Premiere Performances and Hong Kong Sinfonietta collaborate to bring
Clarinet virtuoso Gilad Harel (20 & 23 Oct) and
Award-winning pianist Alexander Ullman (18 & 20 Nov)
for recitals and concertos

Premiere Performances of Hong Kong (Premiere Performances) and Hong Kong Sinfonietta are delighted to continue their collaboration in bringing international artists to Hong Kong. This fall, Israeli clarinet virtuoso Gilad Harel and multiple award-winning British pianist Alexander Ullman will each give a solo recital for Premiere Performances and perform a concerto with Hong Kong Sinfonietta. Both have agreed to complete a 14-day hotel quarantine upon arrival in Hong Kong.

Israeli clarinetist Gilad Harel makes his Hong Kong Debut in October!

“Gilad Harel gave an outstanding account… with beautiful chordal effects, fast trills, astonishing pianissimos and, most useful of all, a vivid sense of character in everything he did.” The New York Times

Equally comfortable with classical music as with jazz, swing, gypsy and klezmer music, Harel is a true ambassador for his instrument, showcasing his“breathtaking virtuosity”and“phenomenal capabilities”(Haaretz). Gilad Harel has played with orchestras around the world, including the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Geneva Camerata, and the Manhattan Sinfonietta, and performs regularly with cabaret singer Ute Lemper. Harel also collaborated with mandolin virtuoso Avi Avital to create a unique concert of Klezmer and electronic music, which toured Taipei, Paris and Geneva.

For his Hong Kong début, Gilad Harel is playing both classical repertoires as well as his signature Klezmer music. In his recital on 20 October (Wednesday), Gilad Harel is joined by Hong Kong’s own Rachel Cheung for a solo programme of Debussy, Saint-Saëns, Schumann, Mozart and Klezmer. On 23 October (Saturday), Harel is performing the Mozart Clarinet Concerto and the world premiere of Abir’s Klezmer Smile, together with Hong Kong Sinfonietta and conductor Jason Lai.

Multiple award-winning pianist Alexander Ullman plays Liszt and Rachmaninov in November!

“Beautifully delicate playing, with vibrant colours… One to watch.” BBC Music Magazine

Alexander Ullman is the winner of not one, but two International Franz Liszt piano competitions – in 2011 (Budapest) and in 2017 (Utrecht). He has impressed audiences worldwide with his deep understanding of the music, elegant touch and crystalline phrasing. Ullman has performed with top orchestras around the world, and collaborated with eminent conductors including Vladimir Ashkenazy and Miguel Harth-Bedoya.

Co-presented by Premiere Performances and Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Ullman’s recital will be held on 18 November (Thursday). He will bring together sonatas from three musical giants: the witty Haydn Piano Sonata in G major, the charming Beethoven Waldstein Sonata, and the epic Liszt Sonata in B minor. On 20 November (Saturday), Ulllman plays the virtuosic Rachmaninov third piano concerto with Hong Kong Sinfonietta and Swedish conductor Ola Rudner.

Tickets are available now for Gilad Harel’s concerts. For Alexander Ullman’s concerts, tickets will be available from 18 October. Enjoy 20% off when purchasing tickets for both Premiere Performances’ recital and Hong Kong Sinfonietta’s concert of the same artist in the same transaction at URBTIX. All of the above mentioned concerts will be held in Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall.

Programme Details and Images (Click pictures to enlarge)
Premiere Performances Recitals

Gilad Harel

Gilad Harel: A Clarinet Rhapsody (Hong Kong Debut) Programme: DEBUSSY Première Rhapsodie SAINT-SAËNS Clarinet Sonata, Op 167 SCHUMANN Fantasiestücke, Op 73 MOZART Violin Sonata No.32 in B Flat, K.454 (arr. for clarinet by Gilad Harel) HAREL/TARRAS | Klezmer Medley 20 Oct 2021 (Wed) 7:30pm Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall (75 minutes with no interval) Tickets available now on pphk.org, art-mate and URBTIX from $180.Audiences will be seated according to social-distancing guidelines.

Alexander Ullman

Alexander Ullman: 3 Sonatas (Co-presented by Hong Kong Sinfonietta) Programme: HAYDN Piano Sonata in G major, Hob XVI:40 BEETHOVEN Piano Sonata No. 21 in C major, Op. 53 ‘Waldstein’ LISZT Piano Sonata in B Minor S.178 18 Nov 2021 (Thu) 7:30pm Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall (70 minutes with no interval) Tickets available on 18 Oct 2021 on pphk.org, art-mate and URBTIX from $180.Audiences will be seated according to social-distancing guidelines.

Hong Kong Sinfonietta concerts

Gilad Harel

Mozart Clarinet Concerto Programme: Mozart La Clemenza di Tito Overture, K621 Mozart Clarinet Concerto in A, K622 Sergei Abir Klezmer Smile (world première) (Caprice on traditional tunes for clarinet & chamber orchestra specially composed for Gilad Harel) Dvořák Symphony No 8 in G, Op. 88 Jason Lai, Conductor Gilad Harel, Clarinet 23 Oct 2021 (Sat) 7:30pm Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall (Approximately 2 hours with a 15 min intermission) Tickets available now at URBTIX from $160. Audiences will be seated according to social-distancing guidelines.

Alexander Ullman

Great Piano Concertos: Alexander Ullman Plays Rachmaninov No 3 Programme: Arvo Pärt Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten (1977/1980) Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No 3 in D minor, Op 30 Brahms Symphony No 4 in E minor, Op 98 Ola Rudner, conductor Alexander Ullman, pianist 20 Nov 2021 (Sat) 7:30pm Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall (Approximately 2 hours with a 15 min intermission) Tickets available on 18 Oct 2021 at URBTIX from $160. Audiences will be seated according to social-distancing guidelines.