Cathay Proudly Sponsors: Joe Hisaishi in Concert
Ticket Ballot and Real-name Ticketing System

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: 
Dennis Wu
Director of Marketing 
Tel: (852) 2721 9035
Email: dennis.wu@hkphil.org 

Emily Hui
Media Relations and Communications Manager
Tel: (852) 2721 1585
Email: emily.hui@hkphil.org

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[8 May 2023, Hong Kong] Joe Hisaishi returns!World-renowned Japanese composer-conductor Joe Hisaishi will perform with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall from 22 to 24 June 2023. To ensure an equitable ticket purchasing process and prevent unofficial reselling of tickets, tickets for all three performances of “Cathay Proudly Sponsors: Joe Hisaishi in Concert” will be sold through a ticket ballot and real-name ticketing system. 80% of the tickets will be made available for public purchase and the remaining tickets will be allocated to the HK Phil’s sponsors and partners.

The concert will feature three orchestral pieces composed by Maestro Hisaishi. One of the highlights of the concert will be Symphony no. 2, a mesmerising piece that will bring the audience on a journey of self-discovery. Woman is another enchanting masterpiece that the Maestro created for strings, harp, percussion and piano. The concert finale will be the music of one of the most beloved films of Miyazaki Hayao, the Princess Mononoke Symphonic Suite (complete version). In this piece, Hisaishi invites us to embark on an exploration of the beauty of nature, the human spirit and the power of love. Hong Kong soprano Louise Kwong, who has been actively performing on local and international stages, will be featured as the soloist. All programmes are Hong Kong premiere.

The HK Phil would like to extend its appreciation to the patrons of “Asia Miles Proudly Sponsors: Joe Hisaishi in Concert,” originally scheduled on 4 to 6 December 2020. Unfortunately, the concert was rescheduled to 17 to 20 June 2021, but it was subsequently cancelled due to the pandemic. To make it up to the patrons, the HK Phil will offer those who purchased tickets for the afore-mentioned concert to purchase tickets for the performances of “Cathay Proudly Sponsors: Joe Hisaishi in Concert” during the priority booking day, on 18 May 2023. The patrons will receive an email containing a link to purchase a maximum of two tickets. The English full name of all concertgoers must be provided for printing on the tickets and verification purposes.

With tremendous support from URBTIX and the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the concert tickets for public sale will be sold through a ticket ballot and real-name ticketing system, and they will be allocated according to the sequence of the ballot result. Successful applicants in the ticket ballot will need to purchase their tickets during a stipulated period on the URBTIX website. In the same way as with the priority booking, all tickets sold in public sale will be printed with the full English name of the concertgoers, and they will be verified by their photo ID at concert admission. No tickets can be transferred.

A very limited number of fundraising packages are now available to support the HK Phil's long-term development; enabling us to continue presenting top-class performances to local audiences as Hong Kong's cultural ambassador. For more details, please refer to the page of Joe Hisaishi Fundraising Packages.

“Cathay Proudly Sponsors: Joe Hisaishi in Concert” will be held from 22 to 24 June (Thu to Sat) at 8PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets priced at HK$1,980, $1,480 and $680 will be sold via ticket ballot and real-name ticketing system. Online registration for the ballot will be accepted from 22 May 10:00AM to 24 May 2023 8:00PM.

For programme enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org. Any problem during the ticket ballot registration period, please email urbtix@maoyan.com.hk or call URBTIX’s Ticketing Enquiries and Customer Service hotline at +852 3166 1100 for assistance.

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The Ticketing Procedure

Priority Booking
The HK Phil will offer the patrons who purchased tickets for the “Asia Miles Proudly Sponsors: Joe Hisaishi in Concert” in 2020 the possibility to buy tickets for the performances of “Cathay Proudly Sponsors: Joe Hisaishi in Concert”. The patrons will receive an email containing a unique link to purchase a maximum of two tickets on 18 May 2023. The English full name of all concertgoers must be provided for printing on the tickets and verification purposes. No tickets can be transferred. In addition to the ticket price, patrons must pay a non-refundable service charge of HK$9 per ticket and a delivery fee of HK$35 for local delivery via SF Express.

Ticket Ballot Registration and Result Announcement
Members of the public can register for the ticket ballot on the URBTIX balloting website (this can be accessed through the HK Phil and the URBTIX websites) from 22 May 2023 10:00AM to 24 May 2023 8:00PM. Each applicant can register for the ballot to apply to purchase a maximum of two tickets. Information including the English full name of the applicant, the first 6 and last 4 digits of a credit card number, the contact number and email address of the applicant must be provided at the time of registration. The applicant must be one of the concertgoers and any changes to the name will not be permitted after the registration period. After submitting the application, each applicant will receive an acknowledgement email with the reference number of their application.

