Concert Pulse
This season
In Hamburg
In Hamburg
China NCPA Orchestra / Bruce Liu / Myung-Whun Chung
Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal (Hamburg)
When Sergei Prokofiev was commissioned to write a ballet and was given a choice of three different stories, he immediately opted for »Romeo and Juliet«: »I ›bit‹ straight into the plot, it would have been hard to find a better one!« No wonder, as perhaps the world’s most famous love story by William Shakespeare delivers plenty of drama, great emotions and an exciting, eventful plot. The orchestra of the spectacular National Centre for the Performing Arts – Beijing’s Elbphilharmonie, so to speak – can unfold its full potential here. Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major is just as enjoyable to listen to: The French composer was inspired by American music, more specifically jazz. He skilfully transfers the lascivious jazz sounds to the orchestra, just as George Gershwin had done a few years earlier in his Rhapsody in Blue. Bruce Liu is a true high-flyer at the keys. Born in Paris in 1997 and raised in Montreal, Canada, he impressed with breathtaking performances at the prestigious Chopin Competition in 2021. Deutsche Grammophon immediately signed him. NDR Kultur called his first studio album with solo works by Maurice Ravel »an event in every respect!« He now follows this up with the composer’s solo concerto, accompanied by one of the best orchestras from China under the direction of South Korean star conductor Myung-Whun Chung.