Charles Dutoit Returns to HK Phil Next Month in Bravo Series

For over 50 years Charles Dutoit has been recognised as one of the leading orchestral conductors. He has recently been awarded one of classical music's highest honours, the Royal Philharmonic Society Gold Medal. After a ten-year absence, the 80-year-old Swiss conductor returns to the stage of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orhcestra (HK Phil) on 17 & 18 November to present his notable interpretations of French and Russian repertoire. He is joined by Nikolai Lugansky, one of the best Rachmaninov interpreters of our time, in the epic Third Concerto.

"[Charles Dutoit's] decades of familiarity have brought about a deep and intimate understanding of what works best."

--- Straits Times

This colourful French and Russian musical night will start and end with French repertoire, opening with Berlioz's extrovert and vivid Roman Carnival Overture, and closing with Ravel's lushly atmospheric Daphnis and Chloé Suite no. 2.

Between these French works come two Russian masterpieces. The first is Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto no. 3, which the composer wrote for his American tour in 1909. The premiere with the New York Symphony Orchestra was a huge success and the piece is regarded as the pinnacle of Romantic piano concertos. The second is Stravinsky's The Song of the Nightingale inspired by a story by Hans Christian Anderson (The Nightingale). Stravinsky first intended it to be an opera, turned it into a ballet and, in 1919, arranged it as the orchestral tone poem the HK Phil plays in this concert.

Bravo Series: Dutoit & Lugansky will be held on 17 & 18 November 2017 (Fri & Sat), 8PM, in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets priced: HK$680, $480, $380, $280 are now available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit www.hkphil.org.

Free Pre-concert talks are available before both concerts, stay-tuned for more details at www.hkphil.org.

Artists

Charles Dutoit, conductor [full biography]

Recently appointed Chief Conductor and Music Advisor of the Philadelphia Orchestra as well as Artistic Director and Principal Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Charles Dutoit regularly collaborates with the world's pre-eminent orchestras and soloists. The maestro has been invited each season to conduct major orchestras in the US and all the great orchestras of Europe, including the Berlin Philharmonic and Amsterdam's Concertgebouw Orchestra, as well as the major orchestras of Japan, South America and Australia.

Nikolai Lugansky, piano [full biography]

Nikolai Lugansky was awarded the honour of People's Artist of Russia in 2013. Described by Gramophone as "the most trailblazing and meteoric performer of all" Lugansky is a pianist of extraordinary depth and versatility. He regularly works with top level conductors including Charles Dutoit, and his concerto highlights for the 2017/18 season include engagements with the London and Baltimore symphony orchestras, the HK Phil and many more.

BRAVO SERIES: DUTOIT & LUGANSKY

17 & 18 | 11 | 2017

FRI & SAT 8PM

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

HK$680 $480 $380 $280

Tickets are now available at URBTIX

For ages 6 and above

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