Hong Kong Philharmonic, Recognized by Gramophone, to Perform in Korea with Pianist Yekwon Sunwoo

October 19 Performance at Seoul Arts Center
Part of the "World Star Series"

The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, which became the first Asian orchestra to win the "Orchestra of the Year" award from the UK's Gramophone magazine in 2019, will perform at the Concert Hall of the Seoul Arts Center on October 19. This event is part of the "2025 World Star Series" hosted by the Seoul Arts Center.

Rio Kwokman, the resident conductor of the Hong Kong Philharmonic and music director of the Macao Orchestra, will lead the performance. Pianist Yekwon Sunwoo, winner of the 15th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2017, will join as a soloist. Kwokman made history as the first Chinese associate conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra and drew attention as the first Chinese conductor to lead a subscription concert with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra.

Rio Kwokman Conductor
[Photo by Seoul Arts Center, (c) Tat Keng Tey]

The concert will open with "Subito con Forza," composed by the world-renowned composer Unsuk Chin to commemorate the 250th anniversary of Beethoven's birth. This five-minute piece is marked by an intense interplay of fragments from Beethoven's overtures and symphonies. Next, the Korean premiere of "Festina Lente: Zilyeopung, Seoyeolim," composed by Charles Kwong-a leading figure in contemporary Hong Kong music-on commission from the Hong Kong Philharmonic, will be performed. Inspired by a phrase from "The Art of War," this work weaves together the contrasting tempos of speed and slowness like a textile. It will be performed in Seoul immediately after its world premiere in Hong Kong on October 9.

Pianist Yekwon Sunwoo [Photo by Seoul Arts Center, (c)rohsh]

The program will then feature two masterpieces by Tchaikovsky. Yekwon Sunwoo will perform as the soloist in "Piano Concerto No. 1," followed by "Symphony No. 5" as the finale.

Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 is renowned for its lyrical melodies and intense emotion, particularly its grand introduction. Symphony No. 5 depicts a narrative of human fate and struggle across four movements, culminating in triumph. The horn solo in the second movement is especially famous.