Hitting a High Note
More Than Musical hosted an intimate evening of opera
After a year of almost no live shows, Hong Kong’s performing arts industry is slowly coming back to life. On July 22, Madame Fù, the elegant contemporary Cantonese restaurant in Tai Kwun’s Centre for Heritage and Arts, was abuzz thanks to the sights and sounds of opera non-profit More Than Musical’s (MTM) latest charity fundraising gala.
Founded by former banker Rumiko Hasegawa and classically trained musician Lucy Choi in 2016, MTM is dedicated to demystifying opera and making it more accessible to ordinary people by presenting modernised 90-minute adaptations in an intimate setting while highlighting talent from all over the world. Ahead of a sold-out production of French composer Georges Bizet’s classic opera, Carmen, on July 30 and 31 at the West Kowloon Freespace, the team behind MTM hosted an event to raise funds for their upcoming productions, while also developing and promoting talented local singers.
“I love the opera and it’s great that classic operas are being made relatable to younger audiences,” said Shirley Hiranand co-founder of luxury PR firm Bonvivant & Bellavita, who was in attendance. “Operas are all about love, passion, sadness and mortality, which apply to everyday life. Just to be able to hear the music is so uplifting. It was amazing to experience this brilliantly updated approach to the art form.”
The evening featured a filmed duet by Grammywinning violinist Joshua Bell and opera singer Larisa Martinez, as well as a live performance by mezzosoprano Moon Jin Kim. MTM gave guests a teaser of big things to come, with the trailer premiere of the organisation’s first foray into film, a new adaptation of Puccini’s La Bohème, due out in cinemas this autumn.