Peter Donohoe plays Tchaikovsky and Brahms

Peter Donohoe plays Tchaikovsky and Brahms

Hong Kong Sinfonietta

HK City Hall Concert Hall

Reviewed: Apr 16 and 17

It seemed improbable that Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No 1 could be delivered effectively with an upper string section of only 10 first and eight second violins: the bloom and boom did indeed remain beyond the players' reach, and the impressive woodwind blend the orchestra was sporting earlier this year also lacked some suavity.

With British pianist Peter Donohoe as soloist, however, the performance revised the laws of probability. His formidable technique had everything following in its wake in a driven performance that inspired the orchestra as a whole under Yip Wing-sie's responsive direction.