[11 July 2025, Hong Kong] Musica Viva is excited to announce its upcoming opera production in September 2025, featuring the opera Mitridate, re di Ponto by W. A. Mozart. The performances will take place on 12 and 13 September 2025 (Friday and Saturday) at 7:30 pm at the Hong Kong City Hall Theatre.
Opera: Mitridate, re di Ponto
Mitridate, re di Ponto is an opera in three acts, composed when Mozart was just 14 years old and set to a libretto by Vittorio Amedeo Cigna-Santi. The story is loosely based on King Mitridate (Mithridates), the ruler of the Kingdom of Pontus, who vigorously fought against the Roman Empire during the first century BC. In the opera, Mitridate entrusted his fiancée, Aspasia, to his two sons, Farnace and Sifare, while he was away at war. However, both of them have fallen in love with their father’s betrothed. When Mitridate unexpectedly returns alive, tensions rise, secrets are revealed, and relationships are tested. Mitridate’s suspicions drive the plot towards imprisonment and condemnation, building up to a tragic and dramatic finale where loyalties are proven, forgiveness is sought, and alliances against external threats are forged, ultimately leading to a bittersweet resolution of reconciliation and defiance against the Romans.
Starring Budding Artists
Musica Viva is dedicated to nurturing young artists by regularly providing them with performance opportunities. This production, produced and directed by Prof. Lo Kingman, continues that tradition, starring Hong Kong tenor Dennis Lau as Mitridate, mezzo-soprano Bonnie Liu and male soprano Chris Peng as Sifare, soprano Esel Kim as Aspasia, countertenor Terry Lee as Farnace, soprano Tammy Shum as Ismene, tenor Felix Suen as Marzio, and tenor Gabriel Ma as Arbate. They will perform with Musica Viva Chamber Ensemble under the baton of Adrian Sit.
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ARTISTS
Lo Kingman Producer & Director
Returning from Italy where he worked at the Opera Theatre of Rome and the Morlacchi Theatre of Perugia in the 1960s, Lo Kingman has since written, directed and designed over 200 stage productions ranging from opera, drama, dance to musical theatre with performances in Asia, Europe and America. Over the years, Lo has made significant contributions not only in the performing arts but also in the fields of higher education and public service. He was appointed Director of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts from 1993 to 2004. From 2004 to 2009, he was the Principal of the Canton International Summer Music Academy, which offers professional training for young orchestral musicians. In 2008, he participated in the creation of Musica Viva, an organisation dedicated to nurturing young artists and extending their performing opportunities in operas and concerts.
Lo was appointed a Justice of the Peace by the Government of the HKSAR, made a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the Queen’s Honours List, honoured as a Cavaliere of the Order of Merit by the Republic of Italy, and decorated with the title of Chevaliere de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture and Communications. Honorary Fellowships have been conferred upon him by The University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and the Royal Society of Arts in Great Britain. In 2005 and 2012, respectively, Lo received the Bronze and Silver Bauhinia Stars of the HKSAR. In 2021, he was awarded the 15th Hong Kong Arts Development Awards — Life Achievement Award.
Adrian Sit Conductor
Adrian Sit is an active conductor from Hong Kong. He was the 1st prize winner of the International Conducting Competition Augsburg in 2016 and has been awarded the Hugh S. Roberton Prize for Orchestral Conducting. He started learning the French Horn and piano at the age of 7. After obtaining his Bachelor of Arts (Music) at the Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), he moved to Glasgow to pursue a Master’s degree in Conducting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland under the guidance of Garry Walker and Alasdair Mitchell. Meanwhile, he received instruction from world-class conductors such as Christian Kluxen, Jean-Claude Picard, Christopher Seaman, David Danzmayr, Martyn Brabbins, Jessica Cottis, and Robin Ticciati.
After finishing his Master’s degree in Glasgow, Sit was invited by the world-known Mozarteum University in Salzburg where he obtained a Postgraduate Diploma under the guidance of Prof. Bruno Weil, Prof. Reinhard Goebel, and Prof. Johannes Kalitzke. During his time in Salzburg, he was invited to conduct two opera productions with the Mozarteum University Opera and concerts with the Bad Reichenhall Philharmonic Orchestra, the South Czech Philharmonic, among others. He also took up the position of assistant conductor in the famous Mozarteum Summer Academy. In 2023, he made his opera debut by conducting Musica Viva’s production of La Finta Giardiniera, followed by La Clemenza di Tito and Il Trittico in 2024.
Dennis Lau Tenor
An active tenor in Hong Kong, Dennis Lau studied voice with Italian soprano Isabel Gentile and baritone Roberto Abbondanza. After graduating from Italy, he has performed different roles in numerous opera productions, namely Nemorino in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, Sesto in Handel’s Giulio Cesare, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Fracasso in La Finta Semplice, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, and Podestà in La Finta Giardiniera by Mozart, Le Remendado in Bizet’s Carmen, etc. He has been invited to sing as a soloist in many concerts, including Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Bruckner’s Te Deum, Haydn’s The Creation, and Schubert’s Mass in A-flat major. Apart from performing, Lau is a choral conductor and vocal teacher in Wah Yan College, Kowloon Old Boys’ Choir, Pun U Association Wah Yan Primary School, and Fukien Secondary School (Siu Sai Wan). He is currently the Chorus Master of Muscia Viva Chorus and Music Director of The Hong Kong Women’s Choir.
