Superstar Pianist Lang Lang Returns to the HK Phil Stage to Launch the “Beethoven 250th” Series with Music Director Jaap van Zweden 
Beethoven 250th: Jaap’s Beethoven 1 | Lang Lang (16 & 18 January)

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[13 January 2020, Hong Kong] To celebrate the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) launches a special “Beethoven 250th” series. Superstar pianist Lang Lang, returns to the stage of the HK Phil after four years, to present the first programme with the HK Phil’s Music DirectorJaap van Zweden. He will play Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no. 2, which the composer himself played as his public debut in Vienna. This programme also features Beethoven’s Egmont Overture and Symphony no. 1, Beethoven’s tribute to his teacher Haydn. HK Phil’s celebration of Beethoven’s 250th Anniversary starts on 16 & 18 January 2020 (Thursday & Saturday) at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall.


“His [Lang Lang] playing was so raptly beautiful that one was afraid to breathe for fear of missing anything."
--- Chicago Tribune


Beethoven's Piano Concerto no. 2 was actually the first one he composed, inheriting the traditions of Mozart and Haydn, and achieving beauty of harmony and balance. Lang Lang, hailed as the “Innate Beethoven Performer" by world-leading conductor Christoph Eschenbach, joins forces with Maestro van Zweden and the HK Phil to showcase this concerto.

The concert opens with Beethoven’s Egmont Overture, which was his introduction to musical theatre. In 1810, on Goethe’s own recommendation, the theatre director commissioned Beethoven to write an overture for Egmont, and the Overture has become very popular as a stand-alone concert work ever since its launch.

To close the concert, Beethoven's Symphony no. 1 shows his indebtedness to his teacher Haydn. Although lots of irregularities exist, it is still a ground-breaking masterpiece, showing the potential of this young composer.

Title Sponsor of Opening Night Concert: Bank of China (Hong Kong)
Official Sponsor of Jan 18 Closing Night Concert: Maggie & Rose The Family Members’ Club

Beethoven 250th: Jaap’s Beethoven 1 | Lang Lang will be held on 16 & 18 January (Thu & Sat) at 8PM in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall. Tickets are HK$1,880 $1,480 $980 $580 and are available at URBTIX. For enquiries, please call +852 2721 2332 or visit hkphil.org.

Artists
Jaap van Zweden, conductor [full biography]
Over the past decade, conductor Jaap van Zweden has become an international presence on three continents.  Currently Music Director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, he is also Music Director of the New York Philharmonic – a post he has held since the 2018/19 season. Guest engagements this season include the Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, Shanghai Symphony and Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. 

Lang Lang, piano [full biography]
Lang Lang is a leading figure in classical music today – as a pianist, educator and philanthropist he has become one of the world’s most influential and committed ambassadors for the arts in the 21st century. Equally happy playing for billions of viewers at the 2008 Olympic Opening Ceremony in Beijing or just for a few hundred children in the public schools, he is a master of communicating through music.

 

	BEETHOVEN 250TH SERIES:
	JAAP’S BEETHOVEN 1 | LANG LANG

16 & 18 | 1 | 2020
THU & SAT 8PM
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall
HK$1,880 $1,480 $980 $580
Tickets are now available at URBTIX.
For ages 6 and above


Title Sponsor of Opening Night Concert: Bank of China (Hong Kong)
Official Sponsor of Jan 18 Closing Night Concert: Maggie & Rose The Family Members’ Club


Programme