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The English Chamber Orchestra, with violin soloist Sarah Chang and conductor David Stern, will perform on Sunday, December 7 at 8pm at the Concert Hall of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.

The programme consists of Beethoven's "Overture to Egmont", Dvorak's "Romance in F Minor, Op. 11", Sarasate's "Carmen Fantasy", De Falla's "El Amor Brujo" and Bruch's "Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor".

The ECO, formed in 1960, undertakes a busy annual concert schedule, including its prestigious London series and regular concerts for its patron, HRH The Prince of Wales. The orchestra can often be found on tour; since its creation, it has performed in almost 500 cities across the globe. This year alone it has visited Germany, Finland, Italy, Poland, Spain, France and Bermuda.

Its worldwide reputation is enhanced by its recordings of over 1,000 works. In recent months, its distinguished array of guest soloists has included Mstislav Rostropovich, Mitsuko Uchida, Felicity Lott, Thomas Allen and Tasmin Little.

Sarah Chang, an American-born violinist of Korean descent, is recognized as one of classical music's most captivating and gifted artists. She has collaborated with many major orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony and the Boston Symphony. In 1999, she received the Avery Fisher Prize, one of the most prestigious awards for instrumentalists.

David Stern is principal guest conductor of the Opera de Rouen, France, and was recently appointed to the same post with Germany's Concerto Koln. He had a major success in Paris with the Oida staging of Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde, a work he will conduct next year at Carnegie Hall's new Zanckel Hall and at the Beijing Festival.

Tickets priced at $480, $380, $280 and $180 are available at URBTIX outlets. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens, people with disabilities, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients. Please check programme leaflets for group booking discount schemes.

For programme enquiries, call 2268 7321; for ticketing enquiries and reservations, call 2734 9009; for credit card telephone booking, call 2111 5999; for internet booking, visit www.urbtix.gov.hk; for more information, visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/cp.

Ends/Thursday, October 30, 2003

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