In celebration of the 20 th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Opera Hong Kong proudly presents Puccini’s one-act operas Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi on August 25-26, 2017, at the Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall at 7:30pm. The double-bill contrasts the hope and pathos of Suor Angelica with the rollicking comedy, Gianni Schicchi. Directed by award-winning director Shen Liang, Resident Stage Director of The National Centre for The Performing Arts in Beijing, along with Dejan Savic, Principal Conductor of the Belgrade Opera and Ballet Company, audiences will have the opportunity to see some of the Hong Kong’s outstanding young artists. The operas will be presented as semi-staged – the characters, in costume, will perform in front of the orchestra. Suor Angelica is a tale of loss and repentance and tells the heart-wrenching story of a young lady who is sent to a convent as punishment for having an illegitimate child. Composed for female voices alone, the music masterfully portrays each character through different singing styles. Suor Angelica is a powerful drama, made all the more moving by Puccini’s music, which frames the young heroine’s tragic destiny. Main Cast of Suor Angelica Top Left: Li Yang (25 Aug) / Top Right: Louise Kwong (26 Aug) Bottom Left: Carol Lin/ Bottom Right: Bobbie Zhang By contrast, the brisk and lively music of Gianni Schicchi perfectly matches the opera’s intriguing plot. The most popular of Puccini’s three one-act operas, which together are known as Il Trittico (The Triptych), Gianni Schicchi features the famous aria “O mio babbina caro” (My Dear Father). Sung by Lauretta (Schicchi’s daughter), the aria’s haunting melody has captivated audiences worldwide. Greedy members of a family are trying to gain control of the estate of a dying relative and Gianni Schicchi is hired to help secure the inheritance. He, however, has a plan of his own and turns the con on the family. Together with Il Tabarro, Il Trittico debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in 1918. However, the operas remain acutely relevant today. “Great works can always ring a few bells regardless of time and generation,” said Director Shen Liang. Shen will set Gianni Schicchi in Shanghai at the beginning of 20 th century. Focusing on the psychological drama of the characters, Shen will explore the common themes between the two contrasting works -- the underlying sorrow and dark side of humanity despite of the side-splitting farce and the joy and peace at the end of the tragic life of Suor Angelica. Main Cast of Gianni Schicchi Top Left: Sammy Chien / Top Right: Alison Lau (25 Aug) Bottom Left: Colette Lam (26 Aug) / Bottom Right: Dominique Chan Much-sought after soprano Louise Kwong (as Suor Angelica on 26 Aug) was recently presented with the Hong Kong Arts Development Council Young Artist Award (Music). In 2012, Kwong won the Second Prize, the Best Soprano Prize and the Audience Prize at the 18th Ferruccio Tagliavini International Competition in Graz, Austria. A highly versatile singer who embraces a wide range of repertoire and operatic roles, Li Yang (as Suor Angelica on 25 Aug) has sung Liù in Turandot, Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, Micaëla in Carmen. Sammy Chien won first prize in the Operatic Aria competition at the Hong Kong Youth Singing Festival. He is a member of the Jockey Club Opera Hong Kong Young Artist Development Programme. With support from the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, semi-staged operas Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi will be held on Friday, 25 Aug and Saturday, 26 Aug 2017 at 7:30 pm starring some of Hong Kong’s brightest operatic talents. For more information about Opera Hong Kong, please visit http://www.operahongkong.org or follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/operahongkonglimited.

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Puccini’s Suor Angelica & Gianni Schicchi – semi- staged opera Producer: Warren Mok Conductor: Dejan Savic Director: Shen Liang Chorus Director: Alex Tam Designer of Nun Costumes: Cindy Ho Pui-shan Nun Costumes Production: Costume Shop of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Suor Angelica Cast Sister Angelica: Li Yang (25 Aug)/ Louise Kwong (26 Aug) La Zia Principessa: Carol Lin La Badessa: Bobbie Zhang La Suora Zelatrice: Dominique Chan Sister Genovieffa: Joyce Wong Gianni Schicchi Cast Gianni Schicchi: Sammy Chien Lauretta: Alison Lau (25 Aug) / Colette Lam (26 Aug) Zita: Dominique Chan Rinuccio: Chen Yong (25 Aug)/ Chen Chen (26 Aug) Gherardo: Charlie Cha Nella: Joyce Wong Betto di Signa: Albert Lim Simone: Apollo Wong