Bonnie Liu Mezzo-soprano
Mezzo-soprano Bonnie Liu recently performed in the Opera Gala Concert with Welsh National Opera. She also covered the role of La Vecchietta in Respighi’s La Bella Dormente nel Bosco under the baton of Maestro Carlo Rizzi. Her other operatic roles include the title role of Bizet’s Carmen and Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia, L’humana Fragilita in Monteverdi’s Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria, Giacinta in Mozart’s La finta semplice, and covering the role Oberon in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Liu has appeared in Chang Hing Yan’s chamber operas Heart of Coral and Datong, as well as Love Streams, a double bill dance opera by Chang Hing Yan and Daniel Lo. As a soloist, she has performed Veljo Tormis’ choral cycle Forgotten Peoples in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, as well as Bach’s Mass in B minor, Handel’s Messiah, and Schubert’s Mass No. 5.
Liu graduated from the Hong Kong Baptist University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music under the tutelage of Chan Siu-kwan. She has received a scholarship to pursue a Master’s Degree at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She is now a member of BBC National Chorus of Wales and a chorus fellow of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
Chris Peng Male Soprano
Debuted as Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro at age of 17, Chris Peng is a highly skilled and passionate singer with extensive experience in opera, concert performances, and recitals, and of course with the unique and rare voice of a Male Soprano.
Known for a versatile vocal range, expressive interpretation, and a strong stage presence. He specialises in bel canto repetory, with a profound understanding and silky interpretation of works of Rossini, Bellini and Donizetti.
Chris is also devoted to exploring the boundaries of traditional opera in the contemporary context. He is committed to bringing opera out of traditional theaters and concert halls, redefining the meaning of opera in new venues, and promoting the art of opera.
Esel Kim Soprano
Esel Kim is a coloratura soprano from South Korea. As a soprano, she performs Internationally and is considered a potential and rinsing artist in her performance journey.
Esel Kim took her bachelor’s degree at Yonsei University with professor Kyung Hey La in 2015, Seoul Korea. In the summer of 2014, Esel has been invited by Gumho Foundation and made a successful solo recital in South Korea. After completing the study in Korea, she has been chosen to participate in Hannover Staatsoper Training Program in 2015 and then engage in advanced study of music in France. Moving to France, Kim had study with Professor Jean Francois and graduated her “D.E.M. (Diploma in Musical Studies)” and “Concertist Diploma” with an unanimous vote from the jury at the National Conservatory of Music in Cergy-Pontoise. During her oversea study, Kim has also dedicated to Europe competition, as a multiple prize-winner, Esel Kim is the 1st Prize and the youngest winner at 2018 “Concours International Les Cles D’or” in Paris, France, as well as the 1st Prize from “Les Musicales du Centre” International Music Competition.
In addition to her work as a soprano, Esel Kim has performed several roles on stage, such as Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore, Pamina and Papageno in Die Zauberflote, Violetta in La Traviata and Le feu, Rossignol, Princesse in L’Enfant et les Sortilege’s. As a soloist, she has sung the solo soprano of Schubert’s Messe en Sol Major and Saint-Saens’s Les noces de Promethee as Humanite. From 2020, Esel Kim shared with her partner pianist Ansoo Choi and appeared in numerous concerts and recitals in major venues throughout South Korea, including Sejoung Art Center Music Hall, Kumho Art Recital Hall, Gwang-Ju Art Center Theatre.
Terry Lee Countertenor
Graduated from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Business School, Terry Lee is passionate about classical music. Apart from playing the flute, he studies voice with American baritone Dr Isaac Droscha. Lee made his debut as Tolomeo in Handel’s Giulio Cesare in 2022. He made another role debut as Ramiro in Mozart’s La finta giardiniera in 2023 and Sesto in Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito in 2024.
As a chorus member, Lee has taken part in numerous projects, such as Bizet’s Carmen, Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda, Puccini’s La bohème, and Madama Butterfly; Lehár’s The Merry Widow; Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte and Le nozze di Figaro; and Bellini’s Norma. Other choral performances included Bach’s Mass in B minor, Vivaldi’s Gloria, and Handel’s Messiah with Die Konzertisten, Madame White Snake in the 47th Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF), and “Voices of Hope and Togetherness — A Choral and Orchestral Gathering” in the 51st HKAF.
