Hong Kong Phil to Be Joined by Jaap van Zweden and Storioni Trio for SUNNY BEETHOVEN - EPIC SHOSTAKOVICH

The opportunity to experience Beethoven's "Triple Concerto" is very rare because it requires three equally outstanding soloists. But in the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra's (HK Phil) Sunny Beethoven - Epic Shostakovich concert on 26 & 27 April 2017 in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall, we are joined by three such players, the Storioni Trio. Maestro Jaap van Zweden also leads one of Shostakovich's most tumultuous works, composed in the midst of World War II.

The Storioni Trio take their name from their historic instruments. Wouter Vossen plays on a violin made in 1794 in Cremona by Laurentius Storioni, while Marc Vossen plays on a cello made in Milan in 1700 by Giovanni Grancino. The third member of the trio is pianist Bart van de Roer, and together they have been described by Gramophone as 'a close-knit, animated ensemble in sound and interpretative intent'. These are qualities they famously bring to their performance of Beethoven's Triple Concerto, a work which calls for a genuine trio of equals with no one player dominating the others.

Working as an auxiliary fireman in Leningrad during the German siege of the city in 1942, Shostakovich saw at first hand the horrors of a war-time siege. He recalled some of the more powerful and moving scenes he witnessed in his mighty Symphony no.8, but mostly he wanted the music to be optimistic; to "look into the future, into the post-war epoch. All that is dark and ignominious will disappear. All that is beautiful will triumph". Experience the triumphs and tragedies of this epic symphony directed by Maestro Jaap van Zweden.

Sunny Beethoven - Epic Shostakovich is sponsored by The Macallan.

Classics: The Macallan Bravo Series: Sunny Beethoven - Epic Shostakovich will be held on 26 & 27 April (Wed & Thu) at 8PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Ticket prices: HK$680, $480, $380, $280 are now available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit www.hkphil.org

Artists

Jaap van Zweden, conductor [full biography]

Jaap van Zweden has risen rapidly in the past decade to become one of today's most distinguished conductors. Starting with the 2018/19 season, he will be the Music Director of the New York Philharmonic. Currently, he is Music Director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra since 2008, and has been Music Director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra since 2012. Van Zweden was named Musical America's 2012 Conductor of the Year. Born in Amsterdam, Jaap van Zweden was the youngest ever concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. He began his conducting career in 1995.

Storioni Trio [full biography]

Leading expert in the triple concerto repertoire, the Storioni Trio offers works for piano trio, ranging from the Classical to the Contemporary, from Haydn to Henze. They recently performed Beethoven's complete piano trios in Switzerland and the Netherlands, on period and modern instruments. The recording of Beethoven's Triple Concerto on period instruments with the Netherlands Symphony Orchestra (Jan Willem de Vriend) received international critical acclaim. It was an "Editor's Choice" in the 2013 edition of Gramophone and Recording of the week on BBC Radio 3.

CLASSICS: THE MACALLAN BRAVO SERIES:

SUNNY BEETHOVEN - EPIC SHOSTAKOVICH

26 & 27 | 4 | 2017

WED & THU 8PM

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

HK$680 $480 $380 $280

Tickets are now available at URBTIX

For ages 6 and above