Review | Young violin soloist captivates in Arvo Pärt work with Hong Kong string ensemble, veteran piano soloist doesn’t spare the horses in Grieg concerto

Musicus Soloists Hong Kong perform a programme of Nordic music, with violinist Angela Chan outstanding in Estonian minimalist Arvo Pärt’s Fratres

They are joined in Grieg’s Piano Concerto by Louis Lortie, whose playing is strangely percussive in places but whose direction from the keyboard is attentive

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Violin soloist Angela Chan and fellow members of Musicus Soloists Hong Kong perform Estonian “holy minimalist” composer Arvo Pärt’s “Fratres for Violin, Strings and Percussion“ during their concert of Nordic music at Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall on November 21, 2023. Photo: Musicus Fest

Published: 5:45pm, 23 Nov 2023

Variety is the spice of life. When a new ensemble emerges and offers something beyond the customary “meat-and-two-veg” billing (a symphony preceded by an overture and concerto) of the flagship orchestras, it adds richness to the music scene.

The Musicus Soloists of Hong Kong, an ensemble launched in 2022 by the Musicus Society and its founder, acclaimed cellist Trey Lee, should be commended both for their selection of repertoire and their performance at the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall on November 21.

The young players chose an unusual programme, including rarely aired gems by Grieg and Sibelius, and offered a glimpse into Estonian composer Arvo Pärt’s world of “holy minimalism”, before performing Grieg’s revered Piano Concerto with a strings-only accompaniment directed from the keyboard by award-winning French-Canadian pianist Louis Lortie.

There were plenty of hits, a few misses, and some surprises as well.

The odd misses can be attributed to some early tentativeness.