HK Phil’s Epic Rachmaninov and Enigmatic Elgar with Exciting Uzbek Pianist Behzod Abduraimov (9 & 10 Jan)

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[15 December 2014, Hong Kong] The first concert of 2015 from the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) features the 24-year old Uzbek pianist Behzod Abduraimov in Rachmaninov’s epic Piano Concerto no. 3 under the baton of Thomas Dausgaard. Revel in the thrills and passion of this matchless masterpiece on 9 & 10 Jan in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. The concert also captures the tempestuous seascape of Scotland’s west coast in Mendelssohn’s The Hebrides and the elegance and emotion of Elgar’s Enigma Variations.

“impressive poise and immediacy – a talent to watch”
--- Boston Globe

Behzod Abduraimov made his first appearance as a soloist at the age of eight with the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan. He won the London International Piano Competition in 2009, an achievement which prompted the Daily Telegraph to proclaim him "a gift from God". Experience this exciting new piano talent in one of the most daunting and challenging works in the entire piano repertoire.

Mendelssohn composed The Hebrides (Fingal’s Cave) following a boat trip he made to the Scottish island of Staffa and its famous Fingal’s Cave in his early twenties. Immediately after the trip he wrote to his sister, “how extraordinarily the Hebrides affected me”.

Elgar’s Variations on an Original Theme Enigma portray various friends and acquaintances of the composer in a set of characteristic variations of a theme which is the “Enigma” of the title – Elgar refused to say where the theme came from. Among these hugely popular orchestral portraits is one of a boisterous dog and the noble “Nimrod”.

Classics: Rach 3 will be held on 9 & 10 January 2015 (Fri & Sat) at 8PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall.Tickets priced: $360, $280, $240, $160 are now available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit www.hkphil.org.

Free Pre-concert talks are available on both nights:

Artists
Thomas Dausgaard, conductor [full biography]
Chief conductor of both the Swedish Chamber Orchestra and the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Thomas Dausgaard was honoured as Conductor Laureate of the latter during 11/12 season. He was also nominated for a 2007 Gramophone award with his records of works by Carl Nielsen.

Behzod Abduraimov, piano [full biography]
Behzod Abduraimov was the Grand prize winner of the 2009 London International Piano Competition. He won the Choc de Classica and the Diapason Découverte with his début recital CD in 2012 as an exclusive Decca Classics recording artist. He will take part in the Prokofiev piano concerto cycle in Vienna and Dortmund under Valery Gergiev in 14/15 Season.

Classics: Rach 3
9 & 10 | 1 | 2015
FRI & SAT 8PM
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$360 $280 $240 $160
Tickets are now available at URBTIX
For ages 6 and above

Click the thumbnail to download photos
Thomas Dausgaard Photo Credit: Ulla-Carin Eckblom	Behzod Abduraimov Photo Credit: Ben Ealovega and Decca	The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Photo Credit: Cheung Chi Wai

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 corporate donation 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.

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 and Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

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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