From Mahler to Beethoven –
Maestro Edo de Waart's Eight Glorious Seasons with the HKPO
Conclude with the Magnificent "Farewell to Edo Trilogy" from 6-21
Tickets on Sale from 3 February

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[6 February 2012 – Hong Kong] This Season is Maestro Edo de Waart’s final one as the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s Artistic Director and Chief Conductor. Between 6th and 21st April eleven stellar artists - including singers Susan Graham, Lisa Larsson, Chen Xiaoduo, Meng Meng, Mark Schnaibleand Henry Choo, instrumentalists Wang Nan, Chang Jing and Li Jiaand two of the Orchestra’s principals,Richard Bamping andAndrew Ling– as well as the Shanghai Opera House Chorus, join forces in three programmes meticulously designed by the great Maestro.
 

Tickets are on sale from 3 February with overwhelming public demand. Get your tickets now!

Maestro de Waart’s time as Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the HKPO began with Mahler’s First Symphony in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall on 22 October 2004; a performance which received thunderous applause. After eight years here, Maestro de Waart has accumulated some very impressive statistics. Under his masterful baton there have been 203 memorable performances, 118 stellar artists, 272 masterful works and over 200,000 in attendance.

In eight years, Maestro has conducted many outstanding Chinese compositions such as works by Tan Dun, Chen Qigang and Guo Wenjing. In the concert - Bank of Communications brings to you:
Edo de Waart Festival: “Farewell to Edo –Visions Unveiled” to be held on 6,7 April 2012 (Fri & Sat), 8pm in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall - Maestro de Waart will lead five exceptional Chinese artists in Chen Qigang’s masterwork, Iris Dévoilée and Wagner’s Parsifal - an orchestra quest arranged by de Vlieger.

Hailed as a master “Orchestra Builder”, Maestro de Waart has taken the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra to new heights. The Orchestra’s two principals – Cellist Richard Bamping and Violist Andrew Ling - join hands in Richard Strauss’ Don Quixote in Edo de Waart Festival: “Farewell to Edo - Dream Harmonies on 13&14April 2012 (Fri & Sat), at 8pm in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall.

Not every farewell needs to have tears – on his very last performance with the Orchestra, Maestro de Waart chooses another way – embrace the love and joy brought by the overwhelmed audiences.　Maestro will team up with four superb singers including soprano Lisa Larsson, mezzo soprano Susan Graham, tenor Henry Choo and bass-baritone Mark Schnaible in Beethoven’s powerful Ninth Symphony as his glorious finale. The Macallan Bravo Series: Edo de Waart Festival: Beethoven 9 – The Moment of Farewell will be held on 20&21 April 2012 (Fri & Sat), 8pm in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall.

Edo de Waart, conductor

Edo de Waart is Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Renowned as an "orchestral builder" who has the enviable ability to transform his orchestras into world-class ensembles, de Waart has held such distinguished positions as Chief Conductor and Artistic Director of the Sydney Symphony and the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, Chief Conductor of the Netherlands Opera, as well as Music Director of the Rotterdam Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and Minnesota Orchestras. He is also Music Director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Artistic Partner of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Conductor Laureate of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic.

Edo de Waart Festival: “Farewell to Edo - Visions Unveiled”

Chen Xiaoduo, soprano
Acclaimed soprano Chen Xiaoduo, an active performer in China and around the world, was a prizewinner of 2004 National Singing Competition, Belgium’s Queen Elizabeth Competition, 2001 Vera Rosa Award for most promising singer and the 2002 Best New Singer award in Taiwan.

Meng Meng, qingyi & soprano II
Born in Shandong, Meng Meng entered the Opera School of Shandong Province at the age of twelve. She has sung the role of qingyi and soprano II in Iris Dévoilée with the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra, cellist Wang Jian and conductor Yu Long.

Wang Nan, erhu
Nan Wang began playing the erhu at age six and studied at the Xi’an Conservatory of Music and the China Conservatory of Music. She won the third prize at the Chinese Traditional Instrument National Contest, second prize at the National erhu Contest, and the Prize of Excellence in erhu performance at the Taipei Traditional Arts Festival.

Li Jia, pipa
Li Jia began playing the pipa at age six and studied at the Shanghai Conservatory and the China Conservatory of Music. She has performed at the festivals La voix du dragon and Presènces in France. She was featured at the premiere of Iris dévoilée with the National Orchestra of France and has performed the work around the world with the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra.

Chang Jing, zheng
Chang Jing was born in Chengdu, Sichuan, at the age of eight she began studying the zheng. She studied at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music and China Conservatory of Music and joined China Song and Dance Troupe. At the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, Chang Jing won critical acclaimed with the performance of A Moonlit Night on the Spring Lake.

Programme
Only years after Wagner’s death could Parsifal be heard anywhere but in his own opera house in Bayreuth. His last opera is meant to be played in the run up to Easter, as we do in these concerts. Its final scenes are set on Good Friday, when the knight Parsifal achieves his quest, unveiling the Holy Grail to his fellow knights – a powerful symbol of brotherhood and redemption. Hans de Vlieger has taken Wagner’s opera and fashioned an orchestral quest, without voices, so that we can hear some of its profound and moving music in the concert hall. Another veil is lifted to reveal Chen Qigang’s masterwork, Iris Dévoilée. While Parsifal centres on man and his struggles, Chen’s work is about the eternal feminine, and explores its theme through a series of musical portraits – nine aspects of womanhood. 

