About the event
In Greek mythology, Sisyphus was punished by the gods to endlessly push a heavy rock up a hill in the underworld, only for it to roll back down, a futile task repeated in perpetuity. This became a metaphor for the predicaments of modern life.
Confronted by the inescapable cycles of fate, the 17th century Italian composer sought salvation from God through sacred music. 300 years later, contemporary composers use the same musical language to question the same existential dilemma. As we exist in the present world, we have been constantly searching for the meaning of life in perhaps a futile world. Do we say Sisyphus's efforts were in vain? ๐๐ช๐ฆ๐ญ๐ญ๐ฆ๐ช๐ค๐ฉ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ด๐ด ๐ฆ๐ด ๐ด๐ฆ๐ช๐ฏ? Not necessarily. Camus urges us to imagine Sisyphus as happy, that each conscious step he takes is a form of self-redemption, as he confronts the void of existence with his own insignificant, powerless self against a world of eternal recurrence.
๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฉ๐ก๐๐๐ง ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฆ is a musical narrative poem featuring ๐ด๐๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐ by the Italian composer ๐ฃ๐ผ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ถ as the narrative backbone. Incorporating contrasting sacred choral works by various contemporary composers in between the liturgical numbers, it also includes ๐ป๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, written for soprano solo, choir and electronics, and ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐โฆ, an interlude written for clarinet solo by Hong Kong composer ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ป๐ถ๐ฒ ๐ฌ๐๐ป๐ด ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ป-๐ธ๐ฎ๐ป. By juxtaposing ancient and contemporary sacred choral works in a curated soundscape, we pose questions in the face of life, salvation and futility.
๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐ฒ๐ฉ๐ก๐๐๐ง ๐๐ซ๐๐๐ฆ
10 August 2024 | Saturday
8:00pm
JC Cube, Tai Kwun
Presented by Hong Kong Youth Choir
Music Director & Conductor: Christopher Cheng
Soprano: Athene Mok
Clarinet: Yin-tat Chan
Sound Design: Wang Chan
Venue Sponsor: TK SpaceShare Programme
About the organizer
Established in 1998, Hong Kong Youth Choir (HKYC) is an energetic and creative choir in Hong Kong which has an inclusive repertoire from Baroque to contemporary works. She also dedicates herself in championing local and Asian premieres of various choral works.ย
Recent notable performances include a complete Les Misรฉrables, โChoral Panorama - Local Soundโ Series, an all-Rutter programme conducted by the composer himself and J.S. Bachโs complete motets. The choir also got prizes from international choral competition in Singapore and Taipei, with a champion in the Musica Sacra category of the former.ย
Entering its 25th year, the choir will continue to hold concerts and other activities, in order to give quality choral music in Hong Kong.