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Alexis Alrich
Co-production with San Francisco Opera of 18th-century Chinese literary classic is spectacular work, with a dream team of singers and creators, including composer Bright Sheng and librettist David Henry Hwang
Fuss over Hong Kong artists projecting a countdown to 2047 onto ICC provided biggest drama, Jaap van Zweden’s recruitment by New York Philharmonic and Palace Museum for arts hub were big news, and top-class troupes marking 400 years since Bard’s death provided performing arts highlight
Professor of composition’s new work for huqin and orchestra – the centrepiece of Hong Kong Sinfonietta concert at Taiwan festival – shows his ability to mix poetic Chinese themes with Western techniques
Classical musician joins forces with Wu Tong, player of Chinese instrument the sheng, in a contemplative work played with control and sensitivity. Orchestra sounded radiant, mature and confident playing Bizet
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French virtuoso accordion/bandoneon player hit all the right notes in a programme that was full of energy in conductor Jean Thorel’s last concert as music director
The conductor’s vision for the orchestra in the years beyond 2019 will include more opera
British pianist gave a polished performance that went from engaging to exhilarating, with his own composition among the highlights
Precision, controlled power, beautiful pacing and perfect solos on display in Brahms’ Symphony No 2, while Scheherazade was played with urgency, freedom and irresistible elegance
Ma is only one of the delights of the Philharmonic’s upcoming season, which will also see Jaap van Zweden begin to conduct a two-year Mahler cycle, plus major works by Beethoven, Schubert, Mozart, Brahms and Haydn
French pianist tackled contrasting works by Mozart and Richard Strauss with grace and steely brilliance, concertmaster shone conducting Haydn and orchestra hit a high standard throughout
Swiss-Chinese soloist, making his Hong Kong debut, played Liszt with virtuosity and grace and Haydn with sensitivity, but his handling of a Schubert sonata lacked drama or contrast
From concertmaster Jing Wang’s electrifying solos to the bass section, percussion, brass and woodwinds, orchestra made the most of Richard Strauss’ multi-layered tone poem in concert that also featured the stirring playing of cellist Jian Wang and a world premiere
Concert was a showcase for the appeal of music by a composer often overshadowed by contemporaries Handel and Vivaldi, and baroque instruments delivered exquisite sound
Final concert of symphonic cycle was a portrait of composer's career and a revealing snapshot of the orchestra's own evolution.
Flautist Maggie Holmes wanted Lam to create a piece to commemorate some personal milestones and a place she loved. Lam relished the unusual opportunity. "People just don’t think about commissioning a piece of music for commemorating an occasion," he says.
The Pole, who will conduct the Hong Kong Sinfonietta tonight in a performance of his Violin Concerto No.2, sees a work he wrote in the 1950s to remember victims of the Hiroshima atomic bomb as a turning point.
Conductor Christoph Eschenbach on his inspirations, and how good Hong Kong Phil is, ahead of concert
While the two leads were technically proficient but lacked sufficient warmth, secondary singers did admirably and the sets, orchestra and chorus were excellent.
UPDATED: It's a festival "in, of and for Hong Kong", event director Tisa Ho says as she sets out an eclectic 32-day programme featuring over 1,000 artists
Beloved movie has been transformed into a live song and dance spectacular that adds up to pure stage wonder.
Soloist played with elegance and finesse but no fire, while new principal guest conductor Christoph Poppen brought out the best in the orchestra - auguring well for its future growth.
Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra opens season with two recent works by a living artist, Hunan-born composer Tan Dun. His music communicated a refreshing blend of simplicity and complexity, and an entirely original world of sound.
Conductor Helmuth Rilling brought out the piece's mystery and brilliance, while the chorus of Hong Kong secondary school students showed discipline in the details.
The Shanghai Orchestra Academy lets young musicians find out what it's like to be part of an ensemble, through exchange programmes with some of the world's leading institutions.
From her first bow stroke, the violinist immersed herself in Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No 1 and played like a star, with able accompaniment from the Hong Kong Sinfonietta under Yip Wing-sie.
