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Starting in May the Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present the "Great Music 2015" series, offering an array of recitals and concerts by world class artists and ensembles.
Mahler Chamber Orchestra "The Beethoven Journey"
The first concert is the Mahler Chamber Orchestra (MCO)'s "The Beethoven Journey". Featuring acclaimed Norwegian pianist Leif Ove Andsnes, this all-Beethoven programme will include the "'Coriolan' Overture, Op. 62", "Piano Concerto No. 1 in C, Op. 15" and "Piano Concerto No. 4 in G, Op. 58". Details are as follows:
Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
8pm, May 3 (Sunday)
Tickets: $200 - $600
The MCO, founded in 1997, has developed into one of the most artistically interesting and successful ensembles on the classical music scene. An independent international orchestra that plays at the highest level, the MCO is on the move around 200 days per year. The 45 core members come from 20 different countries in Europe. As the winner of six Gramophone Awards and eight-time Grammys nominee, pianist Andsnes became the orchestra's official artistic partner in 2012, when he embarked with the MCO on their four-year project "The Beethoven Journey". With Andsnes leading the orchestra from the piano, they have given critically acclaimed performances of Beethoven's complete piano concertos in Europe, the United States and Japan, as well as recording a CD series.
Encore Series: Borodin Quartet
The remarkable 70-year-old Borodin Quartet will perform a concert with its namesake work, Borodin's "String Quartet No. 2 in D", Schubert's "String Quartet No. 12 in C Minor, D. 703, 'Quartettsatz'" and Dvořá?ˆhk's "Piano Quintet in A, Op. 81", featuring pianist Alexei Volodin. Details are as follows:
Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall
8pm, May 29 (Friday)
Tickets: $150 - $300
The Borodin Quartet is celebrated for its insight and authority in the chamber music genre. Revered for its searching performances of Beethoven and Shostakovich, the Quartet is equally at home playing music ranging from Mozart to Stravinsky.
Encore Series: Piano Recital by Imogen Cooper
Recognised worldwide as a pianist of virtuosity and poetic poise, Imogen Cooper has established a reputation as one of the finest interpreters of the classical repertoire. In Hong Kong concert, she will perform Chopin's "Barcarolle in F-sharp, Op. 60", Schumann's "Humoreske in B-flat, Op. 20", Schubert's "12 German Dances, D. 790" and "Piano Sonata No. 20 in A, D. 959". Details are as follows:
Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall
8pm, June 18 (Thursday)
Tickets: $150 - $320
Russian National Orchestra
The Russian National Orchestra will give two not-to-be-missed concerts in Hong Kong under the leadership of artistic director and conductor Mikhail Pletnev. The programme for the first concert includes Mozart's "Piano Concerto No. 24 in C Minor, K. 491", with Pletnev as piano soloist, and Tchaikovsky's "Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64" conducted by Pletnev. The second concert will feature trumpeter Sergei Nakariakov performing Arutiunian's "Trumpet Concerto", while under the baton of Pletnev, the orchestra will perform Glinka's "Overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila" and Rachmaninov's "Symphony No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 27". Details are as follows:
Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
8pm, June 24 and 25 (Wednesday and Thursday)
Tickets: $200 - $650
Encore Series: Piano Recital by Nelson Freire
Brazilian pianist Nelson Freire will perform a recital of works by Mozart, Beethoven, Prokofiev, Granados and Chopin. Details are as follows:
Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
8pm, September 8 (Tuesday)
Tickets: $150 - $420
Freire has received honours and decorations in numerous countries, and regularly collaborates with top class orchestras, conductors and recital halls worldwide. Time Magazine hailed him as "one of the most exciting pianists of this or any age".
Encore Series: Hagen Quartet
The globally renowned Hagen Quartet will visit Hong Kong for a performance with clarinettist Jörg Widmann. Comprising Lukas Hagen (violin), Rainer Schmidt (violin), Veronika Hagen (viola) and Clemens Hagen (cello), the quartet will perform Mozart's "Clarinet Quintet in A, K. 581" and Beethoven's "String Quartet No. 14 in C-sharp Minor, Op. 131". Details are as follows:
Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall
8pm, October 6 (Tuesday)
Tickets: $150 - $380
Tickets for the above performances 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). A maximum discount of 20 per cent is offered for the "Great Music 2015" series and group booking packages. Please refer to individual programme leaflets for details.
For enquiries on programmes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/group_75.html. For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
There will be other attractive music events in the "Great Music 2015" series. Details will be announced later on the LCSD website.
Ends/Tuesday, March 24, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:00
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