HK Phil 40th Anniversary Gala – Symphonie Fantastique
(13 & 14 June)

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[4 June 2014, Hong Kong] Happy 40th Anniversary to the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil)! The HK Phil 40th Anniversary Gala – Symphonie Fantastique will be held on 13 & 14th June at Hong Kong Cultural Centre. With Berlioz’s great masterpiece and Jaap van Zweden’s searing intensity, this 40th Anniversary Gala concert will be an unforgettable representation of how far the HK Phil has progressed along its journey, and a dramatic harbinger of things to come. Hong Kong born and bred Fung Lam will mark the occasion with his new composition, while Boris Berezovsky will bring his trademark flair to Rachmaninov. Be part of the celebrations!

The Symphonie Fantastique is the work with which French composer Hector Berlioz is most closely associated. It marked his coming-of-age as a major symphonic composer. This vividly colourful work makes an appropriately explosive musical display for the HK Phil’s 40th Anniversary celebrations.

Supported by The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, HK Phil’s Composer-in-Residence Programme was launched in 2013. It is a three-year project to support Chinese composers in creating new works and exploring links between Chinese culture and the western orchestra.Robert Y. C. Ho, Chairman of The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation said, “The HK Phil presents a unique platform for The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation to pursue our goal of promoting Chinese culture and supporting Hong Kong’s cultural development. Presenting a series of commissioned works of Chinese symphonic music will broaden the orchestra’s repertoire in a way which better reflects the cultural roots of Hong Kong and The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation is proud to support this initiative.”

Quintessence, the new commission by Fung Lam, the first of three composers under the above scheme, will be premièred in the HK Phil 40th Anniversary Gala. “The title Quintessence refers to the magical substance in ancient philosophy that gods were made of and latent in all living things.  There exists a similar concept in Buddhism, called the Five Aggregates, which are in essence the core qualities shared by all living things of all forms and shapes,” said Fung. “This concept, with its lively and positive character, served as the starting point of my new work, which was written in celebration of HK Phil's 40th Anniversary".

Gold Medal winner of the 1990 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, Boris Berezovsky will join the celebration with Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.

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The HK Phil 40th Anniversary Performance and Gala Dinner on 14 June is Sponsored by Prince Jewellery & Watch and Vacheron Constantin

Apart from the much anticipated concert, a series of exciting events have been arranged for the evening of 14 June, with Prince Jewellery & Watch and Vacheron Constantin as Performance Sponsor and Title Sponsor of the dinner, to celebrate this special occasion.

A pre-concert reception will be held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre at 6:00pm. Mr C Y Leung, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and HK Phil’s Honorary Patron, has accepted the invitation as the honourable officiating guest of the ceremony. Other guests of honour joining the reception include Mr Y S Liu, Chairman of the Board of Governors for the HK Philharmonic Society; Maestro Jaap van Zweden, Music Director of the HK Phil; Dr Jimmy Tang, MH, Chairman & CEO of Prince Jewellery & Watch; and Mr Julien Tornare, Managing Director, Vacheron Constantin Asia Pacific.

During the concert interval, a dazzling exhibition of jewellery and watches will be presented to other guests by Prince Jewellery & Watch and Vacheron Constantin. After the concert, an invitation-only Gala Dinner will be held at the InterContinental Hotel, with a catwalk show with jewellery and watches provided by Prince Jewellery & Watch and Vacheron Constantin, followed by a silent auction of luxury items. The proceeds will be used to support the development of the HK Phil.

Distinguished guests (in alphabetical order of family name) joining the evening include Mr Anson Chan, Ms Ning Ning Chen, Ms Nancy Chiu, Mrs Margaret Choi, Mrs Pollyanna Chu, Ms Candy Chuang, Ms Christine Chuang, Mr Martin & Mrs Sabrina Cubbon, Ms Jojo Fok, Mr Gordon Fok, Mr David Fried, Mr Victor and Mrs Julia Fung, Ms Daisy Ho, Ms Maisy Ho, Mr Peter and Mrs Mary Kilgour, Mr Eddie Kwan, Ms Alice Lai, Ms Laura Lau, Mr Charles Lee, Mr YS Liu, Mr Yong Lin, Ms Yvonne Lui, Mr Michael and Mrs Sandy Mecca, Mr Edward Ng, Mr Kwan Kay Pui, Mr Peter Siembab, Mr Benedict Sin, Mr John and Mrs Joy Slosar, Mr Ambrose & Mrs Christine So, Ms Linda Switzer, Ms Irene Tang, Mr Ronald and Mrs Rina Tham, Ms Maggie Tsai, Mrs Harriet Tung, Ms Helena Wai, Mr & Mrs David Wong, Ms Karina Wong, Mr Peter Woo, Mr Jason Yeung, Mr Andrew Yuen and Ms Yvette Yung

