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Alan Yu

Alan Yu

The first concert Alan attended was Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde. For 7 years he presented classical music programmes for Radio Television Hong Kong, partly to pay his way through university. He attends concerts whenever he can and believes there is no substitute for the thrill of live performances. He writes here.

Author:Alan Yu

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Hong Kong Phil and Long Yu cross the cultural divide with a trio of Slavic works

By Alan Yu, 21 June 2019

The Hong Kong Phil and Long Yu crossing the cultural divide in a trio of Slavic works.

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A trio of Slavic works in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Sinfonietta finishes the season with a bang

By Alan Yu, 30 March 2019

A giant step in Hong Kong's Sinfonietta's journey to musical maturity with this programme of Webern, Beethoven and Mozart.

****1

Hong Kong Sinfonietta finishes the season with a bang

The Vancouver Symphony with penetrating insight from Perlman in Mendelssohn and Williams

By Alan Yu, 23 January 2019

The Vancouver Symphony performs with penetrating insight from Itzhak Perlman.

****1

Penetrating insight from Itzhak Perlman and the Vancouver Symphony

A Mozart classic and French impressionism with Hong Kong Sinfonietta

By Alan Yu, 24 November 2018

A mixed evening, where Mozart's concerto lacked melancholy and Debussy's Faune inspired neither curiosity nor otherworldliness.

***11

French impressionism with Hong Kong Sinfonietta

Fiery Prokofiev but lacklustre Britten with the National Orchestra of Belgium

By Alan Yu, 05 October 2018

Fiery Prokofiev but lacklustre Britten with the National Orchestra of Belgium.

***11

Fiery Prokofiev but lacklustre Britten in Brussels

Energetic Rachmaninov under Jaap van Zweden in Hong Kong

By Alan Yu, 31 August 2018

The Hong Kong Philharmonic opens its 45th season with Mozart, Stravinsky and Rachmaninov.

****1

Energetic Rachmaninov under Jaap van Zweden

Fantastic evening of “Scottish Fantasy” with the Hong Kong Phil

By Alan Yu, 07 April 2018

Scotch snap aplenty in evening of “Scottish Fantasy” with Hong Kong Philharmonic.

****1

Fantastic evening of “Scottish Fantasy” with the Hong Kong Phil

Jaap van Zweden blazes trail for the Hong Kong Philharmonic with Götterdämmerung

By Alan Yu, 21 January 2018

The final instalment of the Hong Kong Philharmonic's Ring cycle merits the orchestra joining the international big league.

****1

Jaap van Zweden blazes trail for the HK Phil

Variations of tension, energy and contrast with Long Yu and the Hong Kong Phil

By Alan Yu, 15 December 2017

Variations of tension, energy and contrast with Long Yu and the Hong Kong Phil.

****1

Variations of tension, energy and contrast in Hong Kong

Defiant Beethoven Fifth from Bloch and the Vancouver Symphony

By Alan Yu, 13 November 2017

Paroxysmal energy of the Vancouver Symphony in Beethoven's Fifth Symphony

***11

Defiant Beethoven Fifth in Vancouver

Anomalies and good cheer with the Hong Kong Phil in Brahms and Dvořák

By Alan Yu, 07 October 2017

What started with anomalies with the Hong Kong Phil ended in triumphant good cheer.

****1

Anomalies and good cheer in Hong Kong

Paavo Järvi and the NHK Symphony in riveting account of Schumann and Schubert

By Alan Yu, 01 July 2017

Paarvo Järvi and the NHK Symphony give a riveting account of Schumann and Schubert.

*****

Riveting Schumann and Schubert in Tokyo

Stravinsky and Arvo Pärt’s modernism trumps Rachmaninov’s romanticism with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta

By Alan Yu, 20 May 2017

Stravinsky and Arvo Pärt’s modernism trumps Rachmaninov’s romanticism with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta.

***11

Modernism trumps romanticism with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta

Jaap van Zweden’s artistic vision triumphs in Hong Kong Mahler Six

By Alan Yu, 22 April 2017

Jaap van Zweden to Alma Mahler: the Sixth Symphony couldn't be one of autobiographical clairvoyance – a triumph in artistic vision.

****1

Jaap van Zweden’s artistic vision triumphs

Pride and joy with Elim Chan and the Hong Kong Phil

By Alan Yu, 01 April 2017

Elim Chan's homecoming in an evening of pride and joy with the Hong Kong Phil.

****1

Pride and joy with Elim Chan and the Hong Kong Phil

Grandeur and opulence in Oslo Philharmonic's Rachmaninov at the Hong Kong Arts Festival

By Alan Yu, 14 March 2017

The Oslo Philharmonic offers a spirited interpretation of fine nuance and a sense of grandeur and opulence in Rachmaninov's Second Symphony.

****1

Grandeur and opulence in Oslo Phil's Rachmaninov

Dramatically powerful Siegfried as the Hong Kong Philharmonic continues its Ring cycle

By Alan Yu, 22 January 2017

Joining Music Director Jaap van Zweden were some familiar faces who had appeared in Das Rheingold and Die Walküre in the same or different roles, and new faces appearing for the first time.

