Orchester
Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra
HANGZHOU PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra (HPO) has established itself as one of the most outstanding symphony orchestras in China. The orchestra has ventured to perform across all forms of art in concert, opera, ballet, chamber music, film music and recording to critical acclaim.
Long Yu, one of the most distinguished Chinese conductors, praised that HPO is the best st
HANGZHOU PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra (HPO) has established itself as one of the most outstanding symphony orchestras in China. The orchestra has ventured to perform across all forms of art in concert, opera, ballet, chamber music, film music and recording to critical acclaim.
Long Yu, one of the most distinguished Chinese conductors, praised that HPO is the best stage for Hangzhou culture to the world, and as well as the exhibition platform of global cultures in Hangzhou. “Established only seven years ago in a city 180 miles from Shanghai, the HPO is by now one of the major orchestras in China”, reported by Musical America, 2016.
The orchestra has engaged Yang Yang as Music Director and Chief Conductor and Long Yu as the Chairman of Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra Artistic Committee. Some of the foremost names have appeared as Artists-in-Residence: violinist Ning Feng, cellist Qin Liwei, French horn player Han Xiaoming, pianist Kun-Woo Paik, pianist Zhang Haochen, violinist Yang Tianwa, cellist Wang Jian, pianist Zee Zee, violinist Lu Siqing, violinist Vera TsuWeiling and soprano Song Yuanming.
An impressive array of renowned musicians in China and around the world has performed with HPO in the past years, including conductors Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Krzysztof Penderecki, Zubin Mehta, Chung Myung-whun, Klaus Peter Flor, Gunther Herbig, OkkoKamu, Vladimir Fedoseyev, Paavo Järvi, Edo de Waart, OsmoVanska, Jahja Ling, Shao-Chia Lv, Shui Lan, Lü Jia, Tan Dun, Yu Feng, Long Yu, Zhang Guoyong, Zhang Xian, pianists Barry Douglas, Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Andrei Gavrilov, Gary Graffman, Kun-Woo Paik, Jon Kimura Parker, Lang Lang, Chen Sa, Zhang Haochen, violinists Joseph Silverstein, Gidon Kremer, ShlomoMintz, Maxim Vengerov, Sarah Chang, Midori, Ryu Goto, Daniel Hope, Renaud Capuçon, Leonidas Kavakos,Cho-Liang Lin, LvSiqing, Vera Tsu Wei Ling, Ning Feng, cellists Gautier Capuçon, Alban Gerhardt, Natalia Gutman, Lynn Harrell, Yo-Yo Ma, Wang Jian, Li-wei Qin, Classical Guitarist Yang Xuefei, Chinese folk musicians Wu Man, Min Huifen, Song Fei, Tang Junqiao, Zhang Hongyan as well as Sumi Jo, He Hui, Lei Jia, Zhu Huiling, Sun Xiuwei, Zhang Liping, Thomas Hampson,Dai Yuqiang, Mo Hualun, Zhang Jianyi, ShiYijie,Liao Changyong, Shen Yang, Yuan Chenye, etc.
All over the years HPO has presented a series of operas. In March 2012, HPO presented La Bohème in concert version, which was broadcast live online globally. In the following seasons, HPO presented one opera in each season. In May 2013, HPO produced La Traviata in full stage, which was conducted by maestro Long Yu, with Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and Hangzhou Grand Theater. In October 2013, HPO participated in China premiere of Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes in Beijing. In August 2014 and January 2017, HPO cooperated with Taormina Festival for presenting Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana in Italy and Hangzhou respectively. In September 2017, HPO joined Chinese dream team for the premiere of English Opera The Dream of Red Mansion in Mainland China. In July 2018, HPO co-produced Carmen in modern characteristics with China National Opera House. In March 2019, HPO presented Madama Butterfly with soprano He Hui. In September 2020, HPO and China National Opera House presented concert opera Turandot in Hangzhou International Music Festival.
Since 2010, HPO has been invited to China Orchestra Festival, Beijing Music Festival, Music in the Summer Air, Beijing Modern Music Festival, Shanghai Spring International Music Festival, China Opera Festival and won great acclaim. Besides, HPO has participated in Shanghai International Youth Piano Competition and CCTV Piano Violin Competition. On 31st December, 2015, HPO participated in CCTV “Music in the New Year, 2016 New Year Concert”. From 2017 to 2018, HPO was invited for the recording of CCTV “Four Seasons Theatre” several times. In 2019, HPO was invited to the Opening Ceremony of the 12th Chinese Golden Bell Award for Music.
