The Macallan Bravo Series Beethoven 9 – The Moment of Farewell

The statistics speak for themselves. Over 200,000 people have come to hear Edo de Waart direct the orchestra during his eight seasons with the Hong Kong Philharmonic. They have been treated to marvellous performances of new music, old favourites and some of the greatest music ever written. In the 203 concerts he has given with the orchestra, he has presented no less than 272 different works. What, then, makes a fitting climax to a legacy which has included performances of great operas – Fidelio, Madama Butterfly, Der Rosenkavalier, Salome – and some of the most breathtaking concert overtures, concertos and symphonies of all time? There can only be one answer.

Joined on stage for what promises to be a truly epic performance by the magnificent Shanghai Opera House Chorus and a stellar team of soloists including Lisa Larsson, Susan Graham, Henry Choo and Mark Schnaible, the Maestro dedicates his final concert to the players of the HKPO and to the Hong Kong audience; “Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony still reigns supreme – in our season, his last word will be mine, too. Not every farewell needs to have tears – the Ode to Joy will do nicely!”