Hong Kong Philharmonic’s “Lorin Maazel Fest”:
- Jockey Club Keys to Music Education Programme – “Share the Stage” (28 Oct)
- “The Ring Without Words” (1&2 Nov)
- “War Requiem” (7 Nov)

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[18 October 2013, Hong Kong] Hong Kong Philharmonic is proud to welcome the world renowned conductor Lorin Maazel in a two-week celebration, entitled “Lorin Maazel Fest”, exclusively sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust. In Lorin Maazel’s first appearance with the HK Phil, there will be two wonderful programmes, “The Ring Without Words” and “War Requiem”, as well as Jockey Club Keys to Music Education Programme - “Share the Stage”.

“The Ring Without Words” marks the 200th anniversary of Richard Wagner’s birth. Lorin Maazel will conduct the HK Phil in The Ring Without Words, his own selection of greatest highlights from the titanic Ring Cycle – 18 hours of music distilled into a compelling symphonic work. To start this concert, Maestro Maazel will conduct Wagner at his most intimate – the delightful Siegfried Idyll, performed as Wagner first intended, on a staircase in a surprise ‘at-home’ concert for his beloved wife Cosima; 143 years later, HK Phil will recreate this historical moment by performing this work on the staircase in the foyer of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

Making the centenary of Benjamin Britten’s birth, “War Requiem” features one powerful work, the War Requiem, composed by Benjamin Britten for the reconstruction of Coventry Cathedral, which had been destroyed by an air raid during World War II. Combining war-poet Wilfred Owen’s verses about life in the trenches and traditional Requiem liturgy, Britten made an enduring statement on the folly and destruction caused by war. Joining Lorin Maazel and HK Phil on stage for this first-ever performance of this work in Hong Kong will be soprano Nancy Gustafson, tenor Andrew Kennedy, baritone Christian Gerhaher, the HK Phil Chorus, the Learners Chorus and the Hong Kong Children’s Choir.

InJockey Club Keys to Music Education Programme - “Share the Stage”, Lorin Maazel will conduct a public working session featuring the overture to Wagner’s The Mastersingers of Nuremberg, performed by a side-by-side orchestra of HK Phil musicians and Hong Kong’s own young instrumentalists, who have auditioned and been selected online. Maestro Maazel will also be in conversation with Michael MacLeod, Chief Executive of the HK Phil, sharing his experiences and insights into music.

“Lorin Maazel Fest: The Ring Without Words” will be held on 1&2 Nov 2013(Fri & Sat), 7:45PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Foyer and Concert Hall. Tickets priced: $680, $480, $320, $220 are now available at URBTIX.“Lorin Maazel Fest: War Requiem” will be held on 7 Nov (Thu), 8PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets priced: $680, $480, $320, $220 are now available at URBTIX. “Share the stage with Lorin Maazel and the HK Phil Public Working Session” will be held on 28 Oct 2013 (Mon), 7:30PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. For Enquiries, please call 2721 2030 or visit www.hkphil.org

Maestro Lorin Maazel conducts HK Phil thanks to a generous donation from The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust.

Artists

Lorin Maazel, conductor [full biography]
For over five decades, Lorin Maazel has been one of the world’s most esteemed and sought-after conductors. Between 2005 and 2011 he was the inaugural Music Director of the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia. He was Music Director of the New York Philharmonic from 2002 to 2009, and currently holds the same post with the Munich Philharmonic. Devoted to the training of young musicians, Maestro Maazel founded the acclaimed Castleton Festival in Virginia, a ground-breaking training programme and opera festival for young artists. The Hong Kong Philharmonic is proud to be working with Maestro Maazel for the first time.

Nancy Gustafson, soprano[full biography]
Nancy Gustafson has performed in most of the leading opera hourse of the world including the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and Teatro alla Scala, Milan. She made her European operatic début at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris as Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus and followed this with débuts at the Bavarian State Opera and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, in Wagner’s Ring. Born in Evanston, Illinois, she studied at Mount Holyoke College and Northwestern University.

Andrew Kennedy, tenor[full biography]
Andrew Kennedy studied at King’s College, Cambridge and the Royal College of Music in London. He was a member of the Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden where he performed many solo principal roles. Andrew has won numerous prizes and awards including the 2005 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World – Rosenblatt Recital Prize. He is a Borletti – Buitoni Trust Award winner and won the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artists’ Award in 2006. He was also a member of BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artists Scheme.

Christian Gerhaher, baritone [full biography]
A highly sought-after opera singer, Christian Gerhaher has performed in The Magic Flute at the Salzburg Festival under Riccardo Muti, and appeared as Wolfram in Tannhäuser at the Teatro Real, Madrid, Vienna State Opera and Munich State Opera, and in 2010 at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, for which he received a Laurence Olivier Award (2011). In 2010, Gerhaher was voted Singer of the Year by Opernwelt.

Lorin Maazel Fest: The Ring Without Words
1&2 | 11 | 2013
FRI & SAT 7:45PM
HK Cultural Centre Foyer and Concert Hall
HK$680 $480 $320 $220
Available at URBTIX now
For ages 6 and above
 

Lorin Maazel Fest: War Requiem
7 | 11 | 2013
THU 8PM
HK Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$680 $480 $320 $220
Available at URBTIX now
For ages 6 and above
 

Share the Stage with Lorin Maazel and the HK Phil
28 | 10 | 2013
MON 7:30PM
HK Cultural Centre Concert Hall
 

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Ticketing Information
Credit Card Booking
(852) 2111 5999
Online Booking
www.urbtix.hk

For programme enquiry, please call HK Phil at
(852) 2721 2030
Or go on our website:
www.hkphil.org

Hong Kong Philharmonic
Music Director: Jaap van Zweden

As the city’s largest and busiest musical organisation, the Hong Kong Philharmonic is a vital part of Hong Kong’s cultural life. In 2013/14 the HK Phil celebrates its 40th professional season, but its roots stretch back well over a century. The HK Phil has now evolved into an orchestral powerhouse of the region, and an acclaimed cultural centrepiece of Asia’s World City.

The HK Phil is founded on the belief that a great city deserves a great orchestra. Annually it presents over 150 concerts for 200,000 music lovers. Featuring an enviable roster of international and local artists, 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 last year.

The HK Phil’s members come from every corner of the globe, joining its 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 recently commenced a multi-CD recording project for Naxos, featuring works by Chinese composers.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic is financially supported by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
SWIRE is the Principal Patron of the Hong Kong Philharmonic

The Hong Kong Philharmonic is a Venue Partner of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre

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