11th April 2023 – (Hong Kong) The globally renowned German soprano, Diana Damrau, has been invited by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) to perform in her Hong Kong concert debut on 10th May (Wednesday), which also marks the opening of this year’s Encore Series. With the theme “All for Love,” Damrau, accompanied by bass Nicolas Testé and pianist Mathieu Pordoy, will mesmerize music lovers with a repertoire of arias and duets from classic operas, including Bellini’s “Casta diva” (from “Norma”), Verdi’s “Ella giammai m’amò” (from “Don Carlos”), and Lehár’s “Liebe, du Himmel auf Erden” (from “Paganini”). The concert will also feature songs from beloved musicals such as Rodgers’ “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'” (from “Oklahoma!”) and Loewe’s “I Could Have Danced All Night” (from “My Fair Lady”), as well as art songs by renowned composers like Duparc, Richard Strauss, and Rachmaninov. Damrau and Testé’s exceptional vocal talents are sure to create an unforgettable musical experience for the audience.
Diana Damrau is widely acclaimed as one of today’s most sought-after sopranos, having graced the world’s leading opera and concert stages for over two decades. Her impressive repertoire includes iconic roles such as Gräfin Madeleine in “Capriccio,” Queen of the Night in “Die Zauberflöte,” and title roles in “La Traviata” and “Roméo et Juliette.” Her remarkable achievements in the field of music have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Bavarian Kammersängerin in 2007, the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art in 2010, and the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in 2021. Her performances and albums have received widespread acclaim, with The Guardian newspaper praising her “impeccable diction and vocal gleam from top to bottom.”
The concert, titled “Encore Series: An Evening with Diana Damrau,” will take place at 8pm on 10th May at the Concert Hall of Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets are available for purchase at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk) and are priced at $280, $420, $560, $680, and $800. For those interested in discount schemes and programme enquiries, please call 2268 7321 or visit the LCSD website at www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1479.html.
Prior to the concert, a pre-concert talk entitled “Love in Perspectives” (in Cantonese) will be held at 6.45pm on May 10 at the Foyer Reception Area, 4/F, Auditoria Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The talk, hosted by music practitioner Jimmy Shiu, is free to attend, but seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Moreover, a masterclass (conducted in English) jointly organised by the LCSD and Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) will be held at 3pm on 9th (Tuesday) at the Concert Hall of the HKAPA. Damrau and Testéwill share their musicianship and experience with young vocalist and the audience. Admission is free, and online registration is available on a first-come, first-served basis. For details, please visit the above-mentioned website