HKPO vs SZSO

Review: HKPO vs SZSO

Amazingly, two recent concerts in Shenzhen had me think hard of the HKPO and SZSO.

November 25, 2023, Shenzhen Concert Hall

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra - Lio Kuokman

Bernstein - Gershwin - Dvorak

HKPO can be an enigma. At the HK CCCH, resident home, loudly decried to be acoustically inadequate, they often sounded just so-so (but not always). But, sometimes, in other venues, they would sound much better! Such as the Prokofiev Romeo and Juliet many years ago at Shatin Town Hall, or the singular Yuen Long Town Hall concert also many years ago (not chronicled here).

And so I was very curious going to this concert. A very rare chance to hear the HKPO in this sonically excellent venue. Neither have I ever heard Lio. The Bernstein Candide Overture and excerpts from On the Town were capably rendered, but not the last word in flair. Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue proved a different story. Lio was at the piano and the whole thing was just dynamite! In fact, it was better than some North American performances I had heard (including Andre Watts)!

The Dvorak warhorse was very well played. I was able to seriously study the orchestra. The playing was unanimous and well integrated. The orchestra sounded significantly fuller here in the SZ Concert Hall than in the CCCH. Just way more powerful. The only thing to pick was that while everything was in decent order, few things stood out. I thought then that usually I'd hear more details and inner voices with the SZSO (but less power and solidity). Very interesting and satisfying!

December 8, Shenzhen Concert Hall

Shenzhen Symphony - Lin Daye - 朱慧玲

Lampson - Mahler

On this day, I scrambled back from nearby cities in Guangdong (here). I was able to meet my shidi and friend before the concert.

The first half was really not necessary. Conductor Lin gave a speech describing the sea changes in Elmar Lampson's The Stormy Sea for the large Orchestra. He also asked the audience for stamina through the long Mahler. Well, the Lampson was OK and, as usual, many times too long for the limited invention. Yes, better to have done without it!

For the Mahler 3, Lin as usual seated the players in the Viennese manner. The divided violins always sounded less powerful than when they sit together (applies to almost any orchestra), but a little weak on this occasion! But the other sections played valiantly and the whole was very very good. Even more impressive were the ladies choir and the boy's choir.  And of course the immaculate world-class soloist 朱慧玲, who owns this role (2021 performance with the Ningbo SO). The SZSO had long performed this work, even with relatively meager forces (here in 2011) but they have surely come along! Wonderful!