**********************************************************
Acclaimed Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes will collaborate with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra (MCO) in a concert, "The Beethoven Journey", in May. This is one of the attractions of the Great Music 2015 series presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department.
Leif Ove Andsnes is described as "currently one of the master Beethovenians". In the 2014 to 2015 season, Andsnes embarks on the final leg of "The Beethoven Journey," his epic four-year focus on the master composer's five piano concertos. With the MCO, his fellow traveller since the project's inception in 2012, he has led complete Beethoven concerto cycles from the keyboard in high-profile residencies in Bonn, Hamburg, Lucerne, Vienna, Paris, New York, Shanghai, Tokyo, London and other cities. Andsnes has been nominated for eight Grammys and awarded many international prizes, including six Gramophone Awards.
The all-Beethoven programme will feature "Coriolan Overture", "Piano Concerto No. 1" and "Piano Concerto No. 4".
Founded in 1997, the MCO has developed into one of the most artistically interesting and successful ensembles on the classical music scene. The MCO had its breakthrough in the summer of 1998 with a production of Mozart's "Don Giovanni" under the direction of its founding mentor Claudio Abbado at the Festival Aix-en-Provence. The same year, it was orchestra in residence in the northern Italian city of Ferrara. Since 2003, the orchestra has resided at the Lucerne Festival each summer, where it also forms the core of the Lucerne Festival Orchestra. With the MCO Academy and the education and outreach programme MCO Landings, the orchestra is involved in teaching and community work. The European Union appointed the MCO an official European Cultural Ambassador from 2011 to 2013.
"The Beethoven Journey" will be staged at 8pm on May 3 (Sunday) at the Concert Hall of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $200 to $600 are now available at URBTIX. 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 full-time students and CSSA recipients are available on a first-come, first-served basis). Group booking and Great Music package booking discounts are also available. Please refer to the programme leaflet for details.
A pre-concert talk to be conducted in Cantonese by Dr Ip Kim-ho will be held at 6.45pm on May 3 (Sunday) at the Level 4 Foyer, Auditoria Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Admission to the talk will be free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/program_788.html. For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For Internet bookings, please visit www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Issued at HKT 11:00
NNNN
