******************************************************
One of the world's top orchestras, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, will give two long-awaited concerts in Hong Kong, 52 years after its last appearance here, under the baton of its music director Esa-Pekka Salonen.
The response of local concert goers to the two performances, which will be at 8pm on October 29 (Wednesday) and October 30 (Thursday), has been overwhelming. Only limited tickets are still available. To allow more music lovers to see the great performance, the two concerts will be telecast live to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza where big screens will be set up.
Under the baton of Salonen, who will end his tenure at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season, the orchestra will bring two individual and unique evening programmes to the Concert Hall of the HKCC. The first concert on October 29 will feature the world-acclaimed pianist, Yefim Bronfman, in a programme including Tchaikovsky's popular "Piano Concerto No. 1" and Stravinsky's "Fireworks" and "The Firebird", two modern works interpreted with the Salonen hallmark style. The October 30 programme will feature Falla's "Three Dances" from "El Amor Brujo", Debussy's "La Mer" and Ravel's "Ma Mere l'Oye" and "Bolero".
As Los Angeles' first permanent symphony orchestra founded in 1919, the Los Angeles Philharmonic has been defining the concept of a "21st century orchestra" with innovation and exuberance under Salonen's dynamic leadership since 1992. Inspired to consider new directions, Salonen and the orchestra aim to offer a programme that remains faithful to tradition, yet also seeks new ground, new audiences, and ways to enhance the symphonic music experience.
Admission to the live telecast of the two concerts at Hong Kong Cultural Centre Piazza is free on a first-come, first-served basis. People will be admitted to the piazza from 7pm. A 45-minute pre-concert documentary (in Cantonese), showing the splendid history of the orchestra and excerpts of its past performances, will be screened before the telecast.
The concerts by the Los Angeles Philharmonic are presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. The performance on October 30 is sponsored by Mr Albert Hung and Mr Wilfred Ng.
For enquiries, please call 2268 7321.
Ends/Saturday, October 18, 2008
Issued at HKT 10:01
NNNN