Hong Kong’s Musicus Fest 2024 in Hong Kong
In 2010, a bunch of music fans in Hong Kong based the Musicus Society. Underneath the inventive course of Trey Lee, the group has grow to be an integral a part of the cultural lifetime of this Asian metropolis over the past 15 years.
At present, the Musicus Society has its personal chamber ensemble, which usually performs in Asia and Europe. It helps younger musicians from Hong Kong in beginning their careers and runs different applications, reminiscent of ‘Heritage’, which organizes chamber concert events in historic buildings throughout Hong Kong. The annual spotlight of the Society’s actions is the Musicus Fest, a mini-festival that features a younger artist’s recital, a kids’s live performance, a chamber music live performance, and a efficiency by a global symphony orchestra.
This November, throughout Musicus Fest, I had the chance to listen to a recital by younger pianist Zach Cheong (30 November, Hong Kong Metropolis Corridor). The thoughtfully curated program featured works starting from Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Schubert, and Rachmaninoff to Ravel. The items revolved round themes of affection and loss of life. In fact, he’s a younger pianist simply starting his skilled profession, however his enjoying confirmed technical confidence and a sure subtlety. The phrasing was gentle but expressive, and the construction and elegance of the items had been clear.
Sinfonia Varsovia opened the competition with a neighborhood live performance (29 November, Educational Neighborhood Corridor, Hong Kong Baptist College) for secondary faculty kids and college college students. This system was bold, that includes Orawa by Wojciech Kilar, Mała Suita by Witold Lutosławski, and Symphony No.1 in D main, Op.25 (Classical) by Prokofiev. Taking part in with out a conductor and led solely by concertmaster Adam Siebers, the musicians proved that Slavic music runs of their veins. They skilfully dealt with rhythms and tempos, delivering an brisk interpretation of the items. Neighborhood concert events like these are a vital a part of the Musicus Society’s actions.
The spotlight of Musicus Fest 2024 was the efficiency by Sinfonia Varsovia on the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (1 December). The live performance featured Dvořák’s Cello Concerto in B minor, Op.104, and Symphony No.7 in D Minor, Op.70, in addition to Lutosławski’s Little Suite. The musicians carried out below the baton of Alexander Liebreich, with Trey Lee because the soloist.
Dvořák’s Cello Concerto is undoubtedly one of many masterpieces of the cello repertoire. This late work (premiered in 1896) by the Czech grasp is characterised by virtuosity in addition to symphonic grandeur. When writing the concerto, Dvořák was on the peak of his profession. One can really feel that that is the work of a mature composer — nothing is unintended right here. The clear, concise construction, wealthy orchestration, and refined solo passages make this one of the vital important concertos of the Romantic period. Trey Lee impressed not solely with flawless method but in addition with deep emotional involvement. From the very first notes, it was evident that he absolutely believed within the music he was performing. His interpretation ranged from lyrical, singing traces within the Adagio to sharper, extra dramatic tones within the ultimate Allegro. His legato enjoying was significantly candy and charming. Lee prevented any pathos. As an alternative, the artist created a barely nostalgic ambiance. His interpretation was balanced, avoiding extra and exaggeration. Lee’s efficiency was marked by clear and distinct phrasing, all the time respecting the construction of the piece reasonably than imposing his ego. His enjoying mixed precision with poetry.
The conductor selected reasonable tempos. This was not a rushed Dvořák; quite the opposite, below Liebreich’s baton, the music had room to breathe. On this piece, Sinfonia Varsovia was not merely an accompaniment to the soloist however an equal associate, contributing its personal interpretation. The orchestra adopted a reasonably darkish tone, giving Dvořák’s work a considerably melancholic temper.
Lutosławski is certainly one of Poland’s most vital composers, and his Little Suite is a superb instance of his fashion. The dances that the composer heard in Machów, a village in southern Poland, kind the inspiration of this composition. Every of the 4 actions relies on a distinct dance or folks tune. Nonetheless, all of them are sophisticatedly reworked into a contemporary model of a Haydn symphony. From a proper perspective, Little Suite is an instance of excellent composition. It’s a concise, clear piece, masterfully orchestrated to rework easy folks themes right into a refined, wealthy orchestral construction. Sinfonia Varsovia has not solely carried out Lutosławski’s works a number of occasions but in addition labored with the composer previously. This was evident of their efficiency. The Little Suite sounded gentle and pure, with the musicians effortlessly shifting rhythms and tempos. Their efficiency was playful and vibrant.
Within the second a part of the live performance, Symphony No.7 in D minor was carried out. This work, which premiered in 1885, is broadly considered the end result of Dvořák’s Slavic fashion. Sinfonia Varsovia performed with emotion, capturing the Slavic character of the piece. Underneath Liebreich’s baton, Dvořák’s work possessed a muscular, darkish tone.
Sinfonia Varsovia offered a sound typical of orchestras from Japanese Europe. It was considerably darkish, heavy, and at occasions earthy. The brass part lacked excellent readability, and articulation might be improved, however the musicians performed with vitality and keenness.
As an encore, Sinfonia Varsovia carried out Orawa by Wojciech Kilar along with native kids finding out music. Impressed by folks music from the Polish mountains, Orawa options hypnotic rhythms and dynamic contrasts. The native music college students captured the essence of the piece superbly.
The viewers responded enthusiastically to Sinfonia Varsovia’s efficiency on the Live performance Corridor of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. The age construction of the viewers in Hong Kong is completely different from that in Europe. Whereas in Europe the dominant group of music lovers is retired individuals, right here the concert events are attended by many kids and younger individuals.
Jacek Kornak
