Hong Kong Palace Museum | HKPM Movies: Synergy à la française—Introduction to French Baroque Music and Dance, and Post-screening Conversation

To complement the special exhibition “The Forbidden City and The Palace of Versailles: China-France Cultural Encounters in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries”, the Hong Kong Palace Museum is organising a special screening programme of Synergy à la française.

The documentary Synergy à la française will introduce you to French Baroque music and dance. Over 300 years ago, the splendid French court culture was at its peak, and the Baroque style was prevalent, as evidenced by the art and culture of the time such as music, dance and architecture. Outside the court, Louis XIV promoted arts and established various art schools; inside the court, kings and princes practiced dance, which saw the emergence of baroque music.

Synergy à la française—Introduction to French Baroque Music and Dance

Filmed at the Palace of Versailles and featuring interviews with experts in Baroque music, art, and dance, this documentary takes the audience through the historical and cultural context and the performer's point of view, leading them to a deeper understanding and appreciation of French Baroque music and dance.

Production: Concerto da Camera
Director: Karen Kwok
Duration: 21 mins
Language: French, English and Cantonese, with Traditional Chinese and English subtitles.

Post-screening conversation and music demonstration

Through the sharing from the representatives of Alliance Française de Hong Kong (AFHK) and Concerto da Camera, the audience will learn more about the history of the fascinating French court arts from the 17th to 18th centuries and its significance in European culture. The audience will also learn about the features and characteristics of Baroque arts, instruments, and performances through the musical performance and sharing of Concerto da Camera.

Details

About Alliance Française de Hong Kong (AFHK)
Alliance Française de Hong Kong (AFHK) is the official and largest language institution for French in Hong Kong and in Asia with over 6,000 students annually. Enjoying the patronage of the French Consulate General in Hong Kong, AFHK organises major cultural events each year, such as the French Film Festival in November and takes part in numerous programs of Le French May (an initiative co-created by AFHK in 1993). Program of social events, film screenings and conferences are regularly offered in AFHK's Jordan Centre.

About Concerto da Camera (Hong Kong)
Since its founding in 2004, Concerto da Camera has brought unique, innovative chamber music and arts programmes to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Its programming strives to increase public interest in classical music, and to foster arts and culture. Its events have taken place in both traditional venues and new spaces, such as beautiful heritage sites, offering memorable experiences to the audience.

In October of 2019, Concerto da Camera launched the 1st Hong Kong Early Music Festival, since then, the festival has been a biennial event, aiming to promote historically informed performance in Hong Kong, to provide a unique platform for artists and researchers to collaborate and exchange ideas, and to inspire and educate the next generation of historically informed performers. The organisation also collaborates with artists of disciplines outside music.

This screening accompanies the special exhibition “The Forbidden City and The Palace of Versailles: China-France Cultural Encounters in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Centuries” on view in Gallery 9 at the Hong Kong Palace Museum from 18 December 2024 to 4 May 2025. The exhibition is jointly organised by the Hong Kong Palace Museum, the Palace Museum, and the Palace of Versailles. The exhibits mainly come from the Palace Museum and the Palace of Versailles. The Hong Kong Maritime Museum and The Chinese University of Hong Kong Library have also provided a number of loans. The exhibition is financially supported by the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund under the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government. Cathay is the Lead Sponsor, and Tigillus Foundation and Centurion from American Express are the Major Sponsors of this special exhibition.

Jointly organised by:

Project Grant:

* The content of this programme does not reflect the views of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

Lead sponsor:

Major sponsors: