Sounds of the East – Bridgewater Hall

Under the baton of Principal Conductor Kahchun Wong, Sounds of the East at Bridgewater Hall offered a thrilling musical journey that blended tradition, and innovation with striking cohesion. Featuring the Hallé Orchestra and guest musicians from the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, the program offered a wide range of musical magic that could be enjoyed by all.

The evening started with a wonderful pre-concert talk with conductor Kahchun Wong and composer Chinary Ung, which featured in great detail how both Wong and Ung create their masterpieces. Particular attention was on Chinary Ung’s Grand Spiral (Desert Flowers Bloom), a piece that was having its European Premiere at the Bridgewater Hall. It was particularly interesting to hear how he named the piece, and also how he created such a beautiful, rhythmic sound that we had the pleasure of hearing during the concert.

The concert opened with Grand Spiral (Desert Flowers Bloom). From the start, the piece captured the audience with its expressive soundscape, blending Eastern vibrances and influences with contemporary orchestral writing. It was a compelling and immersive start, delivered with precision and passion.

Next came a well-executed performance of Debussy’s La mer, which maintained the program’s strong momentum. While perhaps more understated than its predecessor, it was no less skillful. Its subtler tones and thoughtful pacing added depth to the overall program, offering moments of reflection and quiet brilliance. The wind solos particularly brought a touch of poetic nuance to Debussy’s seascape whilst the string section added flair and grace, as if forming the waves of this beautiful piece of music.

The highlight of the evening, however, was Kahchun Wong’s own orchestration of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition. In this daring reimagining, Wong incorporated five musicians from the Singapore Chinese Orchestra playing traditional Chinese folk instruments, including the hammered dulcimer, bamboo flute, two-string fiddle, Chinese lute and other percussion instruments. The result was breathtaking: a dialogue between East and West, ancient and modern. Familiar themes took on new life through the timbres of instruments, creating textures that were at once surprising and deeply resonant. The percussion player- Boo Chong Wei, Benjamin- added some flair and comedy with his performance, adding humour to the piece, much to the audience’s delight.

The performance was met with a well-earned ovation, a testament to both the ambition of the concept and the excellence of its execution. Wong’s vision—bridging cultures without compromising the integrity of either—was fully evident, and the concert’s arc from bloom to ocean to exhibition made for a deeply satisfying and memorable experience.

Sounds of the East was performed as part of Manchester International Festival. https://factoryinternational.org/whats-on/manchester-international-festival-2025/

Reviewer: Abigail Pendlebury

Reviewed: 7th July 2025

North West End UK Rating: