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The renowned Dresdner Philharmonie, which has a long history spanning more than a century, will visit Hong Kong for the first time in October for two concerts featuring promising violinist Julia Fischer.
The concerts will be held at 8pm on October 23 and 24 (Wednesday and Thursday) at the Concert Hall of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Under the baton of its principal conductor, Michael Sanderling, the orchestra will perform Dvořák's "Violin Concerto in A Minor" with Fischer, as well as Wagner's prelude and "Liebestod" from "Tristan und Isolde" and Brahms' "Symphony No. 4 in E Minor" in the first performance.
The programme of the second concert is as attractive as that of the first show: Brahms' "Violin Concerto in D" with violin solo by Fischer, Wagner's prelude to Act III from "Lohengrin" and Beethoven's "Symphony No. 7 in A".
Founded in 1870, the Dresdner Philharmonie has worked with the most eminent conductors of each historical period since its founding. The orchestra gained worldwide fame in the 1930s, with much credit going to the leadership of Paul van Kempen. This in turn attracted the great conductors of the time to appear in concert with the Philharmonie. The work of Heinz Bongartz as principal conductor was essential in rebuilding the Philharmonie in the years following World War II.
Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos was principal guest conductor for the 2003-04 season and a year later he became principal conductor. His experience conducting the best orchestras in the world and his personal charisma led to a highly successful partnership with the orchestra for concerts performed in Dresden, on tour and in the international music recording industry.
Born and educated in Berlin, Michael Sanderling is one of the most promising conductors of his generation. His 2005 debut conducting the Dresdner Philharmonie marked the beginning of regular and close artistic collaboration with the tradition-steeped orchestra. At the beginning of the 2011-12 concert season, Sanderling was named principal conductor of the orchestra.
Sanderling has worked with many leading international orchestras including the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, Sinfonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, the Mˆ¢nchner Philharmoniker, the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, the Konzerthausorchester Berlin and the Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest. His conducting of Sergei Prokofiev's "War and Peace" at the Cologne Opera was met with the highest acclaim from the press and the public.
Julia Fischer is recognised worldwide for possessing uncommon ability and being an exceptionally gifted artist. She has received numerous awards and positive reviews for both live performances and recordings, including being named Artist of the Year in the Gramophone Awards in 2007 and Instrumentalist of the Year in the 2009 MIDEM Classical Awards.
In the 2013-14 season, Fischer will be an artist in residence at the Dresdner Philharmonie, and Wigmore Hall is dedicating a "Perspectives" series to her. She will perform at New York's Carnegie Hall with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, will tour Europe with the San Francisco Symphony and Asia with the Dresdner Philharmonie, and will appear in recitals in major European venues including the Musikverein in Vienna, the Palais des Beaux-Arts in Brussels and the Berliner Philharmonie.
The concerts by the Dresdner Philharmonie are presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Tickets priced at $200, $320, $420, $520, $620 and $780 will be available from August 9 (Friday) onwards at URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by telephone credit card booking. Half-price tickets are available for full-time students, senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their minders and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (limited tickets for full-time students and CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis). A maximum discount of 15 per cent is offered for the "Verdi & Wagner Year" booking package. Please refer to the programme leaflets for details.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/program_178.html. Ticketing enquiries can be made on 2734 9009 and telephone credit card bookings on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
This programme is one of the events under the "Vibrant Hong Kong" theme of the "Hong Kong: Our Home" Campaign. The concert on October 24 is sponsored by Mr Albert Hung, Mr Wilfred Ng and Mr Raymond Leung.
Ends/Thursday, August 8, 2013
Issued at HKT 12:48
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