Premiere Performances brings internationally celebrated artists and the world’s brightest rising stars to Hong Kong for solo recitals, chamber music and community outreach, building a vibrant local arts scene and inspiring audience members of all ages with performances that are accessible to all. For its 2025 installment, the event organiser has brought together a diverse range of international talents for music lovers in Hong Kong to enjoy.
Premiere Performances 2025
1. Jazz: Ekep Nkwelle Quartet
Collaborating with Jazz at Lincoln Centre, Premiere Performances is bringing the Ekep Nkwelle Quartet to Hong Kong! American vocalist is a force in today’s jazz scene. Her captivating voice has earned her collaborations with jazz legends like Wynton Marsalis, Dianne Reeves, the late Russell Malone, and more. Ekep Nkwelle will be touring with Luther Allison (piano), Russell Hall (Bass), and Nazir Ebo (Drums) as part of Jazz at Lincoln Centre on tour. Drinks are available for purchase at the venue’s bar.
Event details
- Date: 3–4 March
- Time 7-9pm
- Venue: BaseHall, LG/F, Jardine House, 1 Connaught Place, Central, Hong Kong
- Ticket Price: $400
2. Romer String Quartet Family Concert
As one of Hong Kong’s pre-eminent ensembles, the Romer String Quartet is bringing their new interactive concert to little ones in town! Expect an interactive and educational session on instruments in a string quartet, followed by demonstrations of playing techniques and a performance of Ravel, Puccini, Debussy, Piazzolla, and George Crumb. Suitable for ages 5 and up. The session will be conducted in Cantonese only.
Event details
- Date: 2 March
- Time: 4:30-5:30pm
- Venue: Theatre, Hong Kong City Hall, 5 Edinburgh Place, Central, Hong Kong
3. David Greilsammer: “Labyrinth”
Recognised as one of today’s most interesting and audacious pianists, David Greilsammer is returning to Hong Kong following his sold-out Scarlatti: Cage programme in September 2022. Greilsammer has been invited to perform in the world’s greatest concert halls, presenting innovative projects, bold interpretations, and groundbreaking encounters between different artistic genres and disciplines. His latest award-winning project, Labyrinth, is a musical representation of an infinitely winding structure within a recurring dream. Like a novel, Labyrinth is made of seven musical chapters, each featuring music from different periods, styles, and genres. The programme and the album have been awarded many distinctions, including by The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Pianist Magazines (UK), and more.
Programme details for Labyrinth
1. Chapter I
- JANÁČEK: The Owl has not Flown Away! from On an Overgrown Path
- LULLY: Les Sourdines from Armide
- JANÁČEK: Words Fail! from On an Overgrown Path
2. Chapter II
- BEETHOVEN: Bagatelle, Op. 126, No. 4
- CRUMB: The Magic Circle of Infinity from Makrokosmos
- BEETHOVEN: Bagatelle, Op. 126, No. 5
3. Chapter III
- LIGETI: Musica Ricercata, No. 8
- BACH: Contrapunctus 1 from The Art of Fugue
- LIGETI: Musica Ricercata, No. 7
4. Chapter IV – Centre of the Labyrinth
- GRANADOS: El Amor y la Muerte from Goyescas
5. Chapter V
- SATIE: Pièce Froide No. 2, from Danses de travers
- C. P. E. BACH: Fantasy in D minor
- SATIE: Pièce Froide No. 3, from Danses de travers
6. Chapter VI
- PELZ: Repetition Blindness : Chapter I
- MARAIS: Chaconne, from Le Labyrinthe (arr. Greilsammer)
- PELZ: Repetition Blindness : Chapter II
7. Chapter VII
- SCRIABIN: Nuances from Pieces Op. 56
- REBEL: Le Chaos from Les Éléments (arr. Keren)
- SCRIABIN: Vers la Flamme, Op. 72
Event details
- Date: 22 April
- Time: 7:30–8:40pm
- Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall, 5 Edinburgh Place, Central, Hong Kong
- Ticket price: $180–520
4. Rising Star Guitarist: Raphaël Feuillâtre
Hailed as the new face of classical guitar worldwide, Raphaël Feuillâtre fascinates audiences and critics alike with the depth of his interpretations and his dazzling virtuosity. After winning the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America competition in 2018 (USA) and ADAMI’s “Classical Revelation 2021,” Raphaël was chosen as an exclusive artist by the label Deutsche Grammophon, making him one of the very few guitarists to have signed with this legendary label. The young French guitarist has made his debut in the world’s most prestigious venues, including Carnegie Hall, Concertgebouw, Beethoven Haus and more, and has been invited to perform at major guitar festivals in Paris, Argentina and China.
For his Hong Kong debut, Raphaël Feuillâtre will be bringing music by Bach, Barrios, Piazzolla and more. A true delight for guitar lovers in Hong Kong!
