“There is no picture strong enough to depict the scene of performing open-air in the ruins of a 1,000-year-old castle on the top of a hill that overlooks a magnificent plain against the sunset,” said Poppen during a recent concert with the Sinfonietta, of which he has been the principal guest conductor since 2014.

“It has a very special atmosphere built on silence, which is what we as musicians always look for in music-making,” he said, citing major 19th century composers writing masterpieces in the quiet countryside.

The quality of the silence, be it in castle ruins or small churches, which he said he had never experienced before, could be inspiring for musicians from a place of noise like Hong Kong.

“Musicians have skills but it takes unusual and strong experience to stimulate their artistic maturity,” he said. “It’s wonderful for the Sinfonietta players to perform in the evening and listen to others the next day. They’ll be closer to music and fresher too, and that is very important for every musician whose enemy is routine.”

Yip Wing-sie, the Sinfonietta’s music director, agreed.

“There’s nothing there [in Marvao], and we need to go up the hill for some 20 minutes to reach the venue. With no distraction, that might get my players to practise more in the hotel,” she laughed.

But for musicians to be detached from daily noise has its good and bad sides.

“Our musicians are very focused regardless of [political arguments] out there. That’s their main concern. But as members of society we are conscious of what’s going on,” she said. “We hope [the show] will leave a musical mark for Hong Kong on the international audience, allowing our performers to connect with other participating musicians.”

Poppen was confident the orchestra would shine alongside the Cologne Chamber Orchestra plus a host of star soloists.

“You can imagine I would not dare to invite [the Sinfonietta] to my festival if I were not proud of presenting them,” he said. “They play better every time I return.”