Music Director Jaap van Zweden Opens the HK Phil’s 50th Professional Season with Celebrated Soloists Joshua Bell and Rudolf Buchbinder
Season Opening: Jaap & Joshua Bell (8 & 9 September)
Jaap & Rudolf Buchbinder I & II (15 & 16 September)
Records of the Times: A Journey Through the HK Phil Archive (27 August – 9 September)

18 AUG 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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[18 August 2023, Hong Kong]To mark its 50thprofessional 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.

Title Sponsor of Opening Night Concert: UOB Hong Kong

International Media Partner: The New York Times

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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Artists

SEASON OPENING: JAAP & JOSHUA BELL and JAAP & RUDOLF BUCHBINDER I & II

Jaap van Zweden, conductor [full description]

Over the past decade, conductor Jaap van Zweden has become an international presence on three continents. Currently Music Director of the HK Phil, he is also Music Director of the New York Philharmonic. He has appeared as guest conductor with leading orchestras such as, in Europe, the Orchestra de Paris, Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw, the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, the Vienna Philharmonic, the Berlin Philharmonic and the London Symphony Orchestra, and, in the US, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

SEASON OPENING: JAAP & JOSHUA BELL

Joshua Bell, violin [full description]

With a career spanning almost four decades, Grammy Award-winning violinist Joshua Bell is one of the most celebrated artists of his era. He has performed with virtually every major orchestra in the world, and continues to maintain engagements as a soloist, recitalist, chamber musician, and conductor. In 2011, Bell was named Music Director of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields, succeeding Sir Neville Marriner, who formed the orchestra in 1959. As an exclusive Sony Classical artist, Bell has recorded more than 40 albums, garnering Grammy, Mercury, Gramophone and Opus Klassik awards.

JAAP & RUDOLF BUCHBINDER I & II

Rudolf Buchbinder, piano [full description]

Rudolf Buchbinder is one of the legendary performers of our time. The authority of a career spanning 65 years is uniquely combined with esprit and spontaneity in his piano playing. Tradition and innovation, faithfulness and freedom, authenticity and open-mindedness merge in his reading of the great piano literature. He is an honorary member of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien, the Wiener Konzerthausgesellschaft, the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the first soloist to be awarded the Golden Badge of Honour by the Staatskapelle Dresden. His interpretations of the works of Ludwig van Beethoven in particular are regarded as setting standards.

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SEASON OPENING: JAAP & JOSHUA BELL

8 & 9 | 9 | 2023

FRI & SAT 8PM

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

HK$1080 $880 $680 $480

Tickets now available at URBTIX

For ages 6 and above

Artists

Jaap van Zweden	conductor
Joshua Bell	violin

Programme

	The Elements (originated and commissioned by Joshua Bell) (Asia Premiere)
Kevin PUTS	Earth
Edgar MEYER	Water
Jake HEGGIE	Fire
Jennifer HIGDON	Air
Jessie MONTGOMERY	Space
Kevin PUTS	Earth (reprise and finale)
TCHAIKOVSKY	Symphony no. 4