https://www.scmp.com/rss/523439/feed The latest news and top stories on the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil). A prominent Hong Kong-based symphony orchestra and registered charitable organisation, the HK Phil is dedicated to inspiring through the finest music-making. Its main areas of focus include presenting over 150 concerts annually, promoting Hong Kong and Chinese composers, nurturing local talent and running extensive education and community programmes. Recognised as one of Asia’s foremost classical orchestras, it... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Gavin Yeung Gavin Yeung After the dust settles following the March madness of Art Basel, Art Central and the Hong Kong Arts Festival, the Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) is due to celebrate its semi-centennial this April – a milestone that serves as a retrospective of the city’s storied cinematic output. Despite arriving at a difficult time for the local film industry, amid a slew of cinema closures, the 50th edition, which runs from April 1 to 12, strikes a hopeful note with a strong showing of the... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3347107/see-chen-kaige-and-juliette-binoche-hong-kong-international-film-festival?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3347107/see-chen-kaige-and-juliette-binoche-hong-kong-international-film-festival?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:00:13 +0000 Annemarie Evans Annemarie Evans I WAS BORN IN LONDON, but my father got a job in the Hallé orchestra as a clarinettist, so we all moved up to Manchester. My childhood was spent mostly in the town of Wilmslow, Cheshire, and I went to a specialist secondary school called Chetham’s School of Music, in central Manchester. My parents were both professional classical musicians, so I had a very bohemian upbringing. People sometimes ask me where I get my discipline from. I guess it was from that school, where we had to practise for... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3345711/jane-houng-her-dedication-womens-safety-after-murder-her-daughter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/passions/article/3345711/jane-houng-her-dedication-womens-safety-after-murder-her-daughter?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 07:00:07 +0000 Christopher Halls Christopher Halls “Wouldn’t you just die without Mahler?” Even if that line made famous by Rita’s flatmate Trish in the film version of Educating Rita is meant to satirise the pretentiousness of the intellectual class, the life-affirming nature of Gustav Mahler’s music is undeniable. When pondering the darker, enigmatic aspects found in his Symphony No 7, however, one can only imagine how much bleaker the piece would have turned out had the Austro-Bohemian written it during the dire years after its actual... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3341210/hk-phil-brings-mahlers-symphony-no-7-life-energetic-eerie-performance?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3341210/hk-phil-brings-mahlers-symphony-no-7-life-energetic-eerie-performance?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 08:15:08 +0000 Andrew Sun Andrew Sun Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra clarinettist and conductor Lorenzo Antonio Iosco moved to Asia in 2015. He spoke to Andrew Sun. As an Italian who has called Hong Kong home for the past 10 years, my relationship with food has evolved dramatically. Growing up between Basilicata and Tuscany, pasta was king. But now, I have fallen deeply in love with Asian flavours – I crave dumplings, Peking duck and bold spices. Hong Kong’s dining scene just keeps surprising me – it is a beautiful blend of... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3338228/where-italian-goes-pizza-pasta-peking-duck-and-proper-coffee-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3338228/where-italian-goes-pizza-pasta-peking-duck-and-proper-coffee-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 07:15:08 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li The festive season is upon Hong Kong, and as in past years, the city offers an array of cultural events for residents and visitors – from ballet to theatre and music. While unmistakably Christmas-themed events are available, some offer an alternative for those who want to spend their holidays in a slightly different way. The Post highlights some of the shows worth catching over the holidays. 1. Family-friendly performances The Hong Kong Ballet’s annual performances of The Nutcracker mark the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337586/craving-art-music-and-theatre-christmas-heres-what-see-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3337586/craving-art-music-and-theatre-christmas-heres-what-see-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 24 Dec 2025 07:00:13 +0000 Christopher Halls Christopher Halls As far as concert openers go, some say the bigger the better. The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra took that to heart on December 11 by starting their Nordic-inspired programme with a downright noisy and massively orchestrated work by Finnish composer-in-residence Esa-Pekka Salonen, which was conducted by his mentee and fellow countryman Tarmo Peltokoski, also the orchestra’s music director designate. When it boiled down to a choice between Salonen’s portrayal of the eccentric Castor and his... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3336426/lang-lang-and-tarmo-peltokoski-pack-punch-concert-pushes-hk-phils-limits?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3336426/lang-lang-and-tarmo-peltokoski-pack-punch-concert-pushes-hk-phils-limits?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Dec 2025 09:15:07 +0000 Dirk Luiten Dirk Luiten Three days after the devastating fire in Tai Po broke out, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra prefaced its concert with a moment of silence, followed by a subdued rendering of Elgar’s Nimrod. From this sombre stillness, 27-year-old pianist Mao Fujita emerged on stage to confront Rachmaninov’s monumental Piano Concerto No 3. His diminutive frame and gentle disposition made him seem an unlikely vessel for the concerto’s formidable physical and emotional demands. He introduced the primary theme... