World-renowned 12 Cellists of the Berliner Philharmoniker to make Hong Kong debut in July
The 12 Cellists of the Berliner Philharmoniker are to make their Hong Kong debut in July as part of the "Great Music 2025", presented by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD). This unique ensemble is as renowned for their versatility as for their musical mastery. In this concert, they will perform a diverse repertoire ranging from classical music, tango music, jazz and spirituals to French chansons and film scores. Showcasing an incredible sense of musical unity, the concert promises an acoustic feast that interweaves classical and crossover music.
In 1972, a radio production of Julius Klengel's "Hymnus" for 12 cellos with members of the Berliner Philharmoniker's cello section provided the impetus for the founding of a soloist ensemble of this calibre. The upcoming concert will open with this seminal piece, followed by the ensemble's first commissioned work, Boris Blacher's "Blues, Espagnola, Rumba Philharmonica". The programme also includes Fauré's "Pavane, Op. 50", Jean Françaix's "Aubade - Presto" and Stephan Koncz's "Swing on Dvořák".
The ensemble will also present an array of arranged works, featuring beloved French chansons "Pigalle" and "Sous le ciel de Paris", two spirituals "Nobody Knows" and "Let My People Go", as well as Piazzolla's tango work "Engeltrilogie". The 12 Cellists will also perform film scores from the movie "Titanic"; "Clap Yo' Hands" that featured in the film "Funny Face"; and the jazz classic "Caravan" that has been used in numerous films, showcasing the cello's astonishing versatility across genres.
The 12 Cellists of the Berliner Philharmoniker, appearing as an independent ensemble, is described as "an orchestra within an orchestra". They captivate audiences of all ages with their alternation of seriousness and humour, depth and lightness. They frequently perform in Berlin and around the world, and embark on large-scale tours. The 12 Cellists have accompanied the German president as culturalambassadors of Berlin. Their albums regularly make the classical music charts and were recognised with the ECHO Klassik Awards in 2001, 2005 and 2017.
"Concert by The 12 Cellists of the Berliner Philharmoniker" will be staged at 8pm on July 9 (Wednesday) at the Concert Hall of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Tickets priced at $350, $550, $750, $950 and $1,150 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Package discounts will be available for purchasing tickets for the "Concert by The 12 Cellists of the Berliner Philharmoniker" and "Piano Recital by Mikhail Pletnev" (to be held on June 17). For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1837.html.
A pre-concert talk entitled "When Cellists Come Together"(in Cantonese) will be held at 6.45pm on July 9 at Level 4 Foyer Reception Area, Auditoria Building, Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The speaker will be music practitioner Jimmy Shiu. Admission is free, with limited seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The "Great Music 2025", presented by the LCSD, returns this year with star-studded performances running from June to November. Renowned musicians and ensembles from all over the world will come to Hong Kong to perform an array of programmes, showcasing the city as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange. For more details, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/groups_1840.html.
World-renowned 12 Cellists of the Berliner Philharmoniker to make Hong Kong debut in July Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
World-renowned 12 Cellists of the Berliner Philharmoniker to make Hong Kong debut in July Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
CFS to follow up certain batches of powdered infant and young children formula with possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (January 10) said that, it took initiative to meet with Nestlé Hong Kong again today, and confirmed the company's today announcement of an additional batch of powdered infant and young children formula suspected to have possibly used the raw material concerned. Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall. The CFS has collected samples of powdered infant and young children formula from the market for Bacillus cereus testing, the test results so far were satisfactory. The Environmental and Ecology Bureau is also closely monitoring the supply situation of other formula milk powder and maintaining communication with other major suppliers. It is noted that there is sufficient formula milk powder to meet the demand.
