HK Phil News

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) made its joyous return to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall on 4 July after five months of venue closure.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) has announced that Jaap van Zweden has accepted to extend his Music Director contract for two more years, through the end of the 2023/24 season.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra has announced its 2020/21 season, presenting 35 fantastic programmes featuring over 80 international and local guest artists.

In view of current developments related to the coronavirus outbreak, along with discussions with our tour presenters, performing venues and related partners, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra's (HK Phil) tour to Japan and Korea has been postponed to a later time of the year. The tour was originally scheduled for 5 March to 13 March 2020 in Osaka Symphony Hall, Tokyo Suntory Hall, Deajeon Arts Center, Seoul Arts Center, Chuncheon Culture & Art Center, and Gwangju Culture & Art Center. New dates for the tour will be announced on relevant performing venues' websites shortly.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) Music Director Jaap van Zweden will lead the orchestra in a concert featuring the World Premiere of A Madman's Diary by Hong Kong composer Alvin Tam Lok-hei, the Asia Premiere of Christopher Rouse's Symphony no. 5, and Prokofiev's Symphony no. 5, one of the great orchestral works of the 20th century. The concert will take place on 23 January 2020 (Thursday, ONE performance only) at 8pm in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) held a?oeAn Enchanting Evening with Lang Lang Fundraising Dinnera?? on 17 January 2020 (Friday) at the Salisbury Room of The Peninsula Hong Kong. It is with great honour to have the star of the night, world renowned pianist Lang Lang, together with his wife (Ms Gina Alice Redlinger), joining as our distinguished guests at the Dinner, with the presence of Maestro Jaap van Zweden, the HK Phil's Music Director and Conductor of the concerts with Lang Lang. A total of HK$3.4 million was raised at the Dinner in supporting the future development of the HK Phil.

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) launches a special a?oeBeethoven 250tha?? series. Superstar pianist Lang Lang, returns to the stage of the HK Phil after four years, to present the first programme with the HK Phil's Music Director Jaap van Zweden. He will play Beethoven's Piano Concerto no. 2, which the composer himself played as his public debut in Vienna. This programme also features Beethoven's Egmont Overture and Symphony no. 1, Beethoven's tribute to his teacher Haydn. HK Phil's celebration of Beethoven's 250th Anniversary starts on 16 & 18 January 2020 (Thursday & Saturday) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) is honoured to welcome the new Chief Conductor of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong-born Elim Chan, in a thrilling concert of musical fireworks. The programme will also feature one of the best percussionists around, Martin Grubinger, in Sieidi, Percussion Concerto (Asia Premiere) by Finnish composer Kalevi Aho. Elim Chan directs two performances on 10 & 11 January 2020 at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall.

Following the great success of their five-city tour in 2017 to Seoul, Osaka, Singapore, Melbourne and Sydney and recent performances in the Mainland China, cities such as Zhuhai, Guangzhou, Foshan and Shanghai, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) and its Music Director Jaap van Zweden will embark on a six-concert tour to Japan and Korea in March 2020.

Due to public activities that may take place on 24 December evening in Tsim Sha Tsui and unforeseen circumstances, in consultation with related parties, the advertised 24 December 2019 (Tuesday) 8PM performance of a?oeA Jazz Night with HIROMIa?? at Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall has been cancelled.

For the upcoming festive season, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) brings two stylish programmes to audience in Hong Kong. In anticipation of Christmas celebrations, composer/jazz pianist HIROMI joins hands with fellow Japanese conductor Ryusuke Numajiri to share her music in two nights of jazz at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall on 23 & 24 December. And to bid farewell to the year 2019, British conductor Christopher Warren-Green teams up with Canadian/American coloratura soprano Sharleen Joynt to bring our audience a Viennese New Year in Hong Kong. Two performances will take place at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall: one each on 30 & 31 December.

The a?oeCurse of the Nintha?? is always a myth in the history of classical music - a ninth symphony seems to be destined as the last of a composer's life. The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) and Music Director Jaap van Zweden will perform two a?oeTentha?? symphonies: Mahler's Symphony no. 10 and Shostakovich's Symphony no. 10. Both were written during a time of emotional turmoil for their composers, resulting in two powerful and emotionally charged symphonies. Two big symphonies in the evening of 13 & 14 December (Friday & Saturday) in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall, don't miss it!

In his second concert with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) this season, Principal Guest Conductor Yu Long directs a programme of works sharing a Parisian connection a?" two ravishing ballet scores and the Hong Kong premiere of composer Chen Qigang's La joie de la souffrance, featuring virtuoso violinist Ning Feng. Two performances will be given at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall on 6 & 7 December.

A star duo-piano team The Labèque Sisters and two premieres, together with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) will bring inspiration and innovation to Hong Kong's musical landscape in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall on 22 and 23 November in concerts led by Music Director Jaap van Zweden.

In what is sure to be a highlight of this concert season, superstar soprano Renée Fleming will return to the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) stage for the first time in 12 years, performing alongside Maestro Jaap van Zweden in a programme full of joyfulness and melody, on 8 and 9 November at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall.

An all-local array of outstanding talent joins the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) in a programme of world premieres by four young Hong Kong composers alongside classical delights to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Two performances will take place at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall on 1 & 2 November.

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) was named Orchestra of the Year at the 2019 Gramophone Classical Music Awards ceremony a?" regarded as the a?oeOscars of classical musica?? a?" in London on Wednesday (16 October 2019) for its outstanding contribution to recorded music in the past year. The HK Phil is the first Asian orchestra to receive this prestigious international award.

It's time for adventure! The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil)'s hugely popular MUSIC FOR KIDS series brings the world of classical music to families in a relaxed and fun-filled atmosphere over two weekends: Paddington BearTM Concert (28 September, Saturday, 3PM & 8PM) and Peter & the Wolf Fantasia (12 October, Saturday, 3PM & 8PM). Suitable for ages three and up, this could be a wonderful choice for your child's very first concert. Act now to embark on this exciting journey with your family! From as little as HK$90, your kids can enjoy an extraordinary concert!

After two weeks with Music Director Jaap van Zweden, Principal Guest Conductor Yu Long takes up the baton and leads the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) in Shostakovich's Symphony no. 5. Cellist Li-Wei Qin teams up with the orchestra in Chen Qigang's folk-song inspired cello concerto - Reflet d'un temps disparu for cello and orchestra. Two performances on 19 & 20 September (Thursday & Friday) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall.

2020 marks the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth. To celebrate this momentous year, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) launches a special a?oeBeethoven 250tha?? series with complete cycles of the composer's symphonies and concertos all conducted by Music Director Jaap van Zweden across two concert seasons from 2019/20. Five programmes will be first presented in the 2019/20 season, featuring great pianists Lang Lang, Rudolf Buchbinder, Rachel Cheung, Víkingur ?"lafsson and Nobuyuki Tsujii. Tickets for these five programmes are available at URTIX from today. BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW!