The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present world-class programmes by highly acclaimed international musicians and orchestras in the "Great Music 2017" series from April to June. Details are as follows:

Concert by Midori and Philharmonic String Ensemble Vienna
Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall
April 4 (Tuesday), 8pm
Tickets: $200 to $420

     A highly admired violinist of her generation, Midori has received critical acclaim for performing in both recitals and concertos. She will collaborate with five musicians from the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (VPO) for the Hong Kong concert. Members of the ensemble include the VPO's principal viola and the section leaders of the first violins and the cellos. The programme will include Schubert's "String Quintet in C, Op. 163, D. 956" and Brahms' "String Sextet No. 2 in G, Op. 36".

"Last Tango in Berlin" - Ute Lemper in Concert
Auditorium, Sha Tin Town Hall
April 17 (Monday), 8pm
Tickets: $200 to $420

     Praised by The Telegraph (United Kingdom) as having "a gorgeous, smoky voice", Ute Lemper is a celebrated interpreter of Berlin cabaret songs, French chansons, the works of Kurt Weill and music from a wide range of cultures. The concert "Last Tango in Berlin" is a showcase of Lemper's best work throughout her career. It is a concert that tells the stories of love and passion, dreams and loss, the past and the future through a blend of jazz, tango and ethnic music.

China National Traditional Orchestra
"Splendour of Folk Music"
Auditorium, Sha Tin Town Hall
May 6 (Saturday), 8pm
Tickets: $160 to $380

"Impressions: Rediscovering Chinese Music"
Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
May 7 (Sunday), 8pm
Tickets: $200 to $450

     Under the batons of Chen Xieyang and noted young conductor Liu Sha, the China National Traditional Orchestra returns to Hong Kong for two programmes to showcase the essence of Chinese music to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). Chen and Liu will conduct two concerts with the orchestra respectively, programme includes "Hymn to the Sun", "Impressions: Chinese Music Suite", "Asparas of the Silk Road" and "The Yellow River", as well as the Hong Kong premiere of "Dream Home" and "Rhapsody of Xintianyou".

Vocal Recital by Renée Fleming
Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre
June 20 (Tuesday), 8pm
Tickets: $250 to $720

     American soprano Renée Fleming is the first classical singer to perform the United States national anthem at the Super Bowl. She was the winner of the 2013 Best Classical Vocal Solo Grammy Award and was awarded the National Medal of Arts by the then President Obama in the same year. Fleming will collaborate with pianist Hartmut Höll for a vocal recital, featuring beloved songs and arias from the French and Italian repertoire, a selection of the most beautiful lieder by Brahms, and songs from the American musical theatre. The recital is one of the events celebrating the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the HKSAR.

     Tickets for the above programmes are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999. For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/groups_186.html.

Ends/Thursday, February 23, 2017
Issued at HKT 16:35

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