For celebrity violinist David Garrett, performing in Hong Kong is always special, because it was the city that set him on the path to becoming a global phenomenon with a rock-star following.
Until today, he says, the memories of that first visit more than 15 years ago remain “engraved in my head”.
Back in 2007, Garrett had just recorded his first crossover album, Virtuoso. Although he already had an established career as a classical violinist, his then-record label wasn’t sure about his new, pop-inspired material.
To test demand, they sent him to play in smaller markets outside Europe and the United States.
“Basically, it was a try-out. Hong Kong was the first place they sent me,” recalls Garrett, now 42.
“I was standing on the stage in one of those huge malls, which looked a bit like an Italian theatre, you know, and people were just standing there listening while I was playing some material from Virtuoso … It was actually quite fun,” he says.