About the Festival

Dynamic fusion, boundless creativity

Launched in 2002, the biennial New Vision Arts Festival now reaches its 10-year mark. The Festival has developed a striking identity with its innovative, cross-cultural programming with an Asian focus over the years. It has brought to local arts lovers leading-edge, highly original programmes from all over the world, with the purpose of enriching the performing arts palette in the region.

Among the Festival’s signature highlights are the commissioned works and world premières. A World Première Work by Shen Wei and his dance company has been commissioned for the closing of this Festival; a commissioned piece by Bright Sheng will be premièred by the Munich Chamber Orchestra from Germany and renowned cellist, Trey Lee at the Echoes of Dunhuang concert; and the world première of The Sound of Folk Tales will generate a concert that crosses geographical and cultural boundaries set against the legendary cities of Shanghai, Tokyo and New York.

There will be other visiting top-rung artists on stage this autumn. U-Theatre of Taiwan opens the Festival with its latest multimedia dance-and-music theatre production, Beyond Time. Wu Man and aboriginal friends from Taiwan give a concert of exotic and inspiring music, while phase7 performing.arts from Germany presents a stimulating piece of musical theatre distinguished by advanced 3D audio technology. The operatic tone-poem, The Flight of the Jade Bird, is by Mark Chan from Singapore and his cast of famous Asian musicians, opera singers and a solo dancer. Two Dogs is an experimental comedy by the National Theatre of China, directed by Meng Jinghui who is famed for his visionary approach to drama. For Generation Z audiences, we are bringing the hip hop show The Sound of Folk Tales, as mentioned above, as well as the thrilling Wrecking Crew Orchestra of Japan, the dance group that has taken the internet by storm with their Tron-suited routine.

From Hong Kong, we have Thunderstorm, Lament of the Exile, O You Heavenly Creatures! and Ravel the Time Traveller, which represent local artists’ explorations of fresh domains in their chosen art form. We have also lined up a rich array of extension activities including foyer performances, masterclasses, talks, post-performance “meet-the-artist” sessions and exhibitions to take you even further afield in the performing arts.

The New Vision Arts Festival aims to continue to bring you fresh perspectives through this platform of boundless creativity. We look forward to your support as we stride towards our next 10-year mark.

Esmond Chan
Senior Manager (Festivals)
Leisure and Cultural Services Department