Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra pays tribute to legendary maestro
No orchestra or conductor is more qualified in showcasing the genius of the father of modern Chinese orchestral music than the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and its artistic director.
Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra
Cultural Centre Concert Hall
No orchestra or conductor is more qualified in showcasing the genius of the father of modern Chinese orchestral music than the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and its artistic director.
The late Peng Xiuwen, a legend as a composer and a conductor, was the music director-designate of the city's flagship orchestra. But he died in 1996.
Paying tribute to the maestro over his brilliant career with the broadcasting orchestra in Beijing 60 years ago, Yan Huichang , his successor, led the band in five of Peng's opuses.
The big bang on the gong that opened Song of the General set the tone for the evening. The fascinating change of rhythms was breathtaking and the full orchestral tutti was a tour de force.
The atmosphere made a dramatic turn in As the Moon Rises, a contemplative piece also arranged from an ancient melody. Melancholy sentiment abounded, and the melodic line was sometimes drawn far too long and sounded idiosyncratic but fresh. The nice crescendo depicting the rise of the moon contrasted with the dramatic descent at the end. The final full orchestral chords showcased the sheer power of the reformed huqins.