I want to begin with two questions and dissipation first question how many of
dissipation first question how many of
dissipation first question how many of you have been to a movie more than three
you have been to a movie more than three
you have been to a movie more than three times this year please raise your hand
times this year please raise your hand
times this year please raise your hand Wow a lot of you thank you second
Wow a lot of you thank you second
Wow a lot of you thank you second question how many of you have been to an
question how many of you have been to an
question how many of you have been to an opera or classical music concerts more
opera or classical music concerts more
opera or classical music concerts more than three times this year please raise
than three times this year please raise
than three times this year please raise your hand I’m so glad to see some hands
your hand I’m so glad to see some hands
your hand I’m so glad to see some hands thank you when you go to a movie and if
thank you when you go to a movie and if
thank you when you go to a movie and if you didn’t like it what will you do you
you didn’t like it what will you do you
you didn’t like it what will you do you will say next time I’ll pick another
will say next time I’ll pick another
will say next time I’ll pick another kind of movie and I’ll go again and if
kind of movie and I’ll go again and if
kind of movie and I’ll go again and if you still didn’t enjoy the second time
you still didn’t enjoy the second time
you still didn’t enjoy the second time you will say next time helping another
you will say next time helping another
you will say next time helping another kind of movie and go again but you still
kind of movie and go again but you still
kind of movie and go again but you still go
go
go what about classical music concerts in
what about classical music concerts in
what about classical music concerts in Opera many people told me I’ve been to
Opera many people told me I’ve been to
Opera many people told me I’ve been to the Philharmonic
the Philharmonic
the Philharmonic or opera once and I didn’t like it so I
or opera once and I didn’t like it so I
or opera once and I didn’t like it so I guess it’s not my cup of tea
guess it’s not my cup of tea
guess it’s not my cup of tea they’re obviously biased people have for
they’re obviously biased people have for
they’re obviously biased people have for classical music and opera my name is
classical music and opera my name is
classical music and opera my name is Lucy I was born and bred in Hong Kong
Lucy I was born and bred in Hong Kong
Lucy I was born and bred in Hong Kong I’m very passionate about opera going to
I’m very passionate about opera going to
I’m very passionate about opera going to opera singing to opera learning about
opera singing to opera learning about
opera singing to opera learning about opera last year I even started my own
opera last year I even started my own
opera last year I even started my own opera company more than musical which is
opera company more than musical which is
opera company more than musical which is a registered nonprofit in Hong Kong we
a registered nonprofit in Hong Kong we
a registered nonprofit in Hong Kong we are making opera accessible and
are making opera accessible and
are making opera accessible and approachable to everyone we are bridging
approachable to everyone we are bridging
approachable to everyone we are bridging the modern society and opera before
the modern society and opera before
the modern society and opera before there were TV and movies or press
there were TV and movies or press
there were TV and movies or press theaters there was this groundbreaking
theaters there was this groundbreaking
theaters there was this groundbreaking art forms which challenged the social
art forms which challenged the social
art forms which challenged the social norms which push people out of the
norms which push people out of the
norms which push people out of the comfort zones and they make political
comfort zones and they make political
comfort zones and they make political statements opera is meant to be hip and
statements opera is meant to be hip and
statements opera is meant to be hip and modern and challenging in the following
modern and challenging in the following
modern and challenging in the following I’m going to share with you my journey
I’m going to share with you my journey
I’m going to share with you my journey with Oprah the Society’s journey with
with Oprah the Society’s journey with
with Oprah the Society’s journey with Oprah and why opera matches to you and
Oprah and why opera matches to you and
Oprah and why opera matches to you and to me and I’ll leave you with a
to me and I’ll leave you with a
to me and I’ll leave you with a challenge I hope by the end of this talk
challenge I hope by the end of this talk
challenge I hope by the end of this talk you all will be saying whoa I’m
you all will be saying whoa I’m
you all will be saying whoa I’m definitely going to an opera
my music journey began with my piano at
my music journey began with my piano at home I had my first piano lesson when I
home I had my first piano lesson when I
home I had my first piano lesson when I was 10 years old I really enjoyed it and
was 10 years old I really enjoyed it and
was 10 years old I really enjoyed it and I practice a lot my parents after their