****1

Dramatically powerful Siegfried in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Philharmonic in a mixed bag of Dvořák and Tchaikovsky

By Alan Yu, 26 November 2016

The Hong Kong Philharmonic's concert this weekend featured two long works by composers who were contemporaries and who struck up a friendship late in their career.

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A mixed bag of Dvořák and Tchaikovsky in Hong Kong

Dignified and intellectual Wagner, Schumann and Mendelssohn with the Hong Kong Phil

By Alan Yu, 05 November 2016

Dignified and intellectual Wagner, Schumann and Mendelssohn with the Hong Kong Phil.

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“Glorious Romantics” from the HK Phil

“Intimate Beethoven” from members of the Australian Chamber Orchestra

By Alan Yu, 26 September 2016

Impressive rapport among members of the Australian Chamber Orchestra in Mozart and Beethoven.

****1

“Intimate Beethoven” from the ACO

OSM opens its season with a sophisticated Carmina Burana

By Alan Yu, 08 September 2016

Kent Nagano and OSM wowed with cerebral approach to Carmina Burana.

*****

A sophisticated Carmina Burana in Montréal

Hong Kong Sinfonietta in a mixed bag of Messiaen, Mozart and Beethoven

By Alan Yu, 20 August 2016

Hong Kong Sinfonietta in a mixed bag of Messiaen, Mozart and Beethoven.

***11

Mixed bag from the Hong Kong Sinfonietta

Turkish delights with Fazıl Say and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta

By Alan Yu, 23 July 2016

Fazıl Say dazzles as both composer and soloist with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta.

****1

Turkish delights with Fazıl Say in Hong Kong

Finely chiselled and tightly wrought Vaughan Williams in Sydney

By Alan Yu, 24 June 2016

The Sydney Symphony in a finely chiselled account of Vaughan Williams' “A London Symphony”, but groped for balance in Ravel and Bax.

****1

Finely chiselled and tightly wrought Vaughan Williams

Opera Hong Kong’s Roméo et Juliette a West Side Story wannabe

By Alan Yu, 27 May 2016

Opera Hong Kong’s Roméo et Juliette: a gigantic effort marred by confused artistic vision and irritating production choices.

**111

Hong Kong’s Roméo et Juliette a West Side Story wannabe

Hong Kong Sinfonietta charms, cajoles and astounds in Haydn, Strauss and Brahms

By Alan Yu, 23 April 2016

The Hong Kong Sinfonietta charmed, cajoled and astounded with Haydn, Strauss and Brahms.

****1

Hong Kong Sinfonietta charms, cajoles and astounds

Variety, energy and drama with Long Yu and the Hong Kong Philharmonic

By Alan Yu, 01 April 2016

Variety, energy and drama with Long Yu and the Hong Kong Philharmonic.

****1

Variety, energy and drama with the Hong Kong Phil

Bringing colour to a sombre tale: Simon Boccanegra at the Hong Kong Arts Festival

By Alan Yu, 28 February 2016

Patchy vocal offering saved by superb orchestra in Verdi's Simon Boccanegra.

***11

Bringing colour to a sombre tale: Simon Boccanegra

An enthralling account of Brahms’ Fourth by Itzhak Perlman and the San Francisco Symphony

By Alan Yu, 10 January 2016

An enthralling account of Brahms’ Fourth Symphony by Itzhak Perlman and the San Francisco Symphony.

****1

An enthralling account of Brahms’ Fourth in SF

OSM in gripping and intense performance of Dvořák’s Seventh

By Alan Yu, 02 December 2015

Nicolaj Znaider proves a better conductor than soloist with the OSM in programme of works by Mozart, Smetana and Dvořák.

***11

A gripping and intense performance of Dvořák’s Seventh

An Arabian feast: Karina Canellakis and the Hong Kong Phil

By Alan Yu, 07 November 2015

Karina Cannelakis and Hong Kong Phil excite and please with disparate programme of Mozart and Strauss.

****1

An Arabian feast in Hong Kong

Kent Nagano and the OSM come up trumps in Pelléas et Mélisande

By Alan Yu, 09 September 2015

Kent Nagano and the OSM came up trumps in concert version of Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande.

****1

Nagano comes up trumps in Pelléas et Mélisande

Plush costumes and lavish sets make up for musical shortfalls in Opera Australia’s La traviata

By Alan Yu, 09 July 2015

Plush costumes and lavish sets make up for shortfall in music and singing in Opera Australia’s La traviata.

***11

Plush costumes and lavish sets make up for musical shortfalls

Debussy and Ravel no anti-climax to Brahms with the Hong Kong Phil and Yuja Wang

By Alan Yu, 20 June 2015

Yuja Wang playing cat and mouse with the Hong Kong Philharmonic in Brahms' B-flat second concerto.

