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Guitar master John Williams will return to Hong Kong in November for a recital on the 20th anniversary of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Williams played 20 years ago in the venue's opening programme. This time he will perform a wide-ranging repertoire including compositions by Vivaldi, Scarlatti, Granados and Albˆmniz, as well as Williams' own new compositions and favourite themes from the sound-tracks of award-winning films.
The Times described Williams as "the undisputed king of the classical guitar". He has undoubtedly become one of the most versatile and finest guitarists and a key figure in the modern renaissance of the classical guitar. With an international career spanning more than 40 years, the Australian guitarist excels in the classical and Spanish repertoire, contemporary music, as well as crossover performances of film music, jazz, pop and world music. He has made many recordings, some of which have earned him international record awards. In 2007, he was presented with an Edison Lifetime Achievement Award.
Williams performed in London, Paris, Madrid, Japan, Russia and the US in early 1960s. He has toured the world playing solo and has performed concertos with the world's leading orchestras and conductors. He has appeared regularly on radio and TV. Among his collaborations with other musicians, those with renowned guitarist Julian Bream, violinist Itzhak Perlman, conductor Andrˆm Previn, jazz singer Cleo Laine, jazz composer John Dankworth and pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim are particularly significant. He has also performed with the groups SKY, John Williams and Friends, Attacca, The National Youth Jazz Orchestra with composer Paul Hart, guitarist Paco Pena and the Chilean group Inti-Illimani. All of his recitals in Hong Kong have been critically acclaimed; his last appearance in Hong Kong was in a duo recital with British composer and wind and pipe player Richard Harvey in 2005.
Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, "Encore Series: Guitar Recital by John Williams" will be held at 8pm on November 3 (Tuesday) at the Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $420, $320, $220 and $120 are now available at URBTIX outlets. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients (limited tickets for CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis).
For programme enquiries, call 2268 7321; for ticketing enquiries and reservations, call 2734 9009 (from September 9 onwards); for credit card telephone bookings, call 2111 5999; for Internet bookings, visit www.urbtix.hk; for more information, visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp .
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A free pre-concert talk "Classical Guitar: A Journey through the Sands of Time with John Williams", given by local classical guitarist Tina Karen Lo in Cantonese, will be held at AC1, 4/F Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, at 3pm on October 24 (Saturday). Interested parties are welcome to join on a first-come-first-served basis.
Ends/Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Issued at HKT 10:56
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