The Works：HKPhil "Rhythm of the City", "Bach im Theatre: St. John Passion" & HK Ballet "The Nutcrack

Christmas is in the air. And that means, as usual, that it’s time for The Works Christmas Special and we have a few goodies in our Christmas stocking this year.

First of, we'll bring you a busking performance, presented by no ordinary buskers but an ensemble from the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. They’re giving the public a foretaste of the orchestra’s Golden Jubilee celebrations next year. “Rhythm of the City” is a series of free performances the orchestra’s putting on in a range of venues, including shopping malls and cultural landmarks, to celebrate its 50th anniversary. Today, here’s the Philharmonic’s Trombone Quintet with the first in that series.

For Christians, of course, Christmas is most importantly a celebration of the birth of Christ, and few musicians devoted as much of their life and work to religious celebration as the Baroque composer Johann Sebastian Bach. One of the most popular is the six-part “Christmas Oratorio”. Bach also reflected on Christ’s passion and crucifixion in two masterful choral works: which are usually performed around Easter: the St John Passion and the St Matthew Passion. During the New Vision Arts Festival last month, here at Kwai Tsing Theatre, Bach’s St John Passion was presented with a new 21st century interpretation.

For a lot of people all around the world, a trip to see Tchaikovsky’s ballet “The Nutcracker” has been part of Christmas celebrations for many decades. And it’s long been a tradition in Hong Kong too. This year though, you don’t have go to the theatre to catch at least some scenes from Hong Kong Ballet’s version of The Nutcracker. The company is bringing this holiday favourite into the heart of the community.