Grammy Award-winning Sumi Jo sings Maria Callas — a tribute to one of the greatest opera singers of all time

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[9 January 2017, Hong Kong] The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) proudly presents “Sumi Jo sings Maria Callas” on 3 & 4 February in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Conducted by Lio Kuok-man, a HKAPA graduate and currently Assistant Conductor of Philadelphia Orchestra, South Korean coloratura Sumi Jo — also a big favourite with Hong Kong audiences – will sing arias to honour the great Maria Callas.

Sumi Jo was described as possessing “a voice from above” by Herbert von Karajan. For 30 years, she has graced the world’s leading operatic stages — from South Korea to New York’s Metropolitan Opera and beyond. She has performed at the Winter Olympics in Sochi and for the Pope in Korea, and appears as herself in the film Youth by Paolo Sorrentino starring Michael Caine. Sumi’s performance of the film’s theme song, “Simple Song #3”, won her nominations for the 2016 Golden Globe awards, as well as an Oscar in the “Music — Original Song” category. Her voice is featured in the HBO drama Mildred Pierce (2011) as the singing voice of Veda.

With “a voice from above” performing with Asia’s top orchestra — not forgetting those stunning dresses –– the concert is sure to be a feast for both ears and eyes.

Holiday: Sumi Jo Sings Maria Callas will be held on 3 & 4February (Fri & Sat) at 8PMin the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Ticket prices: HK$680, $480, $380, $280 are now available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit www.hkphil.org

Artists
Lio Kuok-man, conductor [full biography]
Praised by the Philadelphia Inquirer as a “startling conducting talent”, Lio Kuokman has worked extensively as conductor in both the symphonic and operatic genres. Recently appointed Assistant Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Maestro Kuokman was also the top prize winner in the June 2014 Evgeny Svetlanov Conducting Competition in Paris for which he received a cash prize and a debut appearance with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. Born in Macau, he began his musical training at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, from which he graduated with first class honours in piano performance. He continued his graduate studies receiving a Master degree from the Juilliard School followed by diplomas in conducting from the Curtis Institute and the New England Conservatory of Music. 

Sumi Jo, soprano [full biography]
Praised for the remarkable agility, precision and warmth of her voice, and for her outstanding musicianship, Sumi Jo has established herself as one of her generation’s most sought-after sopranos. Born in Korea, Sumi Jo was awarded first prize in the 1986 Carlo Alberto Cappelli International Competition. Miss Jo currently has over 50 recordings to her credit, including a Grammy-winning Die Frau ohne Schatten for Decca, The Magic Flute, and an album of arias under Solti, as well as Un Ballo in Maschera for Deutsche Grammophon under Karajan.

HOLIDAY: SUMI JO SINGS MARIA CALLAS
3 & 4 | 2 | 2017
FRI & SAT 8PM
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$680 $480 $380 $280
Tickets are now available at URBTIX
For ages 6 and above

Artists

Click the thumbnails to download photo
Lio Kuok-Man	Sumi Jo	Sumi Jo performed with the HK Phil in 2014 Photo Credit: Jason Ma/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 for an initial three-year term in the 2015/16 season as Principal Guest Conductor.

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 widespread international rave reviews; 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 undertaken tours to Taiwan, Europe and Mainland China. The orchestra will undertake an ambitious five-city tour to Seoul, Osaka, Singapore, Melbourne and Sydney in April - 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, the late Lorin Maazel, Anne-Sophie Mutter and Yuja Wang.

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 celebrated its 40th season as a professional orchestra in 2013/14.

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.