The Works：Interview with Berlin Philharmonic Simon Rattle & in the studio: The Sousaphonics

Classical music fans were in for a double treat last weekend. For one thing, the acclaimed Berlin Philharmonic was in town for concerts on Friday and Saturday at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Also, on Saturday night, just across the harbour at the Central Harbourfront Promenade, the Hong Kong Philharmonic was putting on its annual mega event, Symphony Under the Stars. Both concerts offered the chance, rare in Hong Kong, to enjoy classical music in the open air. Tickets for the Berlin Philharmonic concerts, some of which were just under HK$3,000, sold like hot cakes. But for those who couldn’t afford them, or missed out on buying, there were outdoor live relays to see. Simon Rattle first conducted the Berlin Philharmonic in 1987 with Gustav Mahler’s Sixth Symphony. He’s been the orchestra’s Chief Conductor since 2002, but now, after 15 years, he’s about to leave. Hong Kong pianist Jacqueline Leung went to talk to him for The Works.
The sousaphone is named after John Philip Sousa, bandmaster and composer of so many marches - including ”The Stars and Stripes Forever” - he was nicknamed “The March King”. He had early versions of the sousaphone made according to his specifications in the late 19th century. Although he wanted it primarily for its ease of use as a marching band instrument, it also became popular with jazz musicians in the 1920s. The Australian ensemble, The Sousaphonics, naturally includes the instrument, but they also perform on trumpet, trombone, tenor saxophone, flute, drums and percussion. They were here in Hong Kong last week, and they spoke to Ben Pelletier.