Intrigue in outer space plus a pair of Russian favourites in Hong Kong

Pavel Kolesnikov and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta

Lam Lai, Yip Wing-sie and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta

By Christopher Halls, 11 March 2023

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Reviewed at Hong Kong City Hall: Concert Hall, Hong Kong on 9 March 2023

Lam Lai, There is no place like home (beta) (World premiere)

Shostakovich, Chamber Symphony in C minor (arr. Rudolf Barshai), Op.110a

Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto no. 3 in D minor, Op.30

Yip Wing-sie, Conductor

Pavel Kolesnikov, Piano

Lai Lam, Electronics

Hong Kong Sinfonietta

Cinematic Shostakovich and jazz-tinged Ravel in Hong Kong

Christopher Halls, 4th November

A memorable evening with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta, who are joined by pianist Alexandre Tharaud for Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major.

****1

A tale of two pianists: the HK Sinfonietta at La Roque

David Karlin, 22nd July

Yip Wing-sie and the HK Sinfonietta show admirable qualities in their Beethoven cycle. François-Frédéric Guy plays a splendid Third Piano Concerto but Anne Queffélec is disconnected from the orchestra in the Fourth.

****1

Brilliant Barber and Anna Clyne's Sound and Fury in Hong Kong

Christopher Halls, 27th August

A showcase of works from the past century by Clyne, Prokofiev, Stravinsky and Barber allow the Hong Kong Sinfonietta to shine under Ken Lam's baton at Hong Kong's City Hall.

***11

Pidoux delivers a polished contribution to Le French May

Dr. Anton D. Luiten, 23rd June

Jason Lai returns to Hong Kong with French oboist Gabriel Pidoux in an emotionally fulfilling rendition of Vaughan Williams' Oboe Concerto.

***11

Mesmeric musicality from Jamal Aliyev in Hong Kong

Christopher Halls, 21st May

Hong Kong Sinfonietta's Cellomania program showcased the young Turkish cellist's towering talent with a potpourri of show-stoppers.

****1

Gilad Harel leaps from Classical to klezmer in Hong Kong

Christopher Halls, 23rd October

The Israeli clarinetist captivated in Mozart's Cello Concerto and a Sergei Abir premiere under the baton of UK-born conductor Jason Lai.

****1

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Christopher Halls

Sparked by a keen interest in early performance practice whilst studying violin at universities in Melbourne and Vienna, Chris embarked on a freelance career with ensembles in Europe, America, also performing regularly with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra back in his native homeland. Pragmatic and undeterred from continuing his journey after a serious accident abruptly ended his violinistic ambitions, he now shares his knowledge and insight into performance as a music critic, formerly writing for Vienna’s Wiener Zeitung and currently for the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, where he also studies wine, his other great passion!