ASIA 2014-17

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Vasily Petrenko music director

Ning Feng violin

September – October 2014

China

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

“Petrenko presides over a golden age of music-making in Liverpool…”

Hugh Canning,

Sunday Times, May 2013

The UK‘s oldest professional symphony orchestra has been at the heart of Liverpool’s cultural life since 1840. Intermusica brings the orchestra to China in October 2014 with two varied programmes. The first celebrates the orchestra’s heritage via John Lennon, called The John Lennon Songbook, portraying his life through music and images on screen. The second programme includes a performance of a new concerto for four percussionists by Stuart Copeland (ex-drummer of rock band The Police, now an established composer) and Glazunov’s Violin Concerto with Chinese violinist Ning Feng.

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BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra Martyn Brabbins conductor

Denis Kozhukhin piano

December 2014 – January 2015

China

“ …but so riveting was the performance that I was sorry when it was over…”

Independent *****, BBC Prom 50, 2013

Scotland is famous all over the world for its New Year celebrations called ‘Hogmanay’. The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra brings Hogmanay to China for concerts from 30 December 2014 – 6 January 2015. The tour visits Guangzhou, Shanghai and Beijing with British conductor Martyn Brabbins showcasing a variety of New Year repertoire. They are joined by acclaimed young Russian pianist Denis Kozhukhin, winner of the Queen Elisabeth Competition in 2010.

This dynamic and virtuosic Italian ensemble, founded in 1990 by Fabio Biondi, is one of the finest baroque ensembles in the world, famed for interpretations of Italian composers of the seventeenth century. They perform Vivaldi’s opera L’Oracolo in Messenia in Yokohama, Japan, with a stellar cast including Vivica Genaux, Magnus Staveland and Julia Lezhneva. Following the performances in Japan, the orchestra travels to other Asian cities to perform an instrumental programme including Vivadi’s Four Seasons alongside Vivaldi arias, performed by Vivica Genaux and other Italian baroque works.

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Europa Galante Fabio Biondi director

Vivica Genaux mezzo-soprano

February – March 2015

Japan and China

“ Playing in Asia is not just reaching a new large musical market; it means an opportunity to meet a sensitive audience who are ready to be moved. It’s the way I remember it and that’s the reason why it’s always a joy for me to come back.” Fabio Biondi

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Drama Queens Joyce DiDonato mezzo-soprano

Il Pomo d’Oro

Dmitry Sinkovsky violin/director

May 2015

Asia

“From the moment she swept onstage in a lavish crimson

gown by Vivienne Westwood, the mezzo-soprano Joyce

DiDonato embodied the despair (and occasional joy) of

these regal heroines of 17th- and 18th-century opera. the

ensemble Il Complesso Barocco accompanied her splendid

performance at Carnegie Hall on sunday afternoon,

it’s high-octane, imaginative approach mirroring the

emotional depth of her singing…”

Vivien schweitzer, New York Times, november 2012

Grammy Award-winning Joyce DiDonato entrances audiences and critics alike across the globe. Following the monumental success of Drama Queens across Europe and the USA, Intermusica brings this extremely special project to Asia for the first time. Joyce will be accompanied by Il Pomo d’Oro (directed from the violin by Dmitry Sinkovsky) performing repertoire from the highly successful recording.

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Royal Scottish National Orchestra Peter Oundjian music director

Gautier Capuçon cello

June – July 2015

China and Korea

The Royal Scottish National Orchestra is Scotland’s national symphonic ensemble and one of the country’s five National Performing Companies. Formed in 1891 as the Scottish Orchestra, the company became the Scottish National Orchestra in 1950, and was awarded Royal Patronage in 1991. After the success of their 2012/2013 New Year debut concerts across China with Music Director Peter Oundjian, Intermusica brings this wonderful orchestra back to Asia in June and July 2015.

“Frenchman Gautier Capuçon

is, despite his tender age,

one of the leading cellists of

our time... he enthralled the

audience by the sheer beauty

of his playing.”

Concerto Net

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Oxford College Choir Stephen Darlington conductor

August 2015

China

Oxford College Choir is 500 years old, yet is justly famous for the youthfulness of its sound and its bold and adventurous musical programming. The choir have just been shortlisted for a 2013 Gramophone Award in the Early Music category for their disc Choirs of Angels. Following their debut concerts in China in August 2012, we are delighted be bringing the choir to Asia for concerts in August 2015.