Each person will be allowed to register for just one ballot, and the system will only process the latest registered record if there is any duplication. All registrations made during the online registration period have an equal chance of being selected. No fee will be charged during the registration period.

The ballot result quoting the registration reference number will be announced on the URBTIX balloting website on 29 May 2023 from 10:00AM onwards. Successful applicants will also be notified via email. Unsuccessful applicants will be automatically allocated to the waiting list according to the ballot sequence.

Ticket Purchase
Successful applicants are eligible to purchase tickets on the URBTIX website with their registered credit card on 1 June 2023 from 10:00AM to 6:00PM. Those who would like to purchase two tickets must also provide the English full name of the fellow concertgoer which will be printed on the ticket(s). In addition to the ticket price, successful applicants must pay a non-refundable service charge of HK$9 per ticket. Successful applicants who fail to purchase tickets on the URBTIX website within the stipulated period will be considered as having forfeited their right of ticket purchase without further notice. Any remaining tickets after 1 June 2023 will be released to those on the waiting list. A confirmation email will be sent to successful waiting list applicants on 5 June 2023. They will be able to purchase a maximum of two tickets on the URBTIX website with their registered credit card on 8 June 2023 from 10:00AM to 6:00PM.

The name(s) provided by the applicant will be printed on the concert ticket(s) for verification during concert admission, and changes to the name(s) will not be permitted after the registration period. Any concertgoers who fail to present their photo ID with matching name printed on the ticket will not be admitted. 

Refund
Any persons who subsequently find themselves unable to attend the concert after purchasing their tickets are allowed a refund of half of the ticket face value by presenting their ticket(s) to the URBTIX Ticketing Office located at 9/F, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Shui from 14 to 16 June 2023 between 9:00AM to 1:00PM and 2:00PM to 6:00PM. No refund of the service charge nor delivery fee will be made.

Remaining or Returned Ticket Purchase
Any unsold tickets or tickets returned for refund will be put up for public sale on 20 June 2023 from 10:00AM on the URBTIX website. Each person will be able to purchase a maximum of two tickets, and those who would like to purchase two tickets must also provide the English full name of the fellow concertgoer which will be printed on the ticket.

On-the-day Sales
Should there still be any unsold or returned tickets after 20 June 2023 or wheelchair seats on the concert days, these tickets will be put up for public sale on each performance day (i.e., 22, 23 and 24 June 2023) from 10:00AM on the URBTIX website or mobile ticketing app. Each person can purchase a maximum of two tickets, and those who would like to purchase two tickets must also provide the English full name of the fellow concertgoer for printing on the ticket and verification purposes.

Concert Admission
For concert admission, concertgoers are advised to arrive at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre 90 minutes before the concert starts (i.e., 6:30pm). Venue staff will check the name on the ticket against the name on the photo ID. Wheelchair seat ticket holders must present proof of mobility difficulties (including “Registration Card for People with Disabilities” (Physical Disability) or valid medical documentary proof showing physical disability or mobility difficulties) for admission. Their minder, if any, must enter the venue at the same time. Venue management will refuse admission without refund in case of non-wheelchair user or any person accompanying any non-wheelchair user holding wheelchair seat ticket or minder ticket for admission. Admission will only be allowed after successful verification.

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Artists

Joe Hisaishi, conductor/piano [full description]
Joe Hisaishi started to show his interest in minimal music when he was a student at Kunitachi College of Music and embarked on his career as a composer. The presentation of MKWAJU in 1981 and the release of his first album Information the following year kicked off his career as a solo artist. Since his debut he has released nearly 40 solo albums. Starting with Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984), Hisaishi has produced music for 10 Hayao Miyazaki films. He also composed the music for HANA-BI, Departures, Villain, The Tale of Princess Kaguya and What a Wonderful Family!. He has collaborated on the music production of nearly 80 films in Japan and abroad. His works have won many awards including the Chinese film The Postmodern Life of My Aunt which won the Best Original Film Score at the 27th Hong Kong Film Awards.

Louise Kwong, soprano [full description]
Louise Kwong’s musical achievements are recognised by being awarded one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons Awards in 2019, and the Young Artist Award by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council in 2014. Internationally, she made debuts at the Rome Opera House as Mimì in La Bohème, and as Micaëla in Carmen at Caracalla Rome. She has performed in different opera houses such as the Concertgebouw of Amsterdam and the Graz Opera House of Austria.

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CATHAY PROUDLY SPONSORS: JOE HISAISHI IN CONCERT
22 - 24 | 6 | 2023
THU - SAT 8PM
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$1,980 $1,480 $680
For ages 6 and above

Artists

Programme