HK Phil Celebrates Masterpieces Across Eras with Elim Chan, Brad Lubman and Daniele Gatti

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[6 November 2024, Hong Kong] This November to early December, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) will present three mesmerising programmes led by Elim Chan, Brad Lubman and HK Phil Artistic Partner Daniele Gatti. The concerts will feature world renowned violinist James Ehnes and pianist Mao Fujita as soloists, showcasing a diverse selection of works from the Classical period to the Modern era. The programmes will kick off with “Swire Maestro Series: Elim Chan & James Ehnes” on 22 & 23 November, followed by “Classics for the Modern Era: Stravinsky & Brad Lubman” on 29 & 30 November, and “Daniele Gatti & Mao Fujita” on 6 & 7 December. All concerts will be held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets are now available on URBTIX.

Swire Maestro Series: Elim Chan & James Ehnes (22 & 23 November)

Hailed as a sensation across Europe and America, Elim Chan has been described as “a rare example of a young conductor at once brilliant and not in the least showing off” (The Sunday Times). After conducting Swire Symphony Under the Stars 2024, Chan will lead the HK Phil at another concert, joined by Canadian violin superstar James Ehnes, Gramophone magazine’s Artist of the Year 2021.

The concert starts with Angus Lee’s ... aux cendres, a world premiere commissioned by the HK Phil under the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Hong Kong Composers Scheme. Deeply connected with the environment, the piece is dedicated to Elim Chan.

Next is Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto, with James Ehnes as soloist. The concerto opens with a fast introduction, where the violin serenades the main theme, leading into lyrical and virtuosic passages imbued with influences from Russian folk dance music. The concert concludes with Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony, a piece composed during Second World War infused with sorrowful and pessimistic melodies.

“Swire Maestro Series: Elim Chan & James Ehnes” will be held on 22 & 23 November 2024 (Fri & Sat) at 8PM at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets priced at HK$520, $420, $320, $220 and $50 are available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.

To allow audiences to dive deep into specific orchestral works, “Swire Music for Everyone Series: Prokofiev Symphony no. 5” will be held on 22 November 2024 (Fri) at 10AM at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Admission is free, with tickets available on a first come, first-served basis. Online registration starts at 10AM on 8 November 2024 (Fri) on the POPTICKET website For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.

This concert is one of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre 35th Anniversary Celebration Programmes

Classics for the Modern Era: Stravinsky & Brad Lubman (29 & 30 November)

In late November, the HK Phil will present Beethoven and Stravinsky’s symphonic works, conducted by world acclaimed American conductor and composer Brad Lubman. The concert begins with the Asia premiere of Reflections, a piece written by Lubman himself that explores incongruous narratives such as what one might experience in very strange dreams.

It is followed by two innovative works by Stravinsky. Symphony of Winds Instruments (1947), dedicated to the memory of Claude Debussy, opens with a lively folk-dance passage and a melody which seems to be derived from a Russian folk tune. The finale concludes with Le Tombeau de Claude Debussy, 51 bars of solemn chords previously composed to contribute the “Debussy Memorial” Issue.

Following is Stravinsky’s Symphony of Psalms, featuring the HK Phil Chorus. Rather than composing a typical form of 19th century symphony, he developed a unique form that does not rely on customs, and chose to develop a “psalm symphony” that he had long envisioned.

The concert concludes with Beethoven’s bright Symphony no. 2. After a brief struggle on his hearing deterioration, Beethoven continued to work on his new symphony. For the introduction, he chose the optimistic key of D major, followed by a semi folk dance rhythm, which he heard during his retreat in Heiligenstadt. Classic yet revolutionary, the symphony is considered to be the transition from his early to middle composition period.

“Classics for the Modern Era: Stravinsky & Brad Lubman” will be held on 29 November 2024 (Fri) at 8PM & 30 November 2024 (Sat) at 5PM at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets priced at HK$ 250 are available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.

Daniele Gatti & Mao Fujita (6 & 7 December)

In early December, Chief Conductor of the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden and HK Phil Artistic Partner Daniele Gatti makes his HK Phil debut with a programme intertwining the beauty of nature with the genius of Mendelssohn, Mozart and Beethoven. Joining him is the exceptional soloist Mao Fujita.

The concert begins with Mendelssohn’s Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage. While the part of Calm Sea reflects the sound of “bone chilling, death like stillness”, capturing the sea at night, the part of Prosperous Voyage represents the exciting expedition into the unknown. The finale recalls Goethe’s final verse in the poem – “Schon seh’ Ich das land!” (I finally see land), concluding the adventurous expedition.