“… glorious in its sound and effects …the boys sound as they always have under stephen Darlington, singing with confident healthily open voices that allow them to ascend through phrases and create a gloriously soaring effect…”

Gramophone, 2013

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Academy of Ancient Music ‘The Eight Seasons’Alina Ibragimova director / soloist

November 2015

Japan

In February 2012, Alina Ibragimova made her debut with the AAM, the beginning of a close artistic partnership with the Russian violinist. Intermusica tours AAM to Japan between the 26 October and the 13 November 2015, with a programme of works called The Eight Seasons, including Vivaldi’s Four Seasons framed by other instrumental works inspired by nature.

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BBC Concert Orchestra December 2015 – January 2016

China

From its humble beginnings as a radio orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra has grown into one of the world‘s most respected and versatile orchestras, with an enviable reputation in the fields of light music, opera, ballet and musicals, on radio, television and in the concert hall. Following their hugely successful summer tour to China in July 2013, Intermusica brings the BBC Concert Orchestra back to China for New Year’s concerts in December 2015 and January 2016.

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Gabrieli Consort & Players Paul McCreesh artistic director

March 2016

China

Winners of three Gramophone awards, the Gabrieli Consort & Players conducted by Paul McCreesh are one of the UK’s most talented and versatile ensembles in the field of early music. Together they have gained an outstanding international reputation for their challenging performances of Renaissance and Baroque music. We bring this exceptional ensemble to China in March 2016.

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Orchestre de la Suisse Romande Osmo Vänskä conductor

Frank Peter Zimmermann violin

May 2016

China

The Orchestre de la Suisse Romande is an internationally renowned symphonic ensemble founded in 1918 and based in Geneva, Switzerland. Over the years, it has built its reputation on the basis of its historic recordings and its interpretation of French and Russian music of the 20th century. Intermusica is delighted to be bringing the orchestra to China in May 2016 for debut concerts with Finnish conductor Osmo Vänskä and German violinist Frank Peter Zimmerman.

Following highly successful tours to the Far East in 2009, 2011 and 2013 (the latter visiting Seoul, Beijing, Hong Kong and Singapore), the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge, and Director of Music Stephen Cleobury look forward to their next tour, planned for summer 2016. The Choir is one of the world’s best known choral groups; every Christmas Eve millions tune into A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, broadcast by the BBC since 1928, and also to the televised service, Carols from King’s.

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The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge Stephen Cleobury director of music

July – August 2016

Asia

“I would happily sit in King’s College Chapel listening to this choir sing for the rest of my days.” Times

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Budapest Festival Orchestra Iván Fischer music director

September – October 2016

Asia

Founded in 1983 by Iván Fischer and Zoltán Kocsis, the Budapest Festival Orchestra has established itself as one of the leading orchestras of the world. Intermusica is proud of its long association with the BFO which is widely recognised as one of the most thrilling orchestras to experience live in concert. 2013 represents 30 years since the orchestra was formed and we are delighted to be bringing Iván Fischer and his orchestra back to China in October 2016.

“First, though, I must say that the musical performance on its own

terms was extraordinary. Over the last 30 years under Mr. Fischer,

the Budapest Festival Orchestra has become one of the most admired

ensembles on the international scene, as was demonstrated by this

supple, glowing and transparent performance of Figaro…”

Anthony Tommasini, New York Times, August 2013

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NDR Radiophilharmonie Hannover Andrew Manze principal conductor

2016 / 2017

Asia

Intermusica is delighted to be forging a new partnership with NDR Hannover and their new Principal Conductor, Andrew Manze. We bring this orchestra to Asia in 2016.

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Colin Currie Group Repertoire by Reich, including Drumming

2015 / 2016

Asia

Following a stunning performance at the 2006 BBC Proms of Reich’s Drumming, Colin Currie established the Colin Currie Group to exist primarily as an ambassador for this dynamic work. After a repeat performance at London’s Southbank in 2010 in the company of Steve Reich himself, the composer praised Currie and his ensemble for having brought the piece to a whole new level. Impressed by their unity, colour and vitality, Reich has ardently endorsed the ensemble’s bid to showcase the work at the highest level internationally. The group’s international debut took place at Tokyo Opera City in December 2012, and they performed to a sell-out audience at Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw in August 2013. Intermusica brings the group back to Asia in 2016.

