Frequently referred to as the ‘New Testament’ of piano music, Beethoven’s set of 32 sonatas stands as a monument of artistic achievement. After the acclaimed recital of ‘The Art of Fugue’ in 2015, pianist Konstantin Lifschitz is returning to HKU this fall with 8 concerts, offering his intelligent and distinctive approach to the complete cycle – a must-hear concert series in 2017/18!

A truly compelling work whose historical significance is often compared to the composer’s Goldberg Variations, The Well-Tempered Clavier has laid the backbone of classical chromaticism, revealing the full-colour spectrum of all the 24 keys. Various schools of composers have religiously studied and drawn inspiration from the preludes and fugues, so have generations of keyboardists who performed and recorded the set. Amongst them is Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt, described by Gramophone as “today’s finest exponent of Bach’s keyboard music”.

The six string quartets by Béla Bartók offer perhaps the most distilled essence of his style and life as a modernist and nationalist composer. Weaving together elements from European classical music and the exotic rusticity of Eastern European folk dance, the set is regarded as one of the most important contributions to the genre since Beethoven’s first entry a century earlier.

Created in a tumultuous time, Olivier Messiaen’s Quartet for The End of Time is a testimonial of humanity’s standing perseverance in the face of adversity. Composed and premiered in a World War II German prisoner-of-war camp, the music embodies Messiaen’s unshakable belief, love of nature, and stoic resilience that liberated his creativity beyond personal suffering.

In collaboration with the Bard College Conservatory of Music, New York, and M+, Hong Kong, this creative exchange project aims to explore the aesthetic commonality and discover the innovative potential of Ink Art and New Music. Through lectures, mentorships, commissions, and performances, this multi-phase series hopes to connect creative, knowledgeable, and curious minds and encourage meaningful conversations and new compositions.

Israeli cellist Gavriel Lipkind took the unusual step of retreating from the stage at the height of his career, returning with profound philosophical insights into music and performance. He presented Bach’s six Cello Suites in two concerts, offering "a unique, creative, imaginative, rich personal artistic expression of the world of Bach and the Baroque".

British pianist Paul Lewis, lauded as "one of today's finest exponents of Schubert" by The New York Times, takes us on a heart-wrenching journey across a series of 4 concerts spanning 2 years. Lewis delves into the poignant and profound sentiments woven into Schubert's keyboard masterpieces, exploring some of the most intimate and sincere facets of human emotion.

More world-class musical delights coming up this Spring! Tickets now available at art-mate.net. Mark your calendar and join us! Book more 🙂

More world-class musical delights coming up this Spring! Tickets now available at art-mate.net. Mark your calendar and join us! Book more 🙂

回顧過去精彩十年﹐港大繆思樂季呈獻多場香港首演及多部經典鉅著﹑舉辦多場跨領域的節目和富啟發性的「樂語融融」座談會﹐又見證多部全新創作面世 …