For immediate release
22 Sep 2023

Ready or not, here we come! Classical music is not just about stern faces playing deep, profound masterpieces – in fact, one of the most revered and influential figures in classical music, Joseph Haydn, was actually a huge prankster who smuggled a silly amount of wit, invention and theatre into his music! On 6 & 7 October (Fri & Sat), Korean-British pianist Hyung-ki Joo – who has taken the music world by storm with his antics as half of the musical comedic duo Igudesman & Joo – invites you to one big blowout at Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall celebrating Haydn’s genius alongside Hong Kong Sinfonietta, promising an evening full of questionable shenanigans… and unquestionably good music. Tickets are now available on URBTIX. (Presented in English)

Having been a cheeky rascal for as long as he can remember, Hyung-ki Joo met his match in violinist Aleksey Igudesman when they were both enrolled at the Yehudi Menuhin School in England. Together, they formed the comedic duo Igudesman & Joo in 2004, who create and deliver theatrical shows combining humour, classical music and allusions to pop culture, and have amassed over 50 million clicks on YouTube. Renowned musicians who have asked to be part of their musical mayhem include Joshua Bell, Gidon Kremer, Yuja Wang etc, and the pair regularly tours alongside Hollywood star John Malkovich. In this solo visit to Hong Kong, Hyung-ki Joo is not only bringing timeless works by Haydn, Debussy and Ravel, but also the premières of his own compositions to make the evenings extra special!

Hong Kong Sinfonietta

Haydn Seek!

6 & 7 Oct 2023 (Friday & Saturday) | 8pm
Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall
$420, $280, $180 (Presented in English)

Concept/Piano/Conductor/Composer/Arranger/Presenter: Hyung-ki Joo
Violin: James Cuddeford

The programme includes selections from Haydn’s most beloved symphonies, string quartets, sonatas and more, as well as Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G, Debussy’s Hommage à Haydn and original works by Joo.

• Half-price tickets available for full-time students, senior citizens, people with disabilities and their minder, and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients
• 10% discount for group bookings of 4 or more standard tickets
• Get a 20% off discount when you purchase standard tickets to both programmes
• Suitable for 6 years old or above
• Tickets at URBTIX
• Tickets online at POPTICKET (no handling fee)

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Hyung-ki Joo                                                  Concept/Piano/Conductor/Composer/Arranger/Presenter

Hyung-ki Joo has devoted his creative energy to making classical music accessible for audiences of all ages and backgrounds and has explored ways to present concerts in fresh and relevant ways for this 21st Century.

On stage, Joo enraptures audiences with his jovial and contagious stage presence as well as his high-energy, virtuosic performances. He takes on various musical roles and develops special projects that present him as pianist, orchestra leader, communicator, arranger and composer. As a soloist, he has performed with renowned orchestras such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Symphony, Sinfonia Varsovia and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. An invitation from the Orchestra dell’Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia under Lionel Bringuier was a highlight of the current season. As a curator, he was invited to conceive the opening of the Vienna Festival 2023.

Joo’s compositions have been performed by orchestras, ensembles, and soloists such as the New York Philharmonic, Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, Komische Oper Berlin Ensemble, META4, Emanuel Ax, Tine Thing Helseth, Daniel Hope, Natasha Paremski and Yuja Wang, and have been recorded by artists such as Shani Diluka, Sun Hee You and the Ahn Trio. His music is published by Universal Edition and Modern Works.

Joo’s love for chamber music has shaped his musical career, leading to collaborations with artists including Renaud Capuçon, Martin Fröst, Janine Jansen, Mischa Maisky, Julian Rachlin, Belcea Quartet as well as members of the Alban Berg Quartet and Quatuor Ébène. In 2021, a new trio project was formed with members of the Quatuor Ébène, Pierre Colombet and Raphaël Merlin. His fondness for lieder and vocal repertoire has led to collaborations with singers such as Felicity Lott, Valentina Nafornița and Julien Prégardien, and future projects include collaborations with Mojca Erdmann, Asmik Grigorian and Nadine Sierra.

Besides performing as a pianist and chamber musician with the world’s top orchestras and musicians, Joo has also collaborated with many artists outside of the conventional classical music world. Billy Joel is one such artist who engaged Joo to arrange and record Joel’s final album of solo piano pieces, Fantasies & Delusions. He has also appeared in several films, including Pianomania, Noseland and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Classical Music.

A passionate communicator, Joo works to inspire the next generation of musicians. In his “Beyond the Practice Room” workshops, he places the focus on the joy of making music and encourages participants to explore other directions beyond “classical” performance. He loves to work regularly with youth orchestras and ensembles. Following a recent collaboration with the Norwegian National Youth Orchestra, he coached and performed with the Orchestre National des Jeunes du Luxembourg this season. He is the recipient of an honorary doctorate degree from Manhattan School of Music, serves on the faculty of the Paderewski Academy, and is a mentor for graduates and students in their last year at the Yehudi Menuhin School.

Joo’s duo IGUDESMAN & JOO ignited the internet with their inventive and hilarious videos combining classical music, comedy and pop culture, and have brought laughter into concert halls all over the world. Major orchestras have commissioned the duo to create new works, and illustrious musical guests such as Joshua Bell, Gidon Kremer, Viktoria Mullova and Yuja Wang have all asked the duo to create shows for them. They have worked with actors such as John Malkovich and Roger Moore in several projects for UNICEF, and are authors of the book Rette die Welt (Save the World), published by edition a.

Joo’s personal claim for his highest achievement is that he is the fastest tooth-brusher in the world. Or so he foolishly thinks.

Download Images:

Key image of Haydn Seek!

Hyung-ki Joo
(Concept/Piano/Conductor/
Composer/Arranger/Presenter)
© Julia-Wesely

Hyung-ki Joo
(Concept/Piano/Conductor/
Composer/Arranger/Presenter)
© Julia-Wesely

Hyung-ki Joo & Hong Kong Sinfonietta in 2016
©HK Sinfonietta Ltd