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD), Photo source: reference image
The spokesman said, the CFS has been actively following up on Nestlé company's voluntary and precautionary recalls of certain batches of its powdered infant and young children formula in certain areas in Europe due to possible presence of Cereulide produced by Bacillus cereus in the individual raw material. According to the latest information from Nestlé Hong Kong today, an additional batch of its powdered infant and young children formula imported into Hong Kong might have used the raw material concerned. The CFS had earlier enhanced surveillance in the market and collected a sample from the above batch for testing of Bacillus cereus. The test result of the sample was satisfactory. Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, Nestlé Hong Kong has voluntarily stopped sales, removed from shelves the affected products and has initiated a precautionary recall.
Product details are as follows:
Product name (Net weight): NAN PRO 1 2 HMO (800g)
Batch number: 51670742F2
Best-before date: June 16, 2027
Place of Origin: Germany
"The CFS met Nestlé Hong Kong again today, urging them to properly handle the product recall issue and respond to public enquiries, in order to safeguard consumers' legitimate rights and interests. In addition, the CFS and Nestlé Hong Kong have jointly followed up, six suspected affected batches of infant and young children formula products that had not entered the market were marked and sealed. An additional 15 batches are currently en route to Hong Kong and will also be marked and sealed upon arrival. The CFS will continue to closely monitor the recall matters and remain fully committed to ensuring food safety, " the spokesman said.
Nestlé Hong Kong has initiated a recall of the affected batches of the products concerned. For enquiries about the recall, members of the public may contact the company through the following channels:
Consumer services hotline: 2599 8874 / 2797 6031/ 2179 8136 (Monday to Sunday, 9am to 9pm)
Email: consumerservices@hk.nestle.com
WhatsApp: 5283 4139 (NESTLÉ® NAN®) / 2599 8871 (Wyeth® Nutrition)
Online form: forms.office.com/e/BhqMhWfsUG?origin=lprLink
Consumers may choose to bring along the products (brand new or opened) for refund at place of purchase, or at exclusive service counters of Nestlé Nutrition Services from January 13 (Tuesday) onwards, to settle the recall and refund of the batches of the products concerned. Details of the exclusive service counters are as follows:
Kowloon Services Counter
Address: G/F, Park Hovan Commercial Building, 18 Hillwood Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon (MTR Jordon Station Exit D)
Contact number: 3996 8196
Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm; Sunday, 1pm to 5.30pm (except public holidays)
Hong Kong Services Counter
Address: 1/F, Ka Nin Wah Commercial Building, 423-425 Hennessy Road, Hong Kong (MTR Causeway Bay Station Exit B)
Contact number: 3996 8197
Office hour: Monday to Saturday, 11am to 7.30pm (except Sundays and public holidays)
The CFS, through its Food Incident Surveillance System, noted earlier that certain batches of Nestlé powdered infant formula were being voluntarily recalled in Europe due to possible contamination with Bacillus cereus. Upon learning of the incident, the CFS has immediately initiated follow up actions, published food incident posts to inform the public and the trade about the issue, and has been actively following up on the incident and enhanced surveillance.
Over the past three days (as of 4pm on January 9), the FEHD received a total of 18 food complaints and enquiries suspected to be related to the infant and young children formula products, including one anonymous complaint without contact information. The CFS and the Environmental Hygiene Branch have promptly followed up on all cases, including contacting the parties concerned to obtain details and collecting samples for testing. In addition, the CFS has referred the cases to the health department for follow-up. At present, no food poisoning cases related to the formula have been recorded.
Bacillus cereus is commonly found in the environment. Unhygienic conditions in food processing and storage may give rise to its growth. Cereulide is a heat-stable toxin produced in food by some strains of Bacillus cereus. Consuming food contaminated with excessive Bacillus cereus or its heat-stable toxins may cause gastrointestinal upset such as vomiting and diarrhoea.
The spokesman urged members of the public not to let infants and young children consume the affected batches of the products, and to seek medical treatment for infants or young children who felt unwell after taking the products concerned. The trade should also stop using or selling the affected batches of the products immediately.
"The CFS continues to closely monitor the developments of the situation, follow up and take appropriate action," the spokesman said.
The infant formula of Nestlé, Photo source: online image
