Flute Superstar Marina Piccinini Débuts with the HKPO in Ibert’s Flute Concerto
Conductor Hans Graf to Lead the Orchestra in Tchaikovsky’s Polish Symphony

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[22 May 2012 – Hong Kong] Come and see flautist Marina Piccinini play one of the great showpieces of the flute repertoire – Ibert’s Flute Concerto – as she makes her debut with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO) on 1&2 June 2012. Austrian conductor Hans Grafwill also lead the Orchestra in Respighi’s Fountains of Rome and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.3 in D, Polish.

Swire Maestro: 'Fount of Inspiration' will be held on 1&2 June 2012 (Fri & Sat), 8pm in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Free pre-concert talk Swire Classic Insights will be given on both nights at 7:15pm, also at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

Maestro Hans Graf will participate in a post-concert talk on 1 June in the Concert Hall, audiences with tickets (either Fri or Sat) are welcome to stay and join.

Tickets, priced at $320, 240, 180 and 120, are available at URBTIX. Programme Enquiries: 2721 2030.

Marina Piccinini, flute

'Marina Piccinini's flute-playing is very special, her lyrical phrasing cool, exquisitely shaped and with an underlying delicate sensuality.'

--- Gramophone

Widely recognized as one of the world’s leading flute virtuosos, flutist Marina Piccinini combines flawless technical command, profound interpretive instincts, and a charismatic stage presence - qualities which make each of her performances a memorable event.

Since making her acclaimed debuts in New York’s Town Hall, London’s Southbank Centre, and Tokyo’s Suntory Hall, Ms. Piccinini has been in demand both as a recitalist and soloist with orchestras in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. She has been soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic, the Tokyo Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Montreal Symphony, and has worked with conductors such as Alan Gilbert, Seiji Ozawa, Kurt Masur, Pierre Boulez and Leonard Slatkin.

Ms. Piccinini also frequently performs in recitals worldwide, with recent appearances in London’s Wigmore Hall, Tokyo’s Casals Hall and Washington’s Kennedy Centre. Most recently she completed a European tour which included such prestigious halls as Amsterdam’s Concertgebow, Cologne’s Philharmonie and London’s Barbican Centre, and looks forward to upcoming appearances at the Salzburg Festival and at the Suntory Hall in Tokyo.

Hans Graf, conductor
Known for his wide range of repertoire and creative programming, the distinguished Austrian conductor Hans Graf is one of today's most highly respected musicians.

Mr. Graf was chosen to be the Music Director of the Houston Symphony in 2000 and began his tenure with the orchestra in September 2001. Prior to his appointment in Houston, he was the music director of the Calgary Philharmonic for eight seasons and held the same post with the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine for six years. He also led the Salzburg Mozarteum Orchestra from 1984 to 1994.

Hans Graf is a frequent guest with all of the major North American orchestras. His recent and upcoming guest engagements include appearances with the Cleveland and Philadelphia Orchestras, the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonics, the San Francisco, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Detroit, Dallas, Baltimore, Vancouver, Atlanta and National symphonies and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Over the past decade he has developed a close relationship with the Boston Symphony and has appeared regularly with the orchestra during the subscription season and at the Tanglewood Music Festival.

Internationally, Hans Graf conducts in the foremost concert halls of Europe, Japan and Australia. Recent and upcoming international appearances include the Vienna Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra as well as the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Deutsches Symphony Orchestra, Bavarian Radio Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony and Malaysian Philharmonic.

Programme
With the soloist chirping, swooping and soaring, French composer Jacques Ibert’s delightful Flute Concerto is one of the classics of its genre and a favourite among flautists. After a recent performance of this showpiece in London, a critic declared, 'Marina Piccinini was the dazzling soloist, fully in command.' Expect to be blown away by the leading Italian-American star’s debut performance with the Hong Kong Philharmonic.

Directing the orchestra will be Austrian conductor Hans Graf, the famed Music Director of the Houston Symphony. One of today’s most highly respected musicians on the podium, Graf will provide plenty of colourful musical fireworks as he conjures up brilliant images of Rome in one of Respighi’s lavish scores and liven up the cheerful dances, including the polonaise in the final movement, in the sunlit Polish Symphony by Tchaikovsky.

Swire Maestro: Fount of Inspiration
1&2 | 6 | 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

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 a Venue Partner of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre

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