Modernism trumps romanticism with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta

By Alan Yu, 21 May 2017

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Reviewed at Hong Kong City Hall: Concert Hall, Hong Kong on 20 May 2017

Pärt, Darf ich, for violin, bells and string orchestra

Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto no. 2 in C minor, Op.18

Chan, Hark the Phoenix Solitaire cry, for sheng and orchestra (Asian première)

Stravinsky, The Firebird: Suite

Yip Wing-sie, Conductor

Rémi Geniet, Piano

Loo Sze-wang, Sheng

James Cuddeford, Violin

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

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

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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.

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