HK Phil would like to thank specially for the HK Phil 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner Committee:
Chair: Ms Pansy Ho
Members (in alphabetical order of family name): Mrs Janice Choi, MH, Ms Irene Chu, Mr Edward Ho, Ms Jane Ho, Ms Lavonne Lee, Ms Jennifer Liu, Ms Sally Tsang and Ms Amy Wong.

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Masterworks: HK Phil 40 Anniversary Gala – Symphonie Fantastique will be held on 13 June (Fri) at 8pm & 14 June 2014 (Sat) at 7PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall.Tickets priced: $480, $320, $220, $160 are now available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit www.hkphil.org.

Free Pre-concert Talks given by Ms Synthia Ko, Music Director and Chief Conductor, Guangxi Symphony Orchestra, in English (13 June, Fri) and in Cantonese (14 June, Sat) will be held at 7:15pm and 6:15pm respectively at AC2, 4/F of the Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

14 June Performance Sponsor and Title Sponsor of the HK Phil 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner: Prince Jewellery & Watch and Vacheron Constantin

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Composer-in-Residence Programme is supported by Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation.

Jaap van Zweden, conductor [full biography]
Amsterdam-born Jaap van Zweden is one of today’s most sought-after conductors. Named Musical America’s Conductor of the Year for 2012, he has been Music Director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra since 2012/13 season.

The maestro has recently conducted the Vienna Philharmonic, Berlin Philharmonic, London Symphony Orchestra and Chicago Symphony to high acclaims.

At the age of nineteen, Jaap was appointed as the youngest Concertmaster ever of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Maestro van Zweden is also currently Music Director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Honorary Chief Conductor of the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and Honorary Conductor of the Radio Chamber Philharmonic.
 

Boris Berezovsky, piano[full biography]
Winner of the 1990 International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow, Berezovsky has collaborated with Kurt Masur, Charles Dutoit, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Alexander Lazarev. His recordings received BBC Music magazine Awards, Diapason d’Or and Preis der Deutschen Schallplattenkritik.

Fung Lam, composer [full biography]
Currently serving as The Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation Composer-in-Residence with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Fung Lam’s work have been played by BBC Philharmonic, London Symphony, New Zealand Symphony and Tokyo Philharmonic, among others. His third BBC commission Endless Forms received world première at the BBC Proms 2012.

Masterworks: HK Phil 40th Anniversary Gala – Symphonie Fantastique
13 & 14 | 6 | 2014
FRI 8PM & SAT 7PM
HK Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$480 $320 $220 $160
Tickets now available at URBTIX
For ages 6 and above

Sponsor of 14 June performance: Prince Jewellery & Watch and Vacheron Constantin
Commissioning Sponsor: The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation

Click the thumbnail to download photos
Jaap van Zweden Photo Credit: Hans van der Woerd	Boris Berezovsky Photo Credit: David Crookes	Fung Lam Photo Credit: Milena Mihaylova	Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Photo credit: Cheung Chi Wai / HK Phil

Ticketing Information
Credit Card Booking
+852 2111 5999
Online Booking
www.urbtix.hk

For programme enquiry, please call HK Phil at
+852 2721 2332
Or go on our website:
www.hkphil.org

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
Music Director: Jaap van Zweden

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is the city’s largest and busiest musical organisation and is a vital part of Hong Kong’s cultural life. This season it celebrates its 40th professional season, but its roots stretch back well over a century. The HK Phil has now evolved into 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 attracting over 200,000 music lovers. Featuring an enviable roster of international conductors and soloists, the HK Phil performs a broad variety of music, 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 in the last year.

The Swire Group Charitable Trust has been the Principal Patron of the HK Phil since 2006. Swire’s enlightened support, the most generous in the orchestra’s history, continues to enable the orchestra to reach towards high artistic goals.

The HK Phil’s members come from every corner of the globe, with a 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 commenced a multi-CD recording project for Naxos, featuring works by Chinese composers.

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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