Concert Review: Hong Kong Philharmonic - Antoni Wit - Ingrid FliterSeptember 14, CCCH
HKPO - Antoni Wit - Ingrid Fliter
Franck - Saint Saens - Beethoven
For years I have admired the Naxos recordings of Antoni Wit. Also, I have avidly followed pianist Ingrid Fliter's EMI recordings (most available from the library). So I went to the concert with great anticipation. My wishes were not only fulfilled, they were exceeded. Indeed, it was one of the best HKPO concerts ever.
Antoni Wit lost no time showing his true colors. Franck's Le Chasseur Maudit is a difficult piece to bring off, but Wit cajoled the HKPO players to play like possessed, which is exactly what the piece needs. Succesive waves of orchestral colors were a treat for the ears, making one forget its length and repititions.
Ingrid Fliter's playing has been familiar to me from recordings. In concert there seemed to be even more spontaneity. The extreme dynamic spread, strong accents and colors did not always work to the advantage of Saint Saens's Piano Concerto No.2. Indeed some notes sounded rather odd. One misses the patrician elegance and elan of Arthur Rubinstein. However, there was not a dull moment and one admired greatly the spontaneity. The orchestra was somewhat Germanic in response but fully in sync. The encore was a great treat: the 3rd movement of Beethoven's Tempest (just out on EMI) showed off Fliter's temperament to great effect. Indeed, one gives thanks for the masterpiece as well as the utterly fresh reading! Enjoy her youtube below, but I can assure you it was even better in concert!
Beethoven's Eroica received an appropriately grand reading under Wit, who squeezed every drop out of the HKPO. The smallish orchestra sounded big and confident. Wit brought out an incredible amount of details, yet maintained a natural flow. The dynamic contrasts were superbly shaded and climaxes truly thrilling. Here is a true master who can work the divided violins to the work's advantage (many lesser conductors fail, including EdW). This is by far the best Beethoven Symphony I have heard from the HKPO.
Come back soon, Antoni Wit! And how about a recital from Ingrid Fliter?
youtube of Ingrid Fliter playing Tempest:
Here is the seraphic Wilhelm Kempff playing the same:
And here is God Richter playing:
And here is God's teacher Heinrich Neuhaus playing (how wonderful!)
Yes, I attended a different night of this same programme. The Eroica Symphony was simply jaw-droppingly good. All the details are there, well displayed and interwoven with a masterful touch.
ReplyDeleteWit is the real deal, but similar credit must also be given to the HK Phil players, must say.