Piano virtuoso George Li Zhuo-yu and maestro violinist Sergei Krylov will enthrall music lovers at separate concerts today and tomorrow respectively, as the Asian Youth Orchestra celebrates its 35th anniversary in Hong Kong.
The three-concert celebrations – which not only celebrate the AYO’s illustrious history but also showcase its enduring legacy and innovative musical prowess – kicked off yesterday, with more than 100 alumini on stage at the Hong Kong Concert Hall in what the AYO hailed as an “historic musical event.”
The concert saw the alumni reunite as the AYO Homecoming Orchestra under the baton of principal conductor Joseph Bastian and guest conductor Jader Bignamini, highlighting the ensemble’s legacy over three-and-a-half decades and paying tribute to its late founder Richard Pontzious.
Today’s “George Li Piano Night” is one of the grand finales of AYO’s 2025 summer tour.
Chinese-American pianist Li, renowned for his dazzling technique and profound musicality, won the silver medal at the 2015 International Tchaikovsky Competition and has since performed with top orchestras such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the London Philharmonic.
In tonight’s performance, he will interpret Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No 3 in D Minor, showcasing the grandeur and poetic depth of Romanticism.
Tomorrow, the “Sergei Krylov Violin Night” will feature the internationally acclaimed Russian violinist, celebrated for his passionate expression and rich tone.
Krylov has collaborated with orchestras such as the St Petersburg Philharmonic and the London Philharmonic and currently serves as music director of the Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra.
As a highlight, he will take on Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto in D Major, a cornerstone of the violin repertoire known for its lyrical beauty and technical demands.
Krylov’s masterful interpretation, combined with the vitality of the AYO’s young musicians under the baton of Bignamini, will create a stirring symphonic finale to Hong Kong’s summer.
The AYO brings together elite musicians from across Asia and over the past 35 years, the orchestra has performed more than 400 concerts globally and at prestigious venues such as the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, the White House in the United States, and the Sydney Opera House.
Tickets for today’s and tomorrow’s concerts at the Hong Kong Concert Hall can be purchased by phone or online. Prices are HK$150, HK$280, and HK$400.
Khan Heeba Lazmi
