Violinist Gidon Kremer dedicates Hong Kong encore to suffering Ukraine
The situation last year between Russia and Ukraine can't leave anyone indifferent, says former Soviet artist
A top violinist has put Hong Kong on his global musical map with the premiere of an emotionally charged work to conclude a historic three-city tour with an Asian festival orchestra.
Gidon Kremer, considered one of the greatest living violinists, surprised the sell-out crowd at the Cultural Centre Concert Hall on Thursday with an encore dedicated to Ukraine.
"I would like to dedicate Requiem for Ukraine by Igor Loboda to the strong sufferings of the Ukraine people," the 67-year-old Latvian told the audience, which included Home Affairs Secretary Tsang Tak-sing and a number of top diplomats.
It was a surprise even for organisers of the Tongyeong Festival Orchestra - featuring musicians from the Hong Kong Sinfonietta and other ensembles from around the world. Kremer did not send a political message or make remarks on encores given at the two previous concerts of the tour, in Tongyeong, South Korea, and Kanazawa, Japan.
"Believe it or not it is the first time I played the seven-minute work in its entirety for the public," said Kremer in an exclusive interview with the Sunday Morning Post.
He said it was "the right time" to premiere it in Hong Kong because of a member of the orchestra he had come to know.