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Under the baton of local conductor and violinist Lim Kek-han, the China Philharmonic Orchestra (Hong Kong) will collaborate with acclaimed local pianist Yim Wan for a concert in February.
A fabulous programme includes "Piano Concerto No.5 'Emperor' in E-flat, Op.73" by Beethoven, "Symphony No.9 in E Minor 'From the New World', Op.95" by Dvořák and "Overture from the Barber of Seville (I1 Barbiere di Siviglia)" by Rossini.
The concert opens powerfully with Beethoven's "Piano Concerto No.5 'Emperor' in E-flat Op.73". Stimulated by thoughts of home, Rossini created a blend of Czech and American rhythms in his work "From the New World". The final piece, "Overture to the Barber of Seville", brings the concert to a tumultuous close.
Lim Kek-han was born in Indonesia of Chinese parentage. He began violin lessons under the highly regarded teachers Ywan Federoff from Russia and Frits Hinse from Holland, and graduated with distinction from the Royal Academy of Music in Amsterdam, going on to become concertmaster of the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra. In 1958, he visited the former USSR as a representative of China, performing with some of the country's best orchestras. In 1963, Lim was made Conductor and Music Director of the Central Radio Symphony Orchestra. He founded the Lim Kek Han Philharmonic Orchestra in 1977, now the China Philharmonic Orchestra (Hong Kong), serving as Music Director and Principal Conductor.
Yim Wan was born into a family of musicians and has performed across China and around the world. She has also appeared as a soloist with various orchestras including the Oberlin Chamber Orchestra, and was appointed an honorary member of the US-based music honor society Pi Kappa Lambda. Yim is currently a lecturer in the School Of Music at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and in the Music Department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She frequently gives lectures and masterclasses in Hong Kong and China, as well as adjudicating in competitions for young pianists.
Presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, the concert by China Philharmonic Orchestra (Hong Kong) will be staged at 8pm on February 17 (Sunday) at the Auditorium, Tsuen Wan Town Hall. Tickets priced at $140, $110 and $80 are now available at all URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by credit card telephone booking. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their minders, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (limited tickets for CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis). A group booking discount scheme is also available. Please refer to the programme leaflet for details.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321, or visit: www.lcsd.gov.hk/ce/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/program_132.html. For ticketing enquiries, please call 2734 9009. For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For Internet bookings, please visit www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Thursday, January 17, 2013
Issued at HKT 17:05
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