Radio 4 celebrated Christmas Eve with a concert performance in Hong Kong Park
December 24, 2005, Olympic Square, Hong Kong Park. Radio 4 teamed up with more than 300 musicians to perform Handel's all-time favourite masterpiece Messiah in the midst of Central's skyscrapers.
Before the concert took place, the HKIEd Handbell Ensemble and the National Institute of Education of Singapore Brass Ensemble gave light-hearted performances in two different corners of the park.
Although the concert started at 5pm, hundreds of listeners queued outside the venue to guarantee themselves a seat inside Olympic Square to listen to the timely Messiah. Members of Chorus of the Opera Society of Hong Kong were joined by 200 more chorus members singing in the square, they came from Diocesan Boys' School Choir, Diocesan Girls' School Choir, HKIEd Chorus, The Hong Kong Melody Makers, The Learners Chorus and Wah Yan College, Kowloon Boys' Choir. There was a brilliant presence of four soloists, soprano Yuki Ip, countertenor Marcus Choy, tenor David Quah and bass Brian Montgomery. The City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong backed up the entire ensemble and Johnny Poon was the conductor of the concert.
The most moving part of the night was, inarguably, the "Hallelujah Chorus" which ended the Messiah of this performance. Observing the tradition, listeners stood up in respect. That was followed by a joyous medley of Christmas carols, specially arranged for this occasion by Bill Connor, the entire audience joined in singing along with chorus.
2005年12月24日，香港公園奧林匹克廣場，黃昏時分。廣場充滿了歌聲，聽音樂的人擠滿了廣場。第四台邀請了過三百位歌手及樂手，演出了韓德爾的經典神劇《彌賽亞》的選段。
音樂會之前一個小時，香港教育學院手鈴隊和星加坡國立教育學院的樂手先為聽眾熱身，在公園兩個地方演奏樂曲，吸引了不少在公園裏閒遊的人圍觀。而正式的音樂會在五時開始，二十分鐘前，已經有過百位聽眾在廣場門外排隊，等候入座。
參與演出的包括香港歌劇社合唱團，聯同200位來自拔萃男書院合唱團、拔萃女書院合唱團、香港教育學院合唱團、香港旋律、學士合唱團和九龍華仁書院合唱團組成的聯合隊伍。四位獨唱家分別是女高音葉葆菁、假聲男高音蔡文燦、男高音柯大衛和男低音孟浩文。與這些樂手同台演出的是香港城市室樂團，指揮是潘明倫。
整晚的高潮在於「哈利路亞」大合唱，不少聽眾按照傳統，在歌曲開始時起立。樂曲完結，掌聲雷動。接著有特意為這次節目而編排的聖誕頌歌套曲，是一個相當有心思的編排，場內的聽眾亦可以跟隨著唱。隨著煙花亮起，聖誕頌歌完結，「聖誕園林音樂會」使聽眾和工作人員都過了一個難忘的平安夜。
Responses迴響
Peggy Ching, Senior Executive Producer (TV), RTHK
It’s a great performance when the singers and musicians, sound and lighting, producers and audience all contribute their best at that particular moment. To me, “Messiah in the Park” was such a wonderful experience.
Dr. Gordon Campbell, Professor Emeritus, the University of Lethbridge, Canada
All sorts of exotic surprises are in the thoughts of a Western Canadian planning a Christmas visit to Hong Kong. The possibility of hearing Handel’s glorious Messiah sung in a public park, open to everyone, without charge was not, however in the list of expectations. How could the majesty of the thrilling chorus “And the glory of the Lord” be captured in open air amidst the trees and made available for a sophisticated radio and television production? What if a barking dog wandered by to add his contribution to the choir, or perhaps the horn of a passing car, or a crying baby? Could the gentle and tender recitative “Comfort Ye My People” be communicated in such an acoustically complex setting?
Not to worry. From many perspectives it was a remarkable undertaking. It may have been the first such choral experience for both performers and audience. Young and older together, it was a collaborative effort between a number of school choirs, the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong and the Chorus of the Opera Society of Hong Kong. Technical wizards were able to capture the right blends of sounds without having the usual benefits of confined space to work with. The result must have gratified the tens of thousands of television viewers.
Beyond the performance itself, the visitor to Hong Kong sees this performance as an outstanding example of how the many public parks of Hong Kong are enjoyed. In the dense population of Hong Kong, there are many publics to be served. This example of a park used as a venue for a sacred Oratorio is commendable. It is a tribute to Hong Kong to have such public spaces so imaginatively accessible and appreciated.
Angela Lau, a retired civil servant劉慧梅，退休公務員
Watching the concert outdoor and in a festive mood was an exciting experience. A lot of passers-by were standing on top of the slope behind the arena. Undoubtedly the performance successfully promoted classical music to the general public.
在節日氣氛中，於戶外欣賞《彌賽亞》感覺興奮；音樂會把古典音樂介紹給一般市民，斜坡上也有不少遊人站著觀賞呢！
Stephanie Hui, member of The Learners Chorus
Singing Handel’s Messiah celebrating the birth of Jesus is the most sensible and indeed my favourite thing to do at Christmas time. But nothing is more satisfying than singing in a 300-voice mega chorus with distinguished soloists, accompanied by a melodious orchestra, using the Olympic Square in Hong Kong Park as stage, being surrounded by enthusiastic audience (including birds!), enjoying ourselves.
As a member of The Learners Chorus, I am so proud to take part in Messiah in the Park, which surely has given everyone a joyful Christmas Eve!
陳宇軒，九龍華仁書院合唱團團長
2005年的平安夜，對我來說，不再平凡：得以與校內同學、以及校外多位演奏家，在九龍公園同唱《彌賽亞》，確是我人生之第一次；在此普天同慶的日子裏作此令人暢快的事，在園林美景中與多位演奏家同場演出且能從中獲益，此等經驗著實教人難忘。
畢綺玲，聽眾，香港演藝學院學生
「彌賽亞聖誕園林音樂」會給我的感覺很特別，一般音樂會在室內，觀眾也大多是已經對古典音樂有一些認識。但今次在香港公園的演出，讓很多平日不會踏進音樂廳的人（例如公公、婆婆、小孩子）可以在平安夜一同欣賞《彌賽亞》，讓他們也有機會接觸古典音樂。
Webcast archive網上電視重溫: http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/tv/messiahinthepark/20051225.html
Radio 4 broadcast archive第四台節目重溫: http://www.rthk.org.hk/channel/radio4/
(Programme Title節目名稱: “Messiah in the Park”, Broadcast date: December 25, 0:45am)
