陳慶恩 CHAN HING-YAN

《蕭紅》作曲家 Composer for Heart of Coral

陳慶恩現為香港大學陳健華陳 遠嫻基金明德教授（音樂）。

陳教授的創作以擅於糅合中西 特色見稱，作品曾於世界各地 重要的藝術節上演。近作包括 四齣室內歌劇（《烏龍功夫》

2021、《鬼戀》2018、《大同》 2015、《蕭紅》2013 ），最早兩 齣由香港藝術節委約創作。為 慶祝回歸二十週年，香港藝術 節於 2017 年委約陳教授創作一 大型清唱劇《世紀・香港》， 並擔任該節目的音樂總監。陳 教授亦是香港小交響樂團的駐 團藝術家（ 2016-18 ）； 該團 與他合作無間，在香港以至歐 洲（ 2005 ）、南美（ 2010 ）、 加拿大、紐約（ 2012 ）、台 灣（ 2016 ）、北京（ 2010 ）及 上海（ 2007 ）等地演出其委 約作品。

陳教授獲香港藝術發展局頒 發「年度最佳藝術家獎（音樂 2013 ）」。此外，他與香港城市 當代舞蹈團的三次合作（《非

常道》2009、《蘭陵王》2007、 《霸王》2005 ）備受讚譽，《蘭 陵王》更獲「 2008 年香港舞蹈 年獎」的「最佳原創音樂獎」。 同年，陳教授亦獲「民政事務 局長嘉許計劃」頒發嘉許狀及 獎章，表揚他推動文化藝術發 展的貢獻。

因着陳教授在教學上的傑出成 就，香港大學授予他「傑出 研究生導師獎」（ 2013-14 ）。

校內的 Cultural Management Office，自 2013 年成立至今，

陳教授一直擔任其顧問，積極 參與「繆思樂季」的節目策劃

Chan Hing-yan is currently James Chen and Yuen-Han Chan Professor in Music at The University of Hong Kong.

Lauded for their subtle mediation between Chinese elements and Western idioms, Professor Chan’s compositions have been heard around the world at prestigious festivals. Recent works include four chamber operas (Kungfood 2021, Ghost Love 2018, Datong – the Chinese Utopia 2015, Heart of Coral 2013). The first two were commissioned by the Hong Kong Arts Festival, who also entrusted Professor Chan as composer and Music Director of an extravaganza staged cantata Hong Kong Odyssey to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover in 2017. Professor Chan served as Artist Associate 2016-18 of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. Over the years, the orchestra has commissioned and presented his works at home and abroad in Europe (2005), South America (2010), Canada, New York (2012), Taiwan (2016), Beijing (2010) and Shanghai (2007).

Professor Chan received the “Best Artist Award (Music)” at the Hong Kong Arts Development Awards 2013. His three collaborations with the City Contemporary Dance Company (Dao Extraordinaire 2009, Warrior Lanling 2007, The Conqueror 2005) have won him much acclaim as well as a Hong Kong Dance Award in 2008, when he also received commendation for “Persons with Outstanding Contributions to the Development of Arts and Culture” in the Secretary for Home Affairs’ Commendation Scheme.

At HKU, Professor Chan was conferred the Outstanding Research Student Supervisor Award (2013-14), in recognition of his guidance to postgraduate students in the pursuit of research excellence. In addition, he has been an advisor to HKU’s Cultural Management Office since its inception in 2013, and has been instrumental in planning and delivering a number of innovative programmes for its MUSE series.

文本作者的話 Librettist’s Note

蕭紅是個特別的人物。

她既是一個對象，也是一個被 塑造的角色。

有人評論說她後期一些作品， 觸及了人性的隱秘之處。在我 看來，那不是一些人庸俗化的 欲望，而是一種大的、廣闊 的東西。

在很多傳記中，她總有一種自 我拋棄的感覺，可我覺得那是 她的求生，她很努力的想突破 一次，是反叛和自在的。人是 複雜的，一個人到底是甚麼樣 子，任君選看。

不想寫一個人的生平，也不願 意把她看成是一個悲劇，我只 想用我的語言切進她的獨自之 地，塑造這個女人更明滅更湧 動之處。

我希望透過這個作品，看到一 種生命的色彩。對蕭紅來說， 那是故鄉賦予她的性情、她的 恐懼和承擔、懵懂和追求。而 對其他更多的人，會看到一種 更有格局的內在精神——可以串 聯生命的答案。

我們每個人都是在各自的年限 裏完成同樣的東西。困惑、對 抗、接受、擁有、否定、失 去、重新面對生活……這整個 起伏，有的人說是掙扎，有的 人說叫爭取。

感謝香港藝術節、作曲家陳慶 恩和導演楊雲濤，能跟你們合 作，是我的福氣。

意珩

Xiao Hong was an exceptional person.

She was not only a character, but also a role model waiting to be moulded. I am loath to treat her story as a tragedy. That is my position.

Some critics depict her later works as touching upon the deepest secrets of the human psyche. To me, these are not common desires, but notions far larger and broader.

Much of her writing is shrouded by a sense of self-surrender, yet I detect a fervent desire for life: she strove to break through in her own maverick and carefree manner. Humans are complex by nature: it all depends on our perspectives and choices.

I’m wary of delineating a straightforward biography, because that does not qualify as artistic creation. And this work is not intended to be an ode to Xiao Hong. I only want to examine her and her alone, to wield words in shaping those brilliant and poignant facets belonging to her.

I hope that through this work, we can appreciate those very colours of life. For Xiao Hong, they comprise the temperaments, fears and responsibilities, as well as stubbornness and aspirations that her hometown and upbringing bequeathed her. Others might detect an inner spirit within this structure. When strung together, an answer to life emerges.

All of us must complete prescribed tasks within our respective timespans. Doubt, resistance, acceptance, possession, rejection and loss, facing life anew, riding the ups and downs that mark existence... Some view them as struggles while others revel in grappling with them.

I must extend my heartfelt thanks to the Hong Kong Arts Festival, composer Chan Hingyan and director Yang Yuntao. It is my good fortune to have had the opportunity to work with you.

Yi Heng