A Star-Studded Spring at the HK Phil
With Long Yu, Daniele Gatti, Christoph Koncz and Gautier Capuçon

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Dennis Wu
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Tel: (852) 2721 9035
Email: dennis.wu@hkphil.org 

Emily Hui
Media Relations and Communications Manager
Tel: (852) 2721 1585
Email: emily.hui@hkphil.org

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[17 April 2025, Hong Kong] This April to early May, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) will present three mesmerising programmes led by HK Phil Principal Guest Conductor Long Yu, HK Phil Artistic Partner Daniele Gatti, and guest conductor Christoph Koncz, respectively. The concerts will feature world renowned singers Matthew White, Arnold Livingston Geis, Zhu Huiling, Yu Guanqun, Tian Haojiang, Janai Brugger, Andrew Dwan and cellist Gautier Capuçon as soloists, showcasing a diverse selection of works from semi-staged production to vibrant orchestral pieces. The programmes will kick off with “Long Yu | Aaron Zigman's Émigré” on 26 April, followed by “Daniele Gatti | Götterdämmerung Suite” on 2 & 3 May, and “BNP Paribas Wealth Management Proudly Sponsors: Gautier Capuçon Plays Shostakovich” on 8 & 9 May. All concerts will be held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets are now available on URBTIX.

Long Yu | Aaron Zigman's Émigré (26 April)

Principal Guest Conductor Long Yu will lead the HK Phil and an international cast of singers in the Hong Kong debut of Emmy Award-winning composer Aaron Zigman's Émigré. This semi-staged production narrates the forbidden love between a Jewish refugee and a Shanghainese girl. With lyrics by Pulitzer Prize and Grammy Award winner Mark Campbell with additional lyrics by Brock Walsh, Émigré was co-commissioned by the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra under Long Yu and the New York Philharmonic.The performance will feature tenors Matthew White and Arnold Livingston Geis, mezzo-soprano Zhu Huiling, soprano Yu Guanqun, bass Tian Haojiang, soprano Janai Brugger and bass-baritone Andrew Dwan, along with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus and the Lanzhou Concert Hall Choir.

“Long Yu | Aaron Zigman's Émigré” will be held on 26 April 2025 (Sat) at 8PM at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets priced at HK$520, $420, $320, $220 and $50 are available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.

Daniele Gatti | Götterdämmerung Suite (2 & 3 May)

Daniele Gatti concludes his season as HK Phil Artistic Partner with a powerful ensemble of over 100 musicians to bring two musical legends to life. The concert begins with Wagner’s Götterdämmerung Suite, a piece condenses The Ring Cycle’s grandest episodes, along the way showcasing the iconic “Siegfried’s Funeral March”.

It concludes with Richard Strauss’ Ein Heldenleben, a richly orchestrated tone poem in which the composer casts himself as the hero. This autobiographical masterpiece features mischievous portraits of his wife, friends, and music critics.

“Daniele Gatti | Götterdämmerung Suite” will be held on 2 & 3 May 2025 (Fri & Sat) at 8PM at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets priced at HK$520, $420, $320 and $220 are available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.

BNP Paribas Wealth Management Proudly Sponsors: Gautier Capuçon Plays Shostakovich (8 & 9 May)

Austrian conductor Christoph Koncz will lead the HK Phil in a programme commemorating the 150th birthday of Ravel and the 50th anniversary of Shostakovich’s passing. This special French May Arts Festival concert opens with Shostakovich’s Festive Overture. French Cellist Gautier Capuçon, a true 21st century ambassador for the cello, will take centre stage for Shostakovich’s First Cello Concerto. Renowned for its demanding main cadenza written for the legendary Mstislav Rostropovich, this concerto is considered a pinnacle of the 20th century cello repertoire. The concert concludes with three vibrant orchestral gems by Ravel: La valse, Pavane pour une infante défunte and Boléro.

“BNP Paribas Wealth Management Proudly Sponsors: Gautier Capuçon plays Shostakovich” will be held on 8 & 9 May 2025 (Thu & Fri) at 8PM at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets priced at HK$520, $420, $320 and $220 are available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.

