Ring In The New Year With Hong Kong Philharmonic

A Gala Evening with José Carreras is proudly sponsored by Bank of China (Hong Kong), in celebration of its 90th Anniversary.

José Carreras occupies a privileged position in the music world. Born in Barcelona, he started his professional career in 1970 in the Gran Teatre del Liceu of Barcelona in Nabucco and Lucrezia Borgia. His meteoric musical career resulted in early débuts at the world's most prestigious opera theatres and festivals such as the Royal Opera House in London, the Vienna State Opera and La Scala, Milan. He has since then sung in over 60 operas and appeared in the world's top concert venues with distinguished musicians. The 3 Tenors concerts performed by José Carreras together with Plácido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti are now legendary. In 1992 José Carreras was engaged as Musical Director of the Olympic Games held in Barcelona. Since 1988, he presides over the José Carreras International Leukaemia Foundation established in Barcelona, with branches in the United States, Switzerland and Germany. "I want to give Hong Kong a message of peace and harmony through my music," said José Carreras. "I never lost faith in my life and my career "¦throughout the process of my treatment and rehabilitation I learnt that one must have a positive outlook on life."

Born in Barcelona, David Giménez studied at the Conservatori del Liceu, Barcelona, at the Hochschule für Musik, Vienna, and at the Royal Academy of Music, London. Since making his debut with the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra in July 1994, he has conducted prominent vocal and instrumental soloists worldwide. Giménez is the Music Director of the Orquesta Simfònica del Vallès.

Italian crossover soprano Giorgia Fumanti is a woman of many dimensions. Largely inspired by the works of Vangelis, Ennio Morricone and other noted film composers, she also composes her own music and writes her own lyrics. Some have tried to label her music as classical, world, pop or crossover, but in fact her music combines all of these elements. Giorgia was a member of the famous award-winning choir Il Convitto Armonico, known primarily for its ancient and medieval music in La Spezia, Italy. -- www.hkpo.com