The HK Phil's RING Ends With A Glorious Finale

With the last note of Brünnhilde's Immolation Scene, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) reached the conclusion of its 4-year epic journey through Wagner's Ring Cycle. The HK Phil is proud to announce the completion of these first-ever performances in Hong Kong, recorded for enjoyment and posterity by Naxos. This awe-inspiring project would never be possible without the HKSAR Government's generous support in granting the HK Phil the contestable funding for four consecutive years. In fact, the HKSAR Government not only supported this financially, but also in person, and it was a great honour to have Ms Michelle Li, Director of Leisure and Cultural Services (LCSD), and other senior members of the Home Affairs Bureau and the LCSD joining on 18th January to celebrate the end of this vast masterpiece.

This monumental work was directed by the HK Phil's Music Director Jaap van Zweden who was joined by dozens of world-renowned Wagnerian singers and three choruses. Altogether the orchestra gave eight performances of the Cycle's four parts, being two performances of each opera Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung, with a total audience numbering almost 13,000. This venture also attracted over a hundred members of the media, and numerous highly complimentary reviews were generated.

To extend the enjoyment of this Wagnerian epic beyond the concert hall, the HK Phil organised fringe activities every year including symposia, open rehearsals, pre-concert talks, ensemble performances, demonstrations of Wagnerian musical instruments, a creative art competition, workshops, exhibitions, vocal masterclasses, podcasts, a story-telling session, and movie screening sessions, all of which attracted thousands of members of the public.

Though the Ring concerts have been completed, the HK Phil continues with the mission to nurture local talents. A composition workshop for emerging composers has been organised with the music of Wagner's Ring Cycle as the starting point. Six selected composers will have their new orchestral works presented at a public workshop with the HK Phil in March 2018.

The HK Phil would like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful partners, including the Hong Kong Cultural Centre, the Goethe-Institut Hongkong, Swire, Chow Sang Sang, Naxos, The New York Times, the Ring Circle Members (including Mimi & KH Chan, Foundation for the Arts and Music in Asia, interlude.hk, Marga Group, Ko Shing 11 and J. Rotbart & Co.), all the patrons and members of the audience for their generous support. It is only with your support that this Ring could have been materialised.