UBS Verbier Festival Youth Orchestra

More than 100 young musicians led by Charles Dutoit (right) gave a dazzling concert in Bangkok on Sunday, beginning their premiere Asian tour.

There was a distinct sense of vitality when they performed Tchaikovsky's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in D Major. Soloist Sayaka Shoji played with strength and frivolity and her dialogues with Dutoit were exciting, although this was their first collaboration.

The Hong Kong performance will feature soloist Akiko Suwanai.

In the second half of the concert they gave Shostakovich's Symphony No 5 in D Minor, Op 47, a full and lush interpretation and it was obvious Dutoit wanted the players to have fun with strong rhythm and string volume.

The musicians came from 39 countries, but it was their ensemble playing that made it a world-class performance.

The UBS Verbier Festival Youth Orchestra. Thu, 8pm. Hong Kong Cultural Centre. $100-$320 Urbtix. Inquiries: 2734 9009