XN000022-1973-01-18 — Page 8

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Thursday, January 18, 1973

BERLIN ORCHESTRA TO PERFORM IN HONG KONG

Concerts Organised By Urban Council And Goethe Institute

The Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra, on its first 1973 Asian

tour, will give two concerts under its famed conductor, Lorin Maazel,

tomorrow (Friday) and on Saturday (Jan. 20) at 8 p.. at the City Hall

Concert Hall.

The concerts here have been arranged jointly by the Urban Council

and the Goethe Institute.

Prior to Hong Kong, the orchestra has performed in major Asian

citios including Teheran, Bombay, New Delhi, Calcutta and Singapore.

After their concerts at the weekend, they will fly to Japan where

they will continue their tour and give the rest of their programe there

before returning home.

The Orchestra, comprising over 100 members, was first founded

in 1946-47. Most of the performers came from the previous Berlin State

Opera House.

When in 1949 the Hungarian-born conductor Ferenc Fricsay took

over the baton, he immediately greatly improved the standard of the

orchestra and launched it into the distinguished list of world-famous

orchestras.

Fricsay died in 1963 and in 1965 Lorin Maazel took over as the

musical director and has remained in the post till now.

/Tomorrow