HK Phil’s Former Music Director David Atherton and Grammy-winning Violinist Augustin Hadelich to close the special
“HK Phil's 45th” Series HK Phil's 45th: DAVID ATHERTON｜The Planets (7 & 8 June)

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[28 May 2019, Hong Kong] Continuing the 45th anniversary celebrations of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil), we are pleased to have invited another former Music Director, David Atherton, to conduct the finale of the “HK Phil's 45th” concert series. The concert will feature the Asian premiere of Tippett’s Praeludium for brass, bells and percussion, and Holst’s grand orchestral spectacular, The Planets Suite.  Grammy Award-winning violinist Augustin Hadelich will join the orchestra and Maestro Atherton in Britten’s Violin Concerto. The concert will be held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall on 7 & 8 June. 

David Atherton is not only one of the great British conductors of our time, but also has a deep relationship with the HK Phil. From 1989 he spent many glorious moments with the HK Phil, including the beginning of our journey at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the implementation of the “Composer-in-Residence” programme, and many tours to different places in the world. On his retirement from this position in 2000 and in recognition of his services to the music scene of Hong Kong, he was awarded the OBE and appointed the orchestra’s Conductor Laureate.

In honour of his homeland, the HK Phil will perform three 20th century British masterpieces. The Planets Suite inspired many gaming and film composers, notably John Williams, with each movement depicting the ancient beliefs about character and emotion associated with each planet. In the seventh which is the final movement – “Neptune, the Mystic” – the Ladies of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus adds a mesmerising sense of other-worldliness as it fades off into the deep eternity of space.

“[Augustin Hadelich in Britten’s Violin Concerto] totally committed to every heavenly-intoned sound he made and visibly engaged the entire time”
--- San Francisco Classical Voice

Britten was inspired to write his Violin Concerto by his experiences during the Spanish Civil War and has strong Spanish flavours, such as flamenco-style guitar effects and a Sarabande rhythm. This will be performed by 2016 Grammy Award-winning violinist Augustin Hadelich, who started learning violin at the age of five. A serious injury caused by a fire at the age of 15 was soon overcome and he was admitted to The Juilliard School.  He has performed with major orchestras including the New York Philharmonic and Boston Symphony.

Don't miss this final concert of the “HK Phil’s 45th” concert series under the baton of our former Music Director and Conductor Laureate David Atherton!

HK Phil's 45th: DAVID ATHERTON｜The Planets will be held on 7 & 8 June (Fri & Sat), 8PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets priced: HK$580, $480, $380, $280 are available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.


Artists 
David Atherton, conductor [full biography] 
David Atherton is one of the most distinguished conductors of our era. His friend and mentor, Sir Georg Solti, appointed him Resident Conductor of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, for twelve years.  As a regular guest with the Metropolitan Opera in New York he gave over 250 performances. For 25 years he was the founder and director of the US Mainly Mozart Festival.  He has held titled positions with the BBC Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and, after eleven years as Music Director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic, was awarded the OBE and made the orchestra’s Conductor Laureate.

Augustin Hadelich, violin [full biography] 
Augustin Hadelich has firmly established himself as one of the great violinists of today. Showcasing a wide-ranging and adventurous repertoire, he is consistently cited for his phenomenal technique, soulful approach, and beauty of tone. He has performed with every major orchestra in North America, as well as an ever-growing number of orchestras around the world, including the Bavarian Radio Symphony, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic and London Philharmonic. He is the winner of a 2016 Grammy Award for his recording of Dutilleux’s Violin Concerto with the Seattle Symphony and Ludovic Morlot.

Ladies of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus [full biography] 
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus was established in 1980. Over the years it has collaborated with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in a range of works. In 2013 the Chorus undertook a new recruitment drive, and over 450 singers were attracted to attend 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 such as Britten, Mendelssohn, Beethoven and Haydn under renowned conductors including Lorin Maazel, Nicholas McGegan and Brett Weymark. 


HK PHIL'S 45th: DAVID ATHERTON｜THE PLANETS 
7 & 8 | 6 | 2019 
FRI & SAT 8PM
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$580 $480 $380 $280
Tickets are now available at URBTIX.
For ages 6 and above

Artists

Click the thumbnails to download press photos

David Atherton  Photo Credit: San	Augustin Hadelich  Photo Credit: Rosalie O'Connor
Ladies of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus  Photo Credit: Cheung Chi-wai/HK Phil	Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Photo Credit: Eric Hon/HK Phil

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