HKCC Acclaimed world-class musicians and orchestra to perform at “Great Music 2025”

Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia – Roma. (Photo credit: Accademia di Santa Cecilia/MUSA)

Conductor Daniel Harding (Photo credit: Accademia di Santa Cecilia/MUSA)

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) continues its commitment to bringing exceptional performances to Hong Kong audiences.  This year’s Great Music Series brings together an extraordinary lineup of internationally acclaimed musicians, including Mikhail Pletnev, the 12 Cellists of the Berliner Philharmoniker, Nikolai Lugansky, Mischa Maisky and Lily Maisky.  One of the highlights is the return of the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia – Roma (The Orchestra), one of the world’s leading orchestras.  Under the baton of star conductor Daniel Harding, the Orchestra will perform at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre from 20 – 21 Nov 2025. 

The Orchestra is the first in Italy to dedicate itself to the performance of symphonic repertoires.  Being a (or “the only”, as some may say) top orchestra from southern Europe, the Orchestra is best known for its passionate, melodic and lyrical presentations, thanks to its long tradition of opera embedded in its blood, setting it apart from other orchestras.    

A Night of Symphonic Brilliance 

Pianist Beatrice Rana

On the first night, 20 Nov, the Orchestra will join hands with one of the rising piano stars, Beatrice Rana, for her debut in Hong Kong.  Rana has become an audience favourite at world-famous performance venues, such as Carnegie Hall, in recent years.  Hailed as “one of the most insightful and prodigiously gifted artists of the new generation” by New York Times, Rana received the Silver Award and Audience Award at the prestigious Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2013 at just 20 years old, one of the many international recognitions of her mastery.  From Bach to Tchaikovsky, from Mendelssohn to Prokofiev, the masterpieces are delivered with precision, dexterity and passion. “Her fingers seem to dance across the keys, never landing too hard or deep”, as praised by Bachtrack.   

For her first-ever performance in Hong Kong, Rana will perform Ravel’s jazzy symphonic repertoire, Piano Concerto in G with the Orchestra, showcasing her deftness and extraordinary skills, while the Orchestra’s theatrical character will also be demonstrated through this vibrant and colourful piece.  The audience will also enjoy two other repertoires with completely different style: Verdi’s Overture to Les vêpres siciliennes and Rachmaninov‘s Symphony No. 2 in E minor, Op. 27.  The former showcases an opera excerpt by one of Italy’s legendary composers, while the latter demonstrates Russian poetic and ballad-like melody.   

An Operatic Spectacle

Soprano Miina-Liisa Vȁrelȁ, bass Kwangchul Youn and tenor Klaus Florian Vogt

The second night, 21 Nov, will be fully dedicated to opera.  Apart from Verdi’s Overture to Les vêpres siciliennes, the Orchestra will also perform his Overture to La Forza del Destino and Rossini’s Overture to William Tell.  The highlight of the concert will be in the second half, where three world-class Wagnerian vocalists will perform Die Walküre, Act I, an exclusive programme for Hong Kong audiences as part of the Orchestra’s Asia tour.  

Tenor Klaus Florian Vogt is one of the most sought-after Wagnerian tenor in the world.  Despite his voice often being characterised as light and sweet, many critics are astonished by his ability to sing through Wagner’s epic orchestral works with such a lyrical voice.  Widely acclaimed throughout his career, Vogt has received the Best Male Signer Award in Oper! Awards 2025.   

Soprano Miina-Liisa Värelä has made appearances on major opera stages, such as the BBC Proms and the Bayreuth Festival, proving herself to be one of the emerging star vocalists by collaborating with world-class conductors, including Kirill Petrenko and Gustavo Dudamel.  

Korean national treasure Kwangchul Youn will play bass.  Having sung under the baton of Christian Thielemann, Fabio Luisi, and Myung-whun Chung, Youn is praised as one of the most prolific vocalists and Wagnerian singers in the world.  In 2018, he received the Ho-Am Prize for his artistic merit, joining other laureates such as pianist Seong-Jin Cho, Palme d’or winner Joon-Ho Bong, and Noble prize-winning writer Han Kang. 

Furthermore, Die Walkure is, in fact, the inaugural performance of the Orchestra’s 25/26 season.  With such an outstanding lineup, the concert offers an exclusive glimpse of the Orchestra’s signature performance to Hong Kong audiences.  

For details, please visit:  https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/tc/music/programs_1836.html    

For other programmes of Great Music Series, please visit :   https://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/tc/music/groups_1840.html