Conductor Hugh Wolff Conducts Tan Dun in an Exciting Programme
Also Featuring Works by Ravel and Rachmaninov (1&2 Feb 2013)
Change of Programme: Concerto for Orchestra by Tan Dun to Replace
Chen Qigang’s New Commission by the HK Phil

Download HERE
 

[21 December 2012 – Hong Kong]Hailed as one of the leading conductors of his generation, Hugh Wolff is an American conductor with a global perspective. Born in Paris, he was educated at Harvard, spent almost a decade at the helm of the Frankfurt Radio Orchestra and lived in London for several years. Recently Director of Orchestras at the New England Conservatory in Boston, Maestro Wolff makes his Hong Kong Philharmonic (HK Phil) début in a night of infectious rhythms opening with Ravel’s Valses nobles et sentimentales, followed by Tan Dun’s Concerto for Orchestra and culminating with Rachmaninov’s late work, Symphonic Dances.
 

The highlight of the evening, Concerto for Orchestra by Tan Dun, is also featured in the HK Phil’s latest CD recording of music composed and conducted by Tan which was released in October on the Naxos label. Commissioned by the Berlin Philharmonic, the Concerto for Orchestra was written with Tan’s opera Marco Polo in mind, and represents the imaginary sound of what Tan describes as “the orchestra of the future”. It consists of four movements: Light of Timespace, Scent of Bazaar, The Raga of Desert and a final movement associating with the Forbidden City.
 

Holiday, Pops & More: “Symphonic Dances” will be held on 1&2 February 2013 (Fri & Sat), 8pm, in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets priced: $280, $200, $160, $120 are now available at URBTIX. Free pre-concert talks will be given on both nights at 7:15pm, also at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. For enquiries, please visit http://www.hkphil.org or contact 2721 2030.
 

* Owing to personal reasons, the completion date of Mr Chen Qigang’s new work commissioned by the HK Phil has to be postponed and will be announced in due course. The programme will be replaced by Tan Dun’s Concerto for Orchestra.

Hugh Wolff, conductor [full biography]

“An effortlessly polished sound... Wolff shapes his interpretations with impeccable taste.”

--- New York Times

Hugh Wolff is among the leading conductors of his generation. He has appeared with all the major North American orchestras including those of Chicago, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Toronto. Wolff is much in demand in Europe where he has worked with such orchestras as the London Symphony, the Philharmonia, City of Birmingham Symphony, Orchestre National de France, Leipzig Gewandhaus and Israel Philharmonic. He is a regular guest conductor with orchestras in Japan, Scandinavia and Australia and a frequent conductor at festivals including Aspen, Tanglewood and Ravinia.

Wolff began his career in 1979 as Associate Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra under Mstislav Rostropovich, later going on to become Music Director of the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (1986-1993) and Music Director of Chicago’s Grant Park Music Festival (1994-1997).

Wolff was Principal Conductor and then Music Director of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (1988-2000), with whom he recorded twenty discs and toured the United States, Europe and Japan. Of this partnership, The New York Times wrote: “an effortlessly polished sound... Wolff shapes his interpretations with impeccable taste.”

Wolff was later Principal Conductor of the Frankfurt Radio Orchestra (1997-2006). The Sunday Times wrote of their recording of George Antheil’s symphonies: “the Frankfurt Radio SO under Wolff dazzles throughout.” Together they have toured Europe, Japan and China, and appeared at numerous festivals.

Holiday, Pops & More: Symphonic Dances
1&2 | 2 | 2013
FRI & SAT 8PM
HK Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$280 $200 $160 $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 HK Phil at
(852) 2721 2030

HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC
Music Director: Jaap van Zweden

The Hong Kong Philharmonic is a vital part of Hong Kong’s cultural life, as the city’s largest and busiest musical organisation. In 2013/14 the HK Phil will celebrate its 40th professional season, but its roots are well over a century old. The HK Phil has now evolved to become an orchestral powerhouse in 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

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