Maestro Tan Dun champions Hong Kong's unique art and cultural diversity on the mainland and abroad
Tan Dun, the Oscar-winning composer, world-renowned musician, and conductor has empowered Hong Kong's young talents by providing them with global platforms, nurturing artists who are both technically proficient and engaged in international artistic dialogues since his appointment as Hong Kong's Ambassador for Cultural Promotion.
'Hong Kong is a city where Eastern and Western cultures converge. My goal is to bring the city's vibrant arts and culture to the world's most prestigious stages, ensuring that Hong Kong's voice is heard globally,' Tan says. 'I lead young Hong Kong artists in collaborations with top orchestras and directors worldwide. Meanwhile, it is also vital that the city's artistic identity remains deeply connected to its roots. That is why I guide young artists in exploring and sharing the most authentic and traditional aspects of Chinese culture.'
His mentorship of young Hong Kong artists underscores his commitment to expanding the city's cultural influence. Recent initiatives include 'High Mountains and Glaciers,' performed in Shanghai for UNESCO's World Water Day in March 2025, featuring percussionist Karen Yu; and the 'Tea' opera in Fuzhou with Yu, percussionist Elise Liu, and bass-baritone Apollo Wong. Soprano Candice Chung was starred in the 'Tan Dun Earth Day – Tea Garden Opera Festival' in Yunnan this April and will perform Tan's 'Nature's Requiem' with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and the Radio France Choir in July.
'Échos des grottes de Mogao à Paris' at the Guimet - National Museum of Asian Arts in France.
The experience is rewarding for Hong Kong artists. Liu views the WE-Festival as an opportunity to reinforce Hong Kong's identity as an 'East-meets-West' cultural hub. 'We fuse Western instruments with Chinese percussion traditions,' she says.For Chung, Tan's guidance has elevated her artistry. 'In my solo performances of 'Deer of Nine Colours' across the mainland and abroad, I portrayed four roles in 20 minutes—a challenging feat I've mastered,' she says. Chung adds that performing with different world-class orchestras allows her to deliver unique experiences to audiences. She also took part in a performance staged at Paris's Guimet - National Museum of Asian Arts in December 2024.
2024: A Fruitful Year
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Is Alexandra Saint Mleux sport's most fashionable WAG? F1 driver Charles Leclerc's girlfriend is known for her race day looks by Sau Lee and Jacquemus – and has partnered with Rhode and Meshki
Alexandra Saint Mleux may not be getting behind the wheel on race weekends, but she's certainly one of the most recognisable faces in the Formula One paddock. The 23-year-old girlfriend of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc has claimed her title as the sport's 'It girl' with her impeccable style and elegant demeanour. Alexandra Saint Mleux, Formula One star Charles Leclerc's girlfriend, is known for her impeccable style. Photo: @alexandrasaintmleux/Instagram While she maintains a career in arts – she studied the subject and currently runs an art-focused Instagram page – Saint Mleux's eye for fashion is what's getting her plenty of attention. In just over a year, Saint Mleux's previously private Instagram account skyrocketed from under 1,000 followers to nearly 2.5 million, thanks largely to her incredibly chic appearances at numerous Formula One races and events. That fashionable profile has catapulted Saint Mleux into partnerships with a range of well-known brands – she's worked with Hailey Bieber's Rhode and in May, debuted her resortwear collection with Australian label Meshki during the Monaco Grand Prix weekend. Advertisement From China to Italy and the UK, here are five recent looks that have cemented Saint Mleux's status as F1's style icon. Cheongsam-inspired Sau Lee dress in Shanghai, China In March, Alexandra Saint Mleux stunned fans at the Shanghai Grand Prix when she showed up at the paddock wearing this dress by Hong Kong label Sau Lee. Earlier this year, Saint Mleux stole the spotlight at the Shanghai Grand Prix with looks that paid homage to Chinese heritage. On March 21, she stepped into the paddock wearing a black minidress by Hong Kong-based label Sau Lee that featured a Mandarin collar and red knotted accents in a nod to the traditional cheongsam. She added a modern twist with red ballet flats and dark sunglasses, perfectly matching the outfit's colour palette. For the finishing touch, Saint Mleux blended fashion, motorsport and romance by carrying a custom Ferrari Style Maranello clutch inspired by Leclerc's personal Daytona SP3. She ended the weekend with a soft pink co-ord that featured another cheongsam-style top, and Sau Lee's Vanessa midi dress in black, which she paired with a Saint Laurent Cinq-a-Sept mini bag and patent leather stiletto boots. Effortless Meshki look in Miami, Florida
South China Morning Post
5 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
2,000 people left without power in Hong Kong after water leak in building
About 2,000 people, including residents in three care homes for the elderly, were left without electricity on Saturday evening after a water leak in a Hong Kong complex prompted the power provider to suspend the supply. Advertisement Utility firm CLP Power said the electrical systems in I-Feng Mansions in To Kwa Wan were suspected to have been affected by water leakage, causing problems with the electricity supply to parts of the residential complex. 'Under the instruction of firefighters, CLP Power suspended the electricity supply to the premises at around 6.15pm so that the building's electricians could conduct further investigation and repairs,' a company spokesman said. The firm said about 900 clients, including three homes for the elderly, had been affected by the move, with the government estimating 2,000 residents in 800 households were hit. It added that the building's electricians had arrived to carry out emergency repairs with backup support from CLP Power engineering staff. Water leakage is suspected to have affected the complex's electrical systems. Photo: Google Maps The company said that its community support team was working with the Home Affairs Department, district councillors and community care teams to provide affected residents with lights and portable batteries.
South China Morning Post
12 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
How Lan Lao's Blueprint Supreme dance challenge went viral on Chinese social media
A new dance trend based on a hit song from Chinese rapper Lan Lao , who recently surpassed Mandopop icon Jay Chou as the most-streamed Mandarin singer, is sweeping China. Earlier this month, Buqi Crew, a street dance crew in Chongqing, in southwest China, created a dance for Lao's biggest hit, 'Da zhan hong tu', or 'Blueprint Supreme' in English. It quickly evolved into a dance challenge that has taken Chinese social media platforms such as Douyin and RedNote by storm. Videos show all kinds of fans performing the dance, from young children in school uniforms to elderly women in the countryside. K-pop stars and other artists have also hopped on the trend. The challenge has also been embraced by Hong Kong celebrities such as actor Vincent Wong Ho-shun, who attempted the dance live on television, and Malaysian actress Lin Min-chen, who shared her version to her millions of followers on Instagram.
