Replacement Conductors for the HK Phil’s Lorin Maazel Fest

Download HERE
 

[12 September 2014, Hong Kong] Following the death in July of Maestro Lorin Maazel, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (“HK Phil”) announces that the following conductors have kindly agreed to take up the baton at short notice and conduct the orchestra for its concerts in November:

The three concerts are sponsored by QBE Insurance.

The Hong Kong Cultural Centre – Celebrating 25 Years (7 Nov 2014)
Perry So will conduct the concert “Hong Kong Cultural Centre – Celebrating 25 Years” on 7 Nov 2014. Born in Hong Kong in 1982, Perry So was an inaugural Dudamel Conducting Fellow at the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. He received the first and special prizes at the Fifth International Prokofiev Conducting Competition in 2008. Previously Assistant Conductor of the HK Phil, he also held the post of Associate Conductor from 2010-2012. He has conducted the London and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestras, the Royal Danish Theatre Orchestra, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra Taiwan, the State Symphony Orchestra of Russia, and many other distinguished ensembles. This season he makes debut appearances with the Cleveland Orchestra and the China Philharmonic Orchestra.

This celebratory concert, marking the birthday of Hong Kong’s main cultural venue, will feature Hong Kong’s most promising musical talents, including rising star pianist Rachel Cheung, already a laureate of numerous international piano competitions. The Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus and The Learners Chorus will also perform best-loved choral music with the HK Phil.

The repertoire performed will remain unchanged:

Brahms 4 & 1 (12 Nov 2014) and Brahms 3 & 2 (15 Nov 2014)
David Atherton will conduct two concerts of music by Johannes Brahms, including a complete symphonic cycle: Brahms 4 & 1 on 12 Nov 2014 and Brahms 3 & 2 on 15 Nov 2014, in tribute to Maestro Lorin Maazel. David Atherton is one of the most distinguished conductors of our era. His friend and mentor, Sir Georg Solti, appointed him Resident Conductor of the Royal Opera House in London where he was the youngest conductor in history to debut. As a regular guest with the Metropolitan Opera in New York, he has worked with some of the world’s greatest superstars such as Renée Fleming, Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti. He has held titled positions with the BBC Symphony and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestras and the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. After eleven years as Music Director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, he was made the orchestra’s Conductor Laureate and awarded the OBE by Her Majesty The Queen, in recognition of his services to music in Hong Kong.

The advertised repertoire for the concerts will remain unchanged:

[Full bios of David Atherton and Perry So]

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
Music Director: Jaap van Zweden

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) is the city’s largest and busiest musical organisation and is a vital part of Hong Kong’s cultural life. With its roots stretching back well over a century, the HK Phil made its professional début in 1974. It 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 200,000 music lovers. Through its acclaimed education programme, over 40,000 young people have learned about orchestral music last year. 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.

The Swire Group has been the Principal Patron of the HK Phil since 2006. Through this sponsorship, which is the largest in the orchestra’s history, Swire also endeavours to promote artistic excellence, provide access and stimulate cultural participation in Hong Kong, and to enhance Hong Kong’s reputation as one of the great cities of the world.

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

# # #