Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Presents 
Two Swire Denim Series Concerts
Featuring Popular Film Music and Symphonic Fairy Tale to 
Comfort Your Soul
Celebrating John Williams (25 & 26 February)
Merregnon: Land of Silence (17 & 18 March)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: 
Dennis Wu
Director of Marketing 
Tel: (852) 2721 9035
Email: dennis.wu@hkphil.org 

Emily Hui
Media Relations and Communications Manager
Tel: (852) 2721 1585
Email: emily.hui@hkphil.org

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[3 February 2023, Hong Kong] Swire Denim Series returns!From February to March 2023, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) will present two concerts of the series, with all-time favourite film music by renowned Hollywood film music composer John Williams on 25 & 26 February 2023, and the Asia premier of an original symphonic fairy tale named Merregnon: Land of Silence featuring delightful music and on-screen illustrations on 17 & 18 March 2023, respectively. Tickets are now available at URBTIX and POPTICKET. Join the HK Phil for these family-friendly concerts, and let your imagination bloom in the musical journey to the worlds of fantasy!

Swire Denim Series: Celebrating John Williams (25 & 26 February)

Conducted by Benjamin Northey, this programme is dedicated to the greatest of all film-composers – John Williams. Music includes Jaws, Schindler’s List, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, E.T., Jurassic Park and Star Wars. This concert also features HK Phil Principal Tuba Paul Luxenberg in the third movement of Williams’ Tuba Concerto.

“Swire Denim Series: Celebrating John Williams”will be held on 25 February 2023 (Sat) at 3PM in the Tuen Mun Town Hall Auditorium with tickets priced at HK$420, $320 and $220 and on 26 February 2023 (Sun) at 3PM & 8PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall with tickets priced at HK$480, $380 and $280. Tickets for the three performances are available at URBTIX and POPTICKET. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.

Swire Denim Series: Merregnon: Land of Silence (17 & 18 March)

Performed with delightful music, narration, and illustrations, Merregnon: Land of Silence presents the wonder of a symphony to a broad audience, with a special focus on younger people, families and video game fans. Featuring original music by internationally-renowned composer Yoko Shimomura (famous for her work on Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy XV), and a story by popular German children’s author Frauke Angel, Merregnon: Land of Silence tells of orphan Miru, who along with her childhood friend Hikito and faithful dog Mako, set out on an unforgettable adventure to discover what ails the mysteriously silent land of Merregnon. The concert is conducted by Lorenzo Iosco and hosted by Vivek Mahbubani.

“Swire Denim Series: Merregnon: Land of Silence”will be held on 17 March 2023 (Fri) at 8PM and 18 March 2023 (Sat) at 3PM in the Tuen Mun Town Hall Auditorium. Tickets priced at HK$300 and $250 are available at URBTIX and POPTICKET. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.

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Artists

Swire Denim Series: Celebrating John Williams

Benjamin Northey, conductor [full description]

Australian conductor Benjamin Northey is the Chief Conductor of the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra and the Principal Conductor in Residence of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. Previously Resident Guest Conductor of the Australia Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra (2002-2006) and Principal Conductor of the Melbourne Chamber Orchestra (2007-2010), Limelight Magazine named him Australian Artist of the Year in 2018. Northey also appears regularly as a guest conductor with all major Australian symphony orchestras. In 2022, he conducts the Christchurch and New Zealand Symphony Orchestras and all six Australian state symphony orchestras.

Paul Luxenberg, tuba [full description]

Principal Tuba of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra since 2001, Californian tuba player Paul Luxenberg is also faculty member at Hong Kong Baptist University, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Having earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s at The Juilliard School, he has worked with the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras, Los Angeles and Moscow Chamber Orchestras, Melbourne, Singapore, and Kyushu Symphony Orchestras, Chicago the Musical (Hollywood), Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, American and Manhattan Brass Quintets.

Swire Denim Series: Merregnon: Land of Silence

Lorenzo Iosco, conductor [full description]

Lorenzo Iosco is an Italian clarinettist and conductor based in Hong Kong where he is a member of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been a member at Madrid Opera House Teatro Real in Spain and London Symphony Orchestra respectively. As soloist, he performed all major clarinet repertoire in Europe and Asia. He is also the founder and Artistic Director of Ensemble Ubertini, a chamber orchestra based in Tuscany. In 2021, Lorenzo made his conducting debut with the HK Phil.

Vivek Mahbubani, presenter [full description]

Vivek Mahbubani is a Hong Kong-bred bilingual stand-up comedian performing in both Cantonese and English. Having been crowned the Funniest Person (in Chinese category) in Hong Kong in 2007, followed by his victory in the English category at the Hong Kong International Comedy Competition in 2008, Mahbubani has taken his sense of humour all over the world. Having been ranked as the top comedian in Hong Kong, in 2014, the World Famous Laugh Factory in the US ranked Vivek as one of the top ten comedians in their annual Funniest Person in the World Competition.

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SWIRE DENIM SERIES: CELEBRATING JOHN WILLIAMS

25 | 2 | 2023

SAT 3PM

Tuen Mun Town Hall Auditorium

HK$420 $320 $220

26 | 2 | 2023

SUN 3PM & 8PM

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

HK$480 $380 $280

Tickets now available at URBTIX and POPTICKET

For ages 6 and above

Artists

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SWIRE DENIM SERIES: MERREGNON: LAND OF SILENCE  

17 & 18 | 3 | 2023

FRI 8PM

SAT 3PM

Tuen Mun Town Hall Auditorium

HK$300 $250

Tickets now available at URBTIX and POPTICKET

For ages 3 and above

Artists

Programme

Live orchestra performance with illustrations

Narrated in Cantonese with English subtitles