Back On Stage III: DESTINY
a concert film
FESTIVAL OPENING FILM of MOViE MOViE Festival【Life is Art 2021】
Principal Guest Conductor: Christoph Poppen
Cello: Aurélien Pascal
Director: Stanley Ho
Programme
Mendelssohn Ruy Blas Overture, Op 95
Shostakovich Cello Concerto No 1 in E-flat, Op 107
Beethoven Symphony No 5 in C minor, Op 67
Performed / Recorded: 7 Nov 2020
First release: 27 Aug 2021 (Hong Kong)
Duration: 110 minutes
Language: English (Chinese, English subtitles)
“Per aspera ad astra. Wherever destiny takes us, we always have the freedom to look up to the stars.”
Back On Stage III: DESTINY was filmed in Nov 2020 with a live audience, when the City Hall Concert Hall was temporarily opened. Conductor Christoph Poppen and cellist Aurélien Pascal made their way to Hong Kong from Munich and Paris respectively, when the two cities were still very much in limbo. They went through 14 days of hotel quarantine before the first rehearsal.
In this concert, Hong Kong Sinfonietta takes you on a journey through three great works, all tied to the theme of destiny: Mendelssohn’s Ruy Blas Overture – a tragic story of an illicit relationship. Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No 1 – a personal song of lonely hardship, struggles and dreams. And Beethoven’s Symphony No 5 – which starts with fate knocking at the door, and ends in a wave of positive euphoria.
The film carries a message through its music, images, and dialogue: Per aspera ad astra – from the dust to the stars. Destiny need not be gloom. Having hope in the midst of uncertainty is one of the most powerful aspects of life, and particularly relevant during the global pandemic.
TRAILER
REVIEWs
“Remarkable achievement of Hong Kong Sinfonietta combining music and film – what we learnt during the pandemic is how to treasure the intense communication of music with live audience in the most casual atmosphere of a cinema. Indeed, a new and much welcomed creative achievement – BRAVO Hong Kong Sinfonietta!!”
Dmitry Sitkovetsky (violinist, conductor)
“Back On Stage III: DESTINY is original, very dynamic and above all respectful of the music. Well done!”
Roberto Forés Veses (conductor)
PAST SCREENINGS
MOViE MOViE Pacific Place
27.8.2021 (Fri) | 7pm (Festival Première)
27.8.2021 (Fri) | 7:30pm (Festival Première)
8.9.2021 (Wed) | 7pm*
6.10.2021 (Wed) | 7:05pm (Additional Screening)
29.11.2021 (Mon) | 7:40pm (Additional Screening)
PREMIERE ELEMENTS
5.9.2021 (Sun) | 1pm*
PALACE ifc
14.9.2021 (Tue) | 7pm*
12.10.2021 (Tue) | 7pm (Additional Screening)
MOViE MOViE Cityplaza
12.12.2021 (Sun) | 4:45pm (Additional Screening)
HK City Hall Concert Hall
2.8.2022 (Tue) | 7:30pm*
*With post-screening sharing session:
– Margaret Yang (CEO, Hong Kong Sinfonietta) [5.9.2021]
– James Cuddeford (Concertmaster, Hong Kong Sinfonietta) [8.9.2021, 14.9.2021]
– Christoph Poppen (Principal Guest Conductor, Hong Kong Sinfonietta) [14.9.2021 – online]
– Yip Wing-sie (Music Director Emeritus, Hong Kong Sinfonietta) [2.8.2022]
Featured Artists
 Christoph Poppen(Principal Guest Conductor) |
 Aurélien Pascal (Cello) |