Asian Youth Orchestra astounds audience in Berlin (with photo)

     The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin) sponsored the performance of the Asian Youth Orchestra (AYO) in Berlin as the opening concert of the Young Euro Classic 2023 on August 4 (Berlin time). Alongside the concert, HKETO Berlin hosted a reception to connect with friends, partners and music enthusiasts. 
      
     Conducted by Joseph Bastian, the concert included pieces from the Late Romantic period by Michail Glinka, Gustav Mahler and Edward Elgar. Mahler's "4th Symphony in G Major" served as the centrepiece of the concert, featuring a soprano solo by Lydia Teuscher from Freiburg. Berlin-born cellist Alban Gerhardt performed Elgar's cello concerto.
      
     Speaking at the reception, the Deputy Director of HKETO Berlin, Miss Bonnie Ka, highlighted Hong Kong's dedication to talent promotion and its mission to emerge as a major hub for arts and cultural exchanges. "The Hong Kong Government is committed to supporting young talent, people-to-people exchanges and cultural promotion. The AYO's tour not only provides a great platform for young musicians to gain experience and learn from each other, but also provides an opportunity to showcase Asian musicians to the world," Miss Ka said.
      
     Founded in 1987 by Yehudi Menuhin and Richard Pontzious as artistic directors, the AYO has performed over 400 times across Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. The lineup of the AYO changes every year with around 100 members aged 17 to 27 from Hong Kong and other parts of Asia, who are selected through rigorous auditions. By bringing together some of the brightest musical talent every year, the AYO unites East and Southeast Asia on an artistic level.
      
     After their concerts in Berlin and Trier in Germany, the AYO continues their international tour in Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and Thailand. For details on the upcoming events of HKETO Berlin, please visit www.hketoberlin.gov.hk/en/events/.
      
About HKETO Berlin
 
     HKETO Berlin is the official representative of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Germany as well as Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.