Hong Kong City Hall, Central｜Felix Klieser and City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong: A Miraculous Performance

Description

The City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong (CCOHK) joins hands with internationally renowned horn player Felix Klieser, who was born without arms, for a captivating musical journey on Monday, 7 April 2025, 8:00pm at the Concert Hall of Hong Kong City Hall. The concert, conducted by CCOHK's chief conductor Wan Vachirasompoj, features two rare and precious symphonic works: Butterworth's 'The Banks of Green Willow' and Saint-Saëns' 'Symphony No. 2'. The former is a serene and beautiful English pastoral piece, while the latter is a less frequently performed musical gem. This carefully crafted concert promises to deliver a delicate, lyrical and poetic musical feast for the audience.

Despite being born without arms, Felix Klieser has become a globally acclaimed horn player, overcoming physical limitations with his remarkable perseverance and talent. He plays the instrument with a specially designed stand, manipulating the notes with his agile toes to turn the impossible into possible, creating moving melodies. Felix started learning the horn at the age of five, embarking on an extraordinary musical path. He later enrolled at the University of Music, Drama and Media Hanover as a junior student. In 2014, he was named 'Young Artist of the Year' at the ECHO Classical Music Awards, and his autobiography, 'Footnote: How a Hornist Without Arms Conquered the World', was published by Patmos Verlag, sharing his inspiring musical journey.

Felix Klieser's musical talent is recognized internationally. He has performed as a soloist with numerous renowned orchestras, including the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Lucerne Festival Strings, Milan Verdi Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonic Orchestra of Gran Canaria, Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra, and Royal Scottish National Orchestra. He has also given solo performances at the Menuhin Festival in Gstaad, Switzerland, shared the stage with legendary conductor Riccardo Muti at the Ravenna Festival, and collaborated with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra at the BBC Proms in the UK. In 2016, he was awarded the 'Bernstein Award for Music Talent' at the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival. Beyond live performances, his recording achievements are equally impressive. His debut album 'Nightfall' won the ECHO Classical Music Award, followed by recordings of the complete Mozart horn concertos with the Salzburg Chamber Soloists, works by Haydn brothers and Mozart with the Württemberg Chamber Orchestra Heilbronn, and an album of horn and orchestra arias, 'Beyond Words', with CHAARTS Chamber Artists. In recent years, he also premiered a piece composed especially for him, 'Soundscape' by Swedish composer Jan Sandström.

Felix Klieser currently serves as a horn professor at the Münster School of Music, passionate about music education. He will be conducting a horn masterclass on Saturday, 5 April 2025, from 4:30pm to 7:00pm in CR1 Room, 7/F Backstage, Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Music enthusiasts are welcome to attend as observers. Tickets for on-site observation are HK$100 each. For reservations or enquiries, please call Ms. Leung at 2864 2158 or email sze.ccohk@gmail.com.

Programme

Mozart | Horn Concerto No. 4, K.495

Butterworth | The Banks of Green Willow

Strauss | Horn Concerto No. 1, Op. 11

Saint-Saëns | Symphony No. 2

Photo 2, 3, 6, 7：©JuliaWesely Kopie

Photo 4 , 5：©MaikeHelbig Kopie