Musicus Fest 2024 – Musicus Soloists Hong Kong – Cello and Ondes Martenot

Info

Energetic ensemble follows Paris debut with Asian premiere of new work

The dynamic and brilliant Musicus Soloists Hong Kong (MSHK) returns fresh from successful tours in Hungary and France this year, and performs enticing musical gems from the Baroque to modern periods, including the first commissioned work written exclusively for the energetic ensemble. 
 
The concert will feature the Asian premiere of Umbra, a double concerto for cello, Ondes Martenot and string orchestra composed by the acclaimed and prolific composer Seung-Won Oh. It will be a unique opportunity to experience the rarely performed Ondes Martenot live, one of the earliest electronic musical instruments, invented in 1928 by French radio telegrapher and cellist Maurice Martenot. With its distinct, tangible tones, this instrument marries perfectly with the cello and the ensemble in ways never heard before. 
 
Vivaldi’s Concerto for 4 Violins in B minor showcases dazzling playing by four soloists from MSHK in particular, while the ensemble’s sublime sound is further illustrated in the repertoire, which includes Jean-Philippe Rameau’s Concert en sextuor No. 5 and selections from modern masters such as Darius Milhaud and Béla Bartók.