Those of us lucky enough to attend this latest concert as part of the Live at Lunch series were treated to a superlative aural feast. Pianist Cho Ki Wong and the Tecchler String Quartet gave ravishing performances of three staples of the Romantic repertoire. It is terrific to see such astonishing brilliant young Australian talent showcased.
Wong – handsome and elegant in a standard Classical Musician tuxedo, wore a high white collar on his shirt as if to emphasize his dedication to the priesthood of the High Art of Music. Interestingly, he was – like several 18th century and other composers – conducting from the keyboard. He conducted very crisply and energetically, with precise, birdlike movements. Under his butterfly-like fingers the piano was alive; a living, breathing, featured soloist in the performance, supported magnificently by the Quartet’s glorious playing.
First we heard Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 5 in E Flat Major Op 73 – The Emperor. It was strongly and passionately played. The first half opened with a flurry of scurrying strings. Ominous rumbles were contrasted with soaring, fragile, delicate playing by Wong. Strong, strident passages alternated with floating ones.
The second half (the adagio and rondo) opened with a melancholy, heartbreaking string passage and then the rippling, cascading piano was gently supported by the strings. Wong, his playing steely yet delicate, was shimmering and explosive.
His fingers leapt delicately over the arpeggios and keyboard in the second work, a bravura performance of the Chopin Piano Concerto no 1 in E Minor op 11 (1830) – 3rd movement – Rondo Vivace in E Major. Wong’s performance was passionate, swirling and jewel-like.
For a most enthusiastically demanded encore Wong played the Scherzo no. 2 in B flat Minor op 31 also by Chopin. A scintillating, fireworks display piece that had the audience gasping.
After all that ravishing music there was just enough time for a brief Q & A session where we learnt that the Quartet have been together for about three years (among other things).
An absolutely stunning concert. Next in the series will be the final concert of the current series, An Irish Fantasy, on 11 September.
Rating: 4 stars out of 5
Live at Lunch: Beethoven and Chopin
Cho Ki Wong – piano
Tecchler String Quartet
Beethoven – Piano Concerto No 5 in E Flat Major Op 73 ( 1811), The Emperor
Chopin – Piano Concerto no 1 in E Minor op 11 (1830), 3rd movement, Rondo Vivace in E Major
Chopin – Scherzo no. 2 in B flat Minor op 31 (1837)
The Concourse, Chatswood
21 August
(Pictured: Ludwig van Beethoven)
