The Works：HK Arts Festival, Simon Boccanegra conducted by Roberto Abbado, a dance inspired by Schuhp

It’s time once again for the annual Hong Kong Arts Festival. For over a month, 1,400 artists from around the world will be giving 119 performances, 15 of which are new works or world premieres. Today we’re bringing you two very different performances from the festival: an opera from one of Europe’s longest-established opera theatres, and the Asian premiere of a contemporary take on a folk dance from Bavaria and the Tyrol.
The Sanskrit word “ksana” refers to a tiny unit of time, one seventy-fifth of a second. That small slice of time has inspired Japanese artist, Ayumi Adachi to explore our human life cycle. On show until this Sunday at the Floating Projects artspace, “Influence of 0.013” features floating objects that cast shadows and influence one another.
The ukulele is a development of the Portuguese machete de braga, which was introduced to Hawaii by Portuguese immigrants in the 19th century. The name “ukulele” roughly translates as “jumping flea”. Today, its sound is synonymous with Hawaii. The accessibility and relative ease of playing the ukulele, has made it increasingly popular in recent years. One of its pre-eminent players is Hawaiian musician Kimo Hussey.