Lee is now the Manager (Artistic Projects) of Musica Viva, an established western opera and classical music production company led by Prof Lo Kingman, the former Director of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
Tammy Shum Soprano
Born in Hong Kong, Tammy Shum, soprano, holds a Master of Music in Voice and Opera Performance from the Schulich School of Music at McGill University, where she studied under the tutelage of soprano Aline Kutan. She has recently been awarded the Li Ka Shing Foundation & Opera Hong Kong Young Artist Overseas Fellowship for her outstanding vocal artistry. She graduated from the Chinese University of Hong Kong with a bachelor’s degree in music with First Class Honours in 2022 under the tutelage of Ms. Margaret Yim and was awarded the HKSAR Talent Development Scholarship (Performing Arts) and the Hong Kong Children’s Choir Music Scholarship for her academic excellence. She was also awarded the Lee Bing Memorial Scholarship for Voice Majors offered by CUHK in support of her postgraduate studies. She is also an award winner in various music competitions. She was awarded the Second Prize in the Duo Category at the 25th Osaka International Music Competition Finals with pianist Iris Lau, presenting a selection of Art Songs. She was also awarded the Third Grand Prix at the Festival-concours de musique de Sherbrooke Finals, as well as the First Prize in the voice category with her Voice Duo.
As a passionate young soprano, Tammy has appeared as Susanna from Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, and Papagena from Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. She has also appeared as a soprano soloist with the Chung Chi Choir and the Schulich Singers, performing repertoire ranging from Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and Camille Saint-Saëns’ Oratorio de Noël. Her professional engagements include being a member of the Opera Hong Kong Chorus and Musica Viva (Hong Kong) Opera Chorus. She also enjoys performing as a chamber musician. She performed in French Music Project at CUHK organised by the French May Arts Festival, performing a range of French chamber music repertoire. She has also organised a recital featuring chamber works composed by Hong Kong composers during her studies in Montréal.
Felix Suen, Tenor
Felix Suen appeared in opera productions of Landstheatre Rudolstadt and Weimar Mon Ami Theatre in Germany, as well as Secret Opera in England. His operatic roles include Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, and Roberto in Maria Stuarda. Contemporary opera roles include Stone in Bright Sheng’s The Red Chamber of Dreams, a co-production of San Francisco Opera and the Hong Kong Arts Festival, and Chu in Daniel Lo’s Two Women. Concert appearances include Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and St. John’s Passion, Handel’s Messiah, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. He was also invited to perform in the Handel Festival and St. John’s Smith Square Christmas Festival in the UK, Niigata Cultural Festival in Japan, and Shanghai International Arts Festival.
Suen started his career as a pianist and repetiteur. He graduated from the Hong Kong Baptist University and obtained his master’s degree at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. He later extended his passion for singing and persuaded an Artist Diploma at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance, and a Master in Opera Performance at Conservatori Superior de Música del Liceu, under the artistic direction of legendary tenor Francisco Araiza.
Gabriel Ma, Tenor
Tenor Gabriel Ma is a Jacobs School of Music graduate from Indiana University Bloomington, Ma studied under Professor Carlos Montané for his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Music (Vocal Performance), with an Outside Field in Choral Conducting. He also holds a Master of Arts in Arts Administration from the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs.
Ma has performed in a potpourri of opera performances, both in fully-staged productions and opera scenes in concert, including: Nadir in Bizet’s Les pêcheurs de perles; Eisenstein in Strauss’ Die Fledermaus; Tamino and Monostatos in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte; Don Basilio and Don Curzio in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro; Ferrando in Mozart’s Così fan tutte (cover), Gelindo in Cimarosa’s L’impresario in angustie (cover); he also appeared in Verdi’s La Traviata; Bizet’s Carmen; Britten’s Peter Grimes; and Donizetti’s La fille du régiment. Conductors he has worked with include Pierre Vallet, Elio Orciuolo, Philippe Forget, Alessandro Amoretti, Olaf Storbeck, Jennifer Ho, Leon Chu, and Vivian Ip.
An avid performer, Ma has performed the first twelve songs from Schubert’s Winterreise with pianist Dr. Helen Cha at Musica del Cuore in the winter of 2023. He has also been invited back by the City Chamber Orchestra Hong Kong in the past two seasons as the tenor solo in The Bear, celebrating his vicennial debut as the first boy soprano in Hong Kong to sing Blake’s The Snowman. Gabriel recently performed as Dr. Blind in Hong Kong Grand Opera’s 2025 production of Strauss’ Die Fledermaus.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
- For more details about the programme, cast, and various discount schemes, please visit the following website: musicavivahk.org
- For interview requests, media, and press-related enquiries, please contact Kelly Tai by email at kellytai@musicvivahk.org or by phone at 6449 3446.
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OPERA: MITRIDATE, RE DI PONTO
Performed in Italian with English & Chinese surtitles
Date & Time:
- 12 September 2025, 19:30
- 13 September 2025, 19:30
Ticket Price: $380, $290, $200
Tickets available now at URBTIX
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CREDITS
Music: W. A. Mozart
Libretto: Vittorio Amedeo Cigna-Santi
Producer and Director: Lo Kingman
Conductor: Adrian Sit
CAST
Mitridate: Dennis Lau
Sifare: Bonnie Liu (12/9), Chris Peng (13/9)
Aspasia : Esel Kim
Farnace: Terry Lee
Ismene: Tammy Shum
Marzio: Felix Suen
Arbate: Gabriel Ma
Live Accompaniment by Musica Viva Chamber Ensemble
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