I love the violin for its incredible emotive range. With a violin in hand, a master can paint so many pictures: a romp through a field, a sun-dappled parlour, a stately march, a manic pandemonium. Or nature in full bloom, as was captured in this year’s theme for the Hong Kong International Chamber Music Festival 2010 – ‘music in nature’.

I attended the Gala Opening and Closing Concerts, both of which took place in early July at City Hall. Taking my seat in the Concert Hall, I observed a varied audience, ranging from grandpas to children and from business casual to leopard print. The musicians gathered were equally varied, with some from Europe joining others from Hong Kong and China.

Together, they delivered programmes that featured mostly string ensembles, although several other instruments were included as well. The pieces fit well with this year’s theme, perhaps with the exception of Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No. 2 in E minor, Op. 67, which appeared in the Closing Concert. But I am getting ahead of myself.

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