‘The show must go on’ – Steven Chan, ‘Mr Fixit’ of Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra for 40 years … and counting
As city’s top orchestra turns 45, long-serving stage manager recalls memorable times – and challenges when air conditioners failed with only minutes to go
None of us enjoys the long wait to pick up our bags at the airport, but Steven Chan – whose job involves having to collect up to 80 cases each time – has things worse than most of us.
Chan, the stage manager for the past 40 years of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) – the city’s leading orchestra – is responsible for dealing with the logistical problems of transporting the musicians’ assorted instruments whenever it is on tour.
We never used to perform on a big stage and there were limitations as to the range of music we could play. But as time has gone by, we have been playing an increasingly sophisticated repertoire
It is always a taxing, time-consuming process for him.
He has to wait for customs officials to go through the bundle of official documents and inspect the assorted flight cases used for storing all the various instruments – from more manageable violins and violas, trumpets and trombones to heftier pieces such as cellos, double basses, tubas and even a harp – as well as answering the occasional question or two.
“Do you want to know what instruments we brought on our Asia tour last year?” he says with a look of pride at having successfully navigated his way through the various obstacles that were placed before him.
That trip – organised to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and backed by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices saw the orchestra, which celebrates its 45th birthday this year, perform in Seoul, Osaka, Melbourne and Sydney, as well as Hong Kong.
