【Orchestra 101】‘A Closer Look at Western Orchestras’【Online Programme】

This eight-episode programme offers fun-filled introduction to the orchestra, including its history and music genres, the role of conductors, musicians and the supporting team behind the scenes team as well as the concert etiquette, providing a leisure learning opportunity for audience getting to know what an orchestra is.  The programme is hosted by Resident Conductor of the Hong Kong Children’s Symphony Orchestra Jeff Leung, with sharing by the internationally acclaimed conductor Yip Wing-sie and renowned local violinist Dr Kitty Cheung.

Theme of each episode:

Episode 1: The Orchestra

Episode 2: The Musicians

Episodes 3 & 4: The Conductor (Parts I & II)                     

Episodes 5 & 6: The Music (Parts I & II)

Episode 7: Behind the Scenes 

Episode 8: The Audience

The programme does not represent the views of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.  The presenter reserves the right to vary the broadcast time of the programme. 
 

You may have never been to a concert hall to hear a live orchestra before, but you have probably listened to a number of well-known orchestral works without even realising it.  Orchestras have been around for hundreds of years and still enjoy enormous popularity today.  How did this form of performing art develop into what it is now?  The first episode will introduce you to the historical development and basic composition of the orchestra.

The number of musicians for each type of instruments in an orchestra varies.  How do they fit into the establishment?  Who are the concertmaster and principals?  Episode 2 of ‘The Musicians’ will talk about the orchestral set-up.  Renowned local violinist Dr Kitty Cheung will also share her experience on orchestral audition and the role of being a concertmaster.

If you have ever seen an orchestra perform, you must have been curious about the work of a conductor. He (or she) is the only person standing at the centre with his/her back to the audience, with no instrument on hand, but all the musicians have to follow the direction coming from him/her. So, what exactly does he/her do? Episode 3 of ‘The Conductor’ will explain the work of a conductor.

【Orchestra 101】‘A Closer Look at Western Orchestras’ Episode 3: The Conductor (Part I) introduced the origin of conductors and demonstrated the basic conducting skills. Ms Yip Wing-sie, Music Director Emeritus of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, will share her work and experience in the new episode.

The Episode 5 of “The Music (Part I)” will look at the origin of the symphonies, the feature of symphonies during the Baroque, Classical and Romantic periods, as well as the compositional styles of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Berlioz.

Episode 6 of “The Music (Part II)” will further discuss the genres of music orchestra play, and the feature of Concertos, Overtures, and Suites.

【Orchestra 101】‘A Closer Look at Western Orchestras’ Episode 7: Behind the Scenes will take you to the backstage to introduce the backstage management and operation of orchestras. Stage Advisor Steven Chan, Stage and Production Manager Gordon Leung and Librarian of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Betty Ho will share their works behind the scenes.

The success of an orchestral concert depends not only on the efforts of the conductor, the orchestra and the staff behind the scenes, but also on how the audience behaves. Episode 8: The Audience of ‘A Closer Look at Western Orchestras’ will take you inside the concert hall to learn more about concerts from the audience’s perspective.