Tiny Galaxy Concert @ Haw Par (2023)
Hong Kong Sinfonietta started its “Tiny Galaxy” chamber concert series in 2020, during covid. Inspired by the hidden gems of Hong Kong, the first filmed series of “Tiny Galaxy” concerts took place in an eclectic youth hostel in Shamshuipo called “Wontonmeen”. Curated by Concertmaster James Cuddeford, 11 episodes of “Tiny Galaxy Concerts @ Wontonmeen”, featuring local and international musicians, are now shown on the HKS YouTube channel. The first of the “Tiny Galaxy” films, called “All-Star Tiny Galaxy @ Wontonmeen” made its world premiere as the closing film of the Life is Art Film Festival in 2021, at MOViE MOViE Cityplaza. Two years on, our 2nd “Tiny Galaxy” film is ready, and made its world première at the 2023 Life is Art Film Festival. It is set inside the magnificent Haw Par Mansion – a Grade I Historic Building from 1930’s Hong Kong. With a mixture of works all hand-picked for the space and acoustics, the film boasts 14 works played by different instruments, featuring Bach to the very contemporary… and James as a guide, taking you around the residence, to the most unexpected corners! Definitely not for the unadventurous, we invite you to join us on this special musical journey!
All-Star Tiny Galaxy Concert @ Wontonmeen (2021)
Who would have thought that behind a café on the busy Lai Chi Kok Road, there would be a tiny galaxy of music? Wontonmeen – an eclectic hostel – is known to independent musicians and jazz artists as an intimate place for music-sharing. Hong Kong Sinfonietta (HKS) entered the game in mid-2020 when Concertmaster James Cuddeford visited the space. Despite the heat, the humidity and a piano which needed some help, James was completely taken by the place. HKS has since recorded 10 episodes of “Tiny Galaxy Concerts@Wontonmeen”, though only half has been shown online.
All-Star Tiny Galaxy@Wontonmeen is a special extended edition featuring international stars performing at Wontonmeen, including Christoph Poppen, Aurélien Pascal, Adrien La Marca, Sergei Nakariakov and Perry So, who join James and star pianist Colleen Lee. We also get to know more about the historical gem that is Shamshuipo, and the talented young artist Vivian Ho, who created a few images of “tiny galaxies” for us.
Hong Kong is a tiny dot on the world map but, with music, it can become an infinite galaxy… beyond the stars.
Tiny Galaxy Concert @ Wontonmeen (2020)
Hong Kong Sinfonietta proudly presents “Tiny Galaxy Concerts @ Wontonmeen” – a brand new online chamber concert series curated in collaboration with Wontonmeen – a hostel located in the vibrant and historical neighbourhood of Sham Shui Po. We invite you to explore with your eyes, ears and heart the beauty of where hand-picked gems of chamber music collide with the sentiments and quintessence of an old Hong Kong. Leave behind all expectations, and enter this imaginative space with our musicians – welcome to our precious, mesmerising, wondrously tiny musical galaxy!
*Available for watching on-demand at Now E