FULL Rita Hong Kong 2020 Fung Yong Droscha
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: Rita, ou Le mari battu
- Composer: Donizetti Gaetano
- Libretto: Gustave Vaëz
- Venue & Opera Company: Haw Par Mansion, Hong Kong
- Recorded: November 23, 2020.
- Type: Movie
- Singers: Etta Fung, Chen Yong, Isaac Droscha
- Conductor: Marco Iannelli
- Orchestra: Chamber Ensemble
- Stage Director: Peter Gordon
- Costume Designer:
Information about the Recording
- Published by: Asian Review
- Date Published: 2021
- Format: Streaming
- Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
- Subtitles: yessubs, ensubs
- Video Recording from: YouTube FULL VIDEO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
This opera-film, a project of the Italian Cultural Institute and initiated by the Institute’s Director, Stefano Fossati, was recorded live at Hong Kong’s iconic Haw Par Mansion on 23 November 2020 and broadcast in early 2021 on Hong Kong television (RTHK). Built in the 1930s by Aw Boon Haw, known as “The King of Tiger Balm”, as the family residence, the restored Haw Par Mansion is now a Hong Kong heritage building, gallery and museum and houses Haw Paw Music. In order to reset the work in Hong Kong — at the time of the mansion’s heyday — the dialogue was adapted slightly in the process of translation. But only slightly — quite a few Hong Kong husbands have set off for Canada over the years.
The three singers featured in this video are some of the best-known in Hong Kong and regulars on Hong Kong stages. But also starring in this recording is a newly-arranged score for chamber ensemble by Marco Iannelli. The stage performance which preceded this recording by a week was the Hong Kong and, as far as we know, China premiere of this opera, and the world premiere of this new edition.