Lio Kuokman Leads HK Phil’s Japan-Korea Tour in October Featuring World-Class Pianists Kyohei Sorita and Yekwon Sunwoo
29 SEP 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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[29 September 2025, Hong Kong] Following its successful Europe tour, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) is set to embark on an Asia tour in October 2025, with performances in Hyogo and Kawasaki in Japan, followed by Gwangju and Seoul in Korea. The tour will be led by HK Phil Resident Conductor Lio Kuokman, featuring star pianists Kyohei Sorita and Yekwon Sunwoo. A new work by Hong Kong composer Charles Kwong will be showcased. Prior to the tour, the orchestra will offer a sneak preview of the programme in Hong Kong.
Hyogo and Kawasaki Concerts (13 & 14 October)
The HK Phil is excited to take part in Asia Orchestra Week with two concerts in Hyogo Performing Arts Center and MUZA Kawasaki Symphony Hall on 13 and 14 October 2025 respectively. The concerts will begin with Charles Kwong’s new work Festina lente, commissioned by the HK Phil. Kwong approaches music as collective experiential situations both within and beyond listening. His creative output spans orchestral music, collaborations with performers across diverse musical cultures, site-specific and transdisciplinary projects that depart from the conventional concert paradigm, and the exploration of performativity in electronic sound synthesis. The new piece presents a seemingly straightforward concept that grew out of two interconnected fascinations: an orchestral miniature that is fast and slow at the same time, at all times.
Japanese pianist Kyohei Sorita, second prize winner at the 18th Chopin Competition in 2021, will showcase his brilliance in Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto. He won the first prize at the 81st Japan Music Competition in 2012, receiving additional accolades such as the Nomura Prize, Iguchi Prize, Kawai Prize, and Iwatani Prize. The concert will conclude with Tchaikovsky’s life-affirming Fifth Symphony, which vividly depicts the composer’s struggle against fate.
These performances are supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Gwangju and Seoul Concerts (18 & 19 October)
The concerts in Korea will open with Subito con Forza, a Beethoven-inspired piece by renowned Korean composer Unsuk Chin. Described by a critic as “aggressive, disorienting and hugely entertaining”, this work was specially composed to commemorate Beethoven’s 250th anniversary.
In both Gwangju Arts Center and Seoul Arts Center, the HK Phil will share the stage with Korean pianist Yekwon Sunwoo, gold medal winner at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, performing Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto. Sunwoo also made history as the first Korean to win first prizes at the 2015 International German Piano Award and the 2014 Vendome Prize held at the Verbier Festival. The programme will again conclude with Tchaikovsky's Fifth Symphony, with Charles Kwong’s Festina lente featured in Seoul.
The Gwangju performance is supported by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (Tokyo) of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Co-presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Seoul Arts Center, the Seoul performance is part of the “Hong Kong Week 2025@Seoul”
Hong Kong Concert: Kyohei Sorita Plays Tchaikovsky (9 October)
Local audiences can enjoy the full repertoire of the upcoming Japan-Korea tour in advance, and witness Kyohei Sorita’s debut with the HK Phil.
“Kyohei Sorita Plays Tchaikovsky” will be held on 9 October 2025 (Thu) at 7:30PM at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets have been sold out. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.
It is one of the programmes of the Asia+ Festival 2025.
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Artists
Lio Kuokman, JP, conductor [full description]
Currently Resident Conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil), Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Macao Orchestra, Programme Director of the Macao International Music Festival, Chief Conductor of the RTV Slovenia Symphony Orchestra and Artistic Partner of the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra, Lio Kuokman was praised by the Philadelphia Inquirer as “a startling conducting talent”. He was the second prize winner of the third Svetlanov International Conducting Competition in Paris with Audience Prize and Orchestra Prize, and he has served as the first Chinese Assistant Conductor with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Kyohei Sorita, piano [full description]
Kyohei Sorita is a celebrated Japanese pianist recognized for his extraordinary talent and vibrant performances. Born in Tokyo, Kyohei has achieved significant acclaim on both national and international stages. In 2021, he won the second prize at the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition, marking the first time in half a century that a Japanese pianist received this prestigious honour. This accomplishment placed him firmly in the global spotlight, with piano fans around the world recognizing his skill and passion.
Yekwon Sunwoo, piano [full description]
Yekwon Sunwoo, the gold medalist of the 15th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, was the first Korean to achieve this honour in 2017. He also stunned the music world by becoming the first Korean to win first prizes at the 2015 International German Piano Award and the 2014 Vendome Prize held at the Verbier Festival. He now holds the record for the most number of first-place wins by a Korean pianist, in a total of eight international competitions, including the 2013 Sendai International Music Competition and the 2012 William Kapell International Piano Competition.
Charles Kwong, composer [full description]
Charles Kwong is a composer from Hong Kong whose practice approaches music as collective experiential situations - both within and beyond listening. His creative output spans orchestral music, collaborations with performers across diverse musical cultures, site-specific and transdisciplinary projects that depart from the conventional concert paradigm, and the exploration of performativity in electronic sound synthesis.
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Kyohei Sorita Plays Tchaikovsky
9 | 10 | 2025
THU 7:30PM
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$680 $540 $400 $260
Sold out
For ages 6 and above
Artists
conductor | |
piano |
Programme
Charles KWONG Unsuk CHIN TCHAIKOVSKY TCHAIKOVSKY | Festina lente (World Premiere, HK Phil Commission) Subito con Forza Piano Concerto no. 1 in B flat minor, op. 23 Symphony no. 5 in E minor, op. 64 |
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Hyogo Concert
13 | 10 | 2025
MON 3PM
Hyogo Performing Arts Center
JPY5,000 JPY4,000
Sold out
Kawasaki Concert
14 | 10 | 2025
TUE 7:00PM
MUZA Kawasaki Symphony Hall
JPY6,000 JPY4,500
Artists
conductor | |
piano |
Programme
Charles KWONG TCHAIKOVSKY TCHAIKOVSKY | Festina lente (Japan Premiere, HK Phil Commission) Piano Concerto no. 1 in B flat minor, op. 23 Symphony no. 5 in E minor, op. 64 |
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Gwangju Concert
18 | 10 | 2025
SAT 4PM
Gwangju Arts Center
KRW130,000 KRW120,000 KRW 100,000 KRW 80,000 KRW 50,000
https://gjart.gwangju.go.kr/ko/cmd.do?opencode=p0101&boper=view&bnum=9257
Artists
conductor | |
piano |
Programme
Unsuk CHIN TCHAIKOVSKY TCHAIKOVSKY | Subito con Forza Piano Concerto no. 1 in B flat minor, op. 23 Symphony no. 5 in E minor, op. 64 |
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Seoul Concert
19 | 10 | 2025
SUN 5PM
Seoul Arts Center
KRW200,000 KRW160,000 KRW110,000 KRW80,000 KRW50,000
https://www.sac.or.kr/site/eng/show/show_view?SN=66156
Artists
conductor | |
piano |
Programme
Unsuk CHIN Charles KWONG TCHAIKOVSKY TCHAIKOVSKY | Subito con Forza Festina lente (Korea Premiere, HK Phil Commission) Piano Concerto no. 1 in B flat minor, op. 23 Symphony no. 5 in E minor, op. 64 |