I practice a lot my parents after their
I practice a lot my parents after their long day of work they came home and they
long day of work they came home and they
long day of work they came home and they said to me can you please stop
said to me can you please stop
said to me can you please stop practicing because it’s so noisy music
practicing because it’s so noisy music
practicing because it’s so noisy music became my very best friend no matter how
became my very best friend no matter how
became my very best friend no matter how I feel happiness sadness boredom
I feel happiness sadness boredom
I feel happiness sadness boredom excitement music can help me to release
excitement music can help me to release
excitement music can help me to release all these emotions in ways that words
all these emotions in ways that words
all these emotions in ways that words cannot describe music has been my
cannot describe music has been my
cannot describe music has been my emotional outlet and my best companion
emotional outlet and my best companion
emotional outlet and my best companion and then I moved into university I
and then I moved into university I
and then I moved into university I became a music student majored in piano
became a music student majored in piano
became a music student majored in piano as you can imagine I was very hair very
as you can imagine I was very hair very
as you can imagine I was very hair very healthy it was like the best thing ever
healthy it was like the best thing ever
healthy it was like the best thing ever happened to me or I do everyday was to
happened to me or I do everyday was to
happened to me or I do everyday was to learn about music and to practice but
learn about music and to practice but
learn about music and to practice but not long after I’ve started my degree
not long after I’ve started my degree
not long after I’ve started my degree around six months my arm around this
around six months my arm around this
around six months my arm around this area started to hurt whenever I practice
area started to hurt whenever I practice
area started to hurt whenever I practice on the piano it was like there were
on the piano it was like there were
on the piano it was like there were needles flowing through my blood streams
needles flowing through my blood streams
needles flowing through my blood streams every day a few moments later it got so
every day a few moments later it got so
every day a few moments later it got so bad that I have to stop playing
bad that I have to stop playing
bad that I have to stop playing completely because it was so painful
completely because it was so painful
completely because it was so painful that I couldn’t even hold a pen or
that I couldn’t even hold a pen or
that I couldn’t even hold a pen or chopsticks I was completely devastated I
chopsticks I was completely devastated I
chopsticks I was completely devastated I didn’t know what to do I went to a
didn’t know what to do I went to a
didn’t know what to do I went to a physiotherapist
physiotherapist
physiotherapist two or three times a week I have no idea
two or three times a week I have no idea
two or three times a week I have no idea how long does it take to recover or
how long does it take to recover or
how long does it take to recover or would I ever be able to recover but in
would I ever be able to recover but in
would I ever be able to recover but in order to continue I need an instrument
order to continue I need an instrument
order to continue I need an instrument to graduate I need an instrument which
to graduate I need an instrument which
to graduate I need an instrument which doesn’t require my hands so I started to
doesn’t require my hands so I started to
doesn’t require my hands so I started to sing and it is the next best thing ever
sing and it is the next best thing ever
sing and it is the next best thing ever happened to me Oh in the sudden I became
happened to me Oh in the sudden I became
happened to me Oh in the sudden I became a voice students and learning singing is
a voice students and learning singing is
a voice students and learning singing is completely from
completely from
completely from a physical instrument because now at
a physical instrument because now at
a physical instrument because now at this time the instrument is inside my
this time the instrument is inside my
this time the instrument is inside my body it takes a lot of imagination and
body it takes a lot of imagination and
body it takes a lot of imagination and self exploration to learn singing
self exploration to learn singing
self exploration to learn singing sometimes I got really confused my voice
sometimes I got really confused my voice
sometimes I got really confused my voice teacher she would say to me Lucy I
teacher she would say to me Lucy I
teacher she would say to me Lucy I cannot cut myself apart to show you how
cannot cut myself apart to show you how
cannot cut myself apart to show you how you should coordinate your inner muscles
you should coordinate your inner muscles
you should coordinate your inner muscles or your vocal cords you have to figure
or your vocal cords you have to figure
or your vocal cords you have to figure out by yourself
out by yourself
out by yourself and so I practice a lot it means a lot
and so I practice a lot it means a lot
and so I practice a lot it means a lot of singing plus screaming plus yelling
