MUSIC AND DANCE REVIEWS : Hong Kong Philharmonic Debuts in U.S.

Opening its first United States tour in 2,054-seat Marsee Auditorium at the South Bay Center for the Arts, the Hong Kong Philharmonic, led by music director David Atherton, made a good impression in a difficult program. The 21-year old orchestra is no virtuoso ensemble, but it plays respectably, and often with enthusiasm.

This first of nine West Coast concerts, Saturday night, displayed the strong accomplishment of the orchestra’s upper strings, which is not yet matched by its lower-voiced colleagues; the woodwinds and brass seem like serviceable, but not-yet high-achievement, sections. One misses most that individuality, personality and boldness characteristic of veteran symphonic ensembles.

What the Hong Kong ensemble played best--in the program to be repeated in San Francisco on Tuesday, later in Costa Mesa on Saturday, among other stops--was Rachmaninoff’s exposing and daunting Symphonic Dances, arguably the composer’s masterpiece.

Despite many virtues of execution, and Atherton’s often sweeping, consistently detailed leadership, this reading still lacked that edge of brilliance and confidence the work positively demands.

On a similar plateau, the Suite from Stravinsky’s “Firebird” (1919 version) showed conductor Atherton and the orchestra at their best under tour--that is, optimal--conditions. Contrasts proved clear, nuances of expression easily projected.

There was strong polish too in the centerpiece, Prokofiev’s Third Piano Concerto, wherein the Taiwanese-born Edith Chen handled the solo duties with aplomb.

Chen, co-winner of the top prize at the 1993 Ivo Pogorelich International Piano Competition held in Pasadena, revealed again her many achievements. At this point, the 25-year-old pianist remains an artist-in-progress; her musical and pianistic palettes are still emerging. Though she sailed handsomely through this challenge, the results were neither compelling nor convincing. Chen was controversial two years ago; she continues to be so today.