Cinematic Shostakovich and jazz-tinged Ravel in Hong Kong

Alexandre Tharaud and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta

Roberto Forés Veses conducts the Hong Kong Sinfonietta

By Christopher Halls, 06 November 2023

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“Tharaud’s rhythmic passagework was unfailingly buoyant, sparkling with detail”

Reviewed at Hong Kong City Hall: Concert Hall, Hong Kong on 4 November 2023

Mason, An Ocean of Years (Asian première)

Ravel, Piano Concerto in G major

Shostakovich, Symphony no. 1 in F minor, Op.10

Roberto Forés Veses, Conductor

Alexandre Tharaud, Piano

Hong Kong Sinfonietta

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

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

Christopher Halls, 9th March

The Hong Kong Sinfonietta intrigues with the world premiere of Lam Lai's There is no place like home (beta), impresses in Shostakovich’s brooding Chamber Symphony, while Pavel Kolesnikov proves a fine soloist in Rachmaninov's Third Piano Concerto.

***11

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!