The Philharmonics, also known as the "limitless ensemble", promise to deliver a musical cocktail of virtuosity, passion and good old fashioned fun this December.
 
     The programme includes Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" (excerpts), Mancini's "Pink Panther", Verdi and Bassi's "Rigoletto Fantasie". Also, as a festive choice, they will play Martin and Blane's "Have yourself a Merry Little Christmas" and Feliciano's "Feliz Navidad".
 
     The Philharmonics combine four members of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, a musician from the Berliner Philharmonicker, a versatile pianist and a highly talented improvising violinist. The musicians' diverse ethnic and musical background guides their choice of repertoire, which ranges from classical music and Hungarian folk to jazz and Latin, providing audiences with an exciting and wide-ranging performance.

     The secret ingredient to the ensemble's runaway success is its members' independent artistic pursuits that include composing and transcribing new repertoire. Native Slovak Tibor Kováč , the founder and the mastermind of The Philharmonics, is both the principal violinist of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra and a fascinating personification of Austro-Hungarian multiculturalism. German viola player Thilo Fechner is an active chamber musician, while cellist Stephan Koncz is from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and clarinet virtuoso Daniel Ottensamer comes from an old Viennese musical family with Hungarian "ingredients". Budapest-born Ödön Rácz hails from a dynasty of renowned bass soloists and serves as principal bass in the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Austrian violinist Sebastian Gürtler's curiosity for challenging the constraints of styles through improvisation has grown from his position as concertmaster of Vienna Volksoper, while one of the most promising young Austrian pianists, Christoph Traxler, adds a certain edge to The Philharmonics's unique style with his superb touch and sensitive accompaniment.
 
     The concert by The Philharmonics will be staged at 8pm on December 16 (Friday) at the Auditorium, Tsuen Wan Town Hall. Tickets priced at $150, $220, $280 and $350 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone credit card bookings, please call 2111 5999.

     For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/program_1202.html.

Ends/Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Issued at HKT 11:00

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