After what many would call a transformational eight years for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO), world-renowned Maestro Edo de Waart, artistic director and chief conductor of the HKPO, is drawing his tenure to a close with a series of three farewell concerts in Hong Kong. The second of his three concerts, Dream Harmonies, features two principals from the string section of the orchestra: Andrew Ling on viola and Richard Bamping on cello. For this entry, I talk to Andrew Ling, one of the few musicians from the orchestra that is born and bred in Hong Kong.
After what many would call a transformational eight years for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HKPO), world-renowned Maestro Edo de Waart, artistic director and chief conductor of the HKPO, is drawing his tenure to a close with a series of three farewell concerts in Hong Kong. The second of his three concerts, Dream Harmonies, features two principals from the string section of the orchestra: Andrew Ling on viola and Richard Bamping on cello. For this entry, I talk to Andrew Ling, one of the few musicians from the orchestra that is born and bred in Hong Kong.
On Edo de Waart
Andrew Ling: I will always be thankful to the maestro, as he is the person who brought me into the HKPO. He is a man with strong character but few words. He walks his talk and it comes from his heart. You can see that he gives his all at each concert. My two favourite concerts of all time was when we played Mahler and Bruckner under his baton (in two separate concerts). They were out-of-this-world experiences for me. Although there was an age gap between the Maestro and myself, the magic of music connects us to a place where I have not experienced and will not experience elsewhere.
Why Viola?
Andrew Ling: I still get asked quite regularly what a viola is, or sometimes if people are too embarrassed to ask, they would give me a very confused look when I tell them I am a violist.
Viola is still a rather neglected instrument in the string section. I play both the violin and the viola. I would describe the sound of a violin as the voice of a diva, while a viola would be the voice of a ‘normal person’, in the same sentiment.
The viola has a melancholic tone to it that neither a violin nor a cello could imitate. I hope that with time I could gradually promote this instrument to an extent where one day members of the audience would come to a concert purely because there is a viola solo piece in the repertoire.
