China Life (Overseas) Proudly Sponsors: 
HK Phil 50 – Symphonic Reunion 
27-29 April | Hong Kong Coliseum
Tickets on Sale from 21 March

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: 
Dennis Wu
Director of Marketing 
Tel: (852) 2721 9035
Email: [email protected] 

Emily Hui
Media Relations and Communications Manager
Tel: (852) 2721 1585
Email: [email protected]

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[20 March 2024, Hong Kong] The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) announced at today’s press conference the upcoming concert, “China Life (Overseas) Proudly Sponsors: HK Phil 50 – Symphonic Reunion”. Held at the Hong Kong Coliseum from 27 to 29 April 2024, the three performances feature a stellar lineup of pop singers.

“China Life (Overseas) Proudly Sponsors: HK Phil 50 – Symphonic Reunion” will be conducted by the HK Phil’s Resident Conductor Lio Kuokman, with Harris Ho serving as the Concert’s Music Director. Weaving passionate orchestral music with captivating vocals and melodies, the concert offers music fans a chance to experience the unique charm of Cantopop. As part of the “Hong Kong Pop Culture Festival 2024”, the concert features local pop singers collaborating with the HK Phil to perform classic hits, paying tribute to Cantopop and celebrating the orchestra’s 50th anniversary.

Cantopop diva Sandy Lam returns to the stage after a long hiatus, reuniting with her best partner Anthony Lun to perform their hits, following their 2004 concert “HKPO x Sandy x Anthony LIVE”. Legendary singers Frances Yip and Elisa Chan will open the show with a powerful set of beloved Cantopop classics, including theme songs of iconic TV dramas. New forces Jay Fung, Cloud Wan and Oscar Tao will also reinterpret classic songs, evoking nostalgia in the audience. 

Among the distinguished guests attending today's press conference are HK Phil’s Resident Conductor Lio Kuokman, singers Anthony Lun, Elisa Chan, Frances Yip and Oscar Tao; the HK Phil’s Chief Executive Benedikt Fohr; the HK Phil’s Consultant – 50th Anniversary Vennie Ho; the Concert’s Director Kelvin Law; representatives from the HK Phil’s Principal Patron Swire Group, the Concert’s Title Sponsor China Life (Overseas) and the Concert’s Major Sponsor and Priority Booking Partner HSBC. Lio Kuokman and Anthony Lun even gave a four-hand performance of Debussy’s Petite Suite En bateau, offering a sneak peek of the concert.

The HK Phil had its first collaboration with beloved pop singers at the “Music Extravaganza — A special fund-raising event for The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra”, which was held at the Hong Kong Coliseum in 1983 after its inauguration. Since then, it has regularly partnered with pop singers to deliver well-received concerts that blend classical and pop music. As the HK Phil celebrates its 50th anniversary, it will once again join forces with various singers to present a pop music extravaganza at the Hong Kong Coliseum, creating a spectacular celebration for this milestone.

During the press conference, Lio Kuokman remarked, “For this concert, we have invited highly esteemed pop singers who have previously collaborated with the HK Phil, including Frances Yip who collaborated with us back in 1983, Anthony Lun and Sandy Lam, who collaborated with us twice in 1988 and 2004 respectively, as well as Elisa Chan, who was featured in multiple HK Phil programmes. Alongside the orchestra, I eagerly anticipate conveying emotions through music with these pop legends at the Hong Kong Coliseum. Three rising talents – Jay Fung, Cloud Wan, and Oscar Tao – will also join us to delight fans with re-arranged Cantopop hits.”

As the largest Chinese insurer and Chinese institutional investor in Hong Kong, China Life (Overseas) is delighted to partner closely with the HK Phil once again, bringing classic hits from different eras to the local audience and injecting positive energy into the community. In the future, China Life (Overseas) will continue to actively sponsor large-scale cultural and sports events, fostering connections between different segments of society with diverse cultures, and contributing to the building of a harmonious and inclusive community.

The Swire Group has been the Principal Patron of the HK Phil since 2006. Through this sponsorship, which is the largest in the orchestra’s history, Swire endeavours to promote artistic excellence, foster access to classical music, stimulate cultural participation in Hong Kong, and enhance Hong Kong’s reputation as one of the great cities in the world.”

“China Life (Overseas) Proudly Sponsors: HK Phil 50 – Symphonic Reunion” will be held from 27 to 29 April 2024 (Sat, Sun & Mon) at 8:15PM at the Hong Kong Coliseum. Tickets priced at HK $1,080, $780 and $480 will be available at URBTIX from 21 March (Thu) at 10AM. Maximum four tickets per purchase per person. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.

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Artists

Lio Kuokman, conductor [full description]

Currently Resident Conductor of the HK Phil, Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Macao Orchestra, and Programme Director of the Macao International Music Festival, Lio Kuokman was praised by the Philadelphia Inquirer as “a startling conducting talent”. He won the second prize, Audience Prize and Orchestra Prize at the third Svetlanov International Conducting Competition in Paris, and served as the first Chinese Assistant Conductor at the Philadelphia Orchestra. He has successfully collaborated with many leading orchestras across the globe.

