World-class Conductors Christoph Eschenbach and Paavo Järvi 
Lead the HK Phil in Two Programmes
Featuring Soloists Ray Chen and Zee Zee 
Swire Maestro Series: Eschenbach & Ray Chen (31 March & 1 April)
Paavo Järvi Conducts Sibelius (7 & 8 April)
 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Dennis Wu
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Tel: (852) 2721 9035
Email: dennis.wu@hkphil.org 

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Tel: (852) 2721 1585
Email: emily.hui@hkphil.org

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[9 March 2023, Hong Kong] The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) welcomes two leading international conductors and two renowned soloists for two remarkable programmes: Christoph Eschenbach conducts the HK Phil with violinist Ray Chen on 31 March and 1 April 2023, while Paavo Järvi leads the orchestra with pianist Zee Zee on 7 and 8 April 2023. All concerts will take place in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets are available at URBTIX and POPTICKET.

Swire Maestro Series: Eschenbach & Ray Chen (31 March & 1 April)

Currently Musical Director of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Christoph Eschenbach is one of the most distinguished conductors. He received the highest accolades and held numerous significant positions previously, including Musical Director of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Orchestre de Paris. Over the course of five decades, Eschenbach has built an impressive discography, both as conductor and pianist, with a repertoire ranging from J.S. Bach to contemporary music. In this concert, he will conduct Bruckner’s titanic Fourth Symphony, also known as the "Romantic Symphony", a story of knights, forests and distant castles.

The concert begins with superstar Ray Chen playing Mendelssohn’s gloriously tuneful Violin Concerto in E minor, considered as one of the most loved and popular concertos. As the First Prize winner of the Yehudi Menuhin and Queen Elizabeth competitions, Chen's remarkable musicianship transmits to millions around the world, reflected through his engagements both online and with the foremost orchestras and concert halls around the world. “Chen crashes through any supposed barriers erected around classical music with his playing,” described by The San Diego Union-Tribune.

“Swire Maestro Series: Eschenbach & Ray Chen”will be held on 31 March 2023 (Fri) and 1 April 2023 (Sat) at 8PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Limited tickets priced at HK$880, $700, $520 and $380 are available at URBTIX and POPTICKET. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.

Paavo Järvi Conducts Sibelius (7 & 8 April)

Estonian conductor Paavo Järvi is widely recognised as one of today’s most eminent conductors, enjoying close partnerships with the finest orchestras around the world. He has been serving as Chief Conductor of the Tonhalle Orchester-Zürich, as Artistic Director of The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen since 2004, and as both the founder and Artistic Director of the Estonian Festival Orchestra. From the 2022/23 Season, he is also Honorary Conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra. In 2019, Paavo Järvi was named Conductor of the Year by Germany’s Opus Klassik and received the 2019 Rheingau Music Prize.

The concert begins with Josephs Legende: Symphonic Fragment, a colourful slice of Richard Strauss. Next, Zee Zee will perform Liszt’s tempestuous Second Piano Concerto. From a delicately rippling passagework to the stormy climax, it took Liszt no less than 24 years to complete this tempestuous masterpiece, which Zee Zee perfectly demonstrates her extraordinary virtuosity in it. Her mature creativity has been hailed as “a powerful, passionate and compelling representation of pure artistry” by the Los Angeles Times.

In the second half of the concert, Paavo Järvi will lead the HK Phil in Sibelius’ Fifth Symphony. It begins with a radiant dawn and ends with a majestic hymn to that vision of nature at its most glorious, crowned with an unforgettable tune.

“Paavo Järvi Conducts Sibelius”will be held on 7 & 8 April (Fri & Sat) at 8PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets priced at HK$780, $620, $460 and $300 are available at URBTIX and POPTICKET. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.

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Artists

Swire Maestro Series: Eschenbach & Ray Chen

Christoph Eschenbach, conductor [full description]

Renowned for the breadth of his repertoire and the depth of his interpretations, Christoph Eschenbach has held directorships with many leading orchestras and gained the highest musical honours. Currently Musical Director of the Konzerthausorchester Berlin, Eschenbach was Principal Conductor and Artistic Director of the Tonhalle Orchestra (1982-86), Musical Director of Houston Symphony (1988-99), Artistic Director of the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival (1999-2002), as well as Musical Director of the NDR Symphony Orchestra (1998-2004), the Philadelphia Orchestra (2003-08), the Orchestre de Paris (2000-10) and the Washington National Symphony Orchestra (2010-17).

Ray Chen, violin [full description]

Violinist and online personality, Ray Chen redefines what it means to be a classical musician in the 21st century. With a global reach that enhances and inspires a new classical audience, Chen's remarkable musicianship transmits to millions around the world, reflected through his engagements both online and with the foremost orchestras and concert halls around the world. Beyond the performing arts, his work has also contributed to philanthropy, popular culture and educational technology. 

Paavo Järvi Conducts Sibelius

Paavo Järvi, conductor [full description]

Estonian Grammy Award-winning conductor Paavo Järvi is widely recognised as one of today’s most eminent conductors, enjoying close partnerships with the finest orchestras around the world. He serves as Chief Conductor of the Tonhalle Orchester-Zürich, as the long-standing Artistic Director of The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen (DKAM) since 2004, and as both the founder and Artistic Director of the Estonian Festival Orchestra. He is also Honorary Conductor of the NHK Symphony Orchestra.

Zee Zee, piano [full description]

Zee Zee (Zuo Zhang) has performed with leading orchestras worldwide such as the BBC Symphony, BBC Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Belgian National Orchestra, Sinfonieorchester Basel, Borusan Istanbul Philharmonic, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, Tonhalle Zurich, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Minnesota Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Seattle Symphony and Pasadena Symphony orchestras. Her latest solo album Journey, which features works from Wagner, Schoenberg, Ravel and Liszt, was released in May 2022.

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SWIRE MAESTRO SERIES: ESCHENBACH & RAY CHEN

31 | 3 & 1 | 4 | 2023

FRI & SAT 8PM

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

HK$880 $700 $520 $380

Tickets now available at URBTIX and POPTICKET

For ages 6 and above

Artists

Programme

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PAAVO JÄRVI CONDUCTS SIBELIUS  

7 & 8 | 4 | 2023

FRI & SAT 8PM

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

HK$780 $620 $460 $300

Tickets now available at URBTIX and POPTICKET

For ages 6 and above

Artists

Programme