****1

Debussy and Ravel no anti-climax to Brahms with the Hong Kong Phil and Yuja Wang

The Hong Kong Sinfonietta in Ravel, Nielsen, Debussy and Sibelius as part of “Le French May”

By Alan Yu, 23 May 2015

Hong Kong Sinfonietta's refreshing reading of Sibelius' 6th Symphony in "Le French May"

***11

The Hong Kong Sinfonietta in Ravel, Nielsen, Debussy and Sibelius as part of “Le French May”

Hong Kong Sinfonietta plays Beethoven, Schumann and Sibelius

By Alan Yu, 25 April 2015

A valiant attempt by Hong Kong Sinfonietta at Sibelius' demanding Fourth Symphony.

***11

Hong Kong Sinfonietta plays Beethoven, Schumann and Sibelius

Xian Zhang’s Roman Festivals with the Hong Kong Philharmonic

By Alan Yu, 18 April 2015

Opportunities missed to exploit dynamic contrast in Xian Zhang's Roman Festivals with the Hong Kong Philharmonic.

***11

Zhang Xian’s Roman Festivals with the HK Phil

The Bolshoi Opera presents The Tsar’s Bride: a powerhouse of dramatic detail

By Alan Yu, 21 March 2015

Rimsky-Korsakov's opera remain rarities outside Russia, but the Bolshoi Opera made The Tsar’s Bride the anchor of this year's Hong Kong Arts Festival programme.

****1

The Tsar’s Bride: a powerhouse of dramatic detail

Earnest singing and dramatic insight in Das Rheingold with the Hong Kong Philharmonic

By Alan Yu, 24 January 2015

Earnest singing and dramatic insight made Das Rheingold with the Hong Kong Philharmonic a remarkable evening.

***11

Earnest singing and dramatic insight in Das Rheingold

Montreal Symphony Orchestra like a well-groomed gentleman in Mozart and Saint-Saëns

By Alan Yu, 27 November 2014

Kent Nagano and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra perform Mozart favourites and Saint-Saëns' third violin concerto

***11

A well-groomed gentleman in Mozart and Saint-Saëns

The Hong Kong Philharmonic in contrasting programme of Tchaikovsky and Mahler

By Alan Yu, 18 October 2014

Vassily Sinaisky and the Hong Kong Philharmonic more at home in Tchaikovsky's focussed lightness than in Mahler's expansive intensity.

***11

Hong Kong Phil's contrasting programme under Sinaisky

Opera Hong Kong’s modernised Salome leaves questions unanswered

By Alan Yu, 12 October 2014

Director Andrejs Zagars went for a multimedia presentation of Salome modernised to the 20th century, which had its moments, but left serious questions about deviations from Strauss’ score built around Oscar Wilde’s play unanswered.

***11

Opera Hong Kong’s modernised Salome leaves questions unanswered

Opéra de Montréal pull out all the stops in Nabucco

By Alan Yu, 25 September 2014

For the opening production in its 35th anniversary season, Opéra de Montréal pulled out all the stops in Verdi’s Nabucco, presented as a re-enactment of its première in 1842.

*****

Opéra de Montréal pull out all the stops in Nabucco

Jaap van Zweden and the Hong Kong Phil in Brahms, Wagner and Strauss

By Alan Yu, 05 September 2014

Jaap van Zweden and Hong Kong Phil's Der Rosenkavalier Suite full of swagger, sarcasm and humour

****1

Jaap van Zweden and the Hong Kong Phil

Paavo Järvi and the Philharmonia Orchestra in Russian masterworks

By Alan Yu, 12 June 2014

Paavo Järvi and the Philharmonia Orchestra in exciting Russian masterworks

****1

An exhilharating Russian evening with Järvi

Delights and bonuses with Hong Kong Sinfonietta and Nareh Arghamanyan

By Alan Yu, 30 May 2014

An evening of delights and bonuses with Hong Kong Sinfonietta and Nareh Arghamanyan.

*****

Delights and bonuses with Hong Kong Sinfonietta and Nareh Arghamanyan

Gounod’s Faust in “Le French May” in Hong Kong

By Alan Yu, 11 May 2014

Gounod’s evergreen Faust is the Consul General of France's “Le French May” offering, enjoyable despite its blemishes.

***11

Gounod’s Faust in “Le French May” in Hong Kong

Gil Shaham and Stéphane Denève offer insights into Bartók and Rachmaninov

By Alan Yu, 25 April 2014

A thoroughly enjoyable insight from the LA Phil under the baton of Stéphane Denève on the different styles of Bartók and Rachmaninov.

****1

Gil Shaham and Stéphane Denève offer insights into Bartók and Rachmaninov

Ashkenazy and the Hong Kong Phil in Elgar and Mussorgsky

By Alan Yu, 05 April 2014

Vladimir Ashkenazy presents his own refreshing orchestration of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition with the Hong Kong Phil

****1

Ashkenazy and the Hong Kong Phil in Elgar and Mussorgsky

The Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne opens the Hong Kong Arts Festival with Mozart and Strauss

By Alan Yu, 18 February 2014

The Gürzenich Orchestra Cologne opens the Hong Kong Arts Festival with contrasting works, Mozart's reflective Clarinet Concerto and Strauss' monumental Alpine Symphony.

****1

Guerzenich Orchestra Cologne opens the Hong Kong Arts Festival with Mozart and Strauss