ReviewNo holds barred in pianist Haochen Zhang and Dover Quartet’s French May Hong Kong concert
High-contrast, high-calibre performance of Franck piano quintet caps evening of memorable music-making at Hong Kong’s French May festival
Chinese pianist Haochen Zhang made it clear his concert with the Dover Quartet had concluded when he closed the lid of the Steinway grand piano in the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall following a monumental rendition of César Franck’s Piano Quintet in F minor.
Despite the rapturous applause that followed a display of unceasing modulations, constant harmonic movement and more pianissimos and fortissimos than are heard in most chamber music performances, an encore would have been as out of place as another main course after dessert.
No-holds-barred playing of the highest calibre was the hallmark of this French May festival presentation by Premiere Performances of Hong Kong on May 12.
In the quintet’s opening “Allegro”, the group’s voices were like single grape varieties in a finely balanced wine cuvée, each retaining their distinct character amid the density of Franck’s music.