(2025)

In 1950, Dmitri Shostakovich began composing the bold and enigmatic 24 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87, amid pressure from the Soviet regime. Believed to be inspired by J.S. Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier, this work showcases Shostakovich's masterful contrapuntal artistry and reflects his complex inner turmoil. Marking the 50^th anniversary of Shostakovich's passing, Dutch pianist Hannes Minnaar presented this tour de force in a three-hour recital.

(2023)

Pianists Konstantin Lifschitz and Alexei Volodin performed Medtner's ethereal Fairy Tales, Mussorgsky's stately Pictures at an Exhibition, Prokofiev's picturesque Three Pieces for Piano, Rachmaninov's sweeping 24 Preludes, and Stravinsky's idiosyncratic The Rite of Spring, among other works. The two internationally celebrated pianists unveiled these Russian gems in a four-concert series.

(2023)

Acclaimed violinist Isabelle Faust and pianist Alexander Melnikov brought "the most stimulating and fascinating accounts of the Beethoven violin sonatas in many years" (BBC Music Magazine) to Hong Kong in a captivating three-concert series. Drawing on their long-standing partnership, the duo offered fresh perspectives on Beethoven's 10 astonishing sonatas, revealing a rich palette of ideas, colours, and moods.

(2023–24)

British pianist Paul Lewis, lauded by The New York Times as "one of today's finest exponents of Schubert", took us through a deeply moving four-concert cycle spanning two years. Lewis delved into the poignant and profound sentiments woven into Schubert's 11 completed sonatas and the unfinished yet celebrated 'Reliquie', capturing some of the most intimate and sincere facets of human emotion.

(2023)

Israeli cellist Gavriel Lipkind made the unusual decision to retreat from the stage at the height of his career, eventually returning with profound new insights into music and performance. He presented Bach's six Cello Suites in two concerts, offering "a unique, creative, imaginative, rich personal artistic expression of the world of Bach and the Baroque" (cellist Uzi Wiesel).

(2021–22)

In collaboration with Bard College, M+ Museum, South China Normal University, and the Tianjin Juilliard School, this award-winning project explored the aesthetic affinities and innovative potential of Ink Art and New Music. Through lectures, mentorships, commissions, and performances, it fostered meaningful conversations and inspired new compositions, connecting creative, knowledgeable, and curious minds.

(2021)

Composed in a World War II prisoner-of-war camp, Messiaen's Quartet for the End of Time is a testament to humanity's perseverance in the face of adversity. To mark the masterpiece's 80^th anniversary, HKU MUSE presented a series of lectures, a performance, and a newly commissioned quartet by Dr. Joshua Chan, bringing the enduring relevance and spiritual depth of Messiaen's work into focus.

(2019)

Composed over three decades, Bartók's six String Quartets trace his evolution as a modernist and nationalist, blending folk influences with bold innovation. Audiences experienced the full arc of his creative development across two concerts, as the Wigmore Hall Medal-winning Takács Quartet performed all six quartets with impeccable technical mastery and musical balance.

(2019)

Celebrated tenor Ian Bostridge sang the composer's cherished song cycles, Die schöne Müllerin and Winterreise, with pianist Saskia Giorgini. Their performances and a limited-edition booklet of literary and curatorial reflections brought listeners into the heart of Schubert's poetic world, where every song resonates with emotional immediacy and depth.

(2018)

J.S. Bach's two books of The Well-Tempered Clavier, written in all 24 major and minor keys, have profoundly influenced generations of composers and pianists and are revered as the 'Old Testament' of piano repertoire. Pianist Angela Hewitt returned to HKU to present all 48 preludes and fugues with her signature clarity and dexterity in two concerts.

(2017)

Regarded as the 'New Testament' of piano music, Beethoven's 32 sonatas chart his creative evolution and stand as an artistic monument. Across eight concerts, Konstantin Lifschitz brought his intelligent and distinctive interpretation to these timeless works. Recorded live and released by Alpha Classics as CD and vinyl box sets, the cycle was praised by Gramophone for its "brilliant fusion of resonance and structure".