{"id":7752,"date":"2025-06-26T16:28:12","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T08:28:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.musicavivahk.org\/en\/?p=7752"},"modified":"2025-08-11T13:02:00","modified_gmt":"2025-08-11T05:02:00","slug":"musica-viva-to-stage-glucks-orfeo-ed-euridice-at-swedens-oldest-theatre-ulriksdal-palace-theatre-confidencen-in-september-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.musicavivahk.org\/en\/2025\/06\/musica-viva-to-stage-glucks-orfeo-ed-euridice-at-swedens-oldest-theatre-ulriksdal-palace-theatre-confidencen-in-september-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"Musica Viva to Stage Gluck\u2019s Orfeo ed Euridice at Sweden\u2019s Oldest Theatre \u2014 Ulriksdal Palace Theatre \u201cConfidencen\u201d in September 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

Musica Viva is excited to announce its upcoming overseas production in September 2025<\/strong>, featuring the opera Orfeo ed Euridice<\/em><\/strong> by Christoph Willibald Gluck at the Ulriksdal Palace Theatre<\/strong> \u2014 \u201cConfidencen<\/strong>\u201d in Sweden<\/strong>. This marks a milestone in Hong Kong\u2019s music history as it is the very first collaboration between Hong Kong and Sweden on a fully staged opera production.<\/p>\n

Opera: Orfeo ed Euridice<\/em> at Confidencen<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Orfeo ed Euridice<\/em><\/strong> (\u2018Orpheus and Eurydice\u2019) is an opera in three acts, composed by Gluck, based on the myth of Orpheus and set to a libretto by Ranieri de’ Calzabigi. For this upcoming production, Musica Viva will reinterpret the Vienna premiere version of the opera for Confidencen<\/strong>, which is the oldest Rococo theatre in Sweden. The theatre retains many original design features, including Baroque oil-painted backdrops, a trapdoor that allows performers to sink below the stage, traditional mechanisms for set changes, etc. Reimagining an opera production in a theatre like the Confidencen is refreshing compared to a modern theatre.<\/p>\n

Starring Budding Artists from Hong Kong<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

Musica Viva is known for its dedication to nurturing local artists by regularly providing performance opportunities to them. Produced and directed by local opera director and soprano Leung Siu Kwan Cindy, this production in Sweden is no exception, starring Hong Kong countertenor Terry Lee<\/strong> as Orfeo<\/strong>, soprano Esel Kim <\/strong>as Euridice<\/strong>, sopranos Charlene Lee <\/strong>and Tammy Shum<\/strong> as Amore<\/strong>. They will perform with Musica Viva Chorus<\/strong> and Swedish baroque ensemble Rebaroque<\/strong> under the baton of Isaac Droscha<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Historic Cultural Exchange Opportunity<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

This production is co-produced by both Musica Viva and Confidencen. This historic cultural exchange opportunity is financially supported by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council\u2019s Cultural Exchange Grant, enabling over 20 Hong Kong artists and production personnel to participate in this production in Sweden. A total of two public performances will be held on the evening of 26 and 27 September 2025 at Confidencen. By presenting a Hong Kong production to the public in Sweden, this production achieves an important milestone in establishing Hong Kong’s presence in the arts scene of a major Scandinavian country. This unique opportunity showcases the talent and creativity of Hong Kong artists while fostering cultural exchange between Hong Kong and Sweden.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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ARTISTS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leung Siu Kwan Cindy, <\/strong>P<\/strong>roducer & <\/strong>D<\/strong>irector<\/strong> (Hong Kong)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leung Siu Kwan Cindy received her Master of Arts (Music) at The Chinese University of Hong Kong and Bachelor of Music (Honours) degree (major in vocal and minor in piano) at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. She was awarded an Italian Consulate Scholarship to further study in Italy. She later received a project grant from the Hong Kong Arts Development Council (HKADC) for her research on the development of opera in Hong Kong which led to her publications which include\u00a0The History of Opera in Hong Kong – A Review of Lo Kingman\u2019s Productions<\/em>. She also published the\u00a0Aural Guide for ABRSM<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0Demo Series: ABRSM and Trinity College Examination Pieces for Voice<\/em>.<\/p>\n

Currently, Leung serves as the General Manager of Musica Viva, a registered music examiner, and a part-time lecturer at HKAPA. She has been involved\u00a0in more than 120 productions in Hong Kong, and has collaborated with international singers including Andrea Bocelli, Kiri Te Kanawa and Sumi Jo. In recent years, Leung has served as an opera director and directed more than 10 productions on stages in Asia and Europe, including the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet, the Saigon Orchestra, and the Lyric Opera of the Philippines . Her productions are also boardcast on RTHK TV 31.<\/p>\n

Leung recently directed and produced Musica Viva\u2019s\u00a0Orfeo ed Euridice<\/em>\u00a0for secondary schools students. She will reproduce the same project at Ulriksdal\u2019s Palace Theatre \u2013 Confidencen, a Swedish Baroque heritage theatre, with accompaniment from the Swedish Baroque Chamber Orchestra Rebaroque Stockholm. This project will mark an important milestone in establishing the very first opera collaboration and cultural exchange relationship between the two cities.<\/p>\n

Isaac Droscha,<\/strong> C<\/strong>onductor<\/strong> (United States)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Baritone Isaac Droscha holds a Doctorate in Vocal Performance from the University of Michigan and is currently a faculty in the Division of Humanities at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Droscha is also the Artistic Director and vocal coach of the \u201cHKUST Musical!\u201d, which he also helps coordinate. He is also the Co-Artistic Director of the HKUST Cosmopolis Festival.<\/p>\n

