HK Phil 40th Anniversary Heritage Concert (Jan 10 & 11)

Download HERE
 

[6 January 2014, Hong Kong] Nearly 40 years to the day after our first concert as a professional orchestra, the Hong Kong Philharmonic (HK Phil) celebrates its anniversary in our original home, the Hong Kong City Hall. In this “HK Phil 40th Heritage Concert”, former Music Director David Atherton and pianist Chen Sa join the orchestra for a special birthday celebration.
 
Conductor David Atherton and the HK Phil begin the celebration with Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, which was written for Goethe’s heroic play on a 16th century Dutch nobleman – the Count of Egmont. It is then followed by Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No.3, a work dedicated to an acclaimed pianist of the time, Prince Louis Ferdinand of Prussia. This concert features the Chinese pianist Chen Sa. Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.5 marks a triumphant end to this celebration.

David Atherton was Music Director of the HK Phil from 1989 to 2000. Recipient of the OBE, he is the youngest conductor in the history of the BBC Proms and has subsequently appeared in 30 contiguous seasons. His recordings were awarded the Edison Award, many Grammy Award nominations, the Grand Prix du Disque and the coveted International Record Critics’ Award.

Described by Classic FM   as “one of the brightest performers of her generation”, pianist Chen Sa has worked with many celebrated conductors including Edo de Waart, Sir Simon Rattle and Leonard Slatkin. Chen Sa’s Chopin album was released worldwide in 2008, winning The Best CD Award by Classic FM.


The opening performance is sponsored by TIFFANY & CO.


“HK Phil at 40 Heritage Concert” will be held on 10 & 11 January 2014 (Fri & Sat), 8PMin the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall. Tickets priced: $480, $320, $220, $160, are now available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call 2721 2332 or visit www.hkphil.org.

Artists

David Atherton, conductor [full biography]

From 1989, David Atherton was Music Director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic. On his retirement from this position in 2000 and in recognition of his services to the music of Hong Kong, he was awarded the OBE. Back in 1967, Sir Georg Solti invited him to join the music staff of the Royal Opera House and the following year, at age 24, David Atherton became the youngest conductor ever to appear there. In his 12 years as Resident Conductor he gave nearly 200 performances with Covent Garden. He also became the youngest conductor in the history of the BBC’s Proms and subsequently appeared in thirty contiguous seasons. From 1980 to 1987 he was Music Director of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra

Chen Sa, pianist [full biography]

Described by Classic FM   as “one of the brightest performers of her generation”, pianist Chen Sa has worked with many celebrated conductors including Edo de Waart, Sir Simon Rattle and Leonard Slatkin. Chen Sa’s Chopin album was released worldwide in 2008, winning The Best CD Award by Classic FM. Chen Sa won fourth prize in the Leeds International Piano Competition in 1996, fourth place at the 14th International Chopin Piano Competition in 2000, in addition to the Best Polonaise Performance. In 2005, she won a prize at the 12th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. She became the only pianist in history to win awards at all of these three prestigous piano competitions.

HK Phil 40th Heritage Concert
10 & 11 | 1 | 2014
FRI & SAT 8PM
HK City Hall Concert Hall
HK$480 $320 $220 $160
Available at URBTIX now

Opening performance sponsored by: TIFFANY & CO.
 

Click the thumbnail to download photos
David Atherton, photo credit: HK Phil / Cheung Chi-wai Chen Sa, photo credit: Hong Wei HK Phil, photo credit: HK Phil / Cheung Chi-wai

Ticketing Information
Credit Card Booking
(852) 2111 5999
Online Booking
www.urbtix.hk

For programme enquiry, please call HK Phil at
(852) 2721 2332
Or go on our website:
www.hkphil.org

Hong Kong Philharmonic
Music Director: Jaap van Zweden

As the city’s largest and busiest musical organisation, the Hong Kong Philharmonic is a vital part of Hong Kong’s cultural life. In 2013/14 the HK Phil celebrates its 40th professional season, but its roots stretch back well over a century. The HK Phil has now evolved into an orchestral powerhouse of the region, and an acclaimed cultural centrepiece of Asia’s World City.

The HK Phil is formed on the belief that a great city deserves a great orchestra. Annually it presents over 150 concerts for 200,000 music lovers. Featuring an enviable roster of international and local artists, with many concerts presented free, among them the annual Swire Symphony Under The Stars. Through its acclaimed education programme, over 40,000 young people learned about orchestral music last year.

The HK Phil’s members come from every corner of the globe, joining its strong core of Hong Kong musicians. In September 2012, Jaap van Zweden became the orchestra’s Music Director. Future years will see an ambitious series of new projects, with major international tours, renewed local partnerships, and large-scale concert events. The HK Phil has recently commenced a multi-CD recording project for Naxos, featuring works by Chinese composers.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic is financially supported by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
SWIRE is the Principal Patron of the Hong Kong Philharmonic
The Hong Kong Philharmonic is a Venue Partner of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre

# # #