Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue live in Hong Kong
Satoshi Kyo
Hong Kong Cultural Centre Concert Hall Saturday May 29
They say he plays like Gershwin and I say if Gershwin plays like Kevin Cole, Gershwin must have been really good!
In an all-Gershwin programme, the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra performed to a well-attended concert. Conductor David Alan Miller, a champion of American music, led the orchestra with pizzazz and precision; and the orchestra responded to the genre with brio.
The evening started with Oh Kay!: Overture, and ended with An American in Paris. It also included songs like Summertime and My Man's Gone Now from the opera Porgy and Bess; and Gershwin standards like The Man I Love, They Can't Take That Away from Me, Love is Here to Stay, Embraceable You and ‘S Wonderful, all performed with American soprano Indra Thomas. Indra started off a bit shaky, but slowly blossomed into a very charming performer who beautifully captured the jazz idiom that usually escapes most classically trained singers. While her middle and low registers seemed to thrive in Gershwin songs, her high register was a bit tattered.
The highlight of the evening was Kevin Cole in Rhapsody in Blue, I Got Rhythm Variation and his encore piece of a medley of Gershwin tunes. His humble demeanor on stage belies his stunning virtuosity. Kevin’s gift went beyond technique and tone and onto a performance of great affinity and passion for Gershwin music. It is not everyday that I see the audience smiling in an HKPO concert… in awe, a lot of times, but smiling? Now that is very special.
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5 Comments Add your comment
I've known Mr. Cole since we were teens, and his talent as a youth has not diminished.
I graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy High School with Kevin. We met at my first voice lesson, as he was assigned to be my accompanist. We've been great friends ever since. Not only is Kevin incredibly gifted as a concert pianist, but he is also an amazing director, composer, accompanist, singer, and loyal friend. Kevin is so humble that he has never tooted his own horn. It's time that the world knows about this amazing talent!
I have only recently "met" Kevin, but "knew" him from the times he played @ Ravinia Festival. Not only is he a wonderfully talented young man, but the most special quality about him is he doesn't know he's that incredibly wonderful. In our conversations it's never been about "him", but about "stuff". Kevin has a rare gift of making you feel you have known him all your life, after only chatting a few minutes. He is a true treasure and friend. Can't wait to see the reviews from VietNam. How very proud his family must be.
Kevin has been a great friend of mine since grade school years. Possessing an unequaled talent has always been the case with Kevin. It's so exciting seeing Kevin do what he loves so much and be simply the greatest on earth at it. I always get a great response when I watch concerts of his with friends of mine and later say, "He looks just like that guy there in the picture on my wall. I wonder why?" Kevin, as always, you're the absolute best!
I am so proud to claim Kevin as my cousin.
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