Artistic Director and Chief Conductor: Edo de Waart

“HKPO’s beautifully poised string phrasing, homogenous wind sound and impeccably restrained brass suggested that you might hear different, but not better.” – South China Morning Post (June 2006)

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO) is rapidly emerging as one of Asia’s leading orchestras. Enriching Hong Kong’s cultural life for over a century, the Orchestra has grown into a formidable ensemble of Chinese and international talents in the last three decades, attracting world-class artists to perform on the same stage.

Since the internationally renowned Edo de Waart joined as Artistic Director and Chief Conductor in the 2004/05 Season, HKPO has reached new heights of artistic excellence. The continuing cycle of Mahler symphonies, opera-in-concert performances and challenging programming outside the traditional repertoire, have become highly anticipated events for the audience as well as musical milestones for the Orchestra.

In April 2006, The Swire Group Charitable Trust became the Hong Kong Philharmonic’s Principal Patron, committing HK$36 million over three years to enable Maestro de Waart’s artistic vision for the Orchestra to be realized. Swire’s sponsorship of the Hong Kong Philharmonic, the largest in the Orchestra’s history, will support artistic growth and development as the Orchestra takes its place on the world stage, and will bring performances of musical excellence to the widest possible public.

HKPO annually touches the lives of close to 200,000 music lovers through more than 150 performances each year. From September to July each year, the Orchestra plays a wide range of programmes from core symphonic classics to collaboration with Canto-pop artists, in addition to numerous education and community outreach programmes. The Orchestra forges strong links with the community and builds its international reputation through radio and television broadcasts, recordings and tours.

The 2006/07 Season opens in September with Puccini’s Madama Butterfly in concert, featuring Chinese soprano He Hui and a stellar cast of singers. Highlights of the Season include Mahler’s Third, Fifth and Seventh Symphonies, Chen Qigang’s Iris Dévoilée, Renée Fleming in an all-Strauss programme, Charles Dutoit conducting Ravel’s complete Daphis and Chloë, and concerts featuring guests artists Vadim Repin, Hilary Hahn, Joshua Bell and Eitetsu Hayashi.