Gramophone Classical Music Awards
HK Phil Wins Gramophone Orchestra of the Year Award
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) was named Orchestra of the Year at the 2019 Gramophone Classical Music Awards ceremony – regarded as the “Oscars of classical music” – in London last October, the first Asian orchestra to receive this accolade.
The Award “celebrates ensembles that have made significant recorded contributions in the past year and reflects the excellence of music-making across the globe”. The Award was for the HK Phil’s live recordings of the complete Ring Cycle by Richard Wagner on the Naxos label.
“Our Orchestra of the Year 2019, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra is a perfect example of an ensemble galvanised by an inspirational Music Director to give of its best. The Ring Cycle, conducted by Jaap van Zweden and recorded live by Naxos, is a magnificent achievement and clearly prompted numerous music-lovers from all over the globe to vote for this outstanding Asian orchestra. Gramophone is delighted to salute the HK Phil on this much-deserved triumph,” commented James Jolly, Editor-in-Chief, Gramophone.
Jaap van Zweden said, “The HK Phil is especially proud since we are making history by being the first orchestra in Asia to receive this prestigious and highly acclaimed honour.” Chief Executive Benedikt Fohr deems the accomplishment “a powerful demonstration of the HK Phil's truly world-class quality. We are so proud of the full team of the HK Phil, including Music Director Jaap van Zweden, our musicians and members of staff, the distinguished soloists and Naxos’ production team, who realised this enormous project with great energy and supreme artistry.” The HK Phil is deeply grateful to the Home Affairs Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government for supporting the Ring project through the Contestable Funding Pilot Scheme.
The HK Phil extends its heartfelt gratitude to its supporters including the Hong Kong SAR Government, Principal Patron the Swire Group, and music-lovers in Hong Kong and around the world who voted for the HK Phil to receive this Award.
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The HK Phil completed a four-year project to perform and record Wagner’s Ring Cycle. The full box-set was released in November 2018.
Jaap's Orchesra Of The Year 2019 Award acceptance video, which was played at the Gramophone Awards Ceremony
Gallery
Media Coverage
Date | Media | Headline and English Description |
16 October 2019 | Gramophone | An article about the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s Gramophone Orchestra of the Year 2019. Music Director Jaap van Zweden and the orchestra’s Ring Cycle performances are mentioned in the article.
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16 October 2019 | Guardian | Hong Kong's orchestra wins people vote at Gramophone Awards Arts news on the 2019 Gramophone Classical Music Awards. It reported that the HK Phil was named Orchestra of the Year at the ceremony. Orchestra of the Year is the only award open for public vote. It also mentioned that the HK Phil is the first Asian orchestra to win the award. Music Director Jaap van Zweden, the orchestra, the orchestra’s Ring Cycle recordings and other award winners are mentioned in the article.
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16 October 2019 | de Volkskrant | Jaap van Zweden wint prijs voor beste orkest met het Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra Arts news on the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s Gramophone Orchestra of the Year 2019. It mentioned that the HK Phil is the first Asian orchestra to win the award. Music Director Jaap van Zweden was quoted in the article. Also, the orchestra’s history and the orchestra’s Ring Cycle performances are included in the article.
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17 October 2019 | BBC Radio 3 | A radio programme mentioned about the 2019 Gramophone Classical Music Awards. It reported that the HK Phil was named Orchestra of the Year, and mentioned that the Orchestra of the Year is the only award open for public vote.
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17 October 2019 | ClassicFM | Gramophone Awards 2019: final winners, behind-the-scenes exclusives, and more! Arts news on the 2019 Gramophone Classical Music Awards. It reported that the HK Phil was named Orchestra of the Year at the ceremony by public vote.
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17 October 2019 | Classical Music | Hong Kong Philharmonic voted Gramophone’s Orchestra of the Year Arts news on the 2019 Gramophone Classical Music Awards. It reported that the HK Phil was named Orchestra of the Year at the ceremony by public vote.
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17 October 2019 | RTHK Arts News | Interview with Meggy Cheng, Director of Marketing of the HK Phil, on the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s Gramophone Orchestra of the Year 2019. The orchestra’s Ring Cycle performances and recordings is mentioned.
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17 October 2019 | South China Morning Post | Arts news on the 2019 Gramophone Classical Music Awards. It reported that the HK Phil was named Orchestra of the Year at the ceremony. It also mentioned that the HK Phil is the first Asian orchestra to win the award. Music Director Jaap van Zweden, HK Phil’s Chief Executive Benedikt Fohr, Gramophone Editor-in-Chief, were quoted in the article. Also, the orchestra, the orchestra’s Ring Cycle recordings, the orchestra’s touring plan in 2021 and 2022, and other award winners are mentioned in the article.
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17 October 2019 | South China Morning Post | Article about the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s Gramophone Orchestra of the Year 2019. Some important milestones of the orchestra are listed in the article.
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17 October 2019 | 大公文匯全媒體 | Arts news on the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s Gramophone Orchestra of the Year 2019. It mentioned that the HK Phil is the first Asian orchestra to win the award. Music Director Jaap van Zweden, the orchestra, the orchestra’s Ring Cycle recordings are mentioned in the article. James Jolly, Editor-in-Chief of Gramophone was quoted.
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17 October 2019 | Ganlan Classical Music | Arts news on the 2019 Gramophone Classical Music Awards. The HK Phil was named Orchestra of the Year at the ceremony. Music Director Jaap van Zweden, the orchestra’s Ring Cycle recordings and other award winners are mentioned in the article.
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