of singing plus screaming plus yelling
of singing plus screaming plus yelling and a few months later my voice started
and a few months later my voice started
and a few months later my voice started to change it become rounder I become
to change it become rounder I become
to change it become rounder I become louder but the most important is I got
louder but the most important is I got
louder but the most important is I got so much more deeply connected to my
so much more deeply connected to my
so much more deeply connected to my inner self because singing is such an
inner self because singing is such an
inner self because singing is such an honest and delicate process when I was
honest and delicate process when I was
honest and delicate process when I was singing in front of people I felt like I
singing in front of people I felt like I
singing in front of people I felt like I was learning their Nicky because there’s
was learning their Nicky because there’s
was learning their Nicky because there’s nothing to hide and nowhere to hide
nothing to hide and nowhere to hide
nothing to hide and nowhere to hide music singing has to be pulled out
music singing has to be pulled out
music singing has to be pulled out straight from my heart and at the same
straight from my heart and at the same
straight from my heart and at the same time I started to learn about opera
time I started to learn about opera
time I started to learn about opera which is the next spec treasure I found
which is the next spec treasure I found
which is the next spec treasure I found in classical music even though most of
in classical music even though most of
in classical music even though most of the operas were here today were written
the operas were here today were written
the operas were here today were written in a hundred to 150 years ago still the
in a hundred to 150 years ago still the
in a hundred to 150 years ago still the drama remains because Oprah is all about
drama remains because Oprah is all about
drama remains because Oprah is all about human relationships and emotions
human relationships and emotions
human relationships and emotions emotions that we all share today love
emotions that we all share today love
emotions that we all share today love hatred disappointment jealousy longings
hatred disappointment jealousy longings
hatred disappointment jealousy longings all these emotions are being wrapped up
all these emotions are being wrapped up
all these emotions are being wrapped up in beautiful singing music together with
in beautiful singing music together with
in beautiful singing music together with text visualization Orchestra complement
text visualization Orchestra complement
text visualization Orchestra complement all these pieces are being carefully
all these pieces are being carefully
all these pieces are being carefully constructed together to be a very
constructed together to be a very
constructed together to be a very complex art form to me opera is the
complex art form to me opera is the
complex art form to me opera is the floating architecture which is beautiful
floating architecture which is beautiful
floating architecture which is beautiful and it touches my heart
and it touches my heart
and it touches my heart so I finally graduated as a voice
so I finally graduated as a voice
so I finally graduated as a voice student and I became an opera fanatic
student and I became an opera fanatic
student and I became an opera fanatic and then I moved to London to continue
and then I moved to London to continue
and then I moved to London to continue my education London the heaven for
my education London the heaven for
my education London the heaven for classical music lovers I went to almost
classical music lovers I went to almost
classical music lovers I went to almost all the productions at the Royal Opera
all the productions at the Royal Opera
all the productions at the Royal Opera House always sitting at the very top
House always sitting at the very top
House always sitting at the very top with my student tickets when I look down
with my student tickets when I look down
with my student tickets when I look down to the stage the singers look tiny to me
to the stage the singers look tiny to me
to the stage the singers look tiny to me but the voices were so powerful that it
but the voices were so powerful that it
but the voices were so powerful that it penetrates through all the space
penetrates through all the space
penetrates through all the space conquered over the orchestra and came
conquered over the orchestra and came
conquered over the orchestra and came into my ears very clearly how much
into my ears very clearly how much
into my ears very clearly how much effort and practice and technique does
effort and practice and technique does
effort and practice and technique does it take apart from singing
it take apart from singing
it take apart from singing they were also telling a story they were
they were also telling a story they were
they were also telling a story they were telling me that I am a weakness of their
telling me that I am a weakness of their
telling me that I am a weakness of their story in those few hours I could just
story in those few hours I could just
story in those few hours I could just sit there emerge myself into the beauty
sit there emerge myself into the beauty
sit there emerge myself into the beauty the drama the love the pain that opera
