In a unique exploration of performance and perception, Hong Kong singer Ramon Lo successfully concluded his four-show concert series, Mini Concert in the Dark: The Little Prince’s Starry Journey x Ramon Lo, held in collaboration with the Dialogue in the Dark (Hong Kong) Foundation. The sold-out run, which placed both performer and audience in complete darkness, challenged conventional performance dynamics and offered poignant reflections on focus and empathy.
The innovative series garnered enthusiastic attendance, drawing support from several of Lo’s colleagues from the popular reality singing competition Midlife, Sing!, including figures such as Yellow Pho, Li Jia, Nelson Yim, Deno Ting, Willy Lau, and Angel Lam.
Navigating Performance in Absolute Darkness
Despite the overwhelmingly positive reception, Lo, known for his self-critical approach, assigned himself a composite score of 70 percent for the shows. He provided a detailed breakdown of his assessment.
“Purely on singing, I would rate myself at 85 percent,” Lo explained, acknowledging a few near-moments of forgetting lyrics that were swiftly overcome. “However, my delivery and speaking segments still have significant room for improvement, especially when performing in pitch black. My train of thought felt slightly disorganized, bringing the overall mark down to 70 percent. My aim is continuous improvement.”
This marked Lo’s inaugural participation in a “Concert in the Dark,” a format where vision is completely removed. He described the experience of performing in an environment where one literally “cannot see one’s hand in front of one’s face.”
“I kept my eyes closed for virtually the entire performance,” he shared. “It generated a profound sense of tranquility, yet also a measure of anxiety. It demanded intense concentration.”
The Challenge of Complex Repertoire
One of Lo’s primary anxieties before the event was lyric recall, yet he intentionally selected a demanding and unfamiliar setlist. He chose tunes he had never performed publicly before, including “The You in the Dream,” “Totally Because of You,” and “City Moonlight.” Furthermore, he tackled the notoriously dense Mandarin track, “Secret Code in the Painting,” which he recently released.
“There is no excuse for forgetting the lyrics to ‘Secret Code in the Painting’ since it is my own song,” Lo emphasized. “I wanted to seize this opportunity to sing it live. Its gentle, soothing quality, coupled with a rare piano arrangement for this performance, felt perfectly suited to the atmosphere of the venue.”
Meaningful Collaborations with Visually Impaired Artists
A highlight of the concert was Lo’s collaboration with two visually impaired Dialogue in the Dark staff members, William and Sharon, with whom he performed the challenging duets “Years Like a Song” and “Shooting Star of Flowers and Piano.”
Lo described the experience as deeply meaningful. “I selected two songs that are quite difficult,” he noted. “In normal performance, singers rely on eye contact to maintain synchronization and pinpoint timing. Yet, in complete darkness, William and Sharon were not only incredibly precise but also sang beautifully, all while perfectly recalling their lyrics. I deeply admire both of them.”
The concert also subtly shifted traditional power dynamics. While in everyday life, sighted individuals often guide the visually impaired, in this setting, visually impaired staff members took responsibility for safely guiding the audience, creating a powerful reversal for reflection.
A Message of Reflection and Gratitude
Reflecting on the deeper message of the performances, Lo touched upon the pervasive societal pressures of comparison, a theme enhanced by the setting that stripped away superficial visual cues.
“I sometimes find myself feeling envious when I see others on social media—how stylishly they dress, the perfect physique they maintain, or the frequency of their travels and large friend circles,” Lo admitted. “Fortunately, I maintain a healthy psychological balance. I choose to value everything I possess and concentrate on excelling in every task, diligently moving toward my professional aspirations.”
The success of the concert series underscores the power of performance art to foster empathy and provide audiences with a rare, valuable opportunity to experience the world through a radically different lens.
