Two award-winning ballets take flight

​A scene from The Last Song. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Hong Kong Ballet will present two of its most acclaimed productions: The Last Song by the company's choreographer Hu Song Wei Ricky and the award-winning Carmina Burana by its artistic director Septime Webre, at Shanghai from Nov 14 to 15.

Teaming up with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, these shows will also feature the Shanghai Conservatory of Music Chorus, Shanghai Huangpu Youngster's Art Activity Center Spring Children's Choir, bringing together nearly 300 artists.

Under the baton of Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra's resident conductor Lio Kuokman, the concerts will also feature soloists from Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra's concertmaster Jing Wang, principal cellist Richard Bamping and soprano Vivian Yau, tenor Ren Shengzhi and baritone Liu Tao.

​A scene from Carmina Burana. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Inspired by Bach's music and Oscar Wilde's story The Nightingale and the Rose, Hu created the hauntingly beautiful The Last Song as a powerful and intimate meditation of an artist's relationship with his muse, symbolized by the nightingale.

Webre's riveting Carmina Burana, set to Carl Orff's monumental score, explores the timeless quest for love through dynamic, theatrical choreography that brings the drama vividly to life.

At the 24th Hong Kong Dance Awards, Carmina Burana won the Outstanding Large Venue Production award, while The Last Song received the honor for Outstanding Choreography.