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.
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
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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