Peter Quinn from Jazzwise describes Elias as “supremely understated, with a minimum of vibrato, impeccable pitching and phrasing that glides effortlessly across the bar line, Elias' singing seems somehow effortless.”

Kerilie McDowall from DownBeat notes that ‘Elias’ intoxicating vocals emote the ambient calm of a forest after a soft rain; her vibrancy is a force unto itself.”

Elias seamlessly blends her Brazilian heritage and captivating voice with her exceptional jazz, classical, and compositional skills. Her performances consistently showcase her pianistic prowess and her ability to juggle multiple artistic roles.

In a career spanning over four decades, Elias has an impressive discography of thirty-one albums and has sold over 2.4 million records. Her 2021 album, Mirror Mirror, won the Grammy and the Latin Grammy for Best Latin Jazz Album/Jazz Album in 2022. Her 2022 release, Quietude, debuted at No.1 on the Billboard, iTunes, and Amazon Jazz Charts.

In Hong Kong, Elias will be performing alongside Marc Johnson on double bass, Leandro Pellegrino on guitar, and Rafael Barata on drums.

Jazz Concert by Eliane Elias
Date and time: May 28 at 8pm 
Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall

Violin Recital by Ray Chen, with pianist Julio Elizade

Celebrated violinist Ray Chen is not only known for his virtuosity but also for inspiring a new generation of classical music enthusiasts through his social media presence. After winning top prizes in the Yehudi Menuhin (2008) and Queen Elizabeth (2009) Competitions, Chen has performed with leading orchestras and conductors in Europe, Asia, the United States, and his native Australia.

In his 2023 recital with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Laurie Niles of Violinist.com noted that “Ray Chen performed Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto in E minor … During the first-movement cadenza he had drawn his audience in, creating that special kind of quiet that happens when all attention is focused on the soloist. Occasionally he would play a virtuoso lick with a rock-n-roll stance, making it look mighty cool to be a violinist.”
 
Chen’s long-time collaborator, pianist Julio Elizalde, has been lauded as a musician of “compelling artistry and power” by The Seattle Times. In a March 2024 interview with Boulder Weekly, Chen praised Elizalde, saying, “Julio is not only an extremely gifted musician, but he has the strongest work ethic of anybody I have met. He’s both my anchor and my launch pad.”
 
Their upcoming recital in Hong Kong will feature works by J.S. Bach, Beethoven, Dvořák, Bazzini, and Chick Corea.

Violin Recital by Ray Chen
Date and time: June 7 and 8, at 8pm 
Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall

Piano Recital by Vikingur Ólafsson

Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson, one of the world’s most sought-after artists, is renowned for his exceptional musicianship and innovative programmes. He is set to perform Bach’s Goldberg Variations, BWV 988, in his upcoming Hong Kong recital.

Ólafsson has won praises from important critics around the world. For his performance of this challenging masterpiece in London in September 2023, The Guardian’s Clive Paget, said the pianist received ‘the kind of whooping ovation usually reserved for rock stars.’ “The Icelandic pianist was a hypnotic presence at the keyboard … in the heat of the moment Ólafsson was breathtakingly organic.”

In February 2024, Ólafsson’s rendition of ‘Goldbergs’ captivated Carnegie Hall, with Oussama Zahr of The New York Times praising, “Most impressive of all was Ólafsson’s sense of architecture. He strung together variations without pause into a frictionless perpetual-motion machine.”

Ólafsson’s 2023/24 season is dedicated to a Goldberg Variations world tour. His accolades include the Opus Klassik Instrumentalist of the Year (2023), Opus Klassik Solo Recording Instrumental (twice), CoScan’s International Nordic Person of the Year (2023), the Rolf Schock Prize for Music (2022), Gramophone’s Artist of the Year (2019), and Album of the Year at the BBC Music Magazine Awards (2019).
 
Piano Recital by Víkingur Ólafsson 
Date and time: June 11 at 8pm
Venue: Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre

Basel Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Andreas Ottensamer and featuring pianist Kyohei Sorita

The Basel Chamber Orchestra, known for its world tours and over 60 seasonal concerts, is a frequent guest at international festivals and premier concert halls in Europe. It made history as the first orchestra to receive the Swiss Music Prize in 2019.

Robert Beale of The Arts Desk lauds its 21 string players on tour as an “extraordinary set of musicians.” In 2008, the orchestra’s performance at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, under the baton of Paul McCreesh, was described by Martin Kettle of The Guardian as “infinitely more interesting and satisfying than many that we hear from bigger visiting orchestras under bigger-name conductors.”

Since the 2022-23 season, the orchestra has committed itself to performing all of Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy’s symphonies.

Andreas Ottensamer, the conductor, is recognised as one of the top instrumentalists and frequently performs as a clarinet soloist in major concert halls worldwide. In 2021, Ottensamer debuted as a conductor and received the Neeme Järvi Prize at the Gstaad Festival Conducting Academy.

Pianist Kyohei Sorita clinched the Second Prize at the 18th International Chopin Piano Competition in 2021, marking over half a century since a Japanese last won this prize.

The upcoming Hong Kong concert will feature Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G, Op. 58 and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4 in A, Op. 90, “Italian”.
 
Basel Chamber Orchestra
Date and time: June 25 at 8pm
Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall

New Oriental Chinese Music Scene by Shanghai Chinese Orchestra

As part of the Chinese Culture Festival and Shanghai Culture Week, the New Oriental Chinese Music Scene programme features Landscape Around the Lake, inspired by Jiannan’s scenery, Tan Dun’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and a fresh arrangement of the classic melody, The Flight of the Bumble Bees. These performances in Hong Kong will be under the baton of internationally acclaimed conductor Tang Muhai.
 
The New Oriental Chinese Music Scene, an original music brand, was created by the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, established in 1952. As China’s first large-scale modern Chinese orchestra, its concerts encapsulate the artistic traits of openness and inclusiveness found in Shanghai-style folk music, interpreting both ancient tunes and contemporary masterpieces.

Arina Yakupova’s review in Shanghai Daily praised the New Oriental Chinese Music Scene, describing it as a “kaleidoscope of emotions, a tapestry of narratives woven with skilful artistry.” She added, “It was a night to cherish, an ode to the universal language of music that unites us all!”
 
New Oriental Chinese Music Scene by Shanghai Chinese Orchestra
Date and time: August 5 at 8pm 
Venue: Concert Hall, Hong Kong City Hall 
 
Date and time: August 6 at 8pm
Venue: Auditorium, Tsuen Wan Town Hall