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)
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: To be announced
Language: English
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)
Guest: To be announced
Language: English
Registration starts at 10:00 on 24 Jan (Fri).
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)
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: To be announced
Language: English
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)
Guest: To be announced
Language: English
Registration starts at 10:00 on 24 Jan (Fri).
Schedule:
| Date | Time | Venue |
| 08 Feb 2025 | 18:00 - 22:00 | Studio 303, 3/F, Chong Yuet Ming Cultural Centre |
| 24 Feb 2025 | 18:00 - 22:00 | College Hall, Jockey Club Student Village III, Lung Wah Stre |
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. |