London's Southbank Sinfonia chooses Hong Kong for its overseas debut
Orchestra comprising the pick of recent global music college graduates will accompany acclaimed Chinese violin soloist Ning Feng in concert it hopes will raise ensemble's profile in Asia
Virtuoso violinist Ning Feng's name is usually enough to fill a Hong Kong concert hall, but an equally potent attraction for his appearance on Monday September 21 at City Hall is the visiting Southbank Sinfonia in a programme of works by Mendelssohn and Beethoven.
This acclaimed ensemble is making not only its Hong Kong debut, but also its first concert appearance outside Europe. Founded in 2002 by music director Simon Over, Southbank Sinfonia was established to give outstanding young musicians the opportunity to work in a stable professional orchestra for a year after graduation before moving on to positions elsewhere.
Each year the orchestra assembles 33 young players of unusual distinction, who are then immersed in an intensive nine-month programme of rehearsals and performances. The music they perform ranges from baroque to jazz, taking in all eras of classical music from the past 400 years, including opera.
WATCH Southbank Sinfonia play the first movement of Mozart's Symphony No. 40
The Southbank Sinfonia is renowned for both the passion and accomplishments its young players bring to their repertoire, but it had an unlikely beginning. The whole venture resulted from Over encouraging politicians to sing.