Jaap van Zweden Opens the HK Phil's 50th Professional Season With Soloists Joshua Bell and Rudolf Buchbinder

To mark its 50th professional season, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) and its Music Director Jaap van Zweden will present two programmes in two consecutive weeks of September, along with renowned violinist Joshua Bell (8 & 9 September) and pianist Rudolf Buchbinder (15 & 16 September) respectively, in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. In addition, a special exhibition titled “Records of the Times: A Journey Through the HK Phil Archive” will be held at the foyer of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre from 27 August to 9 September. The exhibition will feature a collection of the HK Phil’s treasured histories. Join us this season to celebrate the HK Phil’s golden jubilee!

Season Opening: Jaap & Joshua Bell (8 & 9 September)

In the season opener, Jaap van Zweden and the HK Phil will present the Asia Premiere of The Elements (originated by Joshua Bell), a collaborative work by five leading American composers – Jake Heggie (Fire), Jennifer Higdon (Air), Edgar Meyer (Water), Jessie Montgomery (Space) and Kevin Puts (Earth, Earth (reprise and finale)). Commissioned and performed by Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell, this unique endeavour was conceived during the early moments of the pandemic as a celebration of the beauty in the natural world. Finally, van Zweden concludes the concert with Tchaikovsky’s Symphony no. 4.

“Season Opening: Jaap & Joshua Bell” will be held on 8 & 9 September 2023 (Fri & Sat) at 8PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets priced at HK$1,080, $880, $680 and $480 are available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.

Jaap & Rudolf Buchbinder I & II (15 & 16 September)

Renowned pianist Rudolf Buchbinder will join forces with Jaap van Zweden and the HK Phil in the following week. Regarded as one of the legendary performers of our time, Buchbinder is renowned for his unparalleled interpretations of Beethoven’s works. In these programmes, he performs Beethoven’s popular Piano Concertos nos. 4 and 5. The concerts kick off with Mendelssohn’s The Hebrides and String Symphony no. 13 respectively, complemented by the composer’s Scottish and Italian symphonies in two consecutive evenings.

“Jaap & Rudolf Buchbinder I & II” will be held on 15 & 16 September 2023 (Fri & Sat) at 8PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets priced at HK$780, $620, $480, $300 and $50 (Friday only) are available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.

Records of the Times: A Journey Through the HK Phil Archive (27 August – 9 September)

As the HK Phil steps into its 50th professional season, an exhibition will be held to commemorate this special occasion. A collection of the HK Phil’s archival materials, including its marketing materials, concert programmes, official correspondences and photographs, will be showcased to the public, allowing them to retrace its footsteps from the past and discover the stories that have propelled the HK Phil to its esteemed status as one of Asia’s foremost classical orchestras today. Featuring the debuts of world-renowned artists Joshua Bell and Yo-Yo Ma with the HK Phil, the exhibition provides an opportunity to revisit the history of the orchestra and that of Hong Kong.

 “Records of the Times: A Journey Through the HK Phil Archive” exhibition welcomes visitors of all ages with free admission. It will be held at the foyer of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre from 27 August to 9 September 2023.

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