Review: Hong Kong Philharmonic principals shine in timpanist’s world premiere and Haydn showpiece
Jaap van Zweden coaxes out the personality of HK Phil timpanist James Boznos’ new work, gives principals room to excel in Haydn Sinfonia Concertante, and delights in the detail of Dvorak symphony
The successful relationship between a conductor and an orchestra depends on mutual respect and understanding. These qualities were on abundant display in the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra’s Starring Principals concert.
The programme opened with the world premiere of Oikogeneia (Born of House), Book 1, Op. 14a composed by the HK Phil’s timpanist James Boznos.
The work is a collection of pieces devoted to his family members, 21 in total, although only the first seven pieces were presented here. The work is dedicated to the orchestra’s conductor, Jaap van Zweden, who would seem, therefore, to be an honorary member of his extended family.
Each piece has its own personality, drawn from the composer’s observations but restricted to a mere seven non-chromatic notes, which unifies the collection. Under the baton of van Zweden, the characters and their backgrounds emerged and, as one would perhaps expect from a percussionist, contained a plethora of complex rhythms. This was most clearly evident in the last piece of the Book 1 collection, Krupa’s Cataphracted Lion Dance.
Continuing with the theme of respect, the principal players were afforded the opportunity to shine in Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante in B flat.
The work was a result of a contract in which the impresario Johann Peter Salomon had asked Haydn to write a series of works for London audiences. It is unclear who the soloists in the first performance were, but here the four principals – Richard Bamping (cello), Jing Wang (violin), Michael Wilson (oboe) and Benjamin Moermond (bassoon) – brought clarity, assurance and brilliance to their respective roles.
