According to Cheung, the 'L' stands for love and he has chosen romantic love songs for this part of the concert. The 'I' is for inspiration and here he will pay tribute to all of the artists who have influenced him musically. 'F' represents freedom, an idea Cheung thinks is best expressed in electronic and jazz music, while 'E' is eternity, music that stands the test of time.

'While there's been all this talk about 2012 being the end of the world, I'd love to spread the message similar to that of [Apple co-founder] Steve Jobs - to live each day as if it's your last. I'd like everyone to love life and to enjoy every moment of their lives,' says Cheung.

He says the concerts on the coming weekend offer him a chance to look back on his 11 years in the showbiz and music industries. 'I believe that as singers, we always have to improve ourselves. [The collaboration] is a new experience for me ... in pop concerts, I take the lead and it's more about the band keeping up with me. The pressure of working with an orchestra comes from the fact that I become part of the ensemble and it's crucial for me not to fall behind.'

Cheung's long-time collaborator Johnny Yim Lai-hang is the arranger. Violinist Leung Kin-fung, the orchestra's associate concertmaster and concert master of this programme, is looking forward to working with the Guangzhou-born singer-songwriter.

'It'd be a waste if we were to just provide the background music. It's crucial to arrange the original score into something good, which pits the orchestra against the singer,' says Leung.

'It also shows what a unique effect we can produce. With more than 80 players [playing on stage], we'll be polishing and upgrading his songs to a grand, philharmonic version which is a lot more rousing.'

Thu-Nov 6, 8.15pm, Star Hall, Kitec, 1 Trademart Drive, Kowloon Bay, HK$280, HK$480 HK Ticketing. Inquiries: 2721 2030