Title Sponsor: BNP Paribas Wealth Management

Cultural Partner: French May Arts Festival

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Artists

Long Yu, conductor [full description]

Hailed by The New York Times as “the most powerful figure in China’s classical music scene”, the conductor and impresario Long Yu has devoted his illustrious career to steering China’s growing connection to classical music. Maestro Yu currently holds the top position in the country’s most prominent orchestras: Artistic Director of the China Philharmonic Orchestra in Beijing, and Music Director of the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra. He is also the Principal Guest Conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, co-director of Shanghai’s Music in the Summer Air festival, and Chair of the Artistic Committee of the Beijing Music Festival. He is currently Vice President of the China Musicians Association and Chairman of its League of China Orchestras.

Matthew White, tenor [full description]

Matthew White, whom the New York Classical Review called a “distinctive tenor (with a) dark and powerful lyric sound”, performs in the 2024-2025 season the title role in Don Carlo at the Royal Danish Theatre and Prince Vassily Galitsin at the Salzburg Easter Festival in Khovanshchina, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. In concert, White joins the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and Hong Kong Philharmonic in Émigré.

Arnold Livingston Geis, tenor [full description]

Praised by Opera Today for his “sizable lyric instrument” and “honeyed tone on all registers”, in the 2024/25 season tenor Arnold Livingston Geis returns to the role of Josef Bader in Zigman’s Emigré with Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, and the Hong Kong Philharmonic. He also joins Opera Carolina for Rodolfo in La bohéme, Wichita Grand Opera for Ramiro in La cenerentola, Cincinnati Opera for Motel in Fiddler on the Roof, Opera in the Heights for his first performances of Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, San Francisco Symphony and New West Symphony for Carmina Burana, and the Baltimore Symphony for Tenor I in Stravinsky’s Renard.

Zhu Huiling, mezzo-soprano [full description]

A Shanghai-born mezzo-soprano, Zhu Huiling graduated from the High School affiliated to the Shanghai Conservatory of Music, Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg, and Musikhochschule Stuttgart. As one of the most high-profile vocal artists in China, Zhu regularly collaborates with all major orchestras and opera houses, performing operas such as Tannhäuser, L’Heure Espagnole, Carmen, as well as Mahler's Symphonies no. 2, no. 3 and no. 8 and Das Lied von der Erde, Verdi’s Requiem, the world premiere of Ye Xiaogang's Symphony no. 4 Songs from the Steppe, no. 5 Lu Xun, among others.

Yu Guanqun, soprano [full description]

Soprano Yu Guanqun is a regular guest at international opera houses in Europe and America. Her engagements in 2024/25 season include her role debut as Marguerite in the new production of Gounod's Faust at the Canadian Opera Company Toronto. In Berlin and Hong Kong, she takes on the soprano part in Aaron Zigman's Emigré. The soprano makes another role debut this season at the Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, singing Medora in Verdi's Il Corsaro for the first time.

Tian Haojiang, bass [full description]

Tian Haojiang has appeared at the Metropolitan Opera for 20 years in 26 operas and is highly praised for his over 1,400 performances on international stages such as the Staatsoper Berlin, Teatro Comunale in Florence, Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, Arena di Verona, Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires, San Francisco Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Washington National Opera, and opera houses in France, Belgium, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal, Chile, Russia, Japan, as well as Beijing's National Centre for the Performing Arts, Opera Hong Kong and all major opera houses and symphony orchestras in China.

Janai Brugger, soprano [full description]

Janai Brugger’s 2024/25 season engagements include the role of Pip in Jake Heggie’s Moby-Dick at The Metropolitan Opera of New York, alongside international concert engagements including Aaron Zigman’s Émigré conducted by Long Yu with Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and with Hong Kong Philharmonic. Recent highlights include Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah at Opera Theatre of St Louis; Servilia (La Clemenza di Tito), Zerlina (Don Giovanni) and Pamina (The Magic Flute) at Ravinia Festival, a role she previously sang at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, London and at the Metropolitan Opera of New York.

