At just 19 years old, Raphaël Sévère already ranks as one of the most brilliant representatives of the French school of clarinet. When he was 12 he had already won prizes at five international competitions, and three years later became the youngest artist to ever be nominated “Révélation Soliste Instrumental de l’Année” at Les Victoires de la Musique Classique. Last year he won the First Prize and eight special prizes at the prestigious Young Concert Artists International Auditions in New York, as well as receiving his master’s degree from Paris’ Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique with high honours. Don’t miss his début with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta playing Weber’s First Clarinet Concerto, a gem in the repertoire. The concert will open with Berlioz’ Le Corsaire, which was composed by Berlioz while holidaying in Nice, and depicts the wind, sea and imaginary life of a pirate. The programme also features Franck’s famous work, Symphony in D minor, which premiered at the Paris Conservatoire in 1889. Programme Berlioz Le Corsaire, Op 21 Weber Clarinet Concerto No 1 in F minor, Op 73 Franck Symphony in D minor Music Director/Conductor - Yip Wing-sie Clarinet - Raphaël Sévère