HK Phil's Romeo & Juliet
Two Interpretations by Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev (20 & 21 June)

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[11 June 2014, Hong Kong] William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is not only one of the best-loved plays in history, but also a source of profound inspiration for composers. The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) and conductor Yu Long will bring to the stage of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on 20 & 21 June two different takes on this tragic story of the “star-crossed lovers” by two important Russian composers, Tchaikovsky and Prokofiev. The concerts also feature award-winning star violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja in Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto no. 2.

Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet - Fantasy Overture is an achingly beautiful vision of Shakespeare’s story, containing perhaps Tchaikovsky’s greatest love theme, frequently quoted in romantic scenes in film and television. Audiences will also hear selections from Prokofiev’s powerful ballet score, Romeo and Juliet. Many will know The Montagues and Capulets from the TV programme The Apprentice. It also features in the highly popular Japanese drama Nodame Cantabile.

2013 Gramophone Record of the Year award winner and 2014 Royal Philharmonic Society Instrumentalist of the Year Patricia Kopatchinskaja will be playing Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto no. 2. Written in 1935, this was the composer’s last new work before he made his return from exile to Soviet Russia. It is a wonderful mix of driving rhythms and soaring melodies, of traditional ideas and revolutionary harmonies.

Masterworks: Romeo & Julietwill be held on 20 & 21June 2014 (Fri & Sat), 8PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets priced: $400, $300, $220, $140, are now available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call 2721 2332 or visit www.hkphil.org.

Free Pre-concert talks given by Prof. QIN Rong, Professor of Sibelius Academy of Music and Concert Pianist, will be held at 7:15pm on 20 June (English) & 21 June (Cantonese) respectively at AC2, 4/F, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

Artists
Yu Long, conductor [full biography]
Artistic Director of China Philharmonic Orchestra and Music Director of Shanghai and Guangzhou Symphonies Yu Long also appeared with leading orchestras including New York Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony. He has been awarded the Chevalier dans L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (France) and L’onorificenza di commendatore (Italy).

Patricia Kopatchinskaja, violin [full biography]
Patricia Kopatchinskaja is the winner of the 2014 Royal Philharmonic Society (RPS) Instrumentalist of the Year. She was also awarded the Gramophone Record of the Year in 2013 and Praetorius Musikpreis Niedersachsen Award in 2012.

Masterworks: Romeo & Juliet
20 & 21 | 6 | 2014
FRI & SAT 8PM
HK Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$400 $300 $220 $140
Tickets now available at URBTIX
For ages 6 and above

Click the thumbnail to download photos
Patricia Kapatchinskaja Photo Credit: Marco Borggreve	Yu Long	HK Philharmonic Orchestra Photo Credit: Keith Hiro / 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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