Strumming symphony: rock and classical collide in Paul Wong's Rockestra concert
Former Beyond guitarist and local rock fixture Paul Wong Koon-chung has announced he will perform two concerts in the city this year - on July 13 and 14.
The shows, under the banner Rockestra, will combine rock music with a full orchestra.
'When I was a child, I listened to classical music. I started with classical music and went on to rock,' Wong said on Wednesday at the W hotel.
But the musical mix comes with its challenges, Wong says. 'In rehearsal we have a lot of fights, but after we all work together we all feel it is good,' he said, adding he was excited about the shows. He relishes being able to tear down the walls between musical genres. 'I don't want to put any boundaries on music. I don't want any restrictions.'
The rocker, who used to headbang to Black Sabbath, said he now enjoyed the more experimental stylings of Radiohead - but he baulked at the suggestion that he was getting soft in his old age.
'You can say the sound is softer but the [lyrical] content ... is heavy. Rock music is not only a guitar with distortion. Rock 'n' roll is a spirit.'
