Concert Review: HKPO-Jaap, or Gone Largo and Sponsor's Poor Taste

April 26, 2017, CCCH
HKPO-Jaap-Storioni Trio
Beethoven-Shostakovich

The concert did not start well. In Beethoven's Triple Concerto, all of us were not satisfied with the cellist of the Storioni Trio, whose small tone was apparently not matched in volume to the other two. Their performance just did not flow well. The orchestra was obviously toned down, and the whole thing just lacked Beethovenian sweep.

Compared to the previous proceedings, the orchestra was like an awakened giant in Shostakovich's Eighth Symphony, playing with precision and power. While the climaxes were thrilling, the slow passages (many and lengthy) lacked a feeling of foreboding or lament (not a Jaap specialty) central to the music. I was particularly taken aback by the largo, which was bland and passed unduly quickly.

Attendance was very poor, at maybe 50%, which made the sound a bit aggressive.

The concert was sponsored by Macallan. Their name was projected onto the wall before concert started and during intermission. Instead of the de rigeur bouquets, I was stunned when two orchestral members went backstage to procure three bottles of scotch for the trio. At the end of concert, Jaap also received a bottle.

I have never seen this happen anywhere. If you ask me, Poor Taste on the part of Macallan and the HKPO!