Two Hours 30 minutes by bus from Beijing to Tianjin and the Asian Youth Orchestra is
in terrific shape under guest conductor Joseph Bastian with soloist
Rachel Cheung, impressing the CEO of the Juilliard - Tianjin project,
Alex Brose, just days away from launch. Pre-concert dinner hosted by
Tianjin Conservatory President Xu, renewing a student/teacher friendship
that began some 50 years ago when Mr. Pontzious was a visiting scholar
at the Shanghai Conservatory. The sold-out crowd for AYO was icing on
the cake!
Back
to Beijing and a short night of rest had of our concert in the National
Centre for the Performing Arts, our 10th visit in so many years. This
coveted invitation to perform in the NCPA reflects the respect accorded
to AYO. In turn, and with another sold-out crowd, the Orchestra turned
up the heat for a brilliant Scheherazade. Many, many thanks to the HKSAR
Beijing Office for their support in Beijing and Tianjin.
A
smooth check-in and even smoother flight the next morning and we are
back in Hong Kong for our third concert in as many nights. Yes, we’re
exhausted. Nevertheless, the Orchestra responds professionally. We all
have reason to be proud. Post concert City Hall, the word heard over and
over — “Fantastic.”
As
AYO Board Chairman Jim Thompson wrote to Richard: "So many people - on
both nights - told me how thrilled they were to experience the magic
you've made with the Asian Youth Orchestra.” Board member Ada Tse wrote,
“The AYO concert really lifted our spirits.” Bravo to all!
2019 Asian Youth Orchestra AYO Tour -- Hong Kong Part 2
How
does one prepare for a concert in Hong Kong’s City Hall when 60,000
protestors are gathering in Chater Garden, just across the street from
this popular concert venue? Our friends at Leisure and Culture Services
who have prepared the Hall for us advised that the situation outside
appears calm but we must be alert. 90 minutes before concert time and
the Orchestra is running through its pre-concert rehearsal paces. An
hour to go and what will be a near capacity crowd is beginning to
assemble in the Hall, nothing more than simple city chat and a few words
about the gathering outside. We have been told that in case tear gas is
fired near the venue, the air conditioning would be turned off to
minimise any contamination to people in the hall.
Eight-o’clock
and the concert is a go. A brilliant concert under the baton of guest
conductor Joseph Bastian with piano soloist Rachel Cheung, it would be,
all broadcast live on RTHK Radio 4. Two hours later and Richard takes
the stage to close the concert with the introduction of the AYO
musicians by the counties and territories from which they have been
chosen. It is an AYO tradition, borne years ago, in this situation
seemingly more appropriate than ever, musicians from 12 Asian countries
and territories coming together night after night performing in harmony
the great musical works of the ages.
Wrote
one of Jim Thompson’s guests after the concert, "Watching such an
inspiring group of young people engaged and immersed in their passion
was really heart warming - with this polarised world we are living in
nowadays, it's easy to lose sight of the power of bringing people, and
most importantly, the younger generation together for a collective
meaning and purpose. The music was flawless."
Concerts now complete and typhoons tamed in Shanghai, Nanjing, Tianjin, Beijing and now Hong Kong. Next stop - Taiwan.
Keith Lau
AYO General Manager
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