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3334839/pianist-mao-fujita-delivers-technical-masterclass-alongside-hk-phil-poignant-concert?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3334839/pianist-mao-fujita-delivers-technical-masterclass-alongside-hk-phil-poignant-concert?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Dec 2025 03:35:05 +0000 Dirk Luiten Dirk Luiten Artists find inspiration in places both profound and pedestrian, a creative spectrum vividly illustrated by the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s latest concert. The featured composers drew from sources as diverse as quantum physics, Beethoven’s explosive contrasts, Ukrainian folk melodies and the humble street cry of a sausage vendor. But it was the sound of water that set the evening in motion. The world premiere of Charles Kwong Chin-wai’s Festina lente opened not with a grand statement, but... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3328780/hong-kong-philharmonic-and-pianist-kyohei-sorita-put-lively-concert?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3328780/hong-kong-philharmonic-and-pianist-kyohei-sorita-put-lively-concert?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 14 Oct 2025 07:15:08 +0000 Willa Wu Willa Wu A mentorship scheme designed to lift Hong Kong pupils living in subdivided flats out of poverty arranged for a teenager to be coached by world-acclaimed violinist Yao Jue and perform in front of state leaders, including President Xi Jinping. Li Ching-po, 15, enrolled in the first iteration of the government’s Strive and Rise Programme in 2022 and two years later performed in front of state leaders. He also joined his mentor on stage for the city’s National Day variety show last Thursday. “The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328028/life-changing-hong-kong-teen-flies-high-under-star-violinists-mentorship?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3328028/life-changing-hong-kong-teen-flies-high-under-star-violinists-mentorship?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Oct 2025 10:53:29 +0000 Christopher Halls Christopher Halls Orchestras, like all companies, never count on instant results from leadership changes. The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra know that full well, and given that their new music director, Tarmo Peltokoski, has had little podium time so far, just when and how the young Finn puts his musical stamp on things is anyone’s guess. In the meantime, though, the orchestra, in tip-top form and on the heels of a highly successful European tour with Jaap van Zweden, kicked off their 52nd season in style with... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3326353/hk-phil-open-2025/26-season-style-under-guest-conductor-daniel-harding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3326353/hk-phil-open-2025/26-season-style-under-guest-conductor-daniel-harding?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 22 Sep 2025 11:15:07 +0000 Charmaine Yu Charmaine Yu It is easy to forget to appreciate living in one of the most enviable cities in the world when you have a hectic work week, but the weekends are the perfect time to reconnect with Hong Kong. Here are five things to do in the city this weekend to cure your weekday blues. 1. Tea meditation and sound bath Evolve Wellness in Sheung Wan will combine a series of mindfulness workshops designed to release stress, restore balance and nurture inner peace this Saturday. For just over HK$400 (US$51) per... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3325112/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-september-12-14?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/article/3325112/5-best-things-do-hong-kong-weekend-september-12-14?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 12 Sep 2025 02:15:09 +0000 John Cremer John Cremer After school’s out, what then? Hong Kong schools often highlight the duty and commitment they have to helping students develop their talents and find their own path in life. The evidence of that can be found in the personal stories and notable achievements of these alumni who have gone on to succeed in a variety of fields. Sarah Fleischer, tech entrepreneur German Swiss International School (GSIS), class of 2010 Since attending the German International Stream at GSIS between 2000 and 2004,... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3324907/5-trailblazing-hong-kong-school-alumni-who-have-excelled-globally-entrepreneurs-olympic-medalists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3324907/5-trailblazing-hong-kong-school-alumni-who-have-excelled-globally-entrepreneurs-olympic-medalists?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 22:00:14 +0000 Gavin Yeung Gavin Yeung Drink this The Aubrey Inspired by the Japanese concept of effortless beauty in simplicity, “The Art of Shibumi” is the latest cocktail menu from The Aubrey and the first from new bar manager Stefano Bussi. Across the four categories of Elegant, Refined, Imperfect and Balanced, Bussi’s creations interpret traditional Japanese aesthetics in creations such as the Flawed Martini, combining Wagyu oil, peanut butter and oyster leaf. 25/F, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, 5 Connaught Place, Central Eat... https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3324475/what-do-hong-kong-september-7-13?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/postmag/culture/article/3324475/what-do-hong-kong-september-7-13?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 22:15:08 +0000 Enid Tsui Enid Tsui The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s choice of its new chief executive has stirred controversy, with an anonymous letter apparently sent to the government to protest against the selection of Austrian businessman Bernhard Fleischer being circulated online. On August 21, the orchestra announced that effective from September 1, Salzburg-born Fleischer would take over the job vacated by his German predecessor Benedikt Fohr, who left the orchestra in July after being in the job for six... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3322744/hk-phils-new-chief-executive-choice-sparks-controversy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts/article/3322744/hk-phils-new-chief-executive-choice-sparks-controversy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Aug 2025 04:13:45 +0000