On the morning of September 5, Typhoon Yagi (known as Enteng in the Philippines) struck as it moved towards Vietnam and Hainan, China, forcing the Hong Kong Philharmonic’s opening night to be postponed from Thursday to Friday afternoon.
The rescheduled concert featured the Sibelius Violin Concerto, with Swedish soloist Daniel Lozakovitch delivering a performance marked by a grand entrance, a heartfelt middle movement, and a captivating finale.
Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9, performed in its three movements, resonated deeply with the Hong Kong audience. Under the direction of Filipino-Finnish conductor Tarmo Peltokoski, the performance reaffirmed his status as the youngest and most remarkable music director of the HK Philharmonic.
A netizen’s comment on Facebook after the typhoon praised the Sibelius concerto and Bruckner’s 9th Symphony as being more powerful than Typhoon Yagi. Having attended the HK Phil’s opening concert, I can wholeheartedly concur with this sentiment.
The concert also showcased the extraordinary talent of Swedish violinist Daniel Lozakovitch, who added a magical quality to the Sibelius piece. Coincidentally, the Sibelius concerto was also part of the program when Peltokoski made his Manila debut in 2019 with the Manila Symphony Orchestra, featuring then 15-year-old Jeanne Marquez as soloist. After that concert, I noted that a “conducting star prodigy is born.”
Under Peltokoski’s leadership, the collaboration with Lozakovitch was mesmerizing. The orchestra members, inspired by the duo’s dynamic, performed with palpable passion.
Music critic Edward Sava-Segal commented on Peltokoski’s remarkable rise in the classical music world, noting that he is even younger than the acclaimed Finnish conductor Klaus Mäkelä. Born in 2000, Peltokoski is associated with prestigious ensembles like the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, and will soon be the music director of the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse and the HK Philharmonic. Sava-Segal highlighted the program’s late Romantic masterpieces, Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9 and Sibelius’s Violin Concerto, emphasizing their stylistic richness and historical significance.
The review praised Lozakovitch for his modest yet profound approach, focusing on tonal beauty and lyrical introspection rather than power. His interpretation, while sometimes lacking in Nordic chill, was characterized by warmth and emotional depth. Peltokoski supported Lozakovitch with precision and care, fostering a cohesive and engaging performance.
Sava-Segal also noted Peltokoski’s adept handling of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 9 using the scholarly Nowak edition. The performance was marked by cohesive orchestral balance and a compelling rhythmic drive in the Scherzo. Despite some challenges in capturing the full essence of Bruckner’s profound spirituality, Peltokoski’s performance demonstrated remarkable control and dedication for such a young conductor.
I had the pleasure of meeting Lozakovitch briefly before the concert. His respect for Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman was evident, especially given Lozakovitch’s own impressive achievements, including winning the Vladimir Spivakov International Violin Competition at the age of 9.
Following the Hong Kong concert, Peltokoski traveled to London to conduct the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall on September 9. The London media reported enthusiastic praise for Peltokoski’s performance of Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 5.
Tarmo’s mother, Maria Flor Villagracia Saulon Peltokoski, expressed her gratitude after the HK concert, saying, “We are thankful to God for giving us a wonderful son.”