He has performed roles with various companies in the United States, including the Des Moines Metro Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Opera New Jersey and Arbor Opera Theater. His performances have received numerous positive reviews, including: \u201cIsaac Droscha is ingenious in his portraying of Falstaff;\u201d and \u201cIsaac Droscha, in the same role, was blessed with an extremely robust and agile voice, and behaved onstage like a true commedia dell\u2019arte clown…\u201d and \u201cDroscha really hit his stride when revealing his character\u2019s true identity near the end of the oper a in a riveting performance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some of his notable roles performed include roles in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Le Nozze di Figaro, The Rake\u2019s Progress, Madama Butterfly, L\u2019Elisir d\u2019Amore, Die Zauberfl\u00f6te, Die Fledermaus, Falstaff <\/em>and Airadne auf Naxos<\/em>. He was recently featured in two films produced by RTHK based on the operas La Serva Padrona <\/em>and Rita<\/em>. He also frequently appears in Musica Viva\u2019s performance. In addition, Droscha is a prolific concert performer of oratorio and art song and fr equently lends his voiceover talents to radio and television at RTHK.<\/p>\n

Terry Lee, <\/strong>C<\/strong>ountertenor<\/strong> (Hong Kong)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u2019s\u00a0Giulio Cesare\u00a0in 2022. He made another role debut as Ramiro in Mozart\u2019s\u00a0La finta giardiniera\u00a0in 2023 and Sesto in Mozart\u2019s La Clemenza di Tito in 2024.<\/p>\n

As a chorus member, Lee has taken part in numerous projects, such as Bizet\u2019s\u00a0Carmen, Donizetti\u2019s\u00a0Maria Stuarda, Puccini\u2019s\u00a0La boh\u00e8me, and\u00a0Madama Butterfly; Leh\u00e1r\u2019s\u00a0The Merry Widow; Mozart\u2019s\u00a0Die Zauberfl\u00f6te\u00a0and\u00a0Le nozze di Figaro; and Belini\u2019s\u00a0Norma. Other choral performances included Bach\u2019s\u00a0Mass in B minor, Vivaldi\u2019s\u00a0Gloria, and Handel\u2019s\u00a0Messiah\u00a0with Die Konzertisten,\u00a0Madame White Snake\u00a0in the 47th Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF), and “Voices of Hope and Togetherness \u2014 A Choral and Orchestral Gathering” in the 51st HKAF.<\/p>\n

Lee is now the Manager (Artistic Projects) of\u00a0Musica Viva, an established western opera and classical music production company led by Prof Lo Kingman, the former Director of the\u00a0Hong Kong\u00a0Academy for Performing Arts.<\/p>\n

Esel Kim, <\/strong>S<\/strong>oprano<\/strong> (South Korea)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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 \u201cD.E.M. (Diploma in Musical Studies)\u201d and \u201cConcertist Diploma\u201d 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 \u201cConcours International Les Cles D\u2019or\u201d in Paris, France, as well as the 1st Prize from \u201cLes Musicales du Centre\u201d International Music Competition.<\/p>\n

In addition to her work as a soprano, Esel Kim has performed several roles on stage, such as Adina in L\u2019Elisir d\u2019Amore, Pamina and Papageno in Die Zauberflote, Violetta in La Traviata and Le feu, Rossignol, Princesse in L\u2019Enfant et les Sortilege\u2019s. As a soloist, she has sung the solo soprano of Schubert\u2019s Messe en Sol Major and Saint-Saens\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Charlene Lee, <\/strong>S<\/strong>oprano<\/strong> (Hong Kong)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Soprano Charlene Lee studied at the Hochschule f\u00fcr Musik Dresden in Germany and was awarded the DAAD Studienabschluss-Stipendium Scholarship.
\nDuring her studies in Germany, she performed roles such as La Musica\/Apollo in Monteverdi\u2019s L\u2019Orfeo, Second Spirit in Mozart\u2019s Die Zauberfl\u00f6te and Sandmann in Humperdinck\u2019s H\u00e4nsel und Gretel with the Staatsoperette Dresden, Elbland Philharmonie Sachsen and the Hochschule f\u00fcr Musik Dresden.
\nIn Hong Kong, Lee won the Ms Barbara Fei Vocal Scholarship at the Hong Kong Schools Music Festival and performed with Musica Viva Hong Kong as Pamina in Die\u00a0 Zauberfl\u00f6te, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Merc\u00e9d\u00e8s in Carmen, and Sylviane in The Merry Widow.
\nLee was awarded \u2018The Best Soloist Prize\u2019 at the International Festival of Choral Art-Singing World in Russia and was placed second at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales. She also sang in Masterclasses by Ren\u00e9e Fleming\u00a0and\u00a0Sumi\u00a0Jo.<\/p>\n

Tammy Shum, <\/strong>S<\/strong>oprano<\/strong> (Hong Kong)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

As a passionate young soprano, Tammy has appeared as Susanna from Mozart\u2019s Le Nozze di Figaro , and Papagena from Mozart\u2019s Die Zauberfl\u00f6te . She has also appeared as a soprano soloist with the Chung Chi Choir and the Schulich Singers, performing repertoire ranging from Beethoven\u2019s Choral Fantasy and Camille Saint-Sa\u00ebns\u2019 Oratorio de No\u00ebl . 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 the 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 Montr\u00e9al.<\/p>\n

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NOTES TO EDITORS<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. For more details about the programme, cast, and various discount schemes, please visit the following website: musicavivahk.org<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. For interview requests, media, and press-related enquiries, please contact Kelly Tai<\/strong> by email at kellytai@musicvivahk.org<\/a> or by phone at 6449 3446.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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    OPERA: ORFEO ED EURIDICE<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Performed in Italian<\/strong> with English <\/strong>& Swedish<\/strong> surtitles<\/p>\n

    Date & Time:<\/p>\n