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Founded by globally renowned conductor Claudio Abbado, the Mahler Chamber Orchestra will soon make its Hong Kong debut with a 70-strong cast performing an all-Mahler programme. The occasion also marks the centenary of the composer's death.
Under the baton of its principal conductor Daniel Harding, the orchestra will play "Blumine" and "Symphony No. 4", and collaborate with renowned Soprano Mojca Erdmann in five songs taken from "Des Knaben Wunderhorn": "Verlorne Mˆ¢h'!", "Das irdische Leben", "Rheinlegendchen", "Wo die schönen Trompeten blasen" and "Wer hat dies Liedlein erdacht?".
The Mahler Chamber Orchestra (MCO) was founded in 1997 by maestro Abbado and musicians from the Gustav Mahler Youth Orchestra. Their years of collaboration have resulted in many memorable highlights in the world of European classical music. The orchestra's non-traditional organisation and system make it a model for the future of the European orchestral landscape. Composed of musicians from over 20 different countries, the orchestra plays operas, festivals and concerts all over the world. With its unusual structure, internationality and outstanding quality, the orchestra represents a uniquely contemporary ensemble.
Daniel Harding took a central position in the orchestra in 1998, when he became principal guest conductor. In 2003, he was named music director, and has served as the principal conductor since 2008. Harding and the orchestra have worked on a central repertoire of the classics, including the major Mozart operas and a Beethoven cycle, including the romantic and modern periods. Recently, their collective focus has shifted toward the romantic repertoire, which they undertake with vitality and with a richness of nuance strongly influenced by their chamber-music approach.
"Encore Series: Concert by Mahler Chamber Orchestra" is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. It will take place at 8pm, June 5 (Sunday) at the Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $720, $600, $480, $350 and $200 will be available tomorrow (April 13) onwards at URBTIX outlets, on the internet and by credit card telephone booking. Senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients may receive a 50% discount (limited tickets for students and CSSA recipients on a first-come, first-served basis). A maximum discount of 20% is offered for group bookings.
For enquiries for programme and the pre-concert talk (conducted in Cantonese), please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp. Ticketing enquiries can be made on 2734 9009 and credit card telephone bookings on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Issued at HKT 12:10
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