Tango! City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong Sha Tin Town Hall Auditorium Reviewed: January 13 A full Astor Piazzolla programme by the City Chamber Orchestra Hong Kong (CCOHK) kept winter at bay at Sha Tin Town Hall last Saturday. Bandoneonist Daniel Binelli and pianist Polly Ferman gave such superb renderings of the Argentine master's tango-inspired compositions that the audience rewarded them with a standing ovation. Engaging support by the CCOHK under the baton of German Augusto Gutierrez made the performance even more memorable. Despite his mane of white hair and avuncular appearance, Binelli (who used to perform with Piazzolla) poured youthfully fervid strains from his bandoneon to a rapt audience. Every phrase from the Argentine virtuoso burned with emotion, be it the forlorn dance in the bandoneon concerto's slow movement, the rhapsodic opening of Fracanapa, or the soaring main theme of Adios Noninos. Even a long single note in Milonga del Angel had life breathed into it by Binelli's playing. Binelli and Ferman are long-time musical partners and their rapport showed in the tangos arranged for bandoneon, piano and strings. Ferman's powerful, precise attack carried a jazzy accent that complemented Binelli marvellously - for example, in the build-up of tension in Buenos Aires Hora O. The orchestra played their heart out too, and all jammed with contrapuntal brilliance, fine tone-blending and rhythmic excitement in Libertango. Ferman and the strings, with their supple, expressive sound, were equally heartfelt in the Invierno Porteno and Verano Porteno. Colombian-born Gutierrez displayed an instinctive grasp of Piazzolla's idioms, and the players responded sensitively to his direction. Even when without the star soloists, as in the opener Tangazo, the rollicking strings and finely phrased wind solos contributed to the concert's immense enjoyment value.