[The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.]<\/strong><\/p>\n This September, Hong Kong will play host to an unprecedented theatrical masterpiece, one of Europe\u2019s most celebrated live spectaculars as CAVALLUNA \u2013 Gate to the Otherworld makes its Asian premiere at Kai Tak Arena at Kai Tak Sports Park. Featuring 54 horses, an international cast of riders and dancers, cinematic staging and a sweeping fantasy narrative, the production arrives for eight performances on 8 and 10-13 September.<\/p>\n The Hong Kong Jockey Club is the Exclusive Presenting Partner and Cultural Host of CAVALLUNA \u2014 a signature highlight of its Year of the Horse campaign, which aims to honour the profound partnership between human and horse and to unite the community through thrilling races, international equestrian spectacles, and a special series of cultural, sporting, and family events.<\/p>\n Described as Europe\u2019s most popular live equestrian theatre, CAVALLUNA has already captivated more than nine million spectators over 25 years, with 33 tour stops on its most recent production alone. But according to Johannes Mock-O\u2019Hara, Managing Director of Apassionata World GmbH, the company behind the production, the show defies easy categorisation.<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cCAVALLUNA uniquely combines powerful emotions, spectacular equestrian artistry and cinematic storytelling,\u201d says Mock-O\u2019Hara. \u201cWe are neither a conventional horse show nor a traditional circus. Our focus is not on individual tricks or disciplines, but on an entire imaginative world in which horses, music, dance, lighting and storytelling merge to create a powerful, all-encompassing adventure.\u201d<\/p>\n At the heart of that theatrical adventure are the horses themselves. \u201cThe horses are not merely seen as performers but as friends and team members,\u201d he adds. \u201cIt is this emotional connection between humans and horses that makes CAVALLUNA so special.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Masterminded by Emmy-nominated visionary Klaus Hillebrecht\u2014who serves as the show’s Director, Composer, and Author, \u00a0the current touring production, Gate to the Otherworld, blends high-level horsemanship with \u00a0heartwarming storytelling. The narrative follows the remarkable journey of Meerin, a young sorceress whose rare talent becomes both her greatest gift and her greatest burden.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cDrawn into a struggle against dark magic, she must navigate a world ruled by powerful enemies while confronting the fears that stand between her and her destiny, \u201d Mock-O\u2019Hara explains.<\/p>\n At its core, the story asks a universal question: \u201cWhen faced with uncertainty, can we find the strength to believe in ourselves?\u201d It is this emotional through-line that transforms CAVALLUNA from a display of technical skill into an immersive theatrical experience.<\/p>\n Unlike conventional equestrian events, where performances are segmented into individual disciplines, CAVALLUNA integrates every artistic element from the outset.<\/p>\n \u201cRight from the early stages of the show\u2019s development, our creative director, choreographers, producer and horse trainers work closely together,\u201d says Mock-O\u2019Hara. \u201cThe equestrian artistry is therefore not created in isolation from the rest of the production, but forms part of the overall narrative from the very beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n Music, dance, acrobatics and visual effects are interwoven with dressage, liberty work and trick riding.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n \u201cOur aim is for the audience not to distinguish between dance, theatre and equestrian art, but to be completely immersed in the world of the story at all times,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Among the highlights is the legendary Hungarian Post, in which a rider stands astride two galloping horses while guiding several more in synchronised formation – a breathtaking demonstration of balance, trust and precision. Liberty performances, where horses move freely without reins or tack, showcase subtle communication between horse and rider through body language alone.<\/p>\n The production\u2019s 54 horses represent a remarkable diversity of European breeds, each contributing its own character and visual identity to the stage.<\/p>\n \u201cOur 54 horses come from various European countries and represent different breeds, each with their own unique \u00a0strengths,\u201d Mock-O\u2019Hara explains. \u201cAmong them are majestic Friesians with long, wavy manes and jet-black fur, elegant Lusitanos from Portugal, fiery Andalusians from Spain, spirited Arabians and miniature ponies that bring charming and humorous moments to the show.\u201d<\/p>\n This variety, he says, enriches the storytelling while offering audiences a broader appreciation of the equestrian world.<\/p><\/div>\n Transporting 54 horses from Europe to Hong Kong will be a logistical feat, but Mock-O\u2019Hara emphasises that welfare remains paramount.<\/p>\n \u201cAnimal welfare is a central part of our philosophy,\u201d he says. \u201cOur horses are never overworked and follow a schedule with clearly defined rest periods, veterinary care and individually tailored training plans. Each rider takes care of their own horse and knows what the animal needs.\u201d<\/p>\n For the journey to Hong Kong, the company works with Cathay Cargo, the Official Equine Transport Partner. Utilizing their Boeing 747-800F freighters and specialist Cathay Live Animal solution, the horses will travel under the care of experienced international transport specialists and veterinary teams.<\/p>\n \u201cOur horses are very experienced travellers and do not get nervous easily \u2013 after all, they don\u2019t know that they are in an airplane; in fact, air travel usually provides calmer conditions than travel on the road,\u201d he explains.\u00a0<\/p>\n Having toured extensively across Europe, why bring CAVALLUNA to Asia now?<\/p>\n Mock-O\u2019Hara explains that Europe\u2019s rich equestrian tradition spans centuries, and Hong Kong\u2019s audience have shown incredible appreciation for world-class theatrical entertainment.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cCAVALLUNA delivers this standard of European excellence through masterful artistry and magnificent \u00a0cinematic spectacle,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n Importantly, the show is designed to be accessible even for those unfamiliar with equestrian arts such as liberty dressage or Doma Vaquera.<\/p><\/div>\n Beyond spectacle, CAVALLUNA also aims to foster a deeper understanding of horses and equestrian culture.<\/p>\n \u201cThrough its stunning equestrian performances, the show highlights the intelligence, beauty and sensitivity of horses,\u201d says Mock-O\u2019Hara. \u201cIt offers an opportunity to learn about the trust, communication, and dedication involved in training them.\u201d<\/p>\n Ultimately, he hopes Hong Kong audiences leave with more than memories of dazzling visuals.<\/p>\n \u201cBeyond enjoying the breathtaking horsemanship, music and visual effects, they can connect with the story\u2019s themes of courage, friendship, self-belief, and perseverance,\u201d he says.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] This September, Hong Kong will play host to an unprecedented theatrical masterpiece, one…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":70737,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[4605,26952,26953,20077,636,3569,5231,6911],"class_list":["post-70736","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bored-interesting","tag-brings","tag-cavalluna","tag-equestrian","tag-europes","tag-grand","tag-hong","tag-kong","tag-theatre","wpcat-33-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70736","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=70736"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70736\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/70737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=70736"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=70736"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgbuzz.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=70736"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![](\"https:\/\/img.i-scmp.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/fit=contain,width=1024,format=auto\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/660w\/public\/d8\/images\/2026\/07\/17\/CAVALLUNA-SCMP-V2_1-660x400.jpg?itok=I-iOi1uz\"\/)
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