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Jimmy Shiu

What advantage does a left-handed conductor have?
Before answering that, it is worth looking at another of Holly Hyun Choe’s strengths. In keeping with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta’s tradition, the guest conductor opened the concert with an introductory speech, immediately establishing herself as an excellent communicator.
She recalled her excitement upon discovering that the orchestra had long been led by a female music director. Enthusiastic applause followed when Choe acknowledged music director emeritus Yip Wing-sie in the audience.
Following this delightful icebreaker, Choe introduced the programme.

The Sinfonietta has a strong record of promoting contemporary music, routinely featuring premieres or commissioned pieces. This concert’s Asian premiere was “Burn My Letters – Remembering Clara”, written by Swedish composer Albert Schnelzer in 2019 to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of German pianist and conductor Clara Schumann.
The piece highlights the enigmatic relationship between Schumann – who once asked her daughter to burn all her letters – and her contemporary Johannes Brahms.
This was followed by Danish composer Carl Nielsen’s “First Symphony”, which Choe explained was almost like a work by Brahms – Nielsen had, in fact, actually shown the piece to Brahms. While it bears a clear resemblance to the older composer’s symphonic language, it also displays Nielsen’s own stylistic progressiveness.
As principal conductor of the Norwegian Radio Orchestra, Choe is well placed to demonstrate the richness of the Scandinavian repertoire. It was no surprise, then, that two of the evening’s three pieces were from the region, all neatly tied together by a shared connection to Brahms.
Returning to the question of a left-handed conductor’s advantage: although Choe is left-handed, she holds the baton in her right. Her hands operate with impeccable independence, but it is from her left hand that the finest musical details emerge. Whether lightly fluttering her fingers to cue the clarinets for a gentle offbeat accent or shaping broader dynamics, watching her agile left hand in action was a constant joy.

Schnelzer’s “Burn My Letters” was pleasant, approachable and, at times, distinctly cinematic. Structured like an arch, it began and ended with a quiet “A” note that sandwiched passages of immense energy and delicate counterpoint.
The musicians relished the performance, as did the audience, who responded with rapturous applause. Nielsen’s “First Symphony”, meanwhile, revealed the composer’s love of exploring orchestral colours. The woodwinds delivered a series of attractive passages, while the brass section produced a spine-tingling chorale, all beautifully executed by the Sinfonietta.
These two works perfectly paved the way for the genuine Brahms item. British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor first mesmerised local music lovers during his Hong Kong debut with the Sinfonietta in 2014. This time, he tackled Brahms’ “Piano Concerto No 1” – a work originally conceived as a symphony and noted for its expressive depth – with profound artistic maturity.
Grosvenor possesses an impressive dynamic range, which is crucial for delivering such a contrasting piece. The opening movement contains some of the stormiest passages in the piano concerto repertoire and gives way to a serene second movement designed as a remembrance of Brahms’ late mentor, Robert Schumann.

Grosvenor captured these extremes of agitation and tranquillity remarkably well. His rendition of Brahms’ intense part-writing was particularly captivating, rendering the inner musical lines with a heavenly touch.
The evening was not without a touch of offstage drama, as an audience member required medical attention during the final movement. Paramedics discreetly attended to the situation while Grosvenor offered a sublime encore of Alexander Siloti’s arrangement of Bach’s “Prelude in E minor”, bringing a soothing close to a memorable concert.
“Great Piano Concertos: Benjamin Grosvenor Plays Brahms”, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall. Reviewed: September 12.


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Performing arts in Hong Kong

Pianist Benjamin Grosvenor during his performance of Brahms’ Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta on September 12, 2026 at the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall (Photo: HKS)

British pianist Benjamin Grosvenor plays as guest conductor Holly Hyun Choe (facing away) conducts the Hong Kong Sinfonietta during “Great Piano Concertos: Benjamin Grosvenor Plays Brahms”, at the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall on September 12, 2026. Photo: HKS


Choe conducts the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. Although she is left-handed, she holds the baton in her right. Photo: HKS

Choe (centre) conducts the Hong Kong Sinfonietta as Grosvenor plays piano during Brahms’ “Piano Concerto No 1 in D minor”. Photo: HKS

Grosvenor plays the piano during his performance of Brahms’ “Piano Concerto No 1 in D minor” with the Hong Kong Sinfonietta. Photo: HKS

International Chopin Competition Gold Medallist Eric Lu photographed during his debut with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, in a ocncert on September 9, 2026 conducted by Lio Kuokman. Lu played Chopin’s Concerto No. 1 in E minor. (Photo: Desmond Chan/ HK Phil)

International Chopin Competition Gold Medallist Eric Lu is pictured during his debut with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, “Chengdu Pre-Tour Concert: Eric Lu Plays Chopin”, conducted by Lio Kuokman, on September 9, 2026. Lu played Chopin’s Concerto No. 1 in E minor. Photo: Desmond Chan/HK Phil

Composer Yao Chen (centre) stands on stage with the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Lio Kuokman (standing behind) after the premiere of Chen’s Waltz of the Rolling Giants at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre on September 9, 2026. Photo: Desmond Chan/HK Phil

Lu plays Chopin’s Piano Concerto No 1 in E minor at the concert. Photo: Desmond Chan/HK Phil

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Chinese violinist Zhang Aozhe performs during “The Magic of Violin” concert at Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall on August 25, 2026. Photo: Hong Kong International Young Musicians Competition Foundation


Zhang seldom made eye contact with the audience throughout the show. Photo: Hong Kong International Young Musicians Competition Foundation

(From left) Zhang with Evangeline Wong, Elenor Wong and Jamie Wong on stage at the Hong Kong City Hall Concert Hall. Photo: Hong Kong International Young Musicians Competition Foundation

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German choreographer Alexander Ekman offers a different take on the Bard with A Midsummer Night’s Dream, performed by Ballett Dortmund. Photo: HKAF

Rafael Payare, music director of the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, will perform at the 55th Hong Kong Arts Festival in 2027. Photo: Antoine Sato

British cellist Steven Isserlis will appear at the Hong Kong Arts Festival in 2027. Photo: HKAF

Emma Rice’s production of Tristan & Yseult will be a highlight of HKAF 2027. Photo: HKAF

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Chinese pianist Yuja Wang in Playing with Fire, a mixed-reality concert that premiered in Paris in 2025. Photo: HKAF

Hong Kong pianist Colleen Lee dazzles in celebration of Bach keyboard concertos

Colleen Lee performs with the New Hong Kong Philharmonia in “Colleen Lee Plays Bach’s Keyboard Concertos” at the Hong Kong City Hall on July 27, 2026. Photo: NHKP

The New Hong Kong Philharmonia players were arranged in an acoustically balanced semicircle around soloist Colleen Lee. Photo: NHKP

Lee was on top form throughout the evening. Photo: NHKP

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Norwegian Radio Orchestra conductor Holly Hyun Choe led proceedings on an evening starring Grosvenor playing Brahms’ ‘Piano Concerto No 1’


Norwegian Radio Orchestra conductor Holly Hyun Choe led proceedings on an evening starring Grosvenor playing Brahms’ ‘Piano Concerto No 1’.


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.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Norwegian Radio Orchestra conductor Holly Hyun Choe led proceedings on an evening starring Grosvenor playing Brahms’ ‘Piano Concerto No 1’

Norwegian Radio Orchestra conductor Holly Hyun Choe led proceedings on an evening starring Grosvenor playing Brahms’ ‘Piano Concerto No 1’