Soundscape Impressions Launches 'Hong Kong Artists' Series with Unique Music and Painting Performance

LCSD's "Hong Kong Artists" Series to present cross-genre arts performance "Soundscape Impressions" in May

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) will present "Soundscape Impressions", a cross-genre arts performance, on May 10 (Saturday) to kick off its "Hong Kong Artists" Series 2025. Curated by renowned Hong Kong pianist Colleen Lee and painter Fu Man-yat, the programme features Lee performing alongside three talented musicians - Aaron Chan (violin), Letty Poon (cello) and Rhythmie Wong (piano) - presenting chamber works by celebrated French composers. Accompanied by Fu's watercolour paintings, the performance creates a unique experience of "Music for the Eyes, Paintings for the Ears" that forms a closer bonding between arts and audiences. The repertoire includes two compositions by Ravel, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the birth of this iconic French impressionist composer.

The first half of the programme opens with Debussy's "Sonata in G minor, L. 140" and Saint-Saëns's "Suite for Cello and Piano, Op.16", paired with the paintings of small animals and natural scenery of the four seasons respectively to highlight the resonance between music and painting. It is followed by Ravel's piano four-hand work "'Ma Mère l'Oye' (The Mother Goose) Suite", inviting audiences into a whimsical fairytale world through the interplay of melodies and painting images. The second half features Ravel's "Piano Trio in A minor" accompanied by paintings depicting the Hong Kong cityscape, which further explores the boundless possibilities of cross-genre artistic inspiration. This fusion also allows audiences to appreciate and interpret classical music and paintings from multiple perspectives.

Lee is currently the Honorary Artist-in-Residence of the Education University of Hong Kong and a tutor at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) and the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU). Lee has performed worldwide in solo recitals and with numerous renowned orchestras, such as Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, China Philharmonic Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, among others. She has appeared in major festivals, including the Duszniki Festival Poland, Musicus Fest in Espoo, Finland and Shanghai New Music Week.

Fu currently engages in painting and art education. He is a tutor in watercolour painting courses at the School of Continuing and Professional Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. His works centre on everyday scenes of life and people and have been exhibited in more than 20 countries in Europe, America and Asia. He has also received numerous awards, including the Honorable Mention Award in the 2nd International Watercolor Society India Biennale in 2017, the Special Prize in the Poland International Watercolor Competition in 2019 and the Silver Award at the third Asia Pacific Art Biennial Exhibition the following year.

Chan is a violinist sought after as a soloist and chamber player around the globe. He is a two-time Sylva Gelber Music Foundation Award recipient in Canada. In 2023, Chan won the Musicus Society's Young Artist Audition and was selected to join the roster of Musicus Soloists Hong Kong.

Poon now serves as the Artistic Director of the Hong Kong International Cello Association and teaches at the HKAPA and the HKBU. Poon's performance engagements with various organisations have taken her to China, Thailand, Japan, Italy, France, Spain, and more, in addition to her regular concert appearances in Hong Kong.

Young pianist Wong has given solo recitals in the United States, Europe and Asia and has performed at venues, such as the National Concert Hall in Dublin and Carnegie Hall in New York. She is a prize winner in the 2022 Steinway Förderpreis Münster and gained first prizes in the Karlovac International Piano Competition, the Valletta International Piano Competition, and more.

The "Hong Kong Artists" Series: "Soundscape Impressions" will be staged at 8pm on May 10 (Saturday) at the Studio Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $240 and $320 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Package discounts will be available for the programmes under the "Hong Kong Artists" Series 2025 (including the Violin Recital by Nina Wong on June 11, the Piano Recital by Anson Wong on July 4, the Cello Recital by Alex Lau on September 9, the Vocal Recital by Viola Cheung on November 13 and the Guzheng Recital by Grammy Yeung on December 1). For discount schemes and programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1826.html.

The programme will also feature an open rehearsal at 4pm on May 9 (Friday) at the Studio Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, with free admission specially for local primary and secondary school students, giving students a chance to appreciate the unique cross-genre arts performance. Interested schools can call 2268 7321 for details.

The "Hong Kong Artists" Series of the LCSD aims to provide a platform for local artists to showcase their remarkable talents. In addition to individual performances, it also encourages cross-genre works to highlight their unique styles. This year's series will introduce 10 distinguished musicians in six stunning programmes, featuring violin, piano, cello, guzheng and vocal arts. Among them, a cross-genre performance of music and painting will be staged to showcase Hong Kong's unique cultural character, embracing diversity and innovation.For more information, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/groups_1823.html.

LCSD's "Hong Kong Artists" Series to present cross-genre arts performance "Soundscape Impressions" in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

LCSD's "Hong Kong Artists" Series to present cross-genre arts performance "Soundscape Impressions" in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

LCSD's "Hong Kong Artists" Series to present cross-genre arts performance "Soundscape Impressions" in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

LCSD's "Hong Kong Artists" Series to present cross-genre arts performance "Soundscape Impressions" in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

LCSD's "Hong Kong Artists" Series to present cross-genre arts performance "Soundscape Impressions" in May Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Incoming driver convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes

A 49-year-old incoming male driver was sentenced to four months' imprisonment and fined $1,000 at the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts today (May 15) for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Based on risk assessment and intelligence analysis, Customs officers and police officers of the Airport Police District mounted a joint anti-illicit cigarette operation on January 17 at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Hong Kong Port and intercepted an inbound private car which was declared to be empty. Upon inspection, Customs officers seized about 30 000 duty-not-paid cigarettes from the hollow spaces of the doors, under the seats, in the centre console and the rear compartment. The driver was subsequently arrested and the private car was also seized. The estimated market value of the duty-not-paid cigarettes seized in the case was about $150,000 and the duty potential was about $99,000.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, tobacco products are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

Customs will continue to combat cross-boundary smuggling activities with firm enforcement action.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Incoming driver convicted and jailed for importing duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases