Hong Kong Symphony

HONG KONG SYMPHONY documents the dramatic premiere of Tan Dun's Symphony 1997: Heaven-Earth-Mankind at the historic ceremonies marking the handover of Hong Kong from British to Chinese rule on June 30, 1997. Featured are Tan Dun, the dynamic young Chinese composer/conductor, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and the 2,400-year-old Bianzhong, a magnificent set of 64 bells that was recently unearthed from a royal tomb in Hubei, China. The film captures the frantic energy of the handover through on-the-street interviews and backstage verité news coverage from Hong Kong, China, Britain and the US, and historical footage. The program also reveals the personal meditations of Tan Dun and Yo-Yo Ma, as these remarkable artists--and the magnificent music they create--offer fascinating counterpoint to the "official" versions of this historical moment.