HK Icon Celebrates 25th Birthday

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Script in English:

Former Governor David Wilson:

This centre with all its splendid modern facilities produces a new landmark on the Kowloon Peninsula, but it also marks a new era in the development of performing arts in Hong Kong. Within this new centre, people of Hong Kong will be able to enjoy excellence in the arts from both the East and West.

 

Voiceover:

The iconic Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui is celebrating its 25th birthday and Chief Manager Elaine Yeung has been there every step of the way, from when it was still a construction site. She recalled when Britain’s Prince Charles and his wife Princess Diana lent some royal glamour to the grand opening on November 8, 1989.

 

Leisure Cultural & Services Department Chief Manager Elaine Yeung:

I was supposed to hand that string that tied to the curtain of the plaque, I have to hand it over to the Prince and then the Prince will hand it to the Princess and so I have to do this. And then afterwards, when the plaque was formally, the curtain was opened and declared the Cultural Centre opened and I have to give a souvenir book to the Princess.”

 

Voiceover:

Three months before the royal couple were due to arrive, Ms Yeung was part of the team that organised everything that was needed for opening night  - which included installing the $10 million Rieger Orgelbau pipe organ, one of the largest mechanical tracker-action organs in Southeast Asia.

 

Leisure Cultural & Services Department Chief Manager Elaine Yeung:

They have to install 8,000 pipes. There was drilling and noise and shouting inside the concert hall at that time, so I was the middle person between the Rieger builders, the organ consultants from the UK, and then with the Architectural Services Department because they have to stop some of the drilling during that time, but actually we have worked out a plan to stop everything and give out ‘silent sessions’ but you know with construction, it’s never followed, so the organ was built on time but after a lot of difficulties.

 

Voiceover:

Ms Yeung sees the Cultural Centre as more than just a workplace.

 

Leisure Cultural & Services Department Chief Manager Elaine Yeung:

I have always been very grateful for being able to be part of the Cultural Centre at that time and all these years after, because my work has always been related to the Cultural Centre, even when I do programming, only the best best programmes we can put here.

This is a place where dreams come true, it’s for me, it’s for the artists, I’m sure it’s for many people.

 

Voiceover:

Award-winning pianist Rachel Cheung is taking part in the anniversary celebrations by performing with the Hong Kong Philharmonic. At the age of 23, she is already a veteran of the Cultural Centre stage, having debuted there when she was just 14.

 

Young Pianist Rachel Cheung:

Before that performance I have come here many times to listen to different kinds of performances mostly by world class artists and I was actually a little bit intimidated to play here, so when I really got the chance to play here it’s really a big honour for me.

I think acoustically this stage is really wonderful because it’s very broad and really wide, and for orchestras and big performances for big works it works really well. The audience setting is quite special because it's like a 360 degree all around the stage and so for us performers we when we play on the stage it’s like we are really connecting with the audience and there’s this kind of intimate and warm feeling playing here.

 

Voiceover:

The young pianist explained the special connection she has with the Cultural Centre, having grown up with the iconic venue.

 

Young Pianist Rachel Cheung:

I think the Cultural Centre for me has always been an important platform in my musical learning experience, also witnessed my musical growth.

When I was in the States studying, many of my friends asked me where’s the cultural hub in Hong Kong, I would definitely say it’s the Cultural Centre.

 

Leisure Cultural & Services Department Chief Manager Elaine Yeung:

When we first started some 25 years ago, the Cultural Centre, it was seen as a next step forward.

 

The structure of the Cultural Centre is like a wing, I always feel we can fly higher if we put our effort and it’s also like a bridge where artists they have so many ideas which they put forth in their shows or in their programmes, but we need a bridge which is the Cultural Centre to help them to make their dreams come true or to reach out to people – this is a place not for the audience only, it’s for the general public. We have the marriage registry, we have outdoor concerts. Even our sportsmen who won the competitions overseas, we have celebrations here, we welcomed them back, so this should be a place for everyone.

 

Voiceover:

As part of the 25th anniversary celebrations there will be free indoor and outdoor performances. Twenty-five pianos will also be placed around the Piazza area so that all visitors can join in the birthday fun.

Located in the heart of Hong Kong, the grande dame of the city’s arts and culture scene marks a quarter of a century by the harbourfront.
 
Since it was opened on November 8, 1989, the Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui has hosted artists from all over the globe in all arts disciplines - from ballet to modern dance, classical to jazz music, and Greek tragedies to contemporary plays.
 
Leisure & Cultural Services Department Chief Manager Elaine Yeung has been working at the venue since it was just a construction site, when she recalled staff walking on wooden planks over muddy ground to get to work.
 
A royal audience
Ms Yeung’s job was to prepare for the grand opening, which included installing the $10 million “pearl” of the Cultural Centre – the Rieger Orgelbau pipe organ.
 
“They had to install 8,000 pipes and they started building it in August and had to get it done by November,” she explained. But that was no easy feat in the middle of a construction project. “The organ was built on time, but after a lot of difficulties,” she added.
 
November 8 arrived fast, but Ms Yeung cannot remember all the details about the gala evening because she was so busy. What she cannot forget was her brush with British royalty, when she handed Prince Charles the draw string to unveil the commemorative plaque, which he passed on to his wife Princess Diana. She also presented the Princess with a souvenir book.
 
Young virtuoso
Rachel Cheung has grown up with the Cultural Centre as a major part of her life, so it was only natural that she would perform for the 25th anniversary celebrations.
 
The award-winning pianist is only in her early 20s, but she is already a veteran of the Cultural Centre stage, having debuted there when she was just 14.
 
“I have come here many times to listen to different kinds of performances, mostly by world-class artists and I was a bit intimidated to play here, so to get a chance to play here was a really big honour for me,” Ms Cheung said.
 
Having played in venues around the world, the young pianist said the design of the Cultural Centre stage is special because you are surrounded by the audience, which makes for a more intimate performance.
 
She will reunite with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra for a 25th anniversary concert on November 7, when she will play Beethoven’s Concerto No.4 , which she previewed for news.gov.hk.
 
As part of the celebrations - which will run until January next year - the Cultural Centre will host free indoor and outdoor performances. Twenty-five pianos will also be placed around the Piazza area so that all visitors can join in the birthday fun.

 

Content (2.11.2014) reproduced from news.gov.hk with permission

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