Celebrating with music that moves
The work of four great composers will be celebrated in the Hong Kong Sinfonietta's packed programme this season. With its theme 'music that moves', the orchestra will play all of Beethoven's symphonies and mark the anniversaries of Handel (250 years since his death), Haydn (200 years since his death) and Mendelssohn (200th anniversary of his birthday).
World-renowned guest artists Pinchas Zukerman, David Garrett, Han-Na Chang, Michel Dalberto, Freddy Kempf, Howard Shelley, Charles Neidich and Tatjana Vassilieva will also be delighting Hong Kong audiences.
After his debut here playing Tchaikovsky's Violin Concerto with the orchestra in 2001, German violinist Garrett returns on April 18 and 19 to play Bruch's great concertos and selections from his albums Encore and Free. He is listed in the Guinness World Records as the world's fastest violinist.
The work of the baroque masters, Bach and Handel, is celebrated on April 26 with a concert featuring works such as Handel's Water Music that continue to delight audiences after 300 years.
French pianist Dalberto joins the orchestra on May 15 to perform the poetic Ballade by Faure and Franck's brilliant Symphonic Variations.
He will also give a recital of eminent works by impressionist masters on May 23.
Zukerman, hugely respected as a violinist, violist, conductor and chamber musician, hosts a gala evening on May 22 when he will be joined by award-winning cellist Amanda Forsyth and violinist Jessica Linnebach.
Virtuoso Zukerman, who has been a master of his craft for nearly 40 years, will conduct works by Bruch and Brahms, and perform concertos by Bach and Haydn.
The orchestra is collaborating with Opera Hong Kong for two massive choral concerts - Verdi's Messa da Requiem on June 21 and Beethoven's Choral Symphony in February next year. Described by Hong Kong Sinfonietta music director Yip Wing-sie as the greatest requiem ever written, Verdi's large-scale mass for the dead has continued to move people deeply since its premi?re in 1874.
British conductor and pianist Shelley joins the orchestra on July 10 for an exciting Haydn-Mendelssohn programme. He will be joined by renowned trumpeter James Thompson. As a pianist, Shelley works regularly with the world's leading orchestras and conductors. He has conducted the London Philharmonic, London Symphony and Royal Philharmonic.
No Hong Kong Sinfonietta series would be complete without a visit from McDull, the popular piglet who features in a music project at the International Arts Carnival from July 30 to August 2.
Russian cellist Vassilieva plays Dvorak's Cello Concerto on August 29.
A new educational series, Decoding Beethoven, is being held on September 19 and 20 when guest conductor Ken Lam explores the man, the legend and the music. Haydn will be decoded in December by John Forster. On September 26 and 27, Know Your Clarinet unravels the mysteries behind this great instrument.
On November 11, top violinist Matthew Trusler plays Mendelssohn's great concertos and the orchestra plays the world premiere of George Lam's newly commissioned work.
Star cellist Han-Na Chang joins the orchestra on December 12 to play Haydn's Cello Concerto.
New Chinese music is not forgotten, with works by Chen Qi-gang and Julian Yu also on the schedule.