Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra
The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO) is a symphony orchestra in Hong Kong.
The orchestra was formed in 1895 and turned professional in 1974.
The orchestra has promoted Hong Kong-based composers by commissioning and premiering numerous works of contemporary music, including the recent five-work cycle, Voices of Hong Kong, of John Chen, David Gwilt, Daniel Law, Law Ping-leung and Richard Tsang.
In 2003, the HKPO made its European début, with performances at London's Barbican Hall and Theatre des Champs-Elysées in Paris.
The Dutch conductor Edo de Waart will be the orchestra's chief conductor and artistic director starting in September 2004.
Of its HK$85 million budget for the 2003/2004 season, about 70% comes from the Hong Kong Government, and the remaining 30% from box office revenue, performance fees, sponsorship, advertising and donations.
The orchestra gives more than 140 performances annually to an audience of over 180,000.