Hong Kong orchestra names new music director – Christoph Poppen steps up from principal guest conductor of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta

Christoph Poppen takes over from Yip Wing-sie as music director of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. The German has been its principal guest conductor since 2015

Poppen, 66, says he sees no need to change direction and the Sinfonietta will continue to support Hong Kong composers when he assumes the role next season

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Margaret Yang (left), chief executive of the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Christoph Poppen, music director from the 2023/24 season, and Yip Wing-sie, music director emeritus at the announcement of Poppen’s appointment on February 1. Photo: Enid Tsui

Published: 5:45pm, 1 Feb 2023Updated: 6:49pm, 1 Feb 2023

Hong Kong Sinfonietta has named its German principal guest conductor Christoph Poppen as its new music director.

The appointment, delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, comes two years after Yip Wing-sie stepped down from the role to become the orchestra’s music director emeritus.

Poppen, 66, has been in his current role with the Sinfonietta since 2015 and will begin his tenure as music director at the start of the 2023/24 season.

Born in Munster, he studied the violin and was a founder of the Cherubini Quartet in 1978; he has been a professor of music since his early twenties.

Christoph Poppen conducts the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. He will take over as its music director from the 2023/24 season onwards. Photo; Hong Kong Sinfonietta

The Sinfonietta also named Vivian Ip associate conductor beginning from the 2023/24 season, and extended Hong Kong visual artist Vivian Ho’s tenure as artist associate.

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