Maestro Antoni Wit Leads the Hong Kong Philharmonic in
Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony
Argentinean Pianist Ingrid Fliter Makes Her Hong Kong Philharmonic
Début in Saint-Saëns’ Second Piano Concerto

Download HERE
 

[13 July 2012 – Hong Kong] One of the top-selling subscription concerts in season 2012/13, this exciting programme features Beethoven’s famed Third Symphony, which was inspired by Napoleon. The audiences to the 14 and 15 September performances will experience the heroic spirit and the glory of human nature under the baton of Maestro Antoni Wit , one of today’s best Beethoven interpreters. Argentinean pianist Ingrid Fliter makes her Hong Kong Philharmonic début in Saint-Saëns’ Piano Concerto No.2

Masterwork: “Eroica!” will be held on 14&15 September (Fri & Sat), 8pm, in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall.

Tickets, priced at $320, $240, $180, $120, will be available at URBTIX from 16 July 2012. Free pre-concert talks will be given both nights at 7:15pm, also at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.For enquiry, please contact us at 2721 2030.

Ingrid Fliter, piano [full biography]

“it is wonderful indeed to encounter a pianist of such exalted yet natural and unforced artistry”

--- Gramophone Magazine

Ingrid Fliter’s playing has been described as showing “poetic lyricism and electrifying, nimble virtuosity” and “attaining an incredible iridescent energy”. Her most recent release on EMI (Beethoven Sonatas) was greeted by the press with great warmth: “it is wonderful indeed to encounter a pianist of such exalted yet natural and unforced artistry” (“Editor’s Choice”, Gramophone Magazine.)

Winner of the 2006 Gilmore Artist Award, Ingrid Fliter now divides her time between Europe and the USA, where she works with orchestras such as the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, St Louis Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Her recent orchestral engagements around the world include the Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Bergen Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony, West Australian Symphony, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Hungarian National Philharmonic.

In recital, Ingrid Fliter has established a reputation as one of the pre-eminent interpreters of Chopin, her two all-Chopin discs on EMI underpinning this view. Her recording of the complete Chopin Waltzes elicited particular acclaim, receiving several five star reviews and was named The Telegraph’s “CD of the week” and Classic FM Magazine’s “Editor’s Choice”.

She has performed in recital in many of the great halls across the world – the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam; Tokyo’s Suntory Hall, London’s Wigmore Hall, New York’s Carnegie Hall, among others. Festival highlights include City of London Festival, the World Pianist Series in Tokyo, the Mostly Mozart and Aspen festivals.

Antoni Wit, conductor [full biography]
Antoni Wit is one of the most highly regarded Polish conductors, a champion of Polish music and General and Artistic Director of the Warsaw Philharmonic.His music directorship included Artistic Director with the Pomeranian Philharmonic, Artistic Director and First Conductor of the Radio Orchester in Krakow, Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria in Las Palmas, first as Music Director and then as Visiting Conductor. Between 1983-2000 he held the post of Director of the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra before taking up his current position at the Warsaw Philharmonic.

Antoni Wit has enjoyed an international career with major orchestras throughout Europe, America and the Far East. Past highlights have comprised Berliner Philharmoniker, Dresden Staatskapelle, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia and the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Recent and future orchestral engagements include Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart and Berlin Philharmonic, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Filarmonica della Scala, Prague Radio Symphony and Orchestre National de Lyon.

Five times Grammy Award nominated, Antoni Wit has made over one hundred and fifty recordings for EMI, Sony and Naxos. He has sold close to five million records on Naxos including an acclaimed release of Prokofiev’s piano concertos with Kun Woo Paik, awarded the Diapason d'Or.

Programme
The most heroic of composers, Beethoven, penned his Third Symphony with Napoleon in mind. It became a celebration of the ‘Heroic’ nature of all humanity. ‘Eroica’ inspires and thrills, and Polish conductor Antoni Wit is one of its greatest interpreters. Saint-Saëns’ Second Piano Concerto begins in homage to his hero Bach, but the mood nimbly changes to Parisian jollity for Argentinean pianist Ingrid Fliter. The concert begins with an anti-hero: the noble count who dares to go hunting on Sunday when he should be in church. Heaven’s punishment – he himself will be hunted by terrifying demons for all eternity!
 

Masterworks: Eroica!
14&15 | 9 | 2012
FRI & SAT 8PM
HK Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$320 $240 $180 $120
Available at URBTIX from 16 July
 

Click the thumbnail to download photos

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

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 a Venue Partner of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre

# # #