Celebrate the HK Phil’s 2020/21 Season Finale with Popular Music by 
Joe Hisaishi, Bizet, Verdi, Berlioz, and Saint-Saëns!
Swire Maestro Series: Lio Kuokman | Season Finale (2 & 3 July)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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[30 June 2021, Hong Kong] The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) and its Resident Conductor Lio Kuokman conclude the orchestra’s 2020/21 season on 2 & 3 July 2021 (Fri & Sat) in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall, performing audience favourites by Joe Hisaishi, Bizet, Verdi, Saint-Saëns and Berlioz. Very limited tickets for two performances!

Opening the concert will be Bizet’s Carmen Suite no. 1 – music drawn from one of the most famous operas of all time, Carmen. The story is set in Spain and Bizet’s music is full of foot-tapping dances and unforgettable melodies. The music was such a hit that it inspired many other concert works, including the spectacular Carmen Fantasie played on these concerts by young Hong Kong violinist Paloma So, who also performs the wonderful Introduction and Rondo capriccio by Saint-Saëns.

Also from Carmen, Micaëla’s famous aria, Je dis que rien ne m'épouvante(“I say, nothing frightens me”), will be sung by distinguished Hong Kong soprano Louise Kwong. Kwong additionally will perform Pace, pace mio dio (“Please, please my Lord”) from Verdi’s opera La forza del destino.

A highlight of the concert will be three selections by Joe Hisaishi, including music from two of his most popular anime scores, Spirited Away and Kiki’s Delivery Service, along with the theme from the film Departures, played by Hong Kong cellist Thomas Hung.

As a rousing climax, Lio and the HK Phil will perform Berlioz’s Roman Carnival, the perfect festive work to conclude the orchestra’s 2020/21 season and send us away with anticipation for the upcoming 2021/22 season–details to be announced in late July. Stay tuned!

Swire Maestro Series: Lio Kuokman | Season Finale will be presented on 2 & 3 July 2021 (Fri & Sat) at 8PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets are HK$$480, $380 and $280 and are available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.

Artists
Lio Kuokman, conductor [full description]
Praised by the Philadelphia Inquirer as “a startling conducting talent”, Lio Kuokman was the laureate at the 2014 Svetlanov International Conducting Competition. Lio Kuokman is Resident Conductor with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and has previously served as assistant conductor to music director Yannick Nézet-Seguin with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the first Chinese conductor to be appointed in this position in the history of the orchestra. He is currently Programme Director of the Macao International Music Festival.

Paloma So, violin [full description]
Paloma So started learning piano at the age of four and violin at five, making her debut with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra in February 2014 playing Mozart’s Violin Concerto no. 5. Later that year she was invited to perform as a soloist at the G20 Gala Dinner in Australia. Since then, she has also performed with the Fujian, Guangzhou and Berlin Symphony orchestras, the London Philharmonic, and in 2016 was invited to perform at the Interlaken Music Festival in Switzerland. She currently participates in the Interlaken masterclass with Prof. Zakhar Bron.

Louise Kwong, soprano [full description]
Louise Kwong was a soprano in the Young Artist Programme of Rome Opera House in Italy from 2018-19. She is a graduate of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Dutch National Opera Academy, the Conservatory of Amsterdam, and the Royal College of Music of London. Her operatic roles include Cio-cio-san in Madama Butterfly, Micaëla in Carmen, Liù in Turandot, Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana, La Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Fiordiligi in Cosi fan Tutte.

Thomas Hung, cello [full description]
Born in 1999 cellist Thomas Hung was awarded in the Secretary for Home Affairs' Commendation Scheme in recognition of his musical achievements in 2012.  He first started learning the cello with his parents, and received lessons from Artem Konstantinov and Stefan Popov.  He is currently studying cello with Ray Wang at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and serves as a member of the cello faculty at the Academy.  In addition, he has taken part in masterclasses with Yo-Yo Ma, Wang Jian, David Finckel, David Strange, Csaba Onczay and Colin Carr.

 

SWIRE MAESTRO SERIES: LIO KUOKMAN | SEASON FINALE
2 & 3 | 7 | 2021
FRI & SAT 8PM
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$480 $380 $280
Tickets now available at URBTIX, very limited tickets
For ages 6 and above

Artists

Programme