Nov 2, 2024 - 7 pm | Meridian Arts Center
Nov 5, 2022 - 7 pm | Flato Markham Theatre
A Concert on Humanity and Freedom
On November 2, 2024, at 7:00 PM, the Meridian Arts Centre rang with music of defiance! From the streets of Hong Kong to the plains of Ukraine, and to the human rights struggles in China, this concert brings together the oppressed across the globe.
Ricker performed his piano composition "Hong Kong Rhapsody", accompanied by images of Hong Kong’s 2019 protest projected on a 36-foot screen. Performance artist Loretta Lau commemorated the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre with her dance. Pianist Chloe Sun performed protest music from Hong Kong.
Ricker Choi also performed Ukrainian patriotic song Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow. Ukrainian soprano Antonina Ermolenko, accompanied by Ukrainian pianist Oksana Hahn, sang Ukrainian melodies of hope.
Digital Concert Program:
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 音樂會內容
Hong Kong 香港:
Melodies on freedom arranged for solo piano:
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願榮光歸香港 (Glory to Hong Kong)
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自游 (Be Water)
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假使世界原來不像你預期 (What If the World)
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獅⼦⼭下 (Beneath the Lion Rock)
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海闊天空 (Boundless Oceans, Vast Skies)
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撐起⾬傘 (Raise the Umbrella)
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發現號 (The Discovery)
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漫⻑ (The Long Road)
Ukraine:
Melody by Skoryk
Oh, the Red Viburnum in the Meadow - a solo piano epic poem arrangement depicting the yearning for the distant homeland, the defiance against the invaders, and the final victory for Ukrainians.
Ukrainian Songs performed by Antonina Ermolenko and Oksana Hahn:
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Рідна мати моя (My dear mother)
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Ой де ти підеш (Oh where will you go)
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Чорнії брови (Beautiful Brown Eyes)
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Дивлюсь я на небо (I look at the sky)
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Прилинь, прилинь (Embrace, oh embrace me) - Oksana’s aria from the opera Zaporozhets beyond the Danube
China 中國:
The People United Will Never Be Defeated excerpts
Joining me on stage is Loretta Lau, performance artist and activist. This will be a multi-media performance of piano, visual arts, and dance to pay tribute to freedom fighters of Tiananmen Square Massacre and White Paper Revolution. 用鋼琴、舞蹈表演、視覺藝術，致敬天安門大屠殺和白紙革命烈士們。
Iran: Ba’de Ma (After Us)
Mazurkas by Chopin
Vocalise by Rachmainnoff
70% of net proceeds will be donated to Bonham Tree Aid and the remaining 30% to Amnesty International Canada.
70％的淨收益將捐贈給細葉榕人道支援基金，該組織協助香港的政治犯及其家人；剩餘的30％將捐贈給捍衛世界人權的國際特赦組織。
DIAMOND SPONSOR
PLATINUM SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSORS
Ms Thérèse Amy NG
Sophia Ran 416-823-3993
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SILVER SPONSORS
Mr Lawrence Wong
PROMOTIONAL PARTNERS
VIDEOGRAPHY | PHOTOGRAPHY
MEDIA
Ludwig-Van: Pianist Ricker Choi Talks About His Artivism & Upcoming Concert
OMNI TV: 專訪:華裔鋼琴藝術11月初舉辦以自由和平為主題的音樂會
CBC/Radio-Canada: 鋼琴家蔡維紀 11月2日晚舉辦音樂會《The People United》
星島A1中文電台: 跨越疆界的抗爭 - Ricker Choi攜手藝術家們奏響自由之聲 || 時事焦點
The Maple Couple: 多倫多好去處：11月2日舉辦跨社區聯合音樂會！多位演奏家親奏 紀念民主運動進程
堅離小地球: 五年來一直以藝術支援香港的藝術家：Mr. Ricker Choi | 多倫多十一月二日設演奏會為細葉榕、國際特赦組織籌款
LateDate HK Prod: 【人民聯合】第二節 來自全球各地 受壓者的聲音《離地縱橫 2024.10.17》
LateDate HK Prod: 【藝術叛變】第三節 藝術也是政治 強權恐怖故事《離地縱橫 2024.10.17》
珍言真語: 拒絕遺忘！中大理大事件5年，加拿大鋼琴家聯合多國藝術家，11.2多倫多辦《香港狂想曲》音樂會繼續發聲
看中國: 鋼琴家蔡維紀Ricker Choi直播：全力對抗中共 喚醒港人記憶 鋼琴家的使命
大紀元 (epochtimes.com): 蔡維紀將於11月初舉辦跨社區音樂會 | 反送中 | 人權 | 自由
RFA: 港人藝術家多倫多辦音樂會演奏《香港狂想曲》 冀傳承港人抗爭記憶
廣傳媒 Media Analytica: 蔡維紀Ricker以音樂舞蹈畫作 表達國際受壓迫者聲音
珍言真語 梁珍: 加拿大鋼琴家聯合多國藝術家，11.2多倫多辦《香港狂想曲》音樂會繼續發聲
香港台 X Ricker Choi : The People United concert NOV 2
Freedom Rhapsody
November 5, 2022 - 7.00 pm Flato Markham Theatre
Classical pianist Ricker Choi brings you Freedom Rhapsody piano concert featuring composers who use music to express pride and nationalism towards their birth places. Examples of works to be performed in the concert include Chopin’s mazurka and polonaise; Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody, and more. Pianist-composer Ricker Choi will also perform his Hong Kong Rhapsody (香港狂想曲) to express his emotions towards Hong Kong’s fight for freedom. Film stills from documentary 因為愛所以革命 Love in the Time of Revolution will be projected on screen. Protest art created by Ricker will also be exhibited at the lobby of the venue. Organisation Somebody.HK will also assist guests to write letters to inmates in Hong Kong.
Freedom Rhapsody 2022
Freedom Rhapsody 2022
Freedom Rhapsody 2022 - Event Highlights
香港狂想曲 - 2022 演奏版 - Hong Kong Rhapsody 2022 Concert Performance
多倫多抗爭藝術家首辦香港音樂會 效法古典樂家樂韻抗爭
古往今來，不少古典音樂家以樂韻發聲，以旋律抗爭。就生於波蘭的蕭邦為例（1810-1849），當波蘭於1815年被俄羅斯統治後，蕭邦拒絕申請俄國護照，自此從未踏足家鄉。其後，他寫作了多首《瑪祖卡》和《波蘭舞曲》的著名波蘭鄉土舞曲，以及《革命練習曲》等，充滿政治意味和思鄉之情。波蘭後來被德國納粹黨統治，而蕭邦的音樂更於波蘭被禁。
由Ricker Choi創作的鋼琴變奏三部曲《香港狂想曲》及香港抗爭畫作分別被中共標籤為「獨歌」和「獨畫」，其中黨媒《文匯報》更點名指控他觸犯「國安法」，令Ricker以後不能回到他的出生地香港。
本次演奏會希望透過古典音樂，探討香港被中共獨裁政權統治的議題，使更多加拿大人了解及關心香港的苦況。
* Financial statement and donation proof will be made public after the concert
DIAMOND SPONSORS:
PLATINUM SPONSORS:
GOLD SPONSORS:
SILVER SPONSORS:
Thérèse Amy Ng
PROGRAM (subject to change):
Ricker Choi
Hong Kong Rhapsody (香港狂想曲)
Beyond
Boundless Sea, Vast Sky (海闊天空)
Performed by Chloe Sun
Rachmaninoff
Prelude Op. 23 No. 5 in G Minor
Prelude Op. 23 no 4 in D Major
Chopin
Mazurka Op. 63 No. 2
Etude Op. 10 No. 12 in C minor ("Revolutionary")
Nocturne No. 20 in C# Minor, opus Posthumous
Polonaise Op. 53 ("Heroic")
Dohnanyi
Rhapsody in G Minor, Op 11 No. 1
Rhapsody in C major, Op.11 No. 3
Liszt
Liebestraum No. 3
Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2
P a s t
03-30-2018 - 8.00 pm - Kindred Spirits Orchestra
Flato Markham Theatre for the Performing Arts
- Liszt, Totentanz, S. 126 (with Ricker Choi)
- Liszt, Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 2, S. 125 (with Ricker Choi)
Dec 3, 2016 - 7.30 pm - OCMS Philharmonic
Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto: 5183, Sheppard Avenue East, Scarborough
Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 (Soloist Ricker Choi)
Jan 30, 2016 - 7:00 pm
Isabel Bader Theatre
UTChinese 2016 New Year Concert
Fund raising for UTChinese Elementary School Fund
Rachmaninoff, Liszt, Gershwin
Oct 17, 2014 - 8:00 pm
Burlington Performing Arts Centre
Fund Raising concert for Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation
April 13, 2013 - 7:30 pm
Glenn Gould Studio
Fund Raising concert for SickKids Foundation
Guest Pianist: Anson Hui
Oct 26th, 2012 - 7:30pm
St. Gabriel's Passionist Parish
Liszt: Totentanz (Ricker Choi pianist), with Sneak Peak Orchestra
June 23, 2012 - 7:30 pm
Glenn Gould Studio
Fund Raising concert for United Way
Program includes piano works by Liszt, Grunfeld, Strauss, Bartok, Tchaikovsky
Feb 4, 2012 - 7:00 pm
Isabel Bader Theatre
UTChinese 2012 New Year Concert
Fund raising for UTChinese Elementary School Fund
Brahms Op 118 and Ravel La Valse
Nov 22, 2011 - 12:00 pm
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
COC Free Concert Series
Ricker's solo piano recital
Nov 18, 2011 - 1:20 pm
20 min interview with 96.3 FM (classical radio station) - to watch
Oct 30, 2011 - 2:00 pm
Glenn Gould Studio
Off Centre Music Salon
Scriabin's Sonata No. 5
Aug 21, 2011 - 2:00 pm
Victoria College Chapel
