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.