World-renowned Polish pianist Rafał Blechacz will join forces with the highly sought-after Korean violinist Bomsori Kim for a duo recital on June 22 (Monday) at the Concert Hall of Hong Kong City Hall. As a highlight of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's "Great Music 2026", the duo will present a captivating programme spanning a classical and early modern repertoire. In addition to iconic sonatas from Beethoven and Franck, the evening will feature works by Paderewski and Szymanowski that are imbued with Polish flavour and virtuosity, promising an evocative night of musical brilliance for music lovers.
 
　　The first duo album by Blechacz and Kim in 2019 garnered the Fryderyk Music Award for Best Polish Album Abroad for their masterful interpretation of a Polish repertoire. As long-time musical partners, the duo has toured major concert halls worldwide in recent years. Their upcoming Hong Kong recital features a programme of contrasting classics, including Beethoven's "Violin Sonata No. 7 in C minor, Op. 30, No. 2" and Franck's "Violin Sonata in A", alongside works by Polish composers: Paderewski's "Violin Sonata in A minor, Op. 13" and Szymanowski's "Nocturne and Tarantella, Op. 28", showcasing a nuanced interplay and profound chemistry between the piano and violin.
 
　　Blechacz took first prize at the 15th International Chopin Piano Competition at the age of 20, also sweeping all four special prizes and the Audience Award, and has become the first Polish musician to receive the top prize since Krystian Zimerman 30 years earlier. He stands today among the world's finest pianists, in high demand for the honesty and vision he brings to performances from Bach and Beethoven to Chopin and Szymanowski. His numerous recordings of Chopin's works have also earned him widespread acclaim. In 2014, Blechacz was honoured with the Gilmore Artist Award in recognition of his "extraordinary piano artistry", and has been described by the Washington Post as "a musician in service to the music".
 
　　Kim has emerged as one of the most exciting violinists of her generation following her prize-winning success at the 15th International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competition. She has since appeared with many of the world's leading orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Orquesta y Coro Nacionales de España and Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich. She has collaborated with esteemed conductors such as Fabio Luisi, Paavo Järvi, Marin Alsop, Jakub Hrůša, Santtu-Matias Rouvali, and Jaap van Zweden. Kim is also a frequent guest at international festivals, including the Rheingau Musik Festival and the Verbier Festival. Her recording of Nielsen's "Violin Concerto" with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Luisi was honoured with the 2024 BBC Music Magazine Award.
 
　　"Duo Recital by Rafał Blechacz (Piano) and Bomsori Kim (Violin)" will be staged at 8pm on June 22 (Monday) at the Concert Hall of Hong Kong City Hall. Tickets priced at $280, $420, $550 and $680 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Discount schemes are available for the programmes under "Great Music 2026". For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1960.html.
 
　　A pre-concert talk entitled "Echoes of Passion: Rafał Blechacz and Bomsori Kim's Lyrical Conversations" (in Cantonese) will be held at 6.45pm on June 22 at the Committee Room North, 7/F, High Block, Hong Kong City Hall. The speaker will be music practitioner Albert Ho. Admission is free, with limited seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
 
　　The "Great Music 2026", presented by the LCSD, will bring a world-renowned orchestra and musicians to Hong Kong from June to December, offering music lovers a stellar line-up of performances. For more details, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/groups_1946.html.

Ends/Thursday, May 21, 2026
Issued at HKT 11:00

NNNN