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A few sour notes

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Four! Edo de Waart raises four fingers to make his point. The directive wasn't for musicians to play on the downbeat but was instead addressed to some 20 housewives about to march into a lift at the Cultural Centre: that was the number that could fit into the tiny space.

The Dutch maestro seemed pleased they followed his lead, but that hasn't always been the case in his efforts with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra.

Appointed artistic director and chief conductor in 2004, he was charged with building the group of 90-plus musicians into a top orchestra befitting the self-styled Asia's World City. Yet, he reckons his mission has been stymied by government indifference as much as budget constraints.

Known for his forthright views, de Waart's announcement in March that he would leave the orchestra in 2012 has only cleared the way for more frank speech. The 69-year-old conductor is clearly frustrated by what he views as inadequate support since taking up the baton in Hong Kong.

At the end of eight years, you need 'new impetus', says de Waart, who is also the music director of Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. 'If it isn't there, while I love this orchestra dearly, I need to go somewhere else. They need to bring in somebody new.'

The orchestra's role in promoting the city as a regional arts hub, particularly in opening a new concert hall planned for the West Kowloon Cultural District, is a sore point. De Waart sees this as a chance to build a more muscular ensemble with bigger string and woodwind sections and strong soloists who will draw music lovers from around the world.

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