and Hong Kong Film Awards Presentation Ceremony. Funding support was also given to the Hong Kong Arts Centre for organising the annual Hong Kong Independent Short Film and Video Awards to encourage creative independent productions of short films and videos.