Grote-Zaal-KCO

Royal Concertgebouw revisits Hong Kong with Schubert and Brahms

On February 19, 2012 By

The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra revisits Hong Kong after 19 years with a programme of German symphonic works.

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Kun Woo Paik

Kun Woo Paik’s subdue virtuosity on piano works of Ravel

On February 12, 2012 By

With a humble appearance, the calmness of Kun Woo Paik stands great contrast with his splendid virtuosity. He performs all solo piano works of Maurice Ravel in one evening at the 2012 Hong Kong Arts Festival.

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HKPO’s season opening: Das Lied von der Erde

On October 7, 2011 By

Before forgetting everything about the concert let me write a short note on the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO) opening concert of Das Lied von der Erde.

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The twenty-first year of Asian Youth Orchestra

On August 23, 2011 By

With AYO you can see devoted eyes fixed at the conductor, giving out their best with their instruments, with dedication unrivaled by many orchestras with a rostered season. You can expect an energetic, sometimes coarse but always committed performance of truly admirable standard.

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Helmuth Rilling conducts Mass in B minor

On August 22, 2011 By

I seldom write about the concert I attended when I am not a lay audience. But for the recent concert of Mass in B minor, there are two reasons that I take the liberty to make an exception.

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Szymanowski

Szymanowski Third and Fourth Symphony on DVD

On July 16, 2011 By

This is perhaps the first release of the symphonies of the Polish symphonist Karol Szymanowski on DVD. At long last the mysterious, gigantic third symphony, also known as “Song of the Night,” is pictured.

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Reviewing the first-ever Tristan und Isolde of Hong Kong

On March 30, 2011 By

If Tristan und Isolde is seen as a spiritual journey of gradual separation from the real world and the lovers’ increasing isolation in their own and eventual reunion through death, Willy Decker’s production is a symbolic journey of two persons in total isolation, materially or spiritually.

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Nicolas Altstaedt

Nicolas Altstaedt delivers delights from the cello repertoire that you won’t often hear

On March 9, 2011 By

The unconventional repertoire offered by Franco-German Nicolas Altstaedt draws unusual cheers from a delighted crowd after an exotic and electrifying performance.

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Cameron Carpenter

The dazzling, inexplicable Cameron Carpenter

On February 27, 2011 By

Cameron Carpenter steals the listeners’ breath by his octopus hands traversing layers of keyboards and his feet dazzlingly dancing, literally, on a three-octave pedal of Hong Kong’s Rieger-organ.

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Masaaki Suzuki

Masaaki Suzuki and Bach Collegium Japan: St. Matthew Passion

On February 25, 2011 By

In the 3-hour long St. Matthew Passion, the Bach Collegium Japan shares how much they love Bach’s music.

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