The Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra (HKCO) has announced its ambitious 49th season under the theme "Joy," featuring groundbreaking cross-cultural collaborations, rare instrument showcases, and international tours that celebrate Chinese musical heritage while embracing global influences.
Artistic Director Yan Huichang revealed the 2025-26 season will open with Silken Notes of the Pipa—a National Arts Fund-supported production combining four- and five-string pipas with Japan's biwa and Middle Eastern oud to recreate Silk Road soundscapes.
"These diverse soundscapes echo the distant call of ancestral lands," said Yan, describing the work as capturing "the joys and wisdom of East-West confluence."
A centerpiece of the season will be the Endless Sheng – International Sheng and Reeds Festival in spring 2026, positioning Hong Kong as a global hub for the ancient mouth organ.
The festival includes a first-ever Thousand Reeds in Harmony marathon at Kai Tak Sports Park, uniting sheng players worldwide through hybrid online-offline participation, followed by academic symposiums and a grand finale concert featuring top international virtuosos.
Season highlights include:
Principal musicians showcasing technical mastery in An Evening with HKCO Principals
Erhu soloist Xu Hui evoking Jiangnan water towns in Strings of Jiangnan
Pipa artist Zhang Ying traversing musical landscapes from northern China to Latin America
A tribute to late maestro Peng Xiuwen's 95th anniversary
The return of HKCO's thunderous Hong Kong Drum Festival
The orchestra will collaborate with global artists including Korean drum troupe The Little Angels and saxophonist Christian Wirth, while maintaining its commitment to nurturing young talent through initiatives like the International Chinese Music Conducting Competition—now co-hosted with Wuxi Chinese Orchestra.
Following successful June performances in Beijing and Tianjin, HKCO embarks on a symbolic September tour to Dunhuang's Mogao Caves, followed by cultural diplomacy at "Hong Kong Week 2025@Seoul" in October. The season concludes with a Greater Bay Area homecoming concert in Guangzhou.
"Rooted in tradition yet dedicated to innovation," said Yan, "we aim to make Chinese music a vibrant, joyful cornerstone of Hong Kong's cultural identity."
The season runs September 2025 through August 2026, with tickets available from mid-July.
Marco Lam (marco.lam@singtaonewscorp.com)
