Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates its 30th anniversary as a leading cultural force in the region (zoom-in)

Audiences can enjoy a feast of world-class classical music this year as the internationally acclaimed Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra celebrates its 30th anniversary.

A spectacular programme has been arranged featuring a host of distinguished overseas artists, further cementing the orchestra's reputation as a cultural icon of the region.

"The orchestra sees itself as one of the leading cultural forces, not only in Hong Kong, but also in Southeast Asia," said Paul Leung, chief executive of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Society. "With the growth of China's economic and political stature in the world, Hong Kong remains a strategic focal point of cultural exchange."

The Hong Kong Philharmonic is Hong Kong's only full-time Western orchestra, made up of 89 musicians who graduated from the best music academies in the world and have had experience in various different orchestras. Now in its 30th season, the orchestra has gone from strength to strength, from an amateur group in the 1890s to a fully professional institution beginning in the 1970s.

The orchestra has gained international recognition for its recent recordings of Busoni and Bright Sheng, as well as for its European debut last year. World-class leader and conductor Edo de Waart will be joining the orchestra as artistic director and chief conductor this September, which Mr Leung expects will raise the standards to yet new levels.

High praise indeed 

Guest conductor Gunther Herbig features in a spectacular programme of classical music

Favourable reviews from international media and critics have further boosted the orchestra's status. The Far Eastern Economic Journal called Hong Kong Philharmonic "the musical pride of Southeast Asia"; The Times thought its concert at the Barbican was played "with verve and bite", and the orchestra has twice reached Top Ten in Gramophone Magazine's Recording of the Month.

Added Mr Leung: "(Edo de Waart), a maestro who has led some of the world's greatest orchestras - San Francisco Symphony, Sydney Symphony, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, and regularly conducts the likes of Boston Symphony Orchestra - has agreed to take up the helm of our orchestra. I think that says it all."

Distinguished artists featured on the anniversary programme include the cellist Wang Jian, pianists Barry Douglas, Lang Lang, Andre Watts and Garrick Ohlsson, violinists Hilary Hahn, Leila Josefowicz and Vladimir Spivakov, along with the London Philharmonic Choir, which will be making its debut in Haydn's The Creation. Guest conductors include Gerard Schwarz, Gunther Herbig, Lu Jia, Matthias Barnert and Libor Pesek.

With such a world-class line-up here in Hong Kong, Mr Leung said people don't have to travel to the US or Europe to hear great classical music. "It's a great season, so we hope everyone will come and enjoy our concerts.

"You can even book tickets to our performances anywhere in the world over the internet. And with 44 weeks of performances a year, I am sure you can't miss us."

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Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra