Playing Mozart a little too straight

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra - The Amadeus Concert

Cultural Centre Concert Hall

Thursday

Under the pretext of performing music 'from and beyond' Amadeus, the famous 1984 film adaptation of a stage-hit based on legends about Mozart's life and death, the Hong Kong Philharmonic recently put together some of his best-known music to create a pleasant evening at the Cultural Centre.

As always with artistic director Edo de Waart, who was conducting, the transparent texture and the supple, energetic phrasing sparkled.

The crisp violin articulation in the finale of Piano Concerto No. 21 was also noteworthy.