Philharmonic shines under new director

Post date: Dec 08, 2015 5:53:39 PM

To classical music lovers, the season opener-cum-National Day concert on Friday night was a sheer delight. The Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra's new music director, Jaap van Zweden, brought to the stage an energy and vitality that made the 100-strong ensemble gel, producing an exceptional tonal quality rarely before displayed.

Ning Feng's sensuous interpretation of the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto by Chen Gang and He Zhan-Hao brought tears to my eyes, and he so graciously entertained us with two delicate encores. Beethoven's Symphony No7 brought out the best of Jaap and the orchestra. On the ferry after the concert, I talked to a young Philharmonic string player who held the same views about the chemistry between the conductor and the orchestra members. I salute our government and those who have been working tirelessly to give Hongkongers something they can be proud of.

Philip S. K. Leung, Pok Fu Lam

2 October, 2012

http://www.scmp.com/comment/letters/article/1051874/letters-editor-october-2-2012