Andrew Dwan, bass-baritone [full description]

Andrew Dwan is a versatile performer praised for his magnetic stage presence. He is known for his comedic roles, including Figaro in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro, Dulcamara in Donizetti’s l’Elisir d’Amore, Papageno in Mozart’s Die Zauberflote, and Dandini in Rossini’s Cenerentola.

Hong Kong Philharmonic Chorus [full description]

Established in 1980, the HK Phil Chorus has collaborated with the HK Phil to perform a range of works over the years. In 2013, the Chorus undertook a new recruitment drive, and over 450 singers were attracted to attend the auditions. The first performance by the newly reformed Chorus was Handel’s Messiah. Since then, the Chorus has performed with the HK Phil in major works by composers including Britten, Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Haydn and Mahler under renowned conductors Lorin Maazel, Jaap van Zweden and Nicholas McGegan. The Chorus’ Fellowship programme was inaugurated during the 2020/21 Season, setting the stage for aspiring professional singers to join this distinguished ensemble.

Lanzhou Concert Hall Choir [full description]

Lanzhou Concert Hall Choir was established in May, 2017. It is the first professional choir in the history of Gansu Province. The Choir has 70 signed actors that are all outstanding undergraduates, master graduates of Vocal Music Major from domestic or provincial colleges and Conservatory of Music. At the beginning of its establishment, the choir has received the concern and support from Chinese Musicians Association and all sectors of society, and received unanimous praise from the audience. The choir invited Dr. Chen Bing, professor of the Conducting Department of the Central Conservatory of Music, young conductor and Opera Art Director, to be the Music Director. Mr. Wang Chuanyue, professor of Vocal Voice & Opera Department of Central Conservatory of Music, National Class-A Actor and doctoral supervisor, is specially invited as Vocal Music Director.

Daniele Gatti, conductor [full description]

Daniele Gatti graduated as a composer and orchestra conductor at the Conservatorio Giuseppe Verdi in Milan.  He is the new Chief Conductor of the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden, he is also Artistic Advisor of the Mahler Chamber Orchestra. He was Chief Conductor of the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and Music Director of the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma.He previously held prestigious roles at important musical institutions like the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre National de France, the Royal Opera House of London, the Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Zurich’s Opernhaus and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam.

Christoph Koncz, conductor [full description]

Austrian conductor Christoph Koncz is highly acclaimed, and this season marks his second as Music Director of Orchestre Symphonique de Mulhouse, while he continues his tenure as Principal Conductor of Deutsche Kammerakademie Neuss am Rhein. His highlights thus far have included collaborations with Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Dresden Staatskapelle, Orchestre de Paris, Mahler Chamber Orchestra, hr-Sinfonieorchester Frankfurt, London Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra, and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Gautier Capuçon, cello [full description]

Gautier Capuçon is a true 21st century ambassador for the cello. Performing internationally with many of the world’s foremost conductors and instrumentalists, he is also deeply committed to education and support for young musicians from every background. In summer 2020, Capuçon brought music directly into the lives of families across the length and breadth of France during his musical odyssey ​‘Un été en France’. The sixth edition of the project, featuring young musicians and dancers, takes place in July 2025. In January 2022, Gautier Capuçon launched Fondation Gautier Capuçon to support young and talented musicians at the beginning of their careers.

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LONG YU | AARON ZIGMAN'S ÉMIGRÉ

6 | 4 | 2025

SAT 8PM

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

HK$520 $420 $320 $220 $50

Tickets now available at URBTIX

For ages 6 and above

Artists

Programme        

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DANIELE GATTI | GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG SUITE

2 & 3 | 5 | 2025

FRI & SAT 8PM

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

HK$520 $420 $320 $220

Tickets now available at URBTIX

For ages 6 and above

Artists

Programme

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BNP Paribas Wealth Management Proudly Sponsors:

Gautier Capuçon plays Shostakovich

8 & 9 | 5 | 2025

THU & FRI 8PM

Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall

HK$520 $420 $320 $220

Tickets now available at URBTIX

For ages 6 and above

Artists

Programme