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With the Covid-19 pandemic putting live concerts on pause, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra (HK Phil) has embraced new, hi-tech ways of bringing classical music into people’s lives.
Last July, after a months-long hiatus, the ensemble gathered onstage again in the Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall – with social-distancing precautions – to perform its debut virtual concert, which was the orchestra’s first live broadcast in 4K resolution via a 5G network. In December, its signature annual event, Swire Symphony Under The Stars, moved from Hong Kong’s Central Harbourfront to an online live-stream for the first time.
Both landmark concerts were conducted by Lio Kuokman, the HK Phil’s new resident conductor. For this acclaimed, home-grown talent, these virtual performances not only established a direction for his two-season tenure with the orchestra, but they also reflect his lifelong passion for sharing classical music with audiences in Hong Kong and worldwide.
A triumphant return
Lio made his first appearance with the HK Phil in 2009, playing the piano along with his younger brother. When he took up the resident conductor role in December for the 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, it marked a homecoming of sorts for the musician, who trained at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.
“The Hong Kong Philharmonic is one of the few orchestras that has seen me grow as a musician,” Lio says. “They saw me when I was still a piano student in Hong Kong, and now I am here as a conductor.”
Before officially joining the HK Phil as resident conductor, Lio helped kick off the 2020/21 season by conducting Beethoven’s Triple Concerto – while also playing the piano – in a concert presented to both in-person and online audiences alongside orchestra concertmaster Jing Wang and principal cello Richard Bamping.
“It was a really great joy for me to get the opportunity to create music – not just as a conductor, but also as a pianist and a chamber musician with these amazingly talented artists,” he says.
During his stint as resident conductor, Lio will direct subscription concerts and present the HK Phil’s family and community concerts, in addition to recording music for the orchestra’s online platforms.
“I am happy that I’ll get to be in Hong Kong more – I want to use this opportunity to learn more about the audiences here,” he says. “I am also hoping to bring classical music to local communities, as well as regional and international audiences.”
International influences
Since his first gig with the HK Phil over a decade ago, Lio has grown into a world-class musician. Over the years, he has worked with top orchestras around the globe, including The Philadelphia Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Radio France Philharmonic, Seoul Philharmonic, NHK Symphony, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony and the Moscow Philharmonic.
Lio believes that his international experiences have enriched his artistic journey. “I have learned more about music, and my approach has also evolved gradually – the way I think and internalise music has definitely changed,” he says.
However, there is one aspect of the conductor’s work that will never change: his approach to concerts. Lio says he takes each performance very seriously, adding: “I want each concert to be better than the last one, and that is what keeps me going.”
Performing ‘live’ in the Covid era
Reflecting on the pandemic’s impact on the music industry, including the HK Phil’s transition to virtual concerts, Lio says: “I see this as an opportunity for the evolution of how we perform music. One of the greatest benefits of performing online is anyone can enjoy music from anywhere, at any time. This maximises the audience capacity beyond the 1,800 or so seats in the auditorium [at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre].
“Performing live online without an audience in the hall still feels a bit strange, but in terms of expressing music, I don’t feel any different. I play for my audiences from my heart,” he adds.
Lio appreciates how technology has allowed him to continue connecting with audiences. When the HK Phil’s traditional Christmas and New Year’s Eve concerts couldn’t go on as planned, Lio instead played the piano in two online videos as a holiday treat for the orchestra’s fans.
The HK Phil also created a multimedia experience with a personal touch for the virtual edition of Swire Symphony Under The Stars. In addition to a TV broadcast, the concert was streamed online via more than 25 partner platforms, accumulating more than 170,000 views.
Continuing the event’s tradition of community engagement, people were asked ahead of the concert to send in photos of a loved one or something else special in their life. Those were used to create a collage which was shown during the performance, in sync with the orchestra’s music.
Despite the unfortunate circumstances of Covid-19, the conductor believes there has been a silver lining, as moving performances online may have expanded the orchestra’s reach to new audiences.
“I strongly believe that, because of this experience, more people get to experience classical music,” Lio says. “I believe that more audiences will come back to the concert hall.”
The conductor looks forward to welcoming people back to live concerts once the pandemic subsides. “When I perform live onstage in front of an audience, I can feel the rhythm of their breathing in sync with my music – nothing can compare to that,” he says.
The future of classical music in Hong Kong and Asia
Lio believes there is a strong foundation for the classical music scene to flourish in Hong Kong and across Asia, between the HK Phil bringing together international artists for concerts and the genre capturing the attention of the younger generation.
He explains: “In Hong Kong, people take music education very seriously, and young people show a keen interest. Even in concerts, a significant percentage of the audiences are youngsters. I take that as a very positive sign, because this young audience will ultimately shape the future of the music scene.”
He also predicts that the shift to virtual performances amid the pandemic will provide an added boost to the growth of classical music in the region, as it allows musicians to engage younger, more tech-savvy audiences.
To young, aspiring musicians, Lio says passion is key to success in the field. “Don’t try to copy other people. Find your rhythm and carve a niche for yourself,” he adds.
Although the conductor has emerged as a local success story, he emphasises that it was not easy to reach that point. “I have had my share of struggles – I would practise until three in the morning. ... I’ve had to explore my routes and navigate my own path,” Lio says.
“The only thing that has given me sheer joy through all the ups and downs has been my passion and love for music.”
The HK Phil and resident conductor Lio Kuokman are set to present more performances this season. To see the orchestra’s online programmes, visit hkphil.org/online-programme.
Article based on reporting by Surabhi Pandey