In September 2016, HPO had successfully participated in the Evening Gala “Enduring Memories of Hangzhou” for the G20 Summit. And this gala impressed leaders of Group 20 and directors of related world organizations as well as other guests. In September 2017, HPO performed a symphony concert on the 3rd China-CEEC Cultural Cooperation Forum and won great acclaim from leaders and guests from China and 16 Middle East European countries. In October 2019, HPO was invited to perform in a huge orchestra of more than 1,000 musicians in evening gala held to mark 70th founding anniversary of PRC.
From 2017 to 2023, as the organizer of Hangzhou International Music Festival, HPO participated in organizing, planning and completing all the performances and outreach programs in HMF. The Karajan Academy of the Berliner Philharmoniker, Munich Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, German Brass, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, The Stradivari Quartet, China National Opera House and Gautier Capuçon, Wang Jian, Wynton Marsalis were invited to HMF.
In the first season, HPO had toured to Kaohsiung and Hsinchu. In July 2011, HPO was invited to Mecklenburg-Vorpommern Festival, Emilia-Romagna Festival and Ravello Festival, taking its first tour to Europe. In July 2012, HPO was invited to Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival. In July 2013, HPO toured to Russia and Estonia, winning great acclaim from major media. In August 2014, HPO was invited by Taormina Festival in Italy for cooperation in opera Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana. In November 2016, HPO toured to Czech, Italy, Austria and Germany. In April 2018, HPO toured to Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Hungary for the Belt and Road Tour. In September and October 2018, HPO was invited to Busan Maru International Music Festival, Bangkok’s International Festival of Dance and Music and Asia Orchestra Week in Tokyo, Japan. In September and October 2021, HPO toured to Tianjin, Nanchang, Wuhan, Shanghai and Ningbo for a Domestic Tour.
HPO promotes contemporary music, especially programs from Chinese composers. HPO participated in debut of China Grand Canal. In 2012, Seven Episodes of West Lake composed by Ye Xiaogang debut in Hangzhou Grand Theater. In 2014, HPO commissioned Guo Wenjing for Man Jiang Hong, and debut in October, 2015 on the 18th Beijing Music Festival. In 2016, HPO commissioned Zhou Tian for Cello Concerto Flowing Sleeves, which was premiered on 2018 Hangzhou International Music Festival Opening Concert. In 2018, HPO co-commissioned Zhao Lin for A Happy Excursion concerto for Pipa, Cello and Orchestra with BMF and New York Philharmonic. Yo-Yo Ma was invited for this new program’s debut in HPO 2018-2019 Season. From 2018 to 2020, HPO commissioned Yang Yibo and Xu Jianqiang for New Melody of Zhejiang. In 2021, HPO commissioned lyricist Zhu Hai and composer Yang Fan for Flags of Our Faith. In the same year, the Orchestra commissioned composer Xu Zhitong to create The Light of Asia - Overture to Fulfilling the Dream of the Asian Games. In collaboration with23symphony orchestras of Chinese Musicians' Association, HPO jointly commissioned a symphonic poem A Thousand Li of Riversand Mountainswhich was dedicated to the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China，and in the same year commissioned the composer LuoMaishuo to create a symphonic suite of The Elegance of Song Dynasty and a symphonic painting Dwelling of the Fuchun Mountains. In 2023, HPO commissioned composer Ye Xiaogang to create Jade Goddess of Mercy Capriccio for Violin and Orchestra, and we also commissioned composer Zhou Tian to create Double Concerto for Violin, Viola and Orchestra.
Cultural exchange program being an integral part, the orchestra has partnered with Berliner Philharmoniker’s board, Karajan Academy of the Berliner Philharmoniker, Philadelphia Orchestra and Yong Siew Toh Conservatory. Each year eight members of the orchestra will be recommended to work with Berliner Philharmoniker in Berlin in order to refine their musical taste. Besides, an education program has been initiated between HPO and Shanghai Conservatory of Music, HPO has become the Practical Training Base of Professional Degrees of Shanghai Conservatory of Music. In 2016, HPO was commissioned by Ministry of Commerce of P. R. China and CAEG for a three-month training project for Laos National Symphony Orchestra.
In October 2014, HPO published its first recording with violinist Ning Feng by Universal Music and Channel Classics Records. The CD was distributed globally in December, 2015.
Hangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra has made great artistic achievements by establishing musical seasons. With joint efforts of all members, HPO emphasizes on professional development with Hangzhou Speed and HPO Model, and has been the golden name card and icon of Hangzhou in terms of cultural construction and international exchange.