the drama the love the pain that opera
the drama the love the pain that opera brought me the emotions got so intense
brought me the emotions got so intense
brought me the emotions got so intense that what my heart was pounding my hands
that what my heart was pounding my hands
that what my heart was pounding my hands were sweating and I was even following
were sweating and I was even following
were sweating and I was even following the breath of the singers sometimes when
the breath of the singers sometimes when
the breath of the singers sometimes when the productions were being extremely
the productions were being extremely
the productions were being extremely well done all the audience were being
well done all the audience were being
well done all the audience were being connected emotionally because we were
connected emotionally because we were
connected emotionally because we were inspired and engaged and we started
inspired and engaged and we started
inspired and engaged and we started turning in to the people next to our
turning in to the people next to our
turning in to the people next to our seat even we were strangers and then we
seat even we were strangers and then we
seat even we were strangers and then we start talking about how great the
start talking about how great the
start talking about how great the singers were how happy we were how full
singers were how happy we were how full
singers were how happy we were how full of joy we were and how we experienced
of joy we were and how we experienced
of joy we were and how we experienced something magical together something
something magical together something
something magical together something that couldn’t be found in normal daily
that couldn’t be found in normal daily
that couldn’t be found in normal daily life from my seat apart from the stage I
life from my seat apart from the stage I
life from my seat apart from the stage I also saw these audiences sitting right
also saw these audiences sitting right
also saw these audiences sitting right in front of the stage with the most
in front of the stage with the most
in front of the stage with the most expensive tickets
expensive tickets
expensive tickets can you guess who they are they are a
can you guess who they are they are a
can you guess who they are they are a wave of the silver-haired generation so
wave of the silver-haired generation so
wave of the silver-haired generation so they were pretty old
they were pretty old
they were pretty old and I was there thinking like if Oprah
and I was there thinking like if Oprah
and I was there thinking like if Oprah meant to be an elderly entertainment and
meant to be an elderly entertainment and
meant to be an elderly entertainment and if it is then what is the future of
if it is then what is the future of
if it is then what is the future of opera and if it is then what’s wrong
opera and if it is then what’s wrong
opera and if it is then what’s wrong about me why would I enjoy it so much
about me why would I enjoy it so much
about me why would I enjoy it so much earlier I mentioned opera is meant to be
earlier I mentioned opera is meant to be
earlier I mentioned opera is meant to be hip and mordant let me give you two
hip and mordant let me give you two
hip and mordant let me give you two examples the first example is the most
examples the first example is the most
examples the first example is the most famous French opera written by besaid
famous French opera written by besaid
famous French opera written by besaid which is Carmen you must have heard some
which is Carmen you must have heard some
which is Carmen you must have heard some music from common including this one see
music from common including this one see
music from common including this one see Gina
Macie Sharma thank you
Macie Sharma thank you [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] so this music was taken from the aria
so this music was taken from the aria
so this music was taken from the aria urban era sung by common in the Opera
urban era sung by common in the Opera
urban era sung by common in the Opera common is a beautiful gypsy lady or
common is a beautiful gypsy lady or
common is a beautiful gypsy lady or means fell in love with her one day she
means fell in love with her one day she
means fell in love with her one day she was being put into jail because she
was being put into jail because she
was being put into jail because she initiated a fight and in the jail she
initiated a fight and in the jail she
initiated a fight and in the jail she managed to seduce the officer don’t you
managed to seduce the officer don’t you
managed to seduce the officer don’t you say to release her by singing and
say to release her by singing and
say to release her by singing and dancing around him so don’t so they fell
dancing around him so don’t so they fell
dancing around him so don’t so they fell in love with her and even follow her to
in love with her and even follow her to
in love with her and even follow her to become a smuggler as the story goes on
become a smuggler as the story goes on
become a smuggler as the story goes on come and then fell out of love with him
come and then fell out of love with him
come and then fell out of love with him and she would rather die than to be with
and she would rather die than to be with
and she would rather die than to be with him anymore and so he killed her a story
