Hong Kong Philharmonic’s New Music Director Jaap van Zweden
Leads the Orchestra and Violinist Ning Feng in His Inaugural Concert
Opening Performance Sponsored by Sunwah Group
29 September Performance Sponsored by Wing Lung

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[28 September 2012 – Hong Kong] Hong Kong Philharmonic (HK Phil) welcomed new Music Director Jaap van Zwedenwho performed in his inaugural concert with the HK Phil tonight (28 Sept). It marked not only a new era for the HK Phil with its new Music Director and a new brand, but also the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR. Tonight’s concert was sponsored by Sunwah Group and the 29 September performance is sponsored by Wing Lung Bank.
 

The World Première of Conrad Tao’s Pangu, commissioned by the HKPO, marked the beginning of Maestro van Zweden’s directorship. Acclaimed violinist Ning Feng dazzled the capacity audience with the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto, and the concert concluded with Beethoven’s Symphony No.7.
 

Before the concert an opening ceremony and cocktail reception took place officiated by Guest of Honour, Mr Tsang Tak Sing, Secretary for Home Affairs. Other officiating guests included Maestro Jaap van Zweden, Mr Y.S. Liu, Chairman of the Board of Governors, HKPO, Dr Jonathan Choi, Chairman of Sunwah Group, Mrs Janice Choi, Chairperson of the Fundraising Committee, HKPO, Mr Yang Jian-ping, Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in HKSAR, Mr Hong Xiao-yong, Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in HKSAR and Mr Peter Kilgour, Group Finance Director of Swire Pacific Limited.
 

Many of the city’s luminaries joined the celebration including Mr Paul Chan, Secretary of Development, Ms Elsie Leung Oi-sie, former Secretary for Justice, Mr Tam Chi Yuen, Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs, Mr Simon Y.L. Peh, Commissioner of ICAC, Mr Cheung Chi-kong, Non-Official Members of Executive Council, Mr David Chiu, Mrs Eleanor Morris, Ms Anita Tang and many more.

Concert Programme

Media Photos (please click the thumbnail to download the images)

01.	Mr Y.S. Liu delivers the Welcoming Speech (Photo: Cheung Chi-wai)

02.	Dr Jonathan Choi delivers his speech (Photo: Keith Hiro)

03.	(From the left) Mrs Janice Choi, Mr Hong Xiao-yong, Mr Yang Jian-ping, Dr Jonathan Choi, Mr Y.S. Liu,
	Mr Tsang Tak Sing, Maestro Jaap van Zweden and Mr Peter Kilgour (Photo: Cheung Chi-wai)

04.	(From the left) Mrs Janice Choi, Mr Hong Xiao-yong, Mr Yang Jian-ping, Dr Jonathan Choi, Mr Y.S. Liu,
	Mr Tsang Tak Sing, Maestro Jaap van Zweden and Mr Peter Kilgour (Photo: Keith Hiro)

05.	Maestro Jaap van Zweden leads the HK Phil and violinist Ning Feng in Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto (Photo: Keith Hiro)

06.	(From the left) Mr Hong Xiao-yong, Dr Jonathan Choi, Mr John Tsang, Mr Tsang Tak Sing and Mrs Janice Choi (Photo: Cheung Chi-wai)

07.	Maestro Jaap van Zweden and the Hong Kong Philharmonic (Photo: Cheung Chi-wai)

HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC
Music Director: Jaap van Zweden

The Hong Kong Philharmonic is a vital part of Hong Kong’s cultural life, as the city’s largest and busiest musical organisation. In 2013/14 the HK Phil will celebrate its 40th professional season, but its roots are well over a century old. The HK Phil has now evolved to become 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 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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