It has been a different experience planning the third New Vision Arts Festival. While we continue to introduce innovative and cross-cultural programmes with an Asian focus to our audience, we are in constant search of new artistic endeavours that mark the festival's unique identity. For those who might know us already, we want to test your senses and challenge you with our bold visions. For those who do not know us yet, we hope our selections will tempt you to join us on this quest for the novel and the sublime.

After more than a year of discussion and preparation, the Festival's two commissioned projects are now ready. Eclectic Tales from Mongolia featuring Li Chin Sung and the Khoomii Sound Machine will take you on an interactive journey from traditional Mongolian throat singing and long songs to the modern sounds of artists from Hong Kong, Argentina, Austria, Sweden and South Korea. Also, city:zen, the new work produced from a collaboration between UK's Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company and CCDC has enabled exchanges between choreographers and dancers from Hong Kong and the UK to generate inspiration.

Apart from the commissions and world premières, leading overseas artists from dance, music and theatre circles will also present a host of outstanding works. Shen Wei and his company will open the Festival with The Rite of Spring and Near the Terrace, works which integrate contemporary dance with Chinese opera, painting and sculpture. Ong Keng Sen will close the Festival with Geisha, a cross-cultural piece that explores the enigmatic world of the geisha in an adventurous juxtaposition of the traditional and the contemporary. Ryuichi Sakamoto returns with German electronic composer and visual artist Alva Noto to give one performance of insen, where two different generations meet and share the idea of electronic music as an inspiration for new musical structures. Roland Petit will dedicate Soirée de Danse Roland Petit to the women of Asia. Li Liuyi will challenge the elements of traditional Chinese opera with his new drama Mu Guiying. The Yoshida Brothers, playing the traditional shamisen with improvisational techniques, will transform classic Japanese sounds to energetic world music.

We also welcome our local artists – the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, JohnChen Ensemble, Class 7A Drama Group, Shu Ning Presentation Unit, Theatre Ensemble, and Theatre Fanatico – whose dedicated energy has never ceased to inspire and sustain creativity.

Enjoy !

Elaine Yeung
Senior Manager, Festivals Office
Leisure and Cultural Services Department