him anymore and so he killed her a story
him anymore and so he killed her a story like this is kind of acceptable today
like this is kind of acceptable today
like this is kind of acceptable today you can see similar stories in TV and
you can see similar stories in TV and
you can see similar stories in TV and movies all the time but this story was
movies all the time but this story was
movies all the time but this story was completely unacceptable in 1875 women as
completely unacceptable in 1875 women as
completely unacceptable in 1875 women as those days they couldn’t be seen singing
those days they couldn’t be seen singing
those days they couldn’t be seen singing dancing drinking in the public not to
dancing drinking in the public not to
dancing drinking in the public not to mention fighting there were not even
mention fighting there were not even
mention fighting there were not even sexually free be say he challenged or
sexually free be say he challenged or
sexually free be say he challenged or dystocia norms so guess what happened at
dystocia norms so guess what happened at
dystocia norms so guess what happened at the Opera premiere it was a complete
the Opera premiere it was a complete
the Opera premiere it was a complete failure it was being considered
failure it was being considered
failure it was being considered outrageous and provocative he says he
outrageous and provocative he says he
outrageous and provocative he says he was convinced that he has written the
was convinced that he has written the
was convinced that he has written the worst or probe failure in history and he
worst or probe failure in history and he
worst or probe failure in history and he actually passed away in the same year
actually passed away in the same year
actually passed away in the same year the next example is the most famous
the next example is the most famous
the next example is the most famous Italian opera La Traviata written by
Italian opera La Traviata written by
Italian opera La Traviata written by rarity this opera is about a beautiful
rarity this opera is about a beautiful
rarity this opera is about a beautiful young lady who’s named Violetta
young lady who’s named Violetta
young lady who’s named Violetta she’s a courtesan a courtesan is a
she’s a courtesan a courtesan is a
she’s a courtesan a courtesan is a mistress for the rich at those days in
mistress for the rich at those days in
mistress for the rich at those days in Paris having a collison was common among
Paris having a collison was common among
Paris having a collison was common among the rich at those days but it is not the
the rich at those days but it is not the
the rich at those days but it is not the topic to be discussed in
topic to be discussed in
topic to be discussed in Ferdie he deliberately wrote about the
Ferdie he deliberately wrote about the
Ferdie he deliberately wrote about the life of a courtesan and said the time is
life of a courtesan and said the time is
life of a courtesan and said the time is now 1850 so guess what happened at the
now 1850 so guess what happened at the
now 1850 so guess what happened at the premiere again it was a complete failure
premiere again it was a complete failure
premiere again it was a complete failure the church banned this opera the royal
the church banned this opera the royal
the church banned this opera the royal families in Europe they refrained from
families in Europe they refrained from
families in Europe they refrained from going because the contents was
going because the contents was
going because the contents was considered immoral these masterpieces
considered immoral these masterpieces
considered immoral these masterpieces they were breaking taboos and they went
they were breaking taboos and they went
they were breaking taboos and they went beyond socially acceptable boundaries in
beyond socially acceptable boundaries in
beyond socially acceptable boundaries in their time can you think of some more
their time can you think of some more
their time can you think of some more than figures who are doing the same to
than figures who are doing the same to
than figures who are doing the same to us today being provocative and
us today being provocative and
us today being provocative and outrageous what about these two ladies
outrageous what about these two ladies
outrageous what about these two ladies the controversy that Oprah brought is
the controversy that Oprah brought is
the controversy that Oprah brought is nothing less than what Lady Gaga and
nothing less than what Lady Gaga and
nothing less than what Lady Gaga and Madonna are doing today
Madonna are doing today
Madonna are doing today Oprah is meant to be hip and more than
Oprah is meant to be hip and more than
Oprah is meant to be hip and more than and challenging last year I started
and challenging last year I started
and challenging last year I started working with a partner to make opera
working with a partner to make opera
working with a partner to make opera accessible and approachable and we were
accessible and approachable and we were
accessible and approachable and we were preaching opera and the modern society
preaching opera and the modern society
preaching opera and the modern society we are achieving that by having a few
we are achieving that by having a few
we are achieving that by having a few adaptations in our productions first
