E.T. in Concert – Marking the 35th anniversary of the iconic movie, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
The HK Phil plays the entire score live (29 & 30 Sep and 1 Oct)

Download HERE

[21 August 2017, Hong Kong] “E.T. phone home!” Let everyone knows about this enchanting concert to be held on 29 & 30 September and 1 October in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. The music from Steven Spielberg’s movie classic will be brought to life in a concert marking the 35th anniversary of the film. Relive the touching friendship between Elliott and the Extra Terrestrial, beautifully highlighted by John Williams’ stellar score, conducted by Benjamin Northey and played by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) live to accompany a screening of the original movie. 

Director Steven Spielberg's heart-warming masterpiece is one of the brightest stars in motion picture history.  Filled with unparalleled magic and imagination, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial follows the moving story of a lost little alien who befriends a 10-year-old boy named Elliott (Henry Thomas). Experience all the mystery and fun of their unforgettable adventure in this iconic movie which captivated audiences around the world. And listen to John Williams’ complete Academy Award®-winning score performed live by a full symphony orchestra in sync with the film projected on a huge screen!

Composer John Williams says, “What’s particularly special about the concert is that audience will hear one of our great symphony orchestras, the HK Phil, performing the entire score live, along with the complete picture, sound effects and dialogue”.

Movie in English with Chinese subtitle.

Holidays & Pops Series: E.T. in Concert will be held on 29 & 30 September 2017 (Fri & Sat), 8PM, in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall.Tickets priced: HK$480, $380, $280, $220 are now available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit www.hkphil.org.

E.T. in Concert for Kids will be held on 1 October 2017 (Sun), 3PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets priced: HK$480, $380, $280, $220 are now available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit www.hkphil.org.

Artists
Benjamin Northey, conductor [full biography]
Australian conductor Benjamin Northey is the Chief Conductor of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the Associate Conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. He has previously held the posts of Resident Guest Conductor of the Australia Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra (2002-06) and Principal Conductor of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra (2007-10). Northey also appears regularly as a guest conductor with all major Australian symphony orchestras, his international appearances include concerts with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and many more.

HOLIDAYS & POPS SERIES: E.T. IN CONCERT
29 & 30 | 9 | 2017
FRI & SAT 8PM
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$480 $380 $280 $220
Tickets are now available at URBTIX
For ages 6 and above

E.T. IN CONCERT FOR KIDS
1 | 10 | 2017
SUN 3PM
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$480 $380 $280 $220
Tickets are now available at URBTIX
For ages 3 and above

Artists

Benjamin Northey

conductor

Click the thumbnails to download press photos

Benjamin Northey Photo Credit: Ross Calia	John Williams	The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Photo Credit: Philip Chau/HK Phil

Programme

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
Music Director: Jaap van Zweden
Principal Guest Conductor: Yu Long

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) is recognised as Asia’s foremost classical orchestra. The orchestra presents more than 150 concerts over a 44-week season and attracts more than 200,000 music lovers annually.

Jaap van Zweden, one of today’s most sought-after conductors, has been the orchestra’s Music Director since the 2012/13 concert season, a position he will continue to hold until at least 2022. In addition, Maestro van Zweden will also be the next Music Director of the New York Philharmonic starting with the 2018/19 season.

Yu Long was appointed Principal Guest Conductor with the HK Phil for a three-year period commencing with the 2015/16 season.

Under Maestro van Zweden, the HK Phil is undertaking a variety of initiatives including a four-year project to perform and record the complete Ring of the Nibelung (Richard Wagner). The orchestra is in the third of this four-year journey, performing one opera annually in concert. The performances being recorded live for the Naxos label are winning rave reviews internationally; and mark the first performances by a Hong Kong or mainland Chinese orchestra of the entire Ring cycle.

Also under van Zweden, the orchestra has toured to Taiwan, Europe and Mainland China. The orchestra just completed an ambitious five-city tour to Seoul, Osaka, Singapore, Melbourne and Sydney in April and May 2017 in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR.

Conductors and soloists who have recently performed with the orchestra include Yo-Yo Ma, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Ning Feng, Matthias Goerne, Lang Lang, Yu Long, Yundi Li, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Yuja Wang and the late Lorin Maazel.

The HK Phil promotes the work of Hong Kong and Chinese composers through an active commissioning programme, and has released recordings featuring Tan Dun and Bright Sheng, each conducting their own compositions, on the Naxos label. Its acclaimed community engagement programme brings music to tens of thousands of children annually. A recording was issued free to schoolchildren throughout Hong Kong of Britten’s The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf and Leopold Mozart’s Toy Symphony.

The Swire Group has been the Principal Patron of the HK Phil since 2006. Through this sponsorship, which is the largest in the orchestra’s history, Swire also endeavours to promote artistic excellence, foster access to classical music and stimulate cultural participation in Hong Kong, and to enhance Hong Kong’s reputation as one of the great cities of the world.

Thanks to a significant subsidy from the Hong Kong Government and long-term funding from Principal Patron Swire, the Hong Kong Jockey Club and other supporters, the HK Phil now boasts a full-time annual schedule of classical music concerts, pops concerts, an extensive education programme, and collaborations for staged opera with Opera Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Arts Festival.

The orchestra was originally called the Sino-British Orchestra. It was renamed as the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in 1957 and became fully professional in 1974.

SWIRE is the Principal Patron of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is a Venue Partner of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.