Largest Symphonic Event In Hong Kong -- Swire Symphony Under The Stars (13th November) Puts City On

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27th October 2009, 12:05am - Views: 909





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MEDIA RELEASE PR36762


Largest Symphonic Event in Hong Kong -- Swire Symphony under the Stars (13th November)

Puts City on World Cultural Map


HONG KONG, Oct. 26 /PRNewswire-Asia-AsiaNet/ --


         Free tickets for Overseas Music Lovers to be distributed on 

        event website: suts.hkpo.com from 30th October, 10am (HK time)


                                  Act Fast!


    The legendary New York Philharmonic in Central Park; the Berlin Philharmonic in the

Waldbuhne; Sydney Symphony in the Domain; and the outdoor Proms in Hyde Park in London. 

The world's great cultural capitals share something very special -- tens of thousands of

their citizens each year are able to enjoy superlative symphonic music under the stars

performed by orchestras they call their own. 



    (Photo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/2009/10/26/20091026321102.jpg )



    This November, Hong Kong's much anticipated answer to these great traditions, Swire

Symphony under the Stars, will once again transform the lush expanse of the Happy Valley

Racecourse Recreation Ground into a dense patchwork of music loving picnickers,

providing its denizens with the chance to hear an exciting repertoire of favourite

concert works as performed by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Perry

So and violinist Mengla Huang.  The free outdoor concert will take place on Friday, 13th

November, at 7:30pm.  Ticket distribution will start on 30th October at select Tom Lee

Music Stores and the official event website: suts.hkpo.com. 


    Thanks to the generous and continued support of the Orchestra 's Principal Patron --

Swire Symphony under the Stars is in its third year and is the most important public

part of the Orchestra's dedicated drive to open out the arts to the community.  And

there's no finer expression of what the arts can mean to a city than this wonderful

annual tradition of a free concert in the outdoors.  This year, an expected turnout of

20,000 people of all ages and from all walks of life will be heading to this unique

performance venue nestled in Causeway Bay, for a rousing set of orchestral music which

celebrates all those things which make Hong Kong such a special and inspiring place to

be in.  The grounds will open at 5:30pm and food and beverages will be available for

purchase at kiosks within or concert-goers are welcome to bring their own.  For added

comfort, families attending this free outdoor concert and fireworks display may wish to

bring a blanket.  As it is Hong Kong's largest and most popular symphonic event of the

year, patrons are encouraged to be on time as there is no priority seating.  


    A programme not to be missed!

    Perry So (full biography:


talented HKPO Assistant Conductor and First Prize Laureate of the 5th Prokofiev

Conducting Competition, makes his d¨¦but appearance in this year's Swire Symphony under

the Stars.  Under his baton, the HKPO will perform a series of musical masterpieces

ranging from the froth of Viennese classics, heady Russian romanticism to exquisite

Chinese minatures.  Violinist Huang Mengla (full biography:


today's most critically acclaimed and dazzling soloists, will share the stage with the

Orchestra in the popular Sarasate Carmen Fantasy and the rhapsodic but fiendishly

difficult Tzigane ("Gypsy") by Ravel.  And what better way to round out an enthralling

evening than Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture", with a finale of blazing fireworks against

the backdrop of Happy Valley? TV celebrity Patrick Dunn again takes to the stage as

Master of Ceremonies for this special event.

  

    Free admission with tickets!  Overseas music lovers register for tickets on

suts.hkpo.com. 


    The tickets, which are free and by registration only, are guaranteed to be the

hottest in town. Based on experiences from the last two concerts, all tickets were

claimed within a few hours of them being available to the public.  So, overseas music

travelers can register for the free tickets early on Swire Symphony under the Stars'

official website: suts.hkpo.com from 10:00am (HK time) on 30th October (Friday). 

Tickets are limited and will be distributed on a first-come-first-serve basis.  Once

confirmed tickets online, overseas travelers can claim their tickets from the HKPO

office (8/F, Administration Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsimshatsui, Hong Kong)

by 5:45pm, 13 November 2009 (Friday).


    Come join thousands of other music lovers playing the harmonica with HKPO to break

the Guinness World Record!


    What's more, at this year's Swire Symphony under the Stars there is a fun new

element inviting the community to join the Orchestra in breaking the Guinness Book

Record for the largest gathering of £¬harmonica players of all time.  Registration

starts from 5:30pm and ends at 7:30pm on the day. No prior music knowledge is necessary. 

Everyone can participate! The record breaking attempt will take place during the

interval of the concert.  Each participant will receive a free HOHNER harmonica and a

Commendation Certificate.  To register or for more information on the event, please go

to: harmonica.hkpo.com.  


    Swire Symphony under the Stars is made possible by the generous support of the

following organizations:


    Principal Patron: SWIRE


    Major Sponsors: HSBC Insurance, Tom Lee Music


    Official Harmonica: HOHNER


    Media Partner: RTHK Television Division, RTHK Radio 4


    Present in association with: Leisure and Cultural Services Department


    Hotel Sponsor: Cosmopolitan Hotel Hong Kong


    Supporting Organizations: Rotaract Club of Baptist University and HKUST, Tom Lee

Music Foundation, Hong Kong Harmonica Association, The Hong Kong Academy for Performing

Arts


    Swire Symphony under the Stars is a Brand Hong Kong event and is supported by the

Mega Events Funds. It is also a celebration of the 60th Anniversary of the founding of

the People's Republic of China. Swire Symphony under the Stars Details


    Date:           13 / 11 / 2009 (Friday)


    Time:           Gates opens to public at 5:30pm

                    Concert at 7:30pm (Free admission with tickets)

                    On-site registration for Guinness Book of Record attempt 

                    from 5:30pm to 7:30pm


    Venue:          Happy Valley Racecourse Recreation Ground


    Artists


    Perry So        conductor                       

People Feature Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra 3 image

    Huang Mengla    violin      

                


    Click on below links to download photos:


    Perry So  

   



    Huang Mengla      



    Programme


    J STRAUSS II:    Die Fledermaus: overture                               

    SARASATE:        Carmen Fantasy                         

    BAO Yuan-kai:    Flowing Stream                                         

    RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: Capriccio Espagnole                                 

    ZHU Jian'er:     Festival Overture                                       

    RAVEL:           Tzigane, rapsodie de concert for violin and orchestra  

    BORODIN:         Prince Igor: Polovtsian Dances            

    TCHAIKOVSKY:     1812 overture                                           


    For enquiry, please call HKPO at

    (852) 2721 2030

    Or go on our website:

    suts.hkpo.com


    Media Contact

     Mr Paul Tam, Director of Marketing

     Tel:   (852) 2721 9035

     Cell:  (852) 9650 6818

     Email: paul.tam@hkpo.com

     Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra

     Edo de Waart

     Artistic Director and Chief Conductor


    The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO) is one of Asia's leading orchestras.

Enriching Hong Kong's cultural life for over a century, the Orchestra has grown into a

formidable ensemble of Chinese and international talents in the last three decades,

attracting world-class artists to perform on the same stage.  HKPO annually touches the

lives of 200,000 music lovers through more than 150 performances including its extensive

education activities for children and adults alike, and free concerts such as the

popular Swire Symphony Under the Stars, and regular broadcasts and telecasts. Outside of

Hong Kong, HKPO has made a number of successful tours in Asia and Europe including a

major six-concert tour of China in the 2008/09 season under the leadership of Maestro

Edo de Waart, drawing great critical acclaims. (Full Biography:



    The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is financially supported by the Government of

the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

SWIRE is the Principal Patron of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is the Venue Partner of the Hong Kong Cultural

Centre


SOURCE  Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra



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