The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Announces its 2015/16 Season

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[22 May 2015, Hong Kong] The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) today announces its exciting 2015/16 Season with the theme A Celebration of Masters. Throughout this season Music Director Maestro Jaap van Zweden introduces many masters of music, offering Hong Kong audiences a huge array of varied programmes.

Jaap van Zweden said, “A great journey we began last season will continue in January – Wagner’s Ring Cycle. We will perform the second chapter of this work – Die Walküre. I cannot wait to bring our all-star cast to the stage of the Cultural Centre for its first Hong Kong performances. I also am delighted to bring a complete cycle of Beethoven’s symphonies in this season, as well as to conduct Swire Symphony Under the Stars. And I am delighted that Yu Long accepted my invitation to become our Principal Guest Conductor for three years, beginning this season.”

Highlights of the HK Phil’s 2015/16 season include:

Jaap van Zweden’s 2015/16 Programmes
Maestro Jaap van Zweden conducted the orchestra on an extremely successful European Tour earlier this year. In his fourth season as Music Director of the HK Phil, the maestro continues an exciting journey which explores many varied directions. He will direct the complete Beethoven Symphonic Cycle in Hong Kong in four dedicated programmes during November and December 2015. He will also continue to conduct the orchestra in concert performances of Wagner’s Ring Cycle, performing Die Walküre(21 & 23 January 2016).

Jaap van Zweden is world-famous for his conducting of Bruckner and he has recently completed the recording of a cycle of Bruckner symphonies to great critical acclaim. Over two consecutive weeks in June, Hong Kong audiences will hear Jaap van Zweden conducting Bruckner’s Symphony no. 4 (10 & 11 June 2016) and works with renowned international artists including Louis Lortie on Mozart’s Piano Concerto no. 22; and with Karen Gomyo on Bruch’s Violin Concertono. 1 (17 & 18 June 2016).

Jaap van Zweden Conducts Swire Symphony Under the Stars (21 November 2015)
In this season, Maestro Jaap van Zweden will conduct our biggest annual outdoor symphonic event, Swire Symphony Under The Stars on 21 November 2015 at the Central Harbourfront. Feel the power of Jaap van Zweden next to the spectacular harbour view of Hong Kong.

The Beethoven Symphonic Cycle is sponsored by QBE

New Principal Guest Conductor
The HK Phil’s Principal Guest Conductor from the 2015/16 Season, Yu Long will conduct two programmes with two of the world’s most loved artists – Maxim Vengerov in the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto in his Swire Maestro Series: Maxim Vengerov (18 & 19 December 2015); and JianWang in Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C in his Thus Spake Zarathustra concerts (1 & 2 April 2016).

Wagner’s Die Walküre
A great journey the HK Phil began last season will continue in January – Wagner’s Ring Cycle. Riding on the great success and huge acclaim of the Das Rheingold, the orchestra performs the second chapter of the work, Die Walküre (21 & 23 January 2016). Matthias Goerne returns as Wotan and Michelle DeYoung as Fricka. Other international members of the cast include Petra Lang as Brünnhilde, Stuart Skelton as Siegmund, and Heidi Melton as Sieglinde.

A Celebration of Masters
The HK Phil is honoured to have many international masters on stage in the 2015/16 season. These include Christoph Eschenbach (23 & 24 October 2015) who will conduct the HK Phil for the first time. Violinist Maxim Vengerov (18 & 19 December 2015) and cellist Jian Wang (1 & 2 April 2016) will also perform with the orchestra in the coming season.

Esteemed French conductor Yan Pascal Tortelier (21 & 22 May 2016) will return to conduct French masterpieces and a radiant tone poem by Strauss. Karen Gomyo (17 & 18 June 2016) will also return to play Bruch’s best-loved violin concerto, conducted by the HK Phil’s Music Director Jaap van Zweden.

Last but not least, Vladimir Ashkenazy (1 & 2 July 2016) will close the stunning season together with pianist Behzod Abduraimov.

New Music Experiences
The HK Phil is proud to present the iconic Tan Dun in our Season Opening Concerts (4 & 5 September 2015). He will conduct his own music including the mesmerising new work Nu Shu: The Secret Songs of Women, featuring film footage that captures the musical life and spirit of Nu Shu, a disappearing language with a long vocal tradition, created by women for women in Hunan, China, in the 13th Century.

