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Spotlight
Interview with Jean Thorel, newly appointed chief conductor of the CCOHK. Where will you be based and where besides Hong Kong will you conduct most of your concerts? I will be based in Paris and will come to Hong Kong regularly to conduct the CCOHK. I expect that I will spend several weeks in Hong Kong each year but I will be in close liaison with Leanne Nicholls, the founder and artistic director of the orchestra. Besides my engagements in Hong Kong, I will also conduct several concerts in France, Ireland and Scandinavia. In addition I will record three new CDs in Denmark. What is your impression of Hong Kong? It is an amazing city with a distinctive and attractive culture. I also find it to be a unique combination of modernity and tradition. How did you come to know such a wide range of repertoire? I tend to be curious about everything - particularly music! I always want to learn more about music so that I can share it with musicians and audiences. Who is your favourite contemporary composer? I have conducted a variety of contemporary works, including those by young composers. I always judge a work on its own merit instead of by its composer. Therefore I do not have any favourite composer in particular. What is your vision for the CCOHK? Though still quite young, the CCOHK is already one of the longest-established chamber orchestras in Asia. With its professional and well-focused musicians it has immense potential. My vision is to help the orchestra gain more recognition in Hong Kong and abroad by building up its own recognizable sound through regular work, sharing of experiences and raising standards. Do you hope to bring the CCOHK on tour to Europe and elsewhere? Touring is important because it is an effective way to help the CCOHK achieve international recognition. We are already planning several tours, including one to Europe in July 2009. Who do you think has had the biggest influence on your career as a conductor? The renowned conductor Antal Dorati, with whom I studied ballet conducting. I learnt so much from him, including diligence, balance and intuition. He was the conductor who first recorded the complete set of Haydn symphonies. Name one of the most important milestones in your conducting career. One important milestone has been the opportunity I have had to study with famous conductors including Jean-Jacques Werner, Léon Barzin, Antal Dorati and André Girard. Jean Thorel has given several interviews on his new appointment with the CCOHK. Click here to listen to the interview with RTHK (Interview starts at 33:00)
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