The Brilliant Chooi Brothers

17 May 2014 saw yet another DFP/MPO debut for conductor Edmon Colomer as well as 2 Canadian violinists of Malaysian descent, Timothy and Nikki Chooi. It was a brilliantly conceived concert programme of the JS Bach Double Violin Concerto BWV1043, St Saens' Third Violin Concerto, Bruch's First Violin Concerto and Tchaikovsky's Romeo and Juliet Overture. The Chooi brothers opened with the Bach Double Concerto. Timothy (the younger brother aged 20) took the first violin part and he played a 1729 Guarneri del Gesu. 25-year old Nikki played the second violin part on the superb 1700 "Taft" Stradivarius. The performance was coloured with some sprightly playing with brisk speeds in the outer movements, using historically informed performance practices. The second movement was lovely and conversational in nature, with each brother taking his turn with the melody line. Timothy then took the stage with the St Saens concerto. This was a virtuoso display of immense technical security in the outer movements. The slow movement was a beautiful and lyrically played Barcarolle, with generally superb closing artificial harmonics. After the interval, Nikki performed a superb interpretation of the evergreen Bruch concerto. This was a very lyrical and considered performance, with generous helpings of a lush vibrato from his left hand and a singing bow hand. Obviously, Nikki has been on the concert circuit and this was a relatively more mature performance of the solo concerto. After such a superb performance of the Bruch, the Tchaikovsky Romeo and Juliet Overture proved to be an anti-climax. Perhaps, the brilliant Chooi brothers could be invited back to the DFP in a future season, playing yet another triple bill of violin concertos like Vivaldi's Op 3 No 8, Prokofiev's First Concerto and Vieuxtemps Fifth Concerto. That might be wishful thinking but it could be a possible fantasy concert come true as these pieces are in the Chooi brothers' repertoire.