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Back On Stage II (Quarantined!) (2020)

Back On Stage II (Quarantined!)

a concert film

Principal Guest Conductor: Christoph Poppen
Piano: Alexander Krichel
Director: Stanley Ho

Programme
Rachmaninov      Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op 43
Beethoven           Symphony No 8 in F, Op 93

Special performance:
Beethoven           Sonata for Piano & Violin No 5 in F, Op 24, “Spring”
                                             Violin: Christoph Poppen
                                             Piano: Alexander Krichel

 

Performed / Recorded: 26 Sept 2020
First release: 28 Nov 2020 (Hong Kong)
Duration: 110 minutes
Language: English (Chinese, English subtitles)


Encouraged by the rapturous response of their début film “Back On Stage concert” which involved only the string section of the orchestra, Hong Kong Sinfonietta ventures into its second attempt to share their experience with virtual audiences – this time in full force with 61 musicians, complete with winds, brass, harp and percussion.

Under the COVID-19 spell when the doors of the HK City Hall Concert Hall were still tightly shut for the audience, Hong Kong Sinfonietta recorded this concert one Saturday afternoon on 26 Sept 2020, with no fewer than eight cameras plus one jib, all equipped with the latest 4K technology.

“Back On Stage II (Quarantined!)” features two artists from Germany (Principal Guest Conductor Christoph Poppen and pianist Alexander Krichel) who stayed in a hotel room in Hong Kong for a full 14 days prior to their first rehearsal to satisfy the quarantine regulations (Click here to watch “My COVID Countdown Journal”). This film stands testament to Hong Kong Sinfonietta overcoming the difficulties of making music under the current situation, as they adapted to face masks and partitions – which have unfortunately become the new norm for orchestral performances.

The choice of repertoire: Rachmaninov’s ever-exuberant and bubbly Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, paired with Beethoven’s 8th Symphony – which signifies a more grounded sense of joy and serenity – reflect the dichotomy of our reminiscence of the “good times” (pre-COVID) and our hope for better times ahead (post-COVID). As a fitting bonus at the end, Beethoven’s best-loved “Spring” Sonata for piano and violin showers the empty auditorium with a warm drizzle, as the sunshine promises a new hope for a new beginning.


Trailer

 

Maestro Poppen on “Back On Stage II (Quarantined!)”

 

MORE videos 

 


Reviews

“More than music. It’s tender loving care.”
Lynn Yau (CEO, The Absolutely Fabulous Theatre Connection)

“An exciting new way to experience great music up close.”
Perry So (Conductor)

“A fantastic historically informed performance paired with the humorous vlog-style quarantine scenes makes this production one-of-a-kind during the pandemic.”
Elliot Leung (Film Composer)

“A true testimony of the power of music and the resilence of the human spirit that music represents.”
Mak Su-yin (Professor in Music Theory, The Chinese University of Hong Kong)


PAST SCREENINGS

HONG KONG
PALACE ifc
1.3.2021 (Mon) | 7pm
18.3.2021 (Thu) | 7pm
19.3.2021 (Fri) | 7pm*
20.3.2021 (Sat) | 3:15pm*
24.3.2021 (Wed) | 7pm*
8.4.2021 (Thu) | 7pm* 
14.4.2021 (Wed) | 7pm*
7.5.2021 (Fri) | 7pm
11.5.2021 (Tue) | 7pm
26.5.2021 (Wed) | 7:40pm
8.6.2021 (Tue) | 7:40pm
16.6.2021 (Wed) | 7:40pm

MOViE MOViE Pacific Place
1.12.2020 (Tue) | 7:10pm*
12.3.2021 (Fri) | 7pm*
30.3.2021 (Tue) | 7pm*
29.4.2021 (Thu) | 7pm
16.11.2022 (Wed) | 7pm*

MOViE MOViE Cityplaza
28.11.2020 (Sat) | 2:40pm*
21.3.2021 (Sun) | 3:10pm*
13.11.2022 (Sun) | 7pm*

 

KOWLOON
PREMIERE ELEMENTS
13.3.2021 (Sat) | 3pm*
17.4.2021 (Sat) | 5pm*

BROADWAY CINEMATEQUE
4.9.2021 (Sat) | 7:15pm*

 

NEW TERRITORIES
MY CINEMA YOHO MALL
14.3.2021 (Sun) | 3:10pm*

 

TAIWAN
2021 WEIWUYING TIFA CONTEMPORARY MUSIC PLATFORM (WEIWUYING, KAOHSIUNG)
24.4.2021 (Sat) | 7:30pm

NTT CINEMA (NATIONAL TAICHUNG THEATRE, TAICHUNG)
28.4.2022 (Thu) | 6:30pm

 

*With post-screening sharing session:
– James Cuddeford (Concertmaster, Hong Kong Sinfonietta) [28.11.2020, 1.12.2020, 12-14.3.2021, 19-20.3.2021, 30.3.2021, 8.4.2021, 14.4.2021, 17.4.2021]
– Yip Wing-sie (Music Director Emeritus, Hong Kong Sinfonietta) [28.11.2020, 1.12.2020, 13-14.3.2021, 24.3.2021, 4.9.2021]
– Christoph Poppen (Principal Guest Conductor, Hong Kong Sinfonietta) [21.3.2021, 30.3.2021]
– Alexander Krichel (Pianist) [13.11.2022, 16.11.2022]


Featured Artists


Christoph Poppen
(Principal Guest Conductor)

Alexander Krichel
(Piano)

 

In association with