Programme details
- COUPERIN: Les barricades mystérieuses (arr. Fougeray)
- DUPHLY: Médée (arr. Fougeray)
- BACH: Concerto No. 1 in D Major, BWV 972 (after Vivaldi) (arr. Perroy)
- BARRIOS: La Catedral
- PIAZZOLLA: Inverno Portena (arr. Assad)
- VILLA-LOBOS: Suite Populaire Brésilienne
- SOLÈS: 2 Catalan folksongs: El noi de la mare & Cançó del lladre
- ALBÉNIZ: Torre Bermeja, serenata from 12 piezas caracteristicas, Op. 92 (arr. Feuillâtre)
- SOLÈS: Variations on a Theme of Sor, Op. 15
Event details
- Date: 28 April
- Time: 7:30–8:40pm
- Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall, 5 Edinburgh Place, Central, Hong Kong
- Ticket price: $180–520
5. Dover Quartet and Haochen Zhang: Dvořák and Frank
Two-time Grammy-award nominee, Dover Quartet, joins forces with Van Cliburn winner, Haochen Zhang! The pre-eminent Dover Quartet is the recipient of multiple prestigious awards, including the Wigmore Hall International String Quartet Competition and the Avery Fisher Career Grant. Pianist Haochen Zhang rose to fame as the first Chinese pianist to win the Van Cliburn competition. Since then, the artist has dazzled audiences worldwide as a soloist and a chamber musician. The Dover Quartet and Haochen Zhang have toured together around the United States, making various appearances to great acclaim. The group is finally touring to Hong Kong with music by Bright Sheng, Dvořák ,and Franck.
Programme details
Event details
- Date: 12 May
- Time: 7:30-9pm
- Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall, 5 Edinburgh Place, Central, Hong Kong
- Ticket price: $180–520
Programme
- Bright Sheng: Dance Capriccio
- DVOŘÁK: String Quartet No. 12 in F Major, Op. 96, American
- FRANCK: Piano Quintet in F minor
6. Young Piano Virtuoso: Tony Siqi Yun
Canadian pianist Tony, Siqi Yun made his Hong Kong debut with Premiere Performances in 2022 to great acclaim. Since then, he has made prestigious debuts at major international venues, including Carnegie Hall, Hamburg Elbphilharmonie, and Leipzig Gewandhaus. Yun was awarded the 2023 LOTTO-Förderpreis at the Rheingau Musik Festival in Germany. Yun first came into the limelight of the classical music stage after winning the First Prize and Gold Medal at the inaugural China International Music Competition in 2019. Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin is Yun’s active mentor. He was a recipient of the Jerome L. Greene Fellowship at the Juilliard School where he graduated in 2024.
Yun will be performing a showcase of Brahms, Bach, Schumann and Liszt in this captivating evening. Don’t miss this opportunity to see this young virtuoso pianist!
Programme details
- BRAHMS: 4 Ballades, Op. 10
- BACH/BUSONI: Chaconne in D minor, BWV 1004
- ALKAN: La chanson de la folle au bord de la mer, Prelude Op. 31, No. 8
- SCHUMANN: Geistervariationen WoO 24
- LISZT: Après une lecture du Dante: Fantasia quasi Sonata
Event details
- Date: 4 June
- Time: 7:30-9pm
- Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall, 5 Edinburgh Place, Central, Hong Kong
- Ticket price: $180–520
7. Harp Superstar Emmanuel Ceysson: Images
French harp superstar, Emmanuel Ceysson, is returning to grace Hong Kong audiences with a night of soothing scores. Having travelled the world for recitals, concertos, and chamber performances, Ceysson has dazzled the world with expected harp music. As a soloist, Ceysson has requented major concert venues like the Carnegie Hall, Wigmore Hall, and Wiener Konzerthaus, impressing critics worldwide. The Washington Post praised Ceysson, stating that “his technique and his musicianship are virtually flawless.”
Ceysson is currently the harpist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where he recently premiered the new harp concerto by Joe Hisaishi that was written specifically for him. He previously held the principal harp position with the Opéra National de Paris and the New York Metropolitan Opera. He is the first harpist ever to win the Gold Medal at three prestigious international competitions, including the US International Harp Competition, Young Concert Artists in New York and the ARD Competition in Munich. His last appearance in Hong Kong was at the Beare’s Premiere Music Festival (formerly known as the “Hong Kong International Chamber Music Festival”) in 2018.
Emmanuel Ceysson returns to Hong Kong with a stunning French programme called Images featuring works by Debussy, Tournier, Caplet and Fauré.
Programme details
- DEBUSSY: Suite bergamasque (arr. Ceysson)
- TOURNIER: Images, Suite No. 2, Op. 31
- CAPLET: 2 Divertissements
- TOURNIER: Images, Suite No. 4, Op. 39
- FAURÉ: Impromptu in D-flat Major, Op. 86
Event details
- Date: 16 June
- Time: 7:30–8:40pm
- Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall, 5 Edinburgh Place, Central, Hong Kong
- Ticket price: $180–520
