Kolja Blacher Directs the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in
Two of Bach’s Celebrated Violin Concertos

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[6 April 2011 – Hong Kong] Violin virtuoso Kolja Blacherreturns! Following the success of his performances with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO) in 2005, 2007 and 2009, Blacher will once again direct the Orchestra from his violin in two of Bach’s famous Violin Concertos, as well as Mozart’s Symphony No.35 Haffner and Shostakovich’s Chamber Symphony.

Mozart+: 'The Singing Violin' will be held on 27 & 28 April 2012 (Fri & Sat), 8pm in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Free pre-concert talks will be given on both nights at 7:15pm, also at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

Kolja Blacher, director / violin

'A world-class violin soloist'

--- Fono Forum, German Magazine

Born in Berlin, Kolja Blacher received his first violin lesson at the age of four. He later went to Juilliard School of Music in New York where he studied with Dorothy DeLay, and then to Salzburg where he studied with Sandor Vegh. Following his first concert with the "Deutsche Sinfonie Orchester Berlin" at the age of seventeen, he made his début with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra in 1988, which marked the beginning of a truly remarkable and diverse career.

As a soloist Blacher has performed with significant orchestras worldwide, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Dresden Philharmonic, Munich Philharmonic, the NDR and the WDR Symphony, 'Gewandhausorchester Leipzig', Yomiuri Nippon Orchestra Tokyo, KBS Orchestra Seoul, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Hallé Orchestra Manchester, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony, Symphony Orchestra St. Gallen, Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, Oslo Filharmonien and the Real Filarmonica de Galicia.

More recently 'Play-Direct' concerts have captured Blacher's interest. Leading the orchestra from the desk of the concertmaster, he has worked regularly with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, the Festival Strings Lucerne, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Camerata Bern, and the Orchestra of the "Komische Oper" in Berlin.

Blacher plays on the 'Tritton' Stradivari made in 1730. It is on generous loan from Miss Kimiko Powers.

Programme
He was not just a great organist and composer, J S Bach was also a fine violinist. This concert gives us the special opportunity to hear his two great concertos for the instrument side-by-side. Come and experience the violin as it sings under the loving fingers of Kolja Blacher, who also leads the HKPO through two very different symphonies, one (by Mozart) written in a mood of celebration, the other (by Shostakovich) written when the composer was at his lowest ebb.

Mozart’s Haffner Symphony was composed in a great hurry. But the 35th symphony is an inspired work which Mozart told his father, needs to be played ‘with fire’. Shostakovich’s 8th string quartet was dedicated to victims of fascism and war – but like much of his music, its emotional core may well lie in the suffering that took place under Stalin. Rudolph Barshai arranged it as the Chamber Symphony – a sombre and moving work.

Mozart+: The Singing Violin
27&28 | 4 | 2012
FRI & SAT 8PM
HK Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$280 $200 $140 $100
Available at URBTIX from now

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Ticketing Information

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

For programme enquiry, please call HKPO at
(852) 2721 2030

HONG KONG PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Edo de Waart
Artistic Director and Chief Conductor

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO) is one of Asia’s leading orchestras. Enriching Hong Kong’s cultural life for over a century, the Orchestra has grown into a formidable ensemble of Chinese and international talents, attracting world-class artists to collaborate on its stage. The HKPO annually touches the lives of over 200,000 music lovers through more than 150 performances. Under the leadership of Artistic Director and Chief Conductor Edo de Waart, the HKPO has scaled new heights of musical excellence, and will continue to do so under the artistic leadership of Jaap van Zweden, the Orchestra’s Music Director from the 2012/13 season.

The HKPO stays in tune with our city by presenting the Orchestra in unexpected venues and bringing the excitement of the concert experience to every home through radio and television broadcasts including the largest symphonic event of the year, Swire Symphony under the Stars, at Happy Valley. The Orchestra runs a comprehensive schools education programme, HSBC Insurance Creative Notes, bringing the joy of classical music to primary, secondary and special school kids. The Orchestra also collaborates regularly with other performing arts organisations such as Opera Hong Kong in addition to its crossover series with Western and Chinese pop artists.

The Orchestra also builds its reputation and raises its artistic standards by touring. In September 2010, de Waart and the HKPO returned to China, performing at the Expo 2010 Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing to critical acclaim.

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 the Venue Partner of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre

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