Mozart’s Piano Concerto no. 23 follows, featuring Japanese pianist Mao Fujita, the silver medallist at the 2019 Tchaikovsky International Music Competition and winner of the 2023 Opus Klassik Award in the Young Artist of the Year category. Described as “Sunlight into a Dark Room”, the concerto opens with an ingratiating melody, followed by an expressive slow movement and a joyous finale.

The concert concludes with Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony, Pastoral, a world-famous symphony dedicated to nature. The composer described it as “more an expression of feeling than tone-painting”, creating a full story experience with music.

To nurture young and emerging conductor, a conducting masterclass with Maestro Daniele Gatti and HK Phil will be held on 7 December (Sat) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. The activity is free of charge and welcomes public to join. Please stay tuned for registration details.

“Daniele Gatti & Mao Fujita” will be held on 6 & 7 December (Fri & Sat 8PM) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets priced at HK$680, $540, $400, $260 are available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.

Concert Sponsor: Chow Sang Sang

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Artists

Elim Chan, conductor [full description]

One of the most sought-after artists of her generation, Elim Chan performs an unusually wide-ranging repertory of symphonic works extending from the Classical period to the present day. The Sunday Times described Elim Chan as “a rare example of a young conductor at once brilliant and not in the least showing off.” In January 2022, the Boston Classical Review spoke of a “marvel of control and understanding” following Elim Chan’s debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

James Ehnes, violin [full description]

James Ehnes has established himself as one of the most sought-after musicians on the international stage. Gifted with a rare combination of stunning virtuosity, serene lyricism and an unfaltering musicality, Ehnes is a favourite guest at the world’s most celebrated concert halls. Ehnes has an extensive discography and has won many awards for his recordings, including two Grammy’s, three Gramophone Awards and twelve Juno Awards. As of summer 2024, he is appointed as Professor of Violin at the Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music. Ehnes plays the “Marsick” Stradivarius of 1715.

Brad Lubman, conductor & composer [full description]

Brad Lubman, American conductor and composer has gained widespread recognition for his versatility, commanding technique and insightful interpretations over the course of more than two decades. He is much in demand with major orchestras in Europe and the US and has been successful in building regular partnerships with several well-known orchestras and ensembles, including the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, WDR Symphony Orchestra and the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin. Alongside his busy schedule in Germany, he is also frequently asked to conduct some of the world’s leading orchestras, including the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Filarmonica della Scala, and the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.

Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus [full description]

Established in 1980, the HK Phil Chorus has collaborated with the HK Phil to perform a range of works over the years. In 2013, the Chorus undertook a new recruitment drive, and over 450 singers were attracted to attend the auditions. The first performance by the newly reformed Chorus was Handel’s Messiah. Since then, the Chorus has performed with the HK Phil in major works by composers including Britten, Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Haydn and Mahler under renowned conductors Lorin Maazel, Jaap van Zweden and Nicholas McGegan. The Chorus’ Fellowship programme was inaugurated during the 2020/21 Season, setting the stage for aspiring professional singers to join this distinguished ensemble.

Daniele Gatti, conductor [full description]

Daniele Gatti graduated as a composer and orchestra conductor at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi in Milan. He is the new Chief Conductor of the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden from August 2024, he is Chief Conductor of the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and Artistic Advisor of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. He was Music Director of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma and he previously held prestigious roles at important musical institutions like the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre National de France, the Royal Opera House of London, the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Zurich’s Opernhaus and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam.

Mao Fujita, piano [full description]

With an innate musical sensitivity and naturalness to his artistry, 25-year old pianist Mao Fujita has already impressed many leading musicians as one of those special talents which come along only rarely, equally at home in Mozart as the major romantic repertoire, with The New York Times writing, "As soon as his fingers touched the keys, waves of airy filigree, beautifully shaped and accomplished, emerged in almost continuous streams" on the occasion of his US debut at Carnegie Hall in January2023.

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Swire Maestro Series: Elim Chan & James Ehnes

22 & 23 | 11 | 2024

FRI & SAT 8PM

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

HK$520 $420 $320 $220 $50

Tickets now available at URBTIX

For ages 6 and above

Artists

Programme        

Classics for the Modern Era: Stravinsky & Brad Lubman

29 & 30 | 11 | 2024

FRI 8PM & SAT 5PM

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

$250

Tickets now available at URBTIX

For ages 6 and above

Artists

Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus

Programme

Daniele Gatti & Mao Fujita

6 & 7 | 12 | 2024

FRI & SAT 8PM

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

HK$680 $540 $400 $260

Tickets now available at URBTIX

For ages 6 and above

Artists

Programme