The city is in for a treat next month with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO) launching a series of exciting programmes that are sure to prove irresistible to music lovers. The month-long series begins on November 5 and 6 with the debut of internationally renowned composer Guo Wenjing's Dizi Concerto No 2, Wildfire, part of the New Vision Arts Festival Programme. Guo, a graduate of China's distinguished Central Conservatory of Music, has been praised by The New York Times as the only Chinese composer to have made an international reputation for himself without living abroad. His works have featured at festivals all over the world, including the Edinburgh Arts Festival, the Paris Autumn Arts Festival and the Hong Kong Arts Festival. The piece was commissioned by the HKPO and has been written for the Chinese bamboo flute, to be played by dizi virtuoso Tang Junqiao. One of the world's most eminent Chinese dizi recitalists, Tang has performed with orchestras around the world, from the London Symphony Orchestra to the National Symphony Orchestra of France and the China Philharmonic. She has also appeared as a soloist in concerts and participated in world tours alongside Tan Dun and Yo-Yo Ma. Tang first became the principal flautist at the Shanghai Ensemble of Chinese Traditional Instruments in 1996, the first Chinese female woodwind solo instrumentalist to work with a professional ensemble of Chinese traditional instruments. Exploring the characteristics of traditional Chinese folk instruments, Guo has successfully avoided the melodious and brisk characteristics of the dizi in the piece, and crafted it so the instrument can freely express the angry emotions of the work. On November 12 and 13, two legendary Chinese string players - Lin Cho-liang and Wang Jian will perform with the HKPO under the baton of conductor Edo de Waart. The pair will play Brahms' Double Concerto, the composer's last orchestral composition, which embodies the spirit of friendship and the power of music to heal divisions. Recognised for his eloquent playing and superb musicianship, award-winning violinist Lin has an extensive repertoire of recordings to his name and has also performed with leading orchestras including the Toronto Symphony, Houston Symphony, the LA Chamber Orchestra and the English Chamber Orchestra. As the music director of La Jolla Music Society's SummerFest, he has been instrumental in transforming the festival into a multidiscipline event featuring diverse arts performances. Accompanying Lin is cellist Wang, who has enjoyed a phenomenal career since his professional debut at New York's Carnegie Hall in 1986. He has worked with renowned orchestras including the Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago symphonies and the Zurich Tonhalle. The Swire Maestro Series on November 19 and 20 is also a must for music enthusiasts. The series will feature the great symphonies of Haydn and Mozart, and will be conducted by Ton Koopman. The Dutch maestro will tackle one of Mozart's most famous symphonies - Symphony No 40 in G Minor, and Haydn's Symphony No 98 in B Flat, and the Sinfonia Concertante for oboe, bassoon, violin and cello. With Koopman's trademark energy, audiences can expect something extraordinary from these two musical greats. 'I love to do Mozart,' Koopman says. 'It's so interesting to discover things not done by others, things where you have to make up your mind what to do.' Also an organist and harpsichordist, Koopman has appeared in the world's most important concert halls and festivals, and has collaborated as a guest conductor with some of the most prominent orchestras from Europe, the United States and Asia. He leads the harpsichord class at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, and from next year will become the Cleveland Orchestra's Artist in Residence for three years. The series will end with the annual Swire Symphony Under the Stars, the year's largest and most highly anticipated symphonic event. The two-hour, November 26 concert at the Happy Valley Racecourse Recreation Ground is an opportunity for music lovers to hear an exciting repertoire of favourite concert works by the HKPO under the baton of young talent Perry So, the orchestra's associate conductor, and pianist Boris Giltburg. The orchestra will perform classical works by Chopin, Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky, among others. Tickets are free and are available on a first-come, first-served basis at selected Tom Lee music stores from November 5.