The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Presents PING PONG DIPLOMACY

Get ready for American composer Andy Akiho's jaw-dropping Ricochet: Ping Pong Concerto, a high-intensity tour de force for violin, percussion and ping pong "virtuosos", with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra's Principal Guest Conductor Maestro Yu Long keeping everyone in play. The concerts are available on 9 & 10 June (Fri & Sat) at 8pm thus 11 June (Sun) at 3pm in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall.

Andy Akiho has developed a reputation for writing music which often makes use of metallic sounds and incorporates elements of theatre. His Ping Pong Concerto not only gives centre-stage to his preferred instrumental medium - percussion - and one with strong Chinese and Western associations - the violin - but it also incorporates a ping pong tournament between a player of Chinese descent (Ariel Hsing) and an American one (Michael Landers). The work was first performed at the Shanghai Symphony Hall in July 2015 where, as in the performance with the HK Phil, the percussion soloist is David Cossin and the violinist is Kristin Lee.

Opening the concert is Tchaikovsky's Serenade for Strings, which is one of the composer's fondest creations. It is a tribute to the musical world of the 18th century and in particular to Tchaikovsky's great musical hero, Mozart.

Swire Denim Series: Ping Pong Diplomacy will be held on 9 & 10 June (Fri & Sat) at 8PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Ticket prices: HK$380, $280, $180, $120 are now available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit www.hkphil.org

Swire Sunday Family Series: Ping Pong Diplomacy will be held on 11 June (Sun) at 3PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Ticket prices: HK$380, $280, $180, $120 are now available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit www.hkphil.org

Artists

Yu Long, conductor [full biography]

Yu Long is the Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the China Philharmonic Orchestra which he co-founded in 2000, and the Music Director of the Shanghai and Guangzhou Symphony orchestras. All three ensembles tour internationally and feature alongside the world's top soloists. Maestro Yu is also the Founding Artistic Director of the Beijing Music Festival, as well as Artistic Co-Director of the MISA Festival, bringing classical music to the young people of Shanghai. He was appointed the Principal Guest Conductor of the HK Phil from the 2015/16 concert season.

David Cossin, percussion [full biography]

David Cossin is a specialist in new and experimental music, who has worked across a broad spectrum of musical and artistic forms to incorporate new media with percussion. Cossin has recorded and performed internationally with composers and ensembles including Philip Glass, Yo-Yo Ma and Tan Dun. He has also performed as a soloist with orchestras throughout the world including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Orchestra Radio France, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Sao Paulo State Symphony, Sydney Symphony, Gothenburg Symphony, New Jersey Symphony and Singapore Symphony.

Kristin Lee, violin [full biography]

A recipient of the 2015 Avery Fisher Career Grant as well as a top prizewinner of the 2012 Walter W. Naumburg Competition and the Astral Artists' 2010 National Auditions, Kristin Lee is a violinist of remarkable versatility and impeccable technique. Born in Seoul, Lee began studying violin at five, and later moved to the US to continue her studies under Sonja Foster. In 1997 she entered The Juilliard School's Pre-College Division, and in 2000 was chosen to study with Itzhak Perlman after he heard her perform Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto.

Michael Landers, ping pong

Michael Landers has been playing table tennis professionally since the age of 13. He has represented the United States national team in three world championships. He is the youngest US men's singles champion in history, and won the US Olympic Trials in 2012. In addition to table tennis, Michael's other passion is playing music.

Ariel Hsing, ping pong

Born in 1995 in California, Ariel Hsing has played table tennis since she was seven years old. Hsing became the youngest U.S. table tennis national champion in history in 2010 at age 15. She repeated as champion in 2011 and 2013. The American table tennis player competed in the London Olympics. Ariel participated in Andy Akiho's Ping Pong Concerto, world premiered in Shanghai in July 2015, at Shanghai Symphony Hall by Shanghai Symphony Orchestra.

SWIRE DENIM SERIES: PING PONG DIPLOMACY

9 & 10 | 6 | 2017

FRI & SAT 8PM

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

HK$380 $280 $180 $120

Tickets are now available at URBTIX

For ages 6 and above

SWIRE SUNDAY FAMILY SERIES: PING PONG DIPLOMACY

11 | 6 | 2017

SUN 3PM

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

HK$380 $280 $180 $120

Tickets are now available at URBTIX

For ages 3 and above

Artists

Yu Long

conductor

David Cossin

percussion

Kristin Lee

violin

Michael Landers

ping pong

Ariel Hsing

ping pong

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