Classical music – in particular, opera – is often perceived as an elitist, old-fashioned art form. Hong Kong’s Anima Ensemble is challenging this perception with The Diary.

The original concept marries Dominick Argento’s one-act opera A Water Bird Talk and Leos Janacek’s song cycle The Diary of One Who Disappeared with contemporary dance, theatre and media art.

Making opera an accessible experience is no easy task, but The Diary conductor and co-artistic director Vivian Ip Wing-wun believes that it can be achieved through innovation and the generation of new ideas.

“Instead of everyone just sitting and playing on stage, we want to engage the musicians and connect with the audience in different layers and meanings,” she says.

“We won’t be all in the pit, dressed in black. Our musicians are also actors and part of the drama.”

In 2023, Ip co-founded Anima Ensemble with veteran concertmaster Nina Wong Sin-i. Their goal is to present “unconventional contemporary chamber operas, musicals and chamber music”.