Fang struts stage like Mick Jagger

Hannah Fang and Friends, Regent on Broadway, Palmerston North, Saturday. Reviewed by Malcolm Hopwood

Hannah Fang’s standout concert at the Regent on Broadway had dimensions rarely achieved by a solo performer.

Not only did she successfully move from classical to popular to heavy metal but she was engaging, visual and strutted the stage like Mick Jagger with a violin. Fang is a violinist of rare quality and she attacked the theme from Game Of Thrones with the same artistry and assurance as Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah and Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball.

Fang was on stage the entire concert and imbued each number with charisma and energy. This was no stuffy performance. She owned the stage and danced its dimensions to instil her own creativity in each number.

There were many highlights. Sweet Child o’ Mine and Dead Limit were entirely satisfying. Her tone was assured. Last Of The Mohicans with the Manawatu¯ Scottish Pipe Band ended too soon and demanded an encore.

This Is Me from The Greatest Showman had lasting beauty and was played with the confidence of an established artist.

Yet Hannah Fang and Friends wasn’t faultless. The movement from Bruch’s violin concerto with the Manawatu¯ Sinfonia needed more authority, some violin numbers lacked a dynamic ending and Fang’s four-member band could have interacted with her more.

A compere would have benefited the evening to explain the music, showcase the talent and cover some messy moments when performers moved on and off the stage.

But Fang’s talent and charisma couldn’t be denied. She was a star and her performance was enhanced by quality support artists and Regent pyrotechnics.