Music Beyond - Fund Raising for Oxfam Canada
Ricker Choi with Leonard Gilbert
Feb 6, 2011 - 2:00 pm
Glenn Gould Studio
Off Centre Music Salon
Ravels La Valse (solo piano arrangement)
Feb 4, 2011 - 8:00 pm
Isabel Bader Theatre
UTChinese 2011 New Year Concert
Liszt Mephisto Waltz and Schumann Symphonic Etudes Op. 13
Sept 11, 2010 - 7:30 pm
Euromusic Recital Hall
Oxfam Canada Fund Raising Concert
Liszt Sonata in B Minor
Aug 13, 2010 - 7:30 pm
Walter Hall
TSMAF`s Emerging Artists in Concert
Scriabins Sonata No. 5
Apr 11, 2010 - 2:00 pm
Glenn Gould Studio
Off Centre Music Salon
Mendelssohns Variations Serieuses Op. 54
Feb 7, 2010 - 4:00 pm
Recital Hall at Euromusic
to aid Haiti victims in support of Oxfam Canada
Liszts Totentanz, Chopins Ballade #4, Cello Etude,
Nocturne Op 55 No 2, and Ravels La Valse
Nov 20, 2009 - 8:00 pm
Walter Hall
Recital Benefiting Oxfam Canada
Chopin: 4th Ballade, Ravel: La Valse, Mendelssohn: Variations Serieuses Op 54, Ginastera: Danza Argentinas
vocal works (soprano Barbara Fris) - Strauss: 4 Last Songs, Wagner: Wesendonck Lieder
July 2009 - 7:30 pm
Walter Hall
TSMAF`s Emerging Artists in Concert
Ravels La Valse
July 10, 2009 - 7:00 pm
U of T, Hart Houses Music Room (2nd floor)
Fundraising for Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation
Chopin - Ballade #4, Mendelssohn - Variation Serieuses, Ravels - La Valse
May 13, 2009 - 1:00 pm
Halton Hills-The Gallery - 9 Church St., Georgetown, Ontario
Chopin: Ballade #4, Ravel: La Valse, Liszt: Mephisto Waltz #1;
Strauss: Four Last Songs (Soprano Barbara Fris)
Feb 7, 2009 - 7:00 pm
J. J. R. MacLeod Auditorium (MS 2158), Medical Sciences Building, University of Toronto
UTChinese 2009 New Year Concert
Charity fund raising for Love Through Education Foundation
(organized by UofT Chinese Magazine)
Nov 9, 2008 - 2:00 pm - Hermitage Day Celebration
Womens Art Association - 23 Prince Arthur Ave
(organized by Canadian Friends of the Hermitage)
The Hermitage Foundation raises money for the restoration of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia.
This concert features all Russian vocal and piano classical music.
Oct 18, 2008 - 7:00 pm
Charity Concert: Jazz and Classical!
Fund raising in support of Oxfam Canada - China Earthquake Relief Funds
(organized by Music Heals!)
July, 2008 - 7:30 pm
Walter Hall
TSMAF`s Emerging Artists in Concert
Liszt: Mephisto Waltz
Feb 3, 2008 - 6:00 pm
fund raising for Love Through Education Foundation
(organized by UTChinese Magazine)
Nov 13, 2007 - 7:30 pm
Willowdale United Church
fund raising for Oxfam Canada
Jan 27, 2007 - 7:30 pm
Willowdale United Church
fund raising for Willowdale United Church
Dec 9, 2006 - 7:30 pm
Willowdale United Church
fund raising for World Vision Canada
May 27, 2006 - 7:30 pm
Willowdale United Church
fund raising for SickKids Foundation