HK Phil and Local Talent Celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (7 Nov)

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[20 October 2014, Hong Kong] 2014 marks the 25th Anniversary of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Hong Kong’s flagship cultural venue. To mark this significant milestone, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) will hold a special concert on 7 November. Since its completion in 1989, the Hong Kong Cultural Centre has been the home of theHK Phil. Over the past 25 years the Orchestra has been proud to present the world’s greatest artists on the stage of its Concert Hall. This special concert will feature some of Hong Kong’s most promising musical talent, including award-winning conductor Perry So and rising star pianist Rachel Cheung. The Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus and The Learners Chorus will also perform alongside the HK Phil.

Sponsored by QBE Insurance, the concert begins with Mendelssohn’s joyful “Italian” Symphony, inspired by the vibrant colours of Italy; a work which the composer claimed as his jolliest piece.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus and The Learners Chorus will join the HK Phil in a performance of Handel’s celebratory coronation anthem, Zadok the Priest, and Mozart’s exquisite Ave verum corpus. Both works remain hugely popular to this day, with Handel’s anthem performed at every Coronation in the UK since 1727 and Mozart’s short motet regularly sung as part of the liturgy of the Roman Catholic Church.

Finally pianist Rachel Cheung, a laureate of numerous international piano competitions, will join the other musicians on stage for a performance of Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy for piano, chorus and orchestra, incorporating the famous tune which later became the “Ode to Joy”. The work also will feature a sextet of Hong Kong’s most outstanding vocal talent: sopranos Yuki Ip and Xi Wang, mezzo-soprano Samantha Chong, tenors Alex Tam and Philip Chu, and bass Apollo Wong.

“QBE Insurance is proud to support the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre by sponsoring the celebratory concert on 7 November. Since its inauguration in 1989, the Cultural Centre has always been a prime venue for the performing arts and it has played a vital role in facilitating the arts’ development in Hong Kong,” said David Fried, Chief Executive Officer, Emerging Markets, QBE Insurance Group. “We are honoured to support the HK Phil as a Major Sponsor once again this year. We hope our support can assist their mission of bringing world-class music to people from all walks of life.”

Concertsare sponsored by QBE Insurance

Hong Kong Cultural Centre – Celebrating 25 Years will be held on 7November 2014 (Fri), 8PM, in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall.Tickets priced: HK$680, $480, $320, $220 are now available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call 2721 2332 or visit www.hkphil.org.

Artists
Perry So, conductor [full biography]
Born in Hong Kong in 1982 Perry So was an inaugural Dudamel Conducting Fellow at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. He received the first and special prizes at the Fifth International Prokofiev Conducting Competition in 2008. Previously Assistant Conductor of the HK Phil, he also held the post of Associate Conductor from 2010-2012. He has conducted the London and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras, the Royal Danish Theatre Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, the State Symphony Orchestra of Russia, and many other distinguished ensembles. This season he makes debut appearances with the Cleveland Orchestra and the China Philharmonic Orchestra.

Rachel Cheung, pianist [full biography]
Born in Hong Kong, Rachel Cheung received her first piano lessons when she was four years old and studied with Prof. Eleanor Wong at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts at the age of ten. After receiving her Bachelor of Music Degree with First Class Honours at the HKAPA, she continued her studies with Prof. Peter Frankl and graduated with a Master of Music Degree from the Yale School of Music, where she was awarded the Elizabeth Parisot Prize for outstanding pianists in the 2011/2012 school year. She has won numerous prizes and awards in international piano competitions. Rachel became a young Steinway Artist in January 2011.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus [full biography]
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus was established in 1980 and its first performance was Messiah. Since then the Chorus has been collaborating with the orchestra in various forms. Projects in 2013/14 include the Britten War Requiem, Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe, and Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The Learners Chorus [full biography]
The Learners Chorus was founded in 1979 by former members of the Hong Kong University Students’ Union Choir, who wished to continue their passion in choral singing nurtured during their student years. The Learners Chorus is devoted to the promotion of music among young people by inviting them to perform together. The Chorus is also active in community and charitable work. By enhancing the learning of the young through our concerts and charitable projects, the Chorus strives to live up to the name of Learners in a fuller sense.

Hong Kong Cultural Centre – Celebrating 25 Years
7 | 11 | 2014
FRI 8PM
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$680 $480 $320 $220
Tickets are now available at URBTIX
For ages 6 and above

Click the thumbnail to download photos
Perry So Photo Credit: Colin Beere	Rachel Cheung Photo Credit: Cheung Chi Wai
HK Phil and the HK Philharmonic Chorus Photo Credit: Keith Hiro / HK Phil	The Learners Chorus

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 (HK Phil) is the city’s largest and busiest musical organisation and is a vital part of Hong Kong’s cultural life. With its roots stretching back well over a century, the HK Phil made its professional début in 1974. It 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 200,000 music lovers. Through its acclaimed education programme, over 40,000 young people have learned about orchestral music last year. 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.

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, provide access and stimulate cultural participation in Hong Kong, and to enhance Hong Kong’s reputation as one of the great cities of the world.

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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