The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is Back to the Stage
with a New Line-up of Programmes

20 APR 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Dennis Wu

Director of Marketing

Tel: (852) 2721 9035

Emily Hui
Media Relations and Communications Manager
Tel: (852) 2721 1585
Email: emily.hui@hkphil.org

[20 April 2022, Hong Kong] The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) is thrilled to return to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Let’s continue our musical journey and harbour a love for music!

The Swire Classic Insights Series on 29 & 30 April, presented by HK Phil musicians, will introduce the fabulous music of three great composers – Ravel, Beethoven and Prokofiev. On 6 & 7 May, rising Finnish conductor, Taavi Oramo, presents a series of sea-themed masterpieces from Debussy, Sibelius, Takemitsu, John Williams and Heta Aho. Alongside Hong Kong-born pianist, Aristo Sham, the HK Phil will present an all-Mendelssohn programme on 13 & 14 May. Finally, Blue Planet II Live In Concert (HK Premiere) conducted by Joshua Tan, will be held on 20 - 22 May; experience the vivid sounds of our wonderful world with live orchestra and spectacular visuals!

Tickets are limited; act quickly to snap up the tickets!

Swire Classic Insights Series: Meet Your Composers (29 & 30 April)

Swire Classic Insights is a series of free concerts with programmes designed thematically to introduce a variety of music. Members of the HK Phil will guide the audience with live commentaries and physical demonstrations to offer a deeper appreciation of masterpieces by three great composers – Ravel, Beethoven and Prokofiev – in three concerts. Conductors Lorenzo Iosco and Andrew Ling will introduce the series with a magical fairy tale and two beautiful dances by Ravel. Next, Domas Juškys will explain how Beethoven transformed his struggles into the bright and sunny Eighth Symphony. Finally, conductor Leung Kin-fung will show how the Ukrainian-born composer, Prokofiev, employed both sarcasm and sorrow in his invigorating music.

Registration for these three concerts is free of charge, details will be announced on 22 Apr 2022 (Fri) on HK Phil’s website. Tickets are limited and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sounds of the Sea (6 & 7 May)

The sea has always challenged and inspired composers. In his HK Phil debut, the young Finnish conductor Taavi Oramo will take the HK Phil on a fantastic ocean voyage through the imaginations of composers ranging from Sibelius to Takemitsu and John Williams, and ending with Debussy’s masterpiece, La mer. Oramo will also present the Asia premiere of Aho's new work, taking on a second role as the solo tenor.

Magnificent Mendelssohn (13 & 14 May)

Felix Mendelssohn was one of the most dazzling prodigies in the history of music. He created his first masterpieces when he was in his teens, and everything he wrote sparkles with the same freshness, fantasy and joy. In this concert we have two artists who share Mendelssohn’s youthful spirit – multiple prize-winner, Hong Kong-born pianist Aristo Sham; and the brilliant young Finnish conductor Taavi Oramo. They will bring all their energy and insight to the rarely-heard Konzertstück and the sunlit Italian Symphony.

BBC Blue Planet II Live In Concert (HK Premiere) (20 - 22 May)

Conducted by Joshua Tan, the concert features a selection of stunning visuals from the iconic television series, highlighting the incredible natural wonders of our blue planet in breath-taking detail, projected on a giant screen. Accompanying these will be the original immersive music score by Hans Zimmer, David Fleming and Jacob Shea, performed live by the HK Phil.

Tickets of Sounds of the Sea and Magnificent Mendelssohn will be available at URBTIX from 21 April 2022 (Thu), 10am; and tickets for BBC Blue Planet II Live in Concert will be available at URBTIX from 26 April 2022 (Tue), 10am. For inquiries, please call + 852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.

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Artists

Taavi Oramo, conductor/tenor [full description]

(For Sounds of the Sea and Magnificent Mendelssohn)

Taavi Oramo enjoys a growing reputation for his forward-thinking approach to music-making. Artist-in-Residence with the Tapiola Sinfonietta in 2019/20 and Artistic Director of VocalEspoo from 2020, he specialises in cultivating programmes that have an innate dramatic or thematic structure, and is equally at home in mainstream repertoire and cutting-edge, contemporary works. Oramo is also an accomplished tenor, and the double role of conducting/singing is an important feature of his programming. 

Megan Sterling, alto flute [full description]

(For Sounds of the Sea)

Principal Flute of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra since 2002, Australian-born Megan Sterling has enjoyed working with some of the world’s top conductors and soloists. She has appeared several times as a soloist with the orchestra, as well as in recitals, radio broadcasts, Canto-pop recordings and chamber music concerts in Hong Kong, Mainland China, Australia, Europe and the US. Sterling is also a sought-after teacher, with experience giving masterclasses, chamber music coaching and adjudication for competitions.

Dan Yu, harp[full description]

(For Sounds of the Sea)

Since winning the Gold Medal at the prestigious 5th USA International Harp Competition in 2001, Dan Yu’s lyrical interpretations, profound musicality, and technical mastery have captivated and dazzled audiences across four continents. She has performed solo recitals and chamber music concerts throughout the United States, Europe and Asia, and appeared to great acclaim at Alice Tully Hall, New York, and Wigmore Hall, London.

Andrew Simon, clarinet [full description]

(For Magnificent Mendelssohn)

Boasting a distinguished career spanning over three decades, New York-born clarinettist Andrew Simon has appeared as soloist and guest lecturer on four continents. As Principal Clarinet of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (since 1988), he has recorded solo works by Baermann and Stravinsky and has performed concerti over 70 times, including John Corigliano's Concerto for Clarinet and Orchestra which he studied with the Academy Award-winning composer.

Lorenzo Iosco, basset horn [full description]

(For Magnificent Mendelssohn)

Lorenzo Iosco is an Italian clarinettist and conductor based in Hong Kong where he is a member of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been a member at Madrid Opera House Teatro Real in Spain and London Symphony Orchestra respectively. As soloist, he performed all major clarinet repertoire in Europe and Asia.

Aristo Sham, pianist [full description]

(For Magnificent Mendelssohn)

Described by The New York Times as a pianist “whose playing combines clarity, elegance and abundant technique”, and by the Washington Post as a young artist with “boundless potential” who can “already hold his own with the best”, pianist Aristo Sham has dazzled audiences on five continents. Aristo has won a number of international prizes, including First Prize at the 2006 Ettlingen International Piano Competition in Germany, First Prize in the Gina Bachauer International Junior Piano Competition in 2008. In 2019 he was First Prize winner of the Alessandro Casagrande International Piano Competition.

Joshua Tan, conductor [full description]

(For BBC Blue Planet II Live in Concert)

Currently Principal Conductor of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra and Director of the Asia Virtuosi, Joshua Tan has served successful stints as Resident Conductor of the National Center for the Performing Arts (China) Orchestra, Principal Conductor of the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra and Associate Conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. His performances of Bernstein’s Mass and the opera Don Pasquale were selected as the best classical concerts of the years 2018 and 2019 by the Straits Times.

Christopher Moyse, narrator [full description]

(For BBC Blue Planet II Live in Concert)

Christopher Moyse was appointed to the trumpet section of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in 2005. As a teacher he serves on the faculties of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Hong Kong Baptist University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. In 2013, he was elected as an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music (ARAM), an award given to “former students who have made a significant contribution to the music profession.”

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SWIRE CLASSIC INSIGHTS: MEET YOUR COMPOSERS

I. RAVEL

29 | 4 | 2022

FRI 8PM

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

Artists

Lorenzo Iosco

Andrew Ling

conductor/commentator*

conductor/commentator

Programme

RAVEL

Ma mère l'Oye (Mother Goose)

Pavane pour une infante défunte

La valse

II. BEETHOVEN

30 | 4 | 2022

SAT 3PM

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

Artist

Domas Juškys

conductor/commentator*

Programme

BEETHOVEN

Symphony no. 8

III. PROKOFIEV

30 | 4 | 2022

SAT 5PM

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

Artist

Leung Kin-fung

conductor/commentator

Programme

PROKOFIEV	Symphony no. 1, Classical
PROKOFIEV	Romeo and Juliet excerpts

*Commentaries conducted in English only

Registration for these three concerts is free of charge, details will be announced on 22 Apr 2022 (Fri) at HK Phil’s website. Suitable for ages 6 and above.

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SOUNDS OF THE SEA

6 & 7 | 5 | 2022

FRI 8PM

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

HK$420 $320 $220
Tickets available at URBTIX from 21 April 2022 (Thu), 10am

For ages 6 and above

Artists

Taavi Oramo

Megan Sterling

Dan Yu

conductor/tenor