Premiere Performances Recital Series back on stage with award-winning musicians

Chiyan Wong (piano, Hong Kong), Zee Zee Zhang Zuo (piano, China) and Rachel Cheung (piano, Hong Kong)

Premiere Performances of Hong Kong (Premiere Performances) announces today their new line-up for 2021 Spring Recital Series, live on stage. The 2021 Spring Recital Series includes:

• London-based Hong Kong-born pianist Chiyan Wong returns to play Bach’s Goldberg Variations (Apr 26),
• Queen Elisabeth Competition winner Zee Zee (Zhang Zuo) plays Ravel and Liszt (May 17), and
• Van Cliburn finalist and Audience Award winner Rachel Cheung plays a intimate and virtuosic recital programme (May 31).

On 26 April 2021, Hong Kong-born pianist Chiyan Wong (王致仁) performs an exciting recital at Hong Kong City Hall featuring Busoni’s kaleidoscopic arrangement of Bach’s famous Goldberg Variations. Chiyan released his second album in 2021 Bach-Busoni Goldberg Variations to rave reviews (“an instrumentalist of truly remarkable gifts” Gramophone), showcasing his remarkable expertise of Busoni” s transcription. Currently based in Berlin and London, Chiyan is a frequent guest of international music festivals and prestigious venues. Chiyan has already arrived in Hong Kong from Europe, and has completed the 21-day hotel quarantine under the current travel restrictions.

Following her critically acclaimed performance with Paavo Järvi and the NHK Orchestra in the Hong Kong Arts Festival 2019 (“Zee Zee dazzles in Ravel concerto…breathtaking technique” South China Morning Post), Zee Zee (Zhang Zuo 左章) returns to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on 17 May 2021 with a captivating programme of her signature Ravel and Liszt. Zee Zee was a prizewinner of the 2013 Queen Elisabeth Competition and a BBC New Generation Artist, and is a frequent performer around the world’s greatest concert halls. Her latest album with Deustche Grammophon Ravel & Liszt with Paavo Järvi and the Philharmonia Orchestra was an overwhelming success.

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Van Cliburn Finalist and Audience Award winner Rachel Cheung（張緯晴） has dazzled audience worldwide with her “beauty and virtuosity” (Theatre Jones), giving recitals in prestigious venues including Auditorium du Louvre (Paris), Elbphilharmonie (Hamburg), Weill Recital Hall Carnegie Hall (New York) and more. Rachel is also a prize winner in many of the world’s esteemed competitions, including the Leeds, Chopin, Horowitz, Gina Bachauer and Geneva International Piano Competitions. In 2019, Rachel was awarded the Artist of the Year (Music) by the Hong Kong Arts Development Council for her outstanding achievements. Rachel Cheung will be giving a lyrical and soulful programme of Schumann, Ravel and Chopin on on 31 May 2021 at Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall.

In view of the travel restrictions in place, the previously announced artists for the 2021 Spring Recital – Camille Thomas, Joyce DiDonato and Jerusalem Quartet – are not able to come to Hong Kong as planned. Premiere Performances is now working to reschedule their performance dates as soon as possible.

Chiyan Wong and Zee Zee are invited to Hong Kong through a collaboration between Premiere Performances and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra. Each of these artists will also perform with the HK Phil during their stay in Hong Kong.

Programme Details and Images (Click pictures to enlarge)

Chiyan Wong: Goldberg Variations

Award winning Hong Kong pianist Chiyan Wong plays his signature Bach-Busoni Goldberg Variations.

Programme
MENDELSSOHN Prelude and Fugue in E minor, Op. 35, No. 1
BACH Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (after the Busoni edition)
BACH/BUSONI Chaconne in D minor, BWV 1004

26 April, 2021 (Mon)
Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall

Tickets available now on URBTIX, art-mate and pphk.org.

Zee Zee Piano Recital: Liszt / Ravel: Voyages

Following her critically acclaimed performance with Paavo Järvi and the NHK Orchestra in the Hong Kong Arts Festival 2019, Zhang Zuo (Zee Zee) returns to the Hong Kong Cultural Centre with a captivating programme of her signature Ravel and Liszt.

Programme
WAGNER Tristan and Isolde: Prelude
SCHÖNBERG Drei Klavierstücke, Op.11
RAVEL Gaspard de la Nuit I. Ondine, II. Le Gibet, III. Scarbo
LISZT Années de Pèlerinage (excerpts)

17 May 2021 (Mon)
Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre

Tickets available from 16 April on URBTIX, art-mate and pphk.org.

Rachel Cheung Piano Recital: Fantasies

Join Hong Kong’s own Van Cliburn Finalist and Audience Award winner Rachel Cheung in this intimate and virtuosic recital!

Programme
SCHUMANN Fantasiestücke, Op. 12
RAVELMiroirs
III. Une barque sur l’océan
IV. Alborado del gracioso
V.  La vallée des cloches
CHOPIN Andante spianato et grande polonaise brillante in E-flat Major, Op. 22

31 May 2021 (Mon)
Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall

Tickets available from 30 April on pphk.org, art-mate and URBTIX.