Chen Qigang’s Instants d’un Opéra Pékin will be performed in Yu Long’s first concerts as Principal Guest Conductor of the HK Phil (18 & 19 December 2015). The HK Phil will participate as Ensemble in Residence for the HKUST’s Intimacy of Creativity 2016, in which Bright Sheng will conduct his Concerto for Violin and Orchestra, Let Fly (21 April 2016). Audiences will also have the opportunity to hear the première a new work by John Borstlap (17 & 18 June 2016), a co-commission of the HK Phil and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Jaap van Zweden.

Supported by The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, the HK Phil’s Composer-in-Residence Programme continues to commission young composers in creating new works and exploring links between Chinese culture and the western orchestra. The new work of Du Wei, the Composer-in-Residence of the year, will be premièred under the baton of Yu Long (1 & 2 April 2016).

Season Opening – Tan Dun’s Nu Shu is sponsored by Bank of China (Hong Kong)
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s Composer-in-Residence Programme is sponsored by The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation

Holidays & Pops
The HK Phil presents more fun-filled concerts during this new season. Cirque de la Symphonie (11 & 12 September 2015) combines all the fun of a circus with a full symphony orchestra! This is a concert of fun and super-human feats suitable for children and the whole family. Conducted by Gerard Salonga, the HK Phil is proud to present Ivana Wong (16 & 17 October 2015) on the stage of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre for a selection of her greatest hits, specially arranged for symphony orchestra.

Coming from the Emmy-winning team behind Bugs Bunny at the Symphony, conductor George Daugherty leads the HK Phil in music from Rodgers & Hammerstein on Stage and Screen (12 & 13 February 2016). The HK Phil will play highlights of these epic film and stage scores, while the visuals play out in all their glory on the big screen. Conductor Benjamin Northey takes the orchestra and audiences on an extraordinary cinematic journey to the ends of the earth to witness the extreme conditions in the polar regions at the BBC Frozen Planet in Concert (3 & 4 June 2016).

Cirque de la Symphonie is sponsored by Quantum China

Swire Denim and Swire Sunday Family Series
Our Swire Denim Series brings different styles of music together for Hong Kong’s busy urbanites. These relaxed concerts start at 9pm. Meet cool trio Time for Three (8 & 9 April 2016) and Director of the Boston Pops Orchestra Keith Lockhart for a jazz-flavoured Swire Denim. Following our success with City Lights, Charlie Chaplin returns to our stage with his hilarious film Gold Rush (13 & 14 May 2016). These concerts are also available on Sundays in the Swire Sunday Family Series, with fun activities for children before and after the performance.

Case Scaglione brings an intriguing programme to the Swire Denim Series, music of Baroque inspiration in Bach and Beyond, including Ligeti’s Violin Concerto, with soloist Caroline Goulding. (24 & 25 June 2016).

Other Music for Kids
Families looking for entertainment should not miss out on these exciting programmes. In Harry Potter in Concert (18 & 19 September 2015), you can race across the night sky with the HK Phil to Hogwarts Academy to relive the wonder of Harry Potter’s epic stories as told by Dandi Theatre Group and narrators Doug McKeag and Braden Griffiths.

Hong Kong’s own Elim Chan, first female winner of the Donatella Flick LSO Conducting Competition in December 2014, will join Harry Wong with new fun, new magic and wonderful music to celebrate the joy of Christmas in Harry Wong’s Christmas (23 & 24 December 2015).

Classics
One of the great conductors of our time, Christoph Eschenbach, will conduct Brahms’ Symphony no. 1 (23 & 24 October 2015), with guest pianist Tzimon Barto playing Gershwin’sPiano Concerto in F. Baroque virtuoso Benjamin Bayl will direct the HK Phil from the harpsichord for all six of Bach’s immortal Brandenburg Concertos (5 & 6 February 2016). Jun Märkl returns to conduct Bartόk’s Concerto for Orchestra, and Anna Fedorova will be playing Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto no. 2 (15 & 16 April 2016).

Conductor Courtney Lewis makes his HK Phil debut, with bass-baritone Jonathan Lemalu and the HK Phil Chorus in William Walton’s powerful telling of Belshazzar’s Feast. In the same concert, the HK Phil’s Principal Flute Megan Sterling will perform Reinecke’s Flute Concerto (29 & 30 April 2016). David Atherton brings three great Russian works to our stage, including the beguiling tales of the Arabian Nights in music, Scheherazade (27 & 28 May 2016).

Rachmaninov 2 is sponsored by The Macallan

Online Subscription
Online Subscription is launched allowing music lovers to subscribe to their favourite concert series with their fingertips. Simply visit www.hkphil.org/1516 and follow the steps.

