Four classical concerts by a string quartet commemorating the end of World War II eight decades ago will be held at one of Hong Kong’s oldest private hospitals tomorrow.
The “Cradle of Courage” concerts are being held by Musicus Society at Matilda International Hospital, under the patronage of The Hong Kong Jockey Club.
In addition to evocative chamber music performances, audiences will learn about not only the hospital’s rich history but also the role of Chinese soldiers in the Normandy campaign – the operation Allied forces launched to liberate German-occupied Western Europe in 1944 – revealing little-known stories of Hong Kong’s past.
To mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the war on September 2, 1945 – when Japan officially surrendered to the Allies aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay – the Musicus Society has chosen the historic hospital as the site for the Cradle of Courage concerts, which are part of its well-received heritage series.
Built in 1907 on The Peak, the hospital was reconstructed after severe bomb damage during the war and provides a fitting backdrop for enjoying the Baroque and modern music performed by Musicus artists.
Aiming to present Hong Kong’s unique historical landscape from multiple perspectives, the Musicus Society has carefully selected classical works and included a guided hospital tour and special exhibition for insights into the city’s rarely told wartime memories.
Renowned cellist and artistic director Trey Lee. Photo from Trey Lee's website
The concerts feature a stellar lineup led by renowned cellist and Musicus Society artistic director Trey Lee Chui-yee, who will be joined by violinists Ian Cheung and Sally Ma Hoi-kiu, and violist Hui Yan-lok.
Violinist Ian Cheung. Musicus Society
Cheung, Ma and Lee are winners of the society’s “Young Artist Auditions,” with Hui currently pursuing advanced studies in Vienna.
Violist Hui Yan-lok. Musicus Society
Three works with profound connections to war history have been selected for the program, including Henry Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas Overture and Dido’s Lament, with the latter performed annually at London’s Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday – the second Sunday in November – to honor those lost in battle.
Violinist Sally Ma. Musicus Society
This will be followed by Sergei Prokofiev’s String Quartet No 2 in F Major, whose premiere was delayed by the war.
Here lies an interesting link: Latvian composer and pianist Harry Ore (1885-1972), who lived most of his life in Hong Kong and was once treated at the hospital, was said to have been Prokofiev’s friend and classmate at the St Petersburg Conservatory when he studied there.
The concert will end with Johann Sebastian Bach’s Orchestral Suite No 3 in D Major, symbolizing peace and tranquility and echoing the hope of post-war reconstruction.
In addition to the concerts, staff from the hospital will offer guided tours in Cantonese, sharing stories connected to the concert’s theme and the deep wartime ties of the hospital.
A small exhibition curated by D-Day Hong Kong will further illuminate the hospital’s history and the role of Chinese soldiers in the Normandy campaign.
Through the four shows, audiences are invited to immerse themselves in the symphonic resonance of music and history, experiencing a cultural journey across time.
The shows begin at 1.30 pm, 2.45 pm, 4 pm and 5.15 pm on September 6 and include 35 minutes of music and a 20-minute hospital tour.
Since 2013, Musicus Society has presented the Musicus Heritage concert series at historic sites in order to celebrate Hong Kong’s history through music. This series has been supported by the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust since 2019. Tickets, priced at HK$300, are available at Popticket.
Natasha Ng