adaptations in our productions first
adaptations in our productions first opera has to be shorter
opera has to be shorter
opera has to be shorter it can’t be free for hours anymore a
it can’t be free for hours anymore a
it can’t be free for hours anymore a production is around 100 minutes which
production is around 100 minutes which
production is around 100 minutes which is commercial movie length secondly no
is commercial movie length secondly no
is commercial movie length secondly no more big theatres our Productions is
more big theatres our Productions is
more big theatres our Productions is being hot in venues like this one which
being hot in venues like this one which
being hot in venues like this one which is more intimate we remove the barrier
is more intimate we remove the barrier
is more intimate we remove the barrier between audience and singers so you can
between audience and singers so you can
between audience and singers so you can see the facial expression and the
see the facial expression and the
see the facial expression and the singers and you can feel their vocal
singers and you can feel their vocal
singers and you can feel their vocal cord vibration and we believe if you
cord vibration and we believe if you
cord vibration and we believe if you have this experience you will be amazed
have this experience you will be amazed
have this experience you will be amazed by the power of human voice thirdly our
by the power of human voice thirdly our
by the power of human voice thirdly our characters they are more than people in
characters they are more than people in
characters they are more than people in more than clothing they use cell phones
more than clothing they use cell phones
more than clothing they use cell phones they use laptops finally we even
they use laptops finally we even
they use laptops finally we even introduce a bar this is a powerful wine
introduce a bar this is a powerful wine
introduce a bar this is a powerful wine and champagne it’s not a bar that you
and champagne it’s not a bar that you
and champagne it’s not a bar that you find in ballet classes
this is part of the performance but
this is part of the performance but after the performance you can stay
after the performance you can stay
after the performance you can stay behind have a drink with our singers do
behind have a drink with our singers do
behind have a drink with our singers do yourself redo your facebook life these
yourself redo your facebook life these
yourself redo your facebook life these pictures are taken in our June
pictures are taken in our June
pictures are taken in our June production of La Traviata so as you can
production of La Traviata so as you can
production of La Traviata so as you can see there should be no barriers between
see there should be no barriers between
see there should be no barriers between you and opera opera is a shared moment
you and opera opera is a shared moment
you and opera opera is a shared moment of joy and an escape from the world
opera is meant to be relevant and
opera is meant to be relevant and enjoyable for everyone I want to
enjoyable for everyone I want to
enjoyable for everyone I want to challenge each of you here today by
challenge each of you here today by
challenge each of you here today by asking yourself this question what is
asking yourself this question what is
asking yourself this question what is your opera where can you get emotional
your opera where can you get emotional
your opera where can you get emotional connected to strangers and be a part of
connected to strangers and be a part of
connected to strangers and be a part of something that’s bigger than yourself I
something that’s bigger than yourself I
something that’s bigger than yourself I urge you to find your own opera to find
urge you to find your own opera to find
urge you to find your own opera to find your own emotional outlets and source of
your own emotional outlets and source of
your own emotional outlets and source of inspiration everyone deserves to be
inspiration everyone deserves to be
inspiration everyone deserves to be inspired and to be touched and there is
inspired and to be touched and there is
inspired and to be touched and there is a way for it once mine doesn’t know is
a way for it once mine doesn’t know is
a way for it once mine doesn’t know is empty and you is enriched so please open
empty and you is enriched so please open
empty and you is enriched so please open your mind channel yourself into the arts
your mind channel yourself into the arts
your mind channel yourself into the arts or whatever you find transformational
or whatever you find transformational
or whatever you find transformational tap yourself into your own larger than
tap yourself into your own larger than
tap yourself into your own larger than life experience and throw yourself into
life experience and throw yourself into
life experience and throw yourself into the greatness the beauty and the higher
the greatness the beauty and the higher
the greatness the beauty and the higher ground and I’m sure by doing so you will
ground and I’m sure by doing so you will
ground and I’m sure by doing so you will be enlightened and enriched thank you
be enlightened and enriched thank you
be enlightened and enriched thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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