Co-presented by the Hong Kong Arts Festival and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust
Gustavo Dudamel & Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela
Beethoven Symphony Cycle, No 1 through 9, in November 2017
with a Series of Education and Community Outreach Activities

(Hong Kong, 23 June 2017)   The Hong Kong Arts Festival (HKAF) and The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust are proud to co-present, for the first time in Hong Kong, the charismatic Venezuelan maestro Gustavo Dudamel conducting the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela (SBSOV), with five concert performances spanning Beethoven’s complete symphony cycle between 2 and 6 November. The concerts are staged alongside an extensive month-long series of education and community outreach activities celebrating the spirit of El Sistema.

The nine symphonies of Ludwig van Beethoven are considered a cornerstone of the repertoire, transforming a 19th century symphonic form that focused on the classical rationality of structure, harmony and orchestration into an open-ended pursuit of aesthetic beauty and universal ideals. These symphonies cover numerous themes of humanity including heroic power, romance, fate, nature and the triumphant union of mankind in love. Invested with profound intellectual struggle, explosive passion and supreme innovation, the full Beethoven cycle is all-powerful yet accessible to all.

The Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra of Venezuela (SBSOV), whose members have all been trained under the pioneering and world-famous El Sistema’s orchestral academic programme that provides opportunities for inclusion and growth through music participation, have performed in renowned festivals and concert halls worldwide including the BBC Proms in London, the Edinburgh International Festival, the Schleswig-Holstein Festival and the Carnegie Hall. In their upcoming Hong Kong appearance, they will perform the Beethoven symphonies under the baton of their Music Director Gustavo Dudamel, who is also the Music and Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and is one of the most sought-after conductors by orchestras and opera companies around the world.

In the spirit of El Sistema, and with The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust’s support, HKAF continues to organise outreach activities benefitting different members of the Hong Kong community, with a new programme of free events accompanying the aforementioned concert performances. HKAF will conduct a forum with the theme of Changing Young Lives, One Note At A Time to share El Sistema’s vision, with panel discussions on El Sistema and the ability of music to transform the lives of young people in Hong Kong. Notable guests will include keynote speaker Mr. Eduardo Méndez, Executive Director of El Sistema. HKAF has also invited Maestro Dudamel to lead a special open rehearsal with the winners of the secondary school senior orchestra competition at the 2017 Hong Kong Schools Music Festival. In addition to dedicated guided talks, SBSOV musicians will visit selected youth orchestras as well as children of different backgrounds in the local community, spreading the spirit of El Sistema from Venezuela to Hong Kong. There will also be a series of documentary screenings to share the inspiring story of the El Sistema movement with Hong Kong audiences, one of which will be followed by a discussion with members of SBSOV.

Through this special programme, it is expected that the five music performances and various outreach activities will reach out to over 12,000 audience and participants.

Tickets for the five concerts are available from URBTIX outlets from 7 July 2017 (10am) onwards. Event and registration details of the free community outreach activities will be available on a dedicated website in September:  go.hkaf.org/dudamel


[I] Performance and Booking Information

(1) Beethoven Symphonies No 1-2, with Egmont and Coriolan Overtures
Thu 2 Nov, 8:00pm
Auditorium, Tsuen Wan Town Hall
$200 – 650 Student $100 – 240

(2) Beethoven Symphonies No 3-4
Fri 3 Nov, 8:00pm
Auditorium, Tsuen Wan Town Hall
$200 – 650 Student $100 – 275

(3) Beethoven Symphonies No 5-6
Sat 4 Nov, 8:00pm
Concert Hall, HK Cultural Centre
$200 – 1080 Student $100 – 440

(4) Beethoven Symphonies No 7-8
Sun 5 Nov, 4:00pm
Concert Hall, HK Cultural Centre
$200 – 980 Student $100 – 400

(5) Beethoven Symphony No 9 (with Hong Kong Arts Festival Chorus)
Mon 6 Nov, 8:00pm
Concert Hall, HK Cultural Centre
$240 – 1180 Student $120 – 475

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More information on go.hkaf.org/dudamel
Tickets available at URBTIX from 7 July 2017 (10am) onwards
www.urbtix.hk | 2111 5999

[II] Education and Community Outreach activities in Hong Kong

(1) Forum – Changing Young Lives, One Note At A Time
Wed 1 Nov

(2) “Maestroclass” – Dudamel conducts young Hong Kong musicians
Sat 4 Nov, 1:15pm
Concert Hall, HK Cultural Centre

(3) Into the Community – Guided talks and SBSOV coaching sessions with Hong Kong children
Oct – Nov

(4) Screening and Discussion – Dudamel: Let The Children Play and other documentaries
Oct - Nov

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Registration information and details will be updated and announced in September. Please stay tuned on the dedicated website: go.hkaf.org/dudamel

About the Hong Kong Arts Festival (www.hk.artsfestival.org)

Launched in 1973, the Hong Kong Arts Festival is a major international arts festival committed to enriching the cultural life of the city. In February and March every year, the Festival presents leading local and international artists in all genres of the performing arts, placing equal importance on great traditions and contemporary creations. The Festival also commissions and produces work in theatre, music, chamber opera and contemporary dance by Hong Kong’s own creative talent and emerging artists, many of which have had successful subsequent runs in Hong Kong and overseas. The Festival also presents over 300 “PLUS” and educational activities that offer diverse arts experiences to the community as well as tertiary, secondary and primary school students.

HKAF is a non-profit organisation. Secured government baseline funding for the Festival in 2018 represents roughly 14% of its HK$125 million budget. Around 32% of the Festival’s income comes from the box office, and another 36% comes from sponsorship and donations from corporations, individuals, and charitable foundations. It is anticipated that the remaining 18% will come from other revenues including the Government’s matching scheme, which matches income generated through private sector sponsorship and donations.


MEDIA ENQUIRIES
For further enquiries, please contact Mr. Louis Cheung, Marketing Manager:
Tel: (852) 2828 4931  Email: louis.cheung@hkaf.org