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Magdalena Kožená, one of today's most sought-after mezzo-sopranos and a two-time Gramophone award winner, will make her long awaited Hong Kong debut in November.
Collaborating with the distinguished period ensemble Private Musicke, the Czech mezzo-soprano will perform a collection of early Italian Baroque songs based on her acclaimed CD "Lettere Amorose" (Love Letters).
Born in the city of Brno, Kožená has won several major prizes in both the Czech Republic and internationally, culminating in the Sixth International Mozart Competition in Salzburg in 1995. She was awarded the title of Chevalier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Government in 2003 and was named the 2004 Gramophone Awards Artist of the Year.
Kožená is well established as a major concert and recital artist with appearances to date including London, Paris, Brussels, Berlin, Amsterdam, Vienna, Hamburg, Lisbon, Prague, Copenhagen, Tokyo and San Francisco. She has also performed with some of the world's most renowned classical ensembles, including the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Lucerne Festival Orchestra, the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and the Wiener Philharmoniker.
Founded in 1998, Private Musicke is variously a consort of viols or plucked instruments - primarily guitars and lutes - and sometimes both. The members of the ensemble specialise in early music and hail from many different European countries. All have broad experience, both as soloists and ensemble musicians. The name Private Musicke is taken from a collection of consort music by the English composer, Martin Peerson, dating from 1620.
"Encore Series - Magdalena Kožená and Private Musicke" is presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department. It will be held at 8pm on November 10 (Sunday) at the Concert Hall of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $150, $260, $370 and $480 are now available at URBTIX outlets, on the Internet and by telephone credit card booking. Half-price tickets are available for senior citizens aged 60 or above, people with disabilities and their minders, full-time students and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients (limited tickets for full-time students and CSSA recipients available on a first-come, first-served basis). A maximum discount of 10 per cent is offered for the Great Music booking package. Please refer to the programme leaflet for details.
Other programmes in the Great Music series include "Sing Brother Sing" by Tian Haojiang on October 26 and 27 (Saturday and Sunday) at the Studio Theatre of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre and "Encore Series - Violin Recital by Kyung-Wha Chung" on October 31 (Thursday) at the Concert Hall of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre.
For programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/program_317.html. Ticketing enquiries can be made on 2734 9009 and telephone credit card bookings on 2111 5999. Tickets can also be booked online at www.urbtix.hk.
Ends/Thursday, August 29, 2013
Issued at HKT 11:36
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