François-Frédéric Guy Plays Beethoven review: bold musical choices and a few shaky moments

Into its 25th edition, Le French May has outgrown its original premise to incorporate a plethora of international and local fare. This programme is testament to that diversity: a French pianist interpreting fin de siècle Beethoven, Tchaikovsky’s tribute to Mozart, a co-commissioned French work, all performed under the baton of the Hungarian conductor Gabor Kali and with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta.

The concert opened with Pierre-Yves Macé’s world premiere Contre-flux I – Muzak Codex for Orchestra, which opts for a chamber-sized ensemble and yet expresses a wide variety of moods and colours.

As the composer himself describes, “he first gathers recordings of Muzak (equating to ‘elevator’ music), which he electronically transforms through different filters”.

The result was a spasmodic, almost piecemeal, series of varying timbral outbursts. Solos were only ever fleeting, instrumental effects were often employed, and the frenetic was balanced with the tender. The outcome was a refreshing tonal palette with an eclectic mix of sounds that the Sinfonietta presented with assurance.

The least successful aspect of the evening was the inclusion of Tchaikovsky’s “Mozartiana” suite, but this is mostly related to programming rather than presentation.

Meet the all-girl group jazzing up Hong Kong’s music scene with an emphasis on improvisation

It is largely a series of direct transcriptions of Mozart piano pieces, which have been compiled not for their connection by key, structure, or even intention; but rather by a lack of historical significance.