Renowned Violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and Cellist Sol Gabetta to Give a Duo Recital in Hong Kong on November 2

Violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and cellist Sol Gabetta to make their duo debut in Hong Kong in November

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD)'s "Great Music 2026" has invited Grammy Award-winning violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja and cellist Sol Gabetta, laureate of the OPUS Klassik Award, to present a recital on November 2 (Monday), marking their duo debut in Hong Kong. Celebrating over two decades of partnership, the virtuosos will showcase their exceptional artistry and profound musical synergy in this exclusive, one-night-only performance that music lovers cannot miss.

This performance will cover two 20th-century duo masterpieces including Ravel's "Sonata for Violin and Cello" and Kodály's "Duo for Violin and Cello, Op. 7", alongside selected short pieces from the Baroque period, such as Leclair's "Tambourin in C" and Bach's "Prelude in G, BWV 860". The programme will also include duo works by various contemporary composers, including Widmann, Xenakis, Ligeti, and Coll, and will feature a selection from Kopatchinskaja's own "Ghiribizzi", outlining a string dialogue that spans classical tradition and contemporary creativity.

Cellist Gabetta has served as a focus artist of the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich for the 2025/26 season, and has been honoured with the European Cultural Prize, the Herbert von Karajan Prize, and more.

Violinist Kopatchinskaja was featured in an "Artist Portrait" with the London Symphony Orchestra for 2025/26 season, and her recording of "Les Plaisirs Illuminés" with Gabetta and the Camerata Bern was honoured with a BBC Music Magazine award.

The recital will be staged at 8pm on November 2 (Monday) at the Concert Hall of Hong Kong City Hall. Tickets priced at $280, $420, $550 and $680 are now available at URBTIX (www.urbtix.hk). For telephone bookings, please call 3166 1288. Discount schemes are available for the programmes under the "Great Music 2026". For programme enquiries and concessionary schemes, please call 2268 7321 or visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/programs_1953.html.

A pre-concert talk entitled "Kindred Voices: A String Conversation" (in Cantonese) will be held at 6.45pm on November 2 at the Committee Room North, 7/F, High Block, Hong Kong City Hall. The speaker will be cellist Letty Poon. Admission is free, with limited seats available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The "Great Music 2026", presented by the LCSD, brings a world-renowned orchestra and musicians to Hong Kong from June to December, offering music lovers a stellar line-up of performances. For more details, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/groups_1946.html.

"Duo Recital by Sol Gabetta (Cello) & Patricia Kopatchinskaja (Violin)" is one of the programmes of the fourth edition of the Asia+ Festival.

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has invited cellist Sol Gabetta and violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja to make their duo debut in Hong Kong in November. Photo shows Kopatchinskaja. (Photo source: Marco Borggreve) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has invited cellist Sol Gabetta and violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja to make their duo debut in Hong Kong in November. Photo shows Gabetta. (Photo source: Kaupo Kikkas) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Leisure and Cultural Services Department has invited cellist Sol Gabetta and violinist Patricia Kopatchinskaja to make their duo debut in Hong Kong in November. Photo shows Gabetta (left) and Kopatchinskaja (right). (Photo source: Marco Borggreve) Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds at airport

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (October 4) detected a drug trafficking case involving an incoming passenger at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 6 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $1.2 million.

Customs officers yesterday found the batch of suspected cannabis buds at Hong Kong International Airport during an investigation. A 49-year-old mainland male passenger, who arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday, was suspected to be connected with the case and was arrested. Subsequently, Customs officers found two boxes of products containing a suspected Part I poison and one duty-not-paid cigarette inside his carry-on baggage.

An investigation is ongoing.

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, any person who possesses any poison included in Part 1 of the Poisons List other than in accordance with provisions commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and imprisonment for two years.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account(crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs yesterday (October 4) detected a drug trafficking case involving an incoming passenger at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 6 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $1.2 million. Photo shows the suspected cannabis buds seized in the case. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases