He Ziyu with SSO: Winds Above The Sea - Hans Graf and He Ziyu
Featuring: He Ziyu
Instrument: Violin
Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2023 7:30 PM
I attended the Winds Above the Sea concert at the Esplanade, where violinist He Ziyu performed Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto in D major with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Hans Graf. It was the first time I heard this piece live, and I found it both unusual and fascinating.
The concerto has four movements, and each began with the same three-note chord. The chords were interesting and unexpected, and they gave the music a sharp and bold character. The piece didn’t sound like the usual romantic concertos I’m used to — it had a bright, sometimes spiky feeling, but still felt very structured and balanced.
He Ziyu played with amazing precision and control. His tone was clear and light, especially in the fast movements, where the rhythm and articulation were very tight. What impressed me most was how he handled the slower parts — his playing was expressive but not overly dramatic. He seemed very focused on bringing out the meaning of the music, not just playing the notes.
After the concerto, he played a short Bach solo piece as an encore. It was calm and beautiful, and it showed how much emotion can come from just a single instrument. It was a quiet moment that stayed with me.
As a violinist, I really admire how thoughtful and refined his playing was. He showed me that even in a modern-sounding piece, there can be elegance and beauty if you know how to shape the music carefully.
