If you’ve watched Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: The Space Odyssey, you probably remember sitting through three whole minutes of darkness accompanied by white noise, and wondering if the screen blacked out. Suddenly, the rays of the Sun cast a visible shadow on Earth as you comprehend the sensation of being in outer space: filled with emptiness — just like your life.
The opening scene is only amplified by the main theme of Thus Spake Zarathustra, forever cementing itself as one of classical music’s greatest hits.
Relive that experience as well as other out-of-this-world musical pieces at a Hong Kong Philharmonic (HK Phil) concert at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on April 1 and 2.
The concert promises to be a night to remember. In addition to Thus Spake Zarathustra, the orchestra will be playing Beijing composer Du Wei’s Seven Nights, a piece inspired by Argentinian author Jorge Luis Borges, led by guest conductor Yu Long.
Then, celebrated Chinese cellist Jian Wang will play Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C — a piece discovered only 60 years ago — performing in Hong Kong for the first time since the 2013/2014 season.
Finally, the concert will conclude with a musical trip to outer space — defying the whole “no sound in space” thing — with Strauss’ Thus Spake Zarathustra, which is derived from Nietzsche’s philosophical novel Also Sprach Zarathustra.
If all this has struck your fancy, tickets start at HKD180, while cheapskates can also join in on the action and attend the free pre-concert talks at 7:15pm to 7:45pm on both days.
What: Thus Spake Zarathustra by the Hong Kong Philharmonic
When: Friday, April 1 and Saturday, April 2.
Where: Concert Hall, Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsim Sha Tsui. (Google Maps.)
Price: HKD180 – HKD480
Tickets: Urbtix.hk
More info: HKPhil.org
