5 art exhibitions and music events in Hong Kong this weekend, August 17-18

From a Leslie Cheung musical to a food-themed art exhibition starring young Asian artists, check out our arts and culture picks this weekend

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Leslie Cheung performs at a concert at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in March 2000. A musical featuring 20 of the late Cantopop star’s hits is among our picks of the arts and culture events happening in Hong Kong this weekend. Photo: SCMP

Published: 11:15am, 15 Aug 2024

As well as music shows catering to tastes including Cantopop, opera and Japanese-American vintage rock, new exhibitions featuring artists rarely seen in Hong Kong are also on this weekend’s arts and culture line-up. Find out more below.

1. Opera Hong Kong: The Abduction from the Seraglio

Opera Hong Kong will present a semi-staged version of Mozart’s comic opera this weekend.

The story follows the Spanish nobleman Belmonte who, with the help of his servant Pedrillo, journeys to the seraglio (palace) of Bassa Selim, a high-ranking official, in Turkey to rescue his beloved Konstanze and her maid Blonde, who were kidnapped by pirates.

Conducted by the German maestro Michael Koehler and directed by Tang Xinxin, the production features a cast led by some of Hong Kong’s top operatic soloists.

“Opera Hong Kong – The Abduction from the Seraglio”, Hong Kong City Hall, Concert Hall, 5 Edinburgh Place, Central, Aug 17-18, 7.30pm. Tickets available through Urbtix.

2. Café I Do – The Leslie Cheung Musical

There are still a few tickets left for this Leslie Cheung bingefest.

Presented by MQ Musical Theatre, Café I Do is set in a failed Hong Kong bing sutt (a traditional Hong Kong-style cafe) owned by brothers Louie and Paul.