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The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present concerts by the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra in November.
Under the baton of Yuri Temirkanov, the orchestra will give an all-Russian performance of works by Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Stravinsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Prokofiev and Shostakovich. Also performing in the concerts will be pianist Denis Matsuev who was the first-prize winner in the 11th International Tchaikovsky Competition in 1998.
"Russia's oldest symphony orchestra surpassed all expectations… the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra spilled forth music in the purest form possible - straight from each score's soul and into the hearts of listeners." - The Washington Post
The St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra is Russia's oldest symphonic ensemble, founded in 1882. The orchestra premiered Tchaikovsky's Symphony No 6 "Pathetique" and under his baton shortly before his death. In a series of concerts titled "Orchestral Collections of New Music", the orchestra gave the first Russian performances of Richard Strauss' symphonic poems "Ein Heldenleben" and "Also sprach Zarathustra", Mahler's First Symphony, Bruckner's Ninth Symphony and Scriabin's "Poem of Ecstasy". Among the orchestra's conductors have been world renowned-musicians such as Richard Strauss, Arthur Nikisch, Alexander Glazunov and Serge Koussevitsky.
Yuri Temrikanov became the principal conductor in 1988. In just the last few years the orchestra has given several world premieres and opened the 2005-2006 Season at Carnegie Hall, the culmination of its performances in the world's most prestigious concert halls. During the same season, the orchestra went for the first time on an important tour of Siberia, to Irkutsk, Surgut and Khanty-Mansiysk, as well as the 2nd International Music Festival "Stars at Baikal". In 2007 the orchestra closed the 2nd Festival of World Symphony Orchestras in Moscow. The orchestra also visited the United States again with a major concert tour, including three performances at Carnegie Hall. It was the first Russian orchestra to perform in the opening concerts of the season at Carnegie Hall.
Details of the performances in Hong Kong are as follows:
November 20 (Saturday) 8pm
Auditorium, Tsuen Wan Town Hall
Tickets: $580, $440, $300, $160
Prokofiev Symphony No. 1, "Classical"
Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3
Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5
November 21 (Sunday) 8pm
Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Tickets: $750, $620, $480, $340, $200
Rimsky-Korsakov Overture "Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya"
Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 3
Stravinsky Rite of Spring
November 22 (Monday) 8pm
Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Tickets: $750, $620, $480, $340, $200
Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade
Shostakovich Festive Overture
Tchaikovsky Fantasy Overture Romeo and Juliet
Tchaikovsky 1812 Overture
Tickets are now available at all URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by credit card telephone booking. Please see detailed discount schemes in the programme leaflet.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321, or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp. For ticketing enquiries, please call 2734 9009. For credit card telephone bookings, please call 2111 5999. For Internet booking, please visit www.urbtix.hk.
Free pre-concert talks (conducted in Cantonese) will be held on the following dates:
November 21 (Sunday) 6.45pm
Foyer Reception Area, 4/F, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Topic: Russian orchestral gems before the October Revolution
Speaker: Dr Oliver Chou (music columnist at Yazhou Zhoukan)
November 22 (Monday) 6.45pm
Foyer Reception Area, 4/F, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
Topic: The Flavour of the Russians
Speaker: Albert Ho (Lecturer at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts)
Ends/Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Issued at HKT 14:33
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