
GE2024-16
After two seasons of opera verismo, featuring ordinary scenes and characters one might have encountered in real life, we now take you to the grand stage of Italian opera (populated by such notables as Verdi and Puccini) in late 19th and early 20th century. “Love” is the common theme that binds the two selected operas together, but it was the ethereal quality of the music that made them equally exemplary.
Each screening will take about 4 hours, including one intermission with refreshments. There will also be a live introduction to what to listen for in each opera by a professional opera singer.
Session #1: Aida, by Verdi (premiered 1867)
Generally acknowledged as the grandest of grand operas, was staged in Pharaonic Egypt, which became a craze (a.k.a. Egyptomania) in 19th century Europe following Napoleon’s military expeditions into Egypt.
Celeste Aida, sung by Luciano Pavarotti –
Date: 08/02/2025 (Sat) Postponed to 28/02/2025 (Fri)
Time: 18:00 – 22:00
Venue: Studio 303, 3/F, Chong Yuet Ming Cultural Centre
Host: Mr. Peter Lai 黎慶寧先生 (Honorary Professor at the Department of Politics and Public Administration, HKU)
Guest: Mr. Lam Kwok Ho 林國浩先生
Language: English
Registration: https://hkuems1.hku.hk/hkuems/ec_hdetail.aspx?ueid=98385
Session #2: Turandot, by Puccini (premiered 1926)
It was staged in (imaginary) imperial China, a land that has been the epitome of the exotic in Europe since the days of Marco Polo and intensified by China’s contact with the West in the 19th and early 20th centuries. (In 1198 it was staged live in the Forbidden City, Beijing.)
Nessum Dorma, also sung by Luciano Pavarotti –
Date: 24/2/2025 (Mon)
Time: 18:00 – 22:00
Venue: College Hall, Jockey Club Student Village III, Lung Wah Street, Kennedy Town
Host: Mr. Peter Lai 黎慶寧先生 (Honorary Professor at the Department of Politics and Public Administration, HKU)
Guests: Ms. Phoebe Tam 譚樂軒小姐, Mr. Dennis Lau 劉礎恆先生
Language: English
Registration: https://hkuems1.hku.hk/hkuems/ec_hdetail.aspx?ueid=98406
Each screening will take about 4 hours, including one intermission with refreshments. There will also be a live introduction to what to listen for in each opera by a professional opera singer.
Session #1: Aida, by Verdi (premiered 1867)
Generally acknowledged as the grandest of grand operas, was staged in Pharaonic Egypt, which became a craze (a.k.a. Egyptomania) in 19th century Europe following Napoleon’s military expeditions into Egypt.
Celeste Aida, sung by Luciano Pavarotti –
Date: 08/02/2025 (Sat) Postponed to 28/02/2025 (Fri)
Time: 18:00 – 22:00
Venue: Studio 303, 3/F, Chong Yuet Ming Cultural Centre
Host: Mr. Peter Lai 黎慶寧先生 (Honorary Professor at the Department of Politics and Public Administration, HKU)
Guest: Mr. Lam Kwok Ho 林國浩先生
Language: English
Registration: https://hkuems1.hku.hk/hkuems/ec_hdetail.aspx?ueid=98385
Session #2: Turandot, by Puccini (premiered 1926)
It was staged in (imaginary) imperial China, a land that has been the epitome of the exotic in Europe since the days of Marco Polo and intensified by China’s contact with the West in the 19th and early 20th centuries. (In 1198 it was staged live in the Forbidden City, Beijing.)
Nessum Dorma, also sung by Luciano Pavarotti –
Date: 24/2/2025 (Mon)
Time: 18:00 – 22:00
Venue: College Hall, Jockey Club Student Village III, Lung Wah Street, Kennedy Town
Host: Mr. Peter Lai 黎慶寧先生 (Honorary Professor at the Department of Politics and Public Administration, HKU)
Guests: Ms. Phoebe Tam 譚樂軒小姐, Mr. Dennis Lau 劉礎恆先生
Language: English
Registration: https://hkuems1.hku.hk/hkuems/ec_hdetail.aspx?ueid=98406
Schedule:
Date | Time | Venue |
24 Feb 2025 | 18:00 - 22:00 | College Hall, Jockey Club Student Village III, Lung Wah Stre |
28 Feb 2025 | 18:00 - 22:00 | Studio 303, 3/F, Chong Yuet Ming Cultural Centre |
Bio of Instructor(s) 導師簡介:
![]() | Mr. Peter Lai 黎慶寧先生 After graduating with first-class honours at HKU in 1973, Mr. Lai joined the Hong Kong Government as an Administrative Officer. From 1985 Mr. Lai was almost continuously engaged in Sino-British negotiations on the future arrangements for Hong Kong and was appointed a Member of the Sino-British Land Commission (1991 – 1994). In late 1994 he was appointed the first 'local' Secretary for Security of the Hong Kong Government. He left the civil service on 1 August 1998. Mr. Lai is an Honorary Professor at the Department of Politics and Public Administration, HKU. |
![]() | Mr. Lam Kwok Ho 林國浩先生 Lam Kwok Ho has performed over 20 operatic roles in Hong Kong and Taiwan, including Sciarrone in Tosca, Leporello in Don Giovanni, and Escamillo in Carmen. As a concert soloist, he has performed Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio under Helmuth Rilling. He premiered Chan Hing-yan’s Heart of Coral and Daniel Lo’s Women like us at the Hong Kong Arts Festival. He holds a BBA from HKUST and an Advanced Diploma and Master of Music from HKAPA. He has participated in masterclasses with renowned artists and is currently a voice instructor at HKAPA's Junior Programme. |
| Ms. Phoebe Tam 譚樂軒小姐 Phoebe Tam holds a Bachelor of Music and Professional Diploma from The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and a Master of Music from Mannes College of Music, New York, under a full scholarship from the Hong Kong Jockey Club. She has won multiple scholarships and local competitions in Hong Kong and reached the regional round of the 32nd International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition. Her operatic roles include Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Mimi and Musetta in La bohème, and Angelica in Suor Angelica. Tam has also been a soloist in Mahler's Symphony No. 4 and Vivaldi's Gloria. |
![]() | Mr. Dennis Lau 劉礎恆先生 Dennis Lau, a Hong Kong-born tenor, studied voice with Isabel Gentile and Roberto Abbodanza. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hon) in music and furthered his studies in chamber singing in Italy. He has performed roles such as Nemorino in L’Elisir d’Amore, Sesto in Giulio Cesare, and Ferrando in Così fan tutte. As a soloist, he has sung in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Haydn’s The Creation, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Dennis is also active in choral activities, conducting several choirs and serving as Music Director of The Hong Kong Women’s Choir and Choral Director at Shaw College, CUHK. |