Swire Symphony under the Stars Returns
Perry So Leads the Hong Kong Philharmonic in the Annual Grand Outdoor Concert on 9 November
At The Brand New Site – The New Central Harbourfront

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[12 October 2012 – Hong Kong]The much-awaited annual symphonic event – Swire Symphony under the Stars returns! This year, the Hong Kong Philharmonic (HK Phil), under the baton of conductor Perry So, will once again invite an audience of over 15,000 to the grand outdoor performance which will also launch The New Central Harbourfront. The inaugural event, to be held at the new grounds set at the very heart of Hong Kong, next to the world famous Victoria Harbour, will be played with the dazzling city-lights as beautiful backdrop to this annual musical extravaganza.
 

Looking at the beautiful harbour, the concert celebrates great music inspired by the waters faraway, from Scotland’s Hebrides to the grand Yangtze, as well as the fabulous skyline of our “Wonderful Town” with a jazz-filled tribute to the city-lights. Joining the HK Phil and Perry on stage will be another talent from Hong Kong, vocalist Fiona Hui, who will perform show tunes from Bernstein’s popular musical Wonderful Town.  

To follow this musical event’s past tradition of mass music-making, the 15,000 and more concert-goers are invited to bring their toy instruments to perform with the orchestra in the Toy Symphony.

Swire Symphony under the Stars will be held on 9 November 2012 (Friday), 7:30pm, at TheNew Central Harbourfront. Free tickets will be distributed from 10 am on 26 Oct (Fri) at the NINE selected Tom Lee Music Outletsor the event’s official website: suts.hkphil.org
 

About The New Central Harbourfront
The New Central Harbourfront comprises precious land created from harbour reclamation, signifying Central's final shoreline. Located at the centrepiece of Hong Kong, The New Central Harbourfront will create a world-class showpiece at the heart of our city which is vibrant, attractive, accessible and symbolic of Hong Kong.
 

Fiona Hui, vocalist [full biography]
Fiona Hui Prince has continually found great success with classical concert, opera and music theatre, as well as professional Christian and pop recordings. In the past 15 years, she has performed as a soloist in North America, Salzburg, Vienna, Prague, Japan, Beijing, Macau, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Singapore. Ms. Fiona holds a Bachelor’s degree from Chinese University of Hong Kong in Music and a Master’s degree from New York University in Vocal Performance. Her New York credits include: God lives in Glass at Provincetown Playhouse and Manhattan Theatre Club, Hair at Provincetown Play House, Miss Saigon in The Richard Perry Theatre, Hansel and Gretel at Fredrick Lowe Theatre, Concert of Excellent Jazz at Lincoln Centre, Magic Flute at Samuel J. Ethel and Lefrak Concert Hall, and Christian Classical and Modern Music Concerts at New York Merkin Hall. She has also performed across the US. Her national credits include: Miss Saigon at Massachusetts Foothill Theatre in Massachusetts and Minnesota Ted Paul Theater, and South Pacific as Liat at Virginia Wohlfahrt Theatre. Ms. Fiona was also the Principal Vocalist and MC in the show Golden Mickeys which is produced by Hong Kong Disney Theater at Storybook Theater. In 2008, New York Senator Martin Golden proudly presented her the Distinguished Citizen Award to appreciate her artistic contributions for the community.
 

Perry So, conductor [full biography]
Perry So received the first and special prizes at the Fifth International Prokofiev Conducting Competition held in St Petersburg in 2008, only the third time the top prize has been awarded. He was Musical America’s New Artist of the Month for October 2009. The following year he completed an extended nine-week residency with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, conducting four concerts and assisting Gustavo Dudamel, Lorin Maazel and Herbert Blomstedt, resulting in immediate re-invitation.
Perry has appeared with such orchestras as the London Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Royal Danish Theatre, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Japan, Seoul and Malaysian Philharmonics, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra Taiwan, New Zealand, Queensland and Asturias Symphony Orchestras, Zagreb Philharmonic and the State Symphony Orchestra of Russia.

Perry So was Assistant Conductor (2008-2010) and Associate Conductor (2010-2012) of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. He also founded and directs the Huangshan International Music Festival, set in the mountains of central China.

Notes to Editors:

Swire Symphony under the Stars
9 | 11 | 2012
7:30 PM (Gate opens at 5:30PM)
The New Central Harbourfront
Free Admission by Pre-registration
Audience aged 3 or above needs the ticket to attend the concert
Ticket registration starts from 10am on 26 Oct

Sponsor: Tom Lee Music
Media Partners: RTHK Television Division, RTHK Radio 4

Click the thumbnail to download photos

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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