A Brilliant Russian Musical Extravaganza with
Maestro Alexander Lazarev on 4 & 5 May

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[18 April 2012 – Hong Kong] Come and join the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO) for a Russian musical extravaganza featuring the 'Three Alexanders'. Conductor Alexander Lazarev, making a triumphant return to Hong Kong, will lead the HKPO in the works by his great compatriots – Alexander Glazunov, Alexander Borodin and Igor Stravinsky.

Splendour of Russia: 'Alexander Lazarev in Russian Extravaganza' will be held on 4&5 May 2012 (Fri & Sat), 8pm in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Free pre-concert talks will be held on both nights at 7:15pm, also at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

Alexander Lazarev, conductor
Studied with Leo Ginsbourg at the Moscow Conservatory, from where he graduated with first class honours, Russian conductor Alexander Lazarev won first prize in the Soviet Union's national competition for conductors in 1971, and the following year went on to win first prize and gold medal in the Karajan Competition in Berlin.

From 1987 to 1995 Lazarev was Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Bolshoi Theatre, the first person for over thirty years to hold both positions concurrently. From 1992 to 1995 he was Principal Guest Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and from 1997 to 2005 Principal Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra where his conducting of the complete cycle of Shostakovich symphonies was a high point of his tenure. In recent years he has worked as a regular guest with the Philharmonia Orchestra and the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, appearing with them in London, Paris and Vienna. Other orchestras he has conducted include the Berlin Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, Bavarian Radio Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw, Orchestre National de France, Cleveland Orchestra, and London Philharmonic.

Since 2008 Lazarev has been Principal Conductor of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra.

Alexander Lazarev is a prolific recording artist - in addition to his recordings with the Bolshoi Symphony for Erato, he has made over 35 recordings for Melodiya, and has also recorded for Virgin Classics, with the BBC Symphony Orchestra for Sony Classical, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra for Hyperion and BMG, and with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra for BIS and Linn Records.

Programme
Alexander Borodin had a busy career as a chemist, with time for writing music only during holidays or when he was sick. His friends used to wish him ill health, so that he would compose more – they were joking, of course! Borodin's second symphony is full of his trademark expansiveness and lyricism – brilliantly sculpted and quintessentially Russian.

Alexander Glazunov composed delightful ballets, and perhaps the best-known being Raymonda. Here, Raymonda is being wooed by two dashing young suitors — a charming, handsome prince and a fiery ‘bad-boy'. The question is, which will she choose? Glazunov sets the story and its many diversions with a ravishing and refined touch.

Alexander Lazarev's last performances of Shostakovich's soul-stirring Symphony No.11 in Hong Kong were remarkable, and here he will temper the Russian romance with Stravinsky's sunniest music, Dumbarton Oaks – a dance-infused showpiece for chamber orchestra.

Splendour of Russia: 3 Alexanders
4&5 | 5 | 2012
FRI & SAT 8PM
HK Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$320 $240 $180 $120
Available at URBTIX now

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Ticketing Information

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

For programme enquiry, please call HKPO at
(852) 2721 2030

HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Edo de Waart
Artistic Director and Chief Conductor

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO) is one of Asia’s leading orchestras. Enriching Hong Kong’s cultural life for over a century, the Orchestra has grown into a formidable ensemble of Chinese and international talents, attracting world-class artists to collaborate on its stage. The HKPO annually touches the lives of over 200,000 music lovers through more than 150 performances. Under the leadership of Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Edo de Waart, the HKPO has scaled new heights of musical excellence, and will continue to do so under the artistic leadership of Jaap van Zweden, the Orchestra’s Music Director from the 2012/13 season.

The HKPO stays in tune with our city by presenting the Orchestra in unexpected venues and bringing the excitement of the concert experience to every home through radio and television broadcasts including the largest symphonic event of the year, Swire Symphony under the Stars, at Happy Valley. The Orchestra runs a comprehensive schools education programme, HSBC Insurance Creative Notes, bringing the joy of classical music to primary, secondary and special school kids. The Orchestra also collaborates regularly with other performing arts organisations such as Opera Hong Kong in addition to its crossover series with Western and Chinese pop artists.

The Orchestra also builds its reputation and raises its artistic standards by touring. In September 2010, de Waart and the HKPO returned to China, performing at the Expo 2010 Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing to critical acclaim.

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

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