Edo de Waart Festival: “Farewell to Edo - Dream Harmonies”

Richard Bamping, cello
Richard Bamping has held the title of Principal Cellist of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra since 1993. His many solo appearances with the Philharmonic have been greeted with critical acclaim. He has had a very broad musical education studying cello with Elizabeth Wilson, Raphael Wallfisch, Amedeo Baldovino, and Steven Isserlis etc.

Andrew Ling, viola
A native of Hong Kong, Andrew Ling attended Indiana University, where he completed his undergraduate studies with Henryk Kowalski, and his graduate studies at Indiana University with Mauricio Fuks. Ling began studying the violin at the age of six under the tutelage of the late Professor Lin Yao-ji of the Central Conservatory of Music.

Programme
John Adams’ Harmonielehre was inspired by a series of vivid dreams which freed him from a creative block that had stopped him in his composing tracks. This exciting work has become a modern-day classic. It piles layer upon layer of concentrated orchestral texture resulting in a compelling momentum of sound – thrilling effects which have earned Harmonielehre its place among the seminal works of our time. Don Quixote depicts the misguided old gentleman who decides to take up the life of a wandering knight. Flutes and trumpets become bleating sheep, and all the woodwind joins in for a wild ride high in the air. And the knight’s faithful sidekick, Pancho Sanchez, offers his comments on the action courtesy of the tuba and viola. But the star is the cello, Don Quixote himself, taken by our Principal Cello Richard Bamping. 

Edo de Waart Festival: “Farewell to Edo - The Moment of Farewell”

Lisa Larsson, soprano
The Swedish soprano, Lisa Larsson has appeared at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Oper Leipzig, Opernhaus Zürich, Grand Théâtre de Genève, the Salzburg Festival, Lucerne Festival and Glyndebourne Festival, collaborating with a number of renowned conductors including Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Claudio Abbado, Daniel Harding, Sir Colin Davis, among others.

Susan Graham, mezzo soprano
Susan Graham, one of the world's foremost stars of opera and recital, is a compelling and versatile singing actress. Celebrated as an expert in French music, Graham has been honored by the French government with the title "Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur." Graham was Musical America's 2004 Vocalist of the Year, and in 2006 her hometown of Midland, Texas declared September 5 "Susan Graham Day" in perpetuity.

Henry Choo, tenor
A former member of the Australian Boys Choir, Henry Choo is known as one of Australia’s finest lyric coloratura tenors. Henry attained an Associate Diploma in Singing in 1997 under the tutelage of Noel Ancell OAM and furthered his vocal and operatic studies at the Melba Conservatorium of Music and the Australian National Academy of Music. 

Mark Schnaible, bass-baritone
Described by Das Opernglas as “a strong, rich and warm-colored voice with assured style,” Mark Schnaible continues to impress audiences both in the United States and abroad with his bass-baritone voice and dramatic intensity.

Shanghai Opera House Chorus
Found in 1956, the Shanghai Opera House Choir (SOHC) has the longest history in China. SOHC has become renowned for its wide repertoire ranging opera, oratorio, symphonic chorus, a cappella, solo and ensemble. Recent highlights with world-famous singers include opera Carmen, Aida, Faust, Turandot, La Boheme, Romeo et Juliet and many more.

Programme
Beethoven’s final symphony has overwhelmed audiences since its very first performance. With its message of common humanity, all-embracing joy and triumph, any performance is an epic event, and it is appropriate that Edo de Waart has chosen it to mark the end of his time as Chief Conductor of the HKPO. 
Hector Berlioz wrote his Cléopâtre in an attempt to win the coveted Prix de Rome. This music was too revolutionary for the judges, though –Cléopâtre was rejected out of hand. But in time, Cléopâtre would become a favourite of the mezzo-soprano repertoire. Cleopatra’s defiance in the face of defeat, the faltering beat of her heart, and final, deathly silence, are a dramatic tour de force. We’re delighted to be joined by Susan Graham, one of the finest mezzo-sopranos of this era, to sing this work. |
 

Bank of Communications brings to you:
Edo de Waart Festival: “Farewell to Edo –Visions Unveiled”
6&7 | 4 | 2012
FRI & SAT 8PM
HK Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$420 $320 $220 $160
Available at URBTIX now

Title Sponsor: Bank of Communications
 

Click the thumbnail to download photos

Edo de Waart

Chen Xiaoduo

Mengmeng

Li Jia

Wang Nan		Chang Jing		HKPO

Edo de Waart Festival: Farewell to Edo – Dream Harmonies
13&14 | 4| 2012
FRI & SAT 8PM
HK Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$420 $320 $220 $160
Available at URBTIX now

Click the thumbnail to download photos

The Macallan Bravo Series:
Edo de Waart Festival: Beethoven 9 – The Moment of Farewell
20&21 | 4 | 2012
F R I & S A T 8 PM
HK Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$680 $480 $300 $180
Available at URBTIX now

Title Sponsor: The Macallan
 

Click the thumbnail to download photos

Edo de Waart

Lisa Larsson

Susan Graham

Henry Choo

Mark Schnaible

Shanghai Opera

HKPO

House Chorus

Ticketing Information

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(852) 2111 5999
Online Booking
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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. HKPO annually touches the lives of over 200,000 music lovers through more than 150 performances including its extensive education programme HSBC Insurance Creative Notes and free concerts such as the popular Swire Symphony under the Stars, and regular broadcasts and telecasts. Outside of Hong Kong, the HKPO has made a number of critically acclaimed tours in Asia and Europe.

The 2011/12 season will mark Maestro Edo de Waart's eighth and final season with the HKPO. Apart from his own series of five special programmes which are summaries of his achievements with the Orchestra over the last seven years, ending with Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, the new season will also attract a stellar cast of great artists and guest conductors.

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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