One of the most widely anticipated concerts by the HK Phil:
Ashkenazy and Gabetta Return to Play Elgar, and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition orchestrated by Ashkenazy (4 & 5 Apr)

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[20 March 2014, Hong Kong] The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) is happy to announce the return of Vladimir Ashkenazy and Sol Gabetta on stage with HK Phil to play Elgar and Ashkenazy’s own orchestrated Mussorgsky on 4 & 5 April 2014 at Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall.

“A talented and versatile musician, with a charming and generous personality, Vladimir Ashkenazy is equally at home in front of an orchestra as on a piano stool – and equally adored when at either.”

--- Classic FM

Vladimir Ashkenazy is one of the world’s iconic musicians. After a phenomenally successful career as a pianist he branched out into conducting at the peak of his fame. He will return to the Hong Kong podium, complete with trademark turtleneck sweater, to direct Elgar’s sunny evocation of Italy, In the South, and his own orchestration of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. Audience members can expect a different flavour in the Ashkenazy version, which brings out the Russian sonority of Mussorgsky’s masterpiece.

Sharing the stage will be Argentine-born cellist Sol Gabetta who won her first competition at the age of ten. Following her stunning performances with the HK Phil in 2011, this dazzling star returns by popular demand to play Elgar’s final masterpiece, the Cello Concerto. It was her recording of the Elgar which earned her one of her three ECHO Klassik Awards.

"Sol Gabetta’s Elgar Concerto is one of the best around, a heartfelt, tonally rounded performance... Hers is a softly spoken presence, especially beautiful in those infinitely sad modulations that fall towards the end of the piece"

--- Gramophone Magazine

Ashkenazy and Gabetta Return will be held on 4 & 5 April 2014 (Fri & Sat), 8PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Free pre-concert talks given by renowned musicologist Dr. Joanna C. Lee in English (Fri, 4 Apr) and in Cantonese (Sat, 5 Apr), will be held on both nights at 7:15pm in AC2 located at the 4/F, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced: $480, $320, $220, $160 are now available at URBTIX. Only limited tickets are available. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit www.hkphil.org.

Artists
Vladimir Ashkenazy, conductor [full biography]
One of the few artists who has combined a successful career as a pianist and conductor, Vladimir Ashkenazy first came to world prominence in the 1955 Chopin Competition and the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 1956.

In 2009 he was appointed Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor of Sydney Symphony and collaborates on extensive recording projects and international touring. He has previously held posts as Chief Conductor of the Czech Philharmonic and Music Director of the NHK Symphony. Ashkenazy continues his longstanding relationship with Philharmonia Orchestra (Conductor Laureate since 2000). In addition to world tours, he also developed landmark international projects such as ‘Prokofiev and Shostakovich Under Stalin’.

Sol Gabetta [full biography]
Internationally acclaimed since her 2004 début with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and Valery Gergiev, and winner of the Crédit Suisse Young Artist Award, cellist Sol Gabetta has worked with ensembles including the Philadelphia, City of Birmingham Symphony, Royal Philharmonic and the Bolshoi orchestras. She works regularly with conductors Giovanni Antonini, Mario Venzago, Charles Dutoit and Thomas Hengelbrock.

Ashkenazy and Gabetta Return
4 & 5 | 4 | 2014
FRI & SAT 8PM
HK Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$480 $320 $220 $160
Tickets available at URBTIX now
For ages 6 and above

Click the thumbnail to download photos
Vladimir Ashkenazy Photo Credit: Keith Saunders	Sol Gabetta Photo Credit: Uwe Arens	Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Photo credit:Cheung Chi Wai / HK Phil

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

For programme enquiry, please call HK Phil at
+852 2721 2332
Or go on our website:
www.hkphil.org

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
Music Director: Jaap van Zweden

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is the city’s largest and busiest musical organisation and is a vital part of Hong Kong’s cultural life. This season it celebrates its 40th professional season, but its roots stretch back well over a century. The HK Phil has now evolved into 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 attracting over 200,000 music lovers. Featuring an enviable roster of international conductors and soloists, the HK Phil performs a broad variety of music, 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 in the last year.

The Swire Group Charitable Trust has been the Principal Patron of the HK Phil since 2006. Swire’s enlightened support, the most generous in the orchestra’s history, continues to enable the orchestra to reach towards high artistic goals.

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

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

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