The 49th Hong Kong Arts Festival will open on Feb 27 and will run until March 26 in Hong Kong, said the festival's organizer on Jan 14.

Featuring a combination of online and in-venue programs, the festival will see such highlights as the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra bringing a spectrum of music works during the opening ceremony, the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong Jokey Club Contemporary Dance series, and a celebration of dance by the Igor Moiseyv Ballet, Moscow's legendary dance company, which will close the festival.

In its 49th edition, the Hong Kong Arts Festival will continue to present outstanding performances for Hong Kong, said Victor Cha, chairman of the HKAF.  "Local  talents,  rising  stars  and  world-class international  artists  will  come  together  to  provide  an  array  of  performances. The festival includes time-honored classics, world premieres and specially commissioned works. We are most grateful to our artists  for  their  resourcefulness  and  understanding  in  helping  us  to  adapt  to  exceptional circumstances this year."

Chinese pianist Niuniu, also known as Zhang Shengliang, will perform an all-Chopin program and Beethoven's monumental Fifth Symphony as arranged by Liszt with two concerts.

Cantonese opera, Noah's Ark, which tells the Biblical story with a modern twist, will be revived and produced by Hong Kong Arts Festival.

An exclusive screening of choreographer Matthew Bourne's double Olivier Award-winning stage production The Red Shoes will be brought to audiences for the first time in Hong Kong along with other three signature pieces by this acclaimed choreographer.

According to Tisa  Ho,  executive  director  of  the  festival,  the  festival's  tagline  this  year is "Separate Together", which "acknowledges what we have all been going through in this period of isolation".

"When  it  all  comes  together  in  a  great  performance,  the  art  can  bring  us  all  together,  to  be  moved,  excited  and  uplifted,  all  in  the  same  moment,  across  time  and  space,  and cultures, highlighting our shared humanity. I hope very much that we will experience this together in the coming festival, whether in person or virtually," said Ho.