Other Important Initiatives of the HK Phil

Jockey Club Keys To Music Education Programme
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s widely-acclaimed education programme brings beautiful music and fun experiences to over 40,000 students every year. With the support of a 3-year sponsorship by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, we promote orchestral music and invest in Hong Kong’s musical future through the following purpose-designed activities including schools concerts, share the stage, ensemble visits, instrumental master classes and teachers’ seminars.
ktm.hkphil.org

Jockey Club Keys To Music Education Programme is exclusively sponsored by The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust

The Tung Foundation – Young Audience Scheme
Our Young Audience Scheme has been running for 18 years to offer young people aged between 6 and 18 the chance to know the HK Phil. Members can buy tickets at special discounts, attend selected concerts and events for free, save on their shopping with participating merchants, and have heaps of fun! A Young Audience membership is the perfect gift of music for your child.
yas.hkphil.org

The Young Audience Scheme is sponsored by The Tung Foundation

The HK Phil – OCBC Wing Hang Community Concert
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra – OCBC Wing Hang Community Concert will be held in Tsuen Wan Town Hall on 31 October 2015 as a FREE performance to the community. The HK Phil will collaborate with local community groups to inspire children’s creativity through classical music, allowing a platform for music appreciation and students’ participation. Stay tuned for more details at
hkphil.org

The HK Phil – OCBC Wing Hang Community Concert is sponsored by OCBC Wing Hang Bank

Club Bravo
Club Bravo builds bridges between our orchestra and lovers of symphonic music who desire a closer relationship with the HK Phil. Club Bravo members can enjoy exclusive access to a side of the orchestra not usually seen by an audience, including backstage visits, meet-the-artist sessions, open rehearsals and much more. Members also enjoy special privileges including ticket discounts, priority booking, regular updates of HK Phil news and concert information, and a dedicated hotline.
bravo.hkphil.org

Maestro Circle
Maestro Circle of the HK Phil is an exclusive corporate membership club for the music lover and business community. Be a member of the Maestro Circle to expose your brand by being associated with the leading orchestra in Asia, and increase the reach to your target customers. Contact our development department for more information.
development@hkphil.org

Connect with Us!
The HK Phil’s informative website hkphil.org offers the latest concert and ticketing information. Music lovers can also stay tuned through the HK Phil’s updates on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/HKPhil, Twitter at www.twitter.com/hkphilharmonicand Sina Weibo at www.weibo.com/hkpo. Video from the HK Phil is also available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/HKPhilharmonic

Radio and TV Broadcast by Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK)
Music lovers can enjoy some of the most memorable performances by the HK Phil through the broadcasts of Radio Television Hong Kongwhich connect the HK Phil with an audience in all parts of the world.

The HK Phil would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the following partners for their support:
The Government of the HKSAR
Principal Patron SWIRE
Venue Partner Hong Kong Cultural Centre
 

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
Music Director: Jaap van Zweden

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) has recently returned from an extremely successful five-country, seven-city tour of Europe, with concerts in London, Vienna, Zurich, Eindhoven, Birmingham, Berlin and Amsterdam. Most concerts were sold out, there were standing ovations, and the reviews were universally positive. The concert in Vienna’s Musikverein was filmed for future broadcast on TV. With a history stretching back to 1895, when it was formed as the Sino-British Orchestra, the HK Phil was re-named in 1957 and became fully professional in 1974.

Thanks to significant subsidy from the Hong Kong Government and long-term funding from Principal Patron Swire, the Hong Kong Jockey Club and other supporters, the HK Phil now boasts a full-time annual schedule of classical music concerts, pops concerts, an extensive education programme, and collaborations for staged opera with Opera Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Arts Festival.

Conductors and soloists who have recently performed with the orchestra include Vladimir Ashkenazy, Ning Feng, Matthias Goerne, Lang Lang, Yu Long, Yundi Li, the late Lorin Maazel, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Yuja Wang and Edo de Waart, the HK Phil’s previous Music Director.

The HK Phil promotes the work of Hong Kong and Chinese composers through an active commissioning programme, and has released recordings featuring Tan Dun and Bright Sheng, each conducting their own compositions, on the Naxos label. Its acclaimed community engagement programme brings music to ten of thousands of children annually.

This season is Jaap van Zweden’s third as Music Director of the HK Phil. With him, the orchestra is undertaking major expansion and new projects, including the first-ever performances by a Hong Kong or mainland Chinese orchestra of Wagner’s The Ring of the Nibelung. The four operas are being performed, one a year, in concert and recorded live for the Naxos label.

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, foster access to classical music and stimulate cultural participation in Hong Kong, and to enhance Hong Kong’s reputation as one of the great cities of the world.

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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