The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is rapidly emerging as Asia's leading orchestra, since the internationally renowned Edo de Waart joined as Artistic Director and Chief Conductor in the 2004/05 Season. Throughout the last three decades, the Orchestra has grown into a formidable ensemble of Chinese and international talents, attracting world-class artists to perform on the same stage. It gives over a hundred performances annually for the local community, from core symphonic classics to Canto-pop, many of which are highly anticipated events in the city's cultural calendar.
Music education and outreach play an important role in the Orchestra's mission. It performs more than 70 free orchestral and chamber concerts for over 70,000 primary and secondary students a year, as part of a comprehensive music-in-education programme, 'Hang Seng Bank Blossom with Music'. The Orchestra visits university campuses in a series of exciting programmes which combine illustrated lectures with full-scale symphonic performances. It joins hands with the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts in annual projects to help nurture aspiring professionals.
From classical music legends like Isaac Stern, Vladimir Ashkenazy and Yo-Yo Ma to pop artists like Jacky Cheung and Sandy Lam and stars of tomorrow like Lang Lang and Yundi Li, many of the world's most distinguished artists have appeared with the Hong Kong Philharmonic throughout its proud history.
The Orchestra has been heard around the world both live, during the Orchestra's many international tours (including North America, Europe, China, Japan and Korea), and on recordings, many of which have received great critical acclaim. At home, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra's performances frequently reach the whole community through the Orchestra's highly valued broadcasting partnership with Radio Television Hong Kong.
The 2005/06 Season included many highlights, such as the sequel to the critically-acclaimed Salome – opera-in-concert performances of Richard Strauss's Elektra with a stellar cast of singers; Mozart and Shostakovich anniversaries; appearances with such outstanding soloists as Yundi Li, Wang Jian, Kyoko Takezawa; multi-media performances featuring Taiko Drums, the Argentinian bandoneon and dancers from the City Contemporary Dance Company, as well as a special commission from Hong Kong choreographer and dancer Mui Cheuk-yin.
