London Winds HK City Hall, Concert Hall Reviewed: December 3 London Winds demonstrated its proficient technique and musicianship in this programme ranging from Mozart's classicism to Janaeek's biting modern idiom by way of Gounod's romantic tone painting, and sounded like it was at home with all of them. The centrepiece was Mozart's masterly K361 serenade for 13 wind instruments, nicknamed 'Gran Partita', which took up the second half of this concert. The musicians seemed to be enjoying themselves, letting the music flow while listening and responding to each other to create a transparent texture and seamless tonal blend. Their dynamic balance was faultless - especially since they played without a conductor - and sometimes revealed interesting middle voicings in the composition. The other two works were equally a joy to hear. Gounod's Petite Symphonie for nine wind instruments received an elegant rendition; the ensemble's playing of the fast movements was a fine example of smooth instrumental exchanges, while the Andante cantabile was graced with Philippa Davies' lyrically expressive flute solo passages. Janaeek's wind sextet Mladi (Youth) was a flighty work that mixed Moravian folk melodies with dramatic shifts in musical atmosphere. The ensemble brought out the lyricism and contrast in the work with its sensitive phrasing and sharp rhythm.