“Asian audiences have an enormously inquisitive nature, and the potential for

performing new music there is huge. In December 2012, my ensemble played two

sold-out concerts in tokyo opera City with steve Reich. the concerts were avidly

absorbed, leading the promoter to hail the events as “historical” and some of the

most important and memorable in the lifetime of the venue.” Colin Currie

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Oslo Philharmonic OrchestraVasily Petrenko music director

March 2017

Asia

Although the Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra was not established under its present name until 1919, it can trace its roots back to the 1870s and the influence of Grieg and Svendsen. In September 2013, acclaimed Russian conductor Vasily Petrenko has formally started his tenure as Chief Conductor and this sensational new partnership is causing a stir across Europe. Following monumental success and critical acclaim at the BBC Proms and across Europe, Intermusica is delighted to be forging a new partnership with the orchestra and planning an Asia tour for them with Petrenko in 2017.

“I like to conduct music of all periods and styles and always want to make the best balance of compositions for our audiences and for the oslo Philharmonic’s musicians.”Vasily Petrenko

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Gewandhausorchester LeipzigRiccardo Chailly Gewandhauskapellmeister

Anne-Sofie Mutter violin

March 2017

Asia

The Gewandhausorchester is the oldest civic symphony orchestra in the world, its history stretching back over 250 years. With its past Music Directors including Mendelssohn, it is the only orchestra ever to perform all of Beethoven’s symphonies during his lifetime. Its distinguished reputation and lasting influence on the history of music, its countless appearances on every continent of the globe since 1916 and hundreds of recordings have made the orchestra one of the greatest in the world. Intermusica continues to deepen its relationship with this historic ensemble and world class Kapellmeister, Riccardo Chailly and is touring the orchestra to Asia in March 2017.

“the Leipzig sound is a palpable marvel; the magic obviates the need for words…”Sunday Times, 2011

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e The Artist Live in Concert Winner of five Oscars®, seven BAFTAs, six Césars and three Golden Globes, this beautiful homage to the golden age of Hollywood silent films has touched the hearts of audiences and critics worldwide. This special concert setting offers audiences the opportunity to re-live the joy of the film with a live orchestra performing Ludovic Bource’s celebrated score.

A Tribute to Steven Spielberg and John Williams

Exclusively in China, Intermusica offers an audio-visual concert programme which celebrates the partnership of Hollywood’s most renowned director and composer, Steven Spielberg and John Williams. Accompanied by cinematic stills and clips, the programme with full symphony orchestra includes music from such Oscar®-winning movie classics such as Jaws (1975), Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Jurassic Park (1993) and Schindler’s List (1993). A special lighting concept offers various ambiences linked to the colours from the screen and the orchestra into the concert hall.

Frank Strobel conductor

Available exclusively in Chinascr

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The film with live orchestra format has been performed globally by some of the world’s leading orchestras, in leading concert halls. Successes in recent seasons have included performances with Sydney Opera House, West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, China National Symphony Orchestra, LA Phil, Aurora Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall and London’s Southbank Centre, amongst others. Available on request are imaginative marketing materials, competition formats, educational workshops and a specially-produced exit film, giving insight into the “making-of” the animation.

Peter & the Wolf Livesusie templeton’s oscar®-winning stop-frame animation film is available worldwide to be performed with live orchestra to Prokofiev’s original score.

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Magic Piano & the Chopin Shorts

The Magic Piano animation (from the producers of Oscar®-winning Peter & the Wolf ) tells the story of young Anna and Chip-Chip’s adventure of discovery aboard a magic, flying piano. Set to Chopin études, and endorsed by Lang Lang (who recorded the original soundtrack), the film premiered live at New York’s Lincoln Center in 2012, followed by London’s Southbank Centre in 2013. The Chopin Shorts, a series of animations (2-3 minutes each) from award-winning creators, each set to a Chopin étude, are presented alongside. Grouped into collection of 3 or 4 shorts each, these animations are loved by children and adults alike. Available in 3D or 2D for live presentation, the Asian premiere of these films takes place at Hong Kong Arts Festival in March 2013.

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Michel van der Aa

Winner of the 2013 Grawemeyer Award and Kagel Prize, Michel van der Aa is a truly multidisciplinary figure in contemporary music. His works combine composition with film, electronics and stage direction, challenging perceptions and philosophical ideals. Van der Aa’s 3D film-opera Sunken Garden had its world premiere at the Barbican Centre, London, presented by English National Opera, followed by subsequent Dutch premiere at Holland Festival in 2012-13. Intermusica offers four works internationally: After Life, Book of Disquiet, Sunken Garden and Up Close.

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