Harris Ho, Music Director [full description]

Harris Ho graduated from the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris and the Conservatoire de musique du Québec, majoring in piano performance. Upon returning to Hong Kong, he worked at the Hong Kong Ballet and The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts’ School of Dance. He currently works as music director of concerts and pop music producer, collaborating with various pop singers, including Grasshopper, Eason Chan, at17, Ivana Wong, Hins Cheung, Joey Yung, Hacken Lee, Edmond Leung, Bondy Chiu, Joyce Cheng, AGA, C AllStar, Jan Lamb, Denise Ho, and more. He has also composed scores for several musicals and stage performances, such as W Theatre’s Butterfly Lovers and Octave, Windmill Grass Theatre’s I Love You Because and Avenue Q, as well as Edward Lam Dance Theatre’s Awakening.

Elisa Chan, singer [full description]

Elisa Chan, affectionately known as an icon of good and true music, is a veteran singer from Hong Kong, who has hit international stardom and has dominated the international Chinese music scene for over three decades. Despite her petite and delicate appearance, she possesses a strong vocal effortlessly transitioning between fast and rhythmic numbers to mellow, smoky slow ballads. Her extensive musical repertoire spans from Western pop, soul, jazz, blues to Chinese classics and Cantopop. She is also well-known for her versatility in performing in many languages, including English, French, Tagalog, Italian and Japanese, in addition to her native languages Cantonese and Mandarin. Widely recognised as a singer-entertainer who seamlessly combines various elements on stage, she always impresses the audience with her powerful performances.

Jay Fung, singer [full description]

Spanning diverse subject matters and musical styles, Jay Fung’s Cantopop music blends the American and European elements. He has established his signature style with his powerful vocals, fluent interpretations, as well as delicate emotional delivery. Whether performing a sweet love ballad or a moving emotional song, he always touches his audiences’ hearts and earns the fans’ affection with his works. Since joining Media Asia Music in 2018, Fung has released five albums. In his endless pursuit to break through barriers and challenge himself, he explores a wide range of genres in his works. He has won various accolades every year, including awards for him as a singer-songwriter and male singer, in addition to those for his songs.

Sandy Lam, singer [full description]

Sandy Lam stands as one of Hong Kong’s and Asia’s most renowned and beloved vocalists. Over nearly four decades, she has achieved household name status throughout the Greater China region, garnering fans from the Chinese-speaking communities, spanning Asia to the Chinese communities in Australia, Canada and the US. She commenced her music career at the age of 16 as a DJ at Commercial Radio Hong Kong. Her distinctive voice caught the attention of CBS Sony Records, who offered her a recording contract, resulting in the release of her debut album in 1985. Swiftly emerging as one of the most anticipated new artists, she shifted her focus to singing and performing. Within five years, Lam released eight Cantonese studio albums, establishing herself as one of Hong Kong’s most popular female artists. Her debut Mandarin album set a sales record with an initial order of 600,000 copies. A decade later, this album was recognised as one of the top 100 Mandarin albums of all time, with Lam being the sole Hong Kong-based artist on the list. In recent years, she has delivered hundreds of solo concerts, charity performances, and global tours.

Anthony Lun, singer [full description]

Anthony Lun is a famous Hong Kong pop song singer, composer, arranger and musical director. He released his first album SEEK in 1986, and caught the attention of the music industry after winning the Asia Pacific Popular Song Contest with the song Lyrics in the same year. In 1990, he released his second album called Man behind the Piano, including the track of the same title soaring to the top of the charts. Since then, he has been the most sought-after composer for other singers. His compositions are best described as trend-setting and innovative. Since 1986, he has composed over 300 songs with 41 chart-topping hits, released 23 solo albums, and held various solo concerts. As producer and musical director, he has worked with numerous top singers.

Oscar Tao, singer [full description]

Oscar Tao’s musical journey began at the age of five, when his playful explorations on the piano caught the attention of his parents, prompting them to enrol him in formal classical piano training. Tao went on to pursue his studies at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts under the tutelage of Eva Lue and Eleanor Wong. He was awarded a scholarship to study at Harrow School in the UK, where he simultaneously pursued a music degree and continued his piano training under a professor at the Royal Academy of Music. After honing his arrangement skills under the mentorship of producer James Ting, Tao participated in the television talent show, Good Night Show, and was subsequently recommended to Universal Music.

Cloud Wan, singer [full description]

Making her debut in 2022, Cloud Wan has already won an array of music awards, including Ultimate Female Newcomer (Gold) in the Ultimate Song Chart Awards Presentation 2022, Most Promising Female Newcomer (Gold) in Top Ten Chinese Gold Songs Award, Female Newcomer (Silver) in Chill Club Chart Award Presentation 22/23, Hits Newcomer Prize in Metro Radio Hits Music Awards 2022, and more.

Frances Yip, singer [full description]

In 2024, Frances Yip is set to celebrate her career spanning 55 years as a recording artist. To mark the milestone, WOW Music has released a new special collection CD titled “Frances Yip Golden Hits”. Her career has evolved from the swinging sixties through the disco revolution, and into the style of “adult contemporary”. She has performed in over 30 countries across five continents, in concerts and on television. She has recorded over 100 albums, participated in three feature films, and appeared in stage musicals.

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China Life (Overseas) Proudly Sponsors: HK Phil 50 – Symphonic Reunion
27 - 29 | 4 | 2024
Sat - Mon 8:15 PM
Hong Kong Coliseum
HK$1080 $780 $480
Tickets will be available at URBTIX from 21 March at 10AM

Artists

*in alphabetical order

Title Sponsor: China Life (Overseas)

Major Sponsor and Priority Booking Partner: HSBC

Piano Sponsor: Tom Lee Music

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