Highly sought-after violinist Ray Chen to perform in HK in June

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD)'s Great Music 2024 will present "Violin Recital by Ray Chen" in June. Together with his long-time collaborator, pianist Julio Elizalde, the sought-after violinist will bring music fans two highly anticipated recitals to showcase his musical virtuosity.

The two recitals will begin with different sets of repertory in the first half: Tartini's "Sonata in G minor, 'Devil's Trill' " and Beethoven's "Sonata No. 7 in C minor, Op. 30, No. 2" for first performance, while Beethoven's "Sonata No. 8 in G, Op. 30" and Saint-Saëns's "Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 75" will be presented in the second performance. The second half will feature J.S. Bach's "Violin Partita No. 3 in E, BWV 1006", Bazzini's "La Ronde des Lutins, Op. 25" and Dvořák's "Slavonic Dance No. 2 in E minor, Op. 72", and the reimagined Chick Corea's "Spain" by Chen will bring the performance to a perfect end.

Chen first came to attention when he won first prize at the Yehudi Menuhin Competition in 2008 in England and the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2009 in Belgium. He has built a profile in Europe, Asia, the United States (US) and Australia, both through recorded performances and in live concerts, such as France's Bastille Day, the Nobel Prize Concert in Stockholm, and the BBC Proms. Chen was featured in Forbes' list of "30 most influential Asians under 30" in 2017.

Elizalde has collaborated with many well-known musicians, and his performances at major music centers throughout the US, Europe, Asia and Latin America received high acclaim. He has served as the artistic director of the Olympic Music Festival in the US since 2014, and is currently a visiting professor of piano at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington.

The "Violin Recital by Ray Chen" will be held at 8 pm on June 7 and 8 (Friday and Saturday) at the Concert Hall of Hong Kong City Hall. Tickets priced at HK$250, HK$400, HK$550 and HK$650 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. For program enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1666.html.

Two pre-concert talks (to be conducted in Cantonese) will be held at 6.45 pm on June 7 and 8 respectively at the Committee Room North, 7/F, High Block, Hong Kong City Hall. The first talk entitled "From Baroque to Fusion Jazz: Unveiling the Magical Journey of the Violin" will be hosted by music practitioner Albert Ho, while the second talk entitled "Original Works and Arrangements" will be hosted by music critic Ernest Wan. Admission is free, with limited seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The LCSD will present its Great Music 2024 from May to November, with acclaimed musicians and orchestras from all over the world as well as a local talented music producer performing in a musical extravaganza series. The program enables audiences to feel the city's arts and cultural buzz through music, showcasing the unique charm of Hong Kong as a metropolis where East meets West. For more details, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/groups_1682.html.