Being a violinist, I usually attend concerts to see the star solo violinist. However this time, I was transfixed by the conductor Xian Zhang, who premiered Respighi's Three Botticelli Pictures at the DFP. These were lovely little musical portraits, inspired by three Botticelli paintings in Florence, Italy.
However, the evening's success was mainly due to her superb interpretation of Robert Schumann's Fourth Symphony (which I have also performed in an orchestra in England). It is not an easy symphony to bring off - especially in the seamless transition from the third movement to the fourth movement. Xian Zhang had the whole MPO eating out of her hand and received rapturous applause.
Li Chuan Yun was the violin soloist in Lalo's Symphonie espagnole. Relative to Feng Ning (who impressed me greatly in Paganini's VC No 1 in 2008), Li seemed intent on showing his technical skills on the violin - rather than showing how great Lalo's music is. I sent my friend Harry (in UK) both Feng Ning and Li's CD but Harry was impressed with Li's CD. However, when you see these two Chinese violinists perform - I'd certainly know who I would like to see again here in KL. Feng Ning wins hands down.
As I said, the night belonged to Xian Zhang. In March 2009, the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi announced the appointment of Xian Zhang as its next music director, the first woman to be named music director of an Italian symphony orchestra, effective with the 2009-2010 season. The future of conductors and conducting seems more secure with Gustavo Dudamel and Xian Zhang around.
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