Showing 1 - 10 of 17
Brahms brought to Bangkok
Life, Harry Rolnick, Published on 21/05/2018
» Two favourite artists of Bangkok audiences are taking on two mighty works from the late Romantic era at the end of May. Mayuko Kamio will perform Brahms Violin Concerto with her 1731 "Rubenoff" Stradivarius, while Michael Tilkin, with a mere stick in his left hand, will perform Jan Sibelius's Second Symphony.
Taiwanese pianist Weiyin Chen returns to play with RBSO
Life, Harry Rolnick, Published on 03/04/2018
» Few names in classical music are as dreaded and venerated as New York Times reviewer Anthony Tommasini. The lanky writer, expressionless, tieless, inevitably seated on the aisle in Carnegie Hall or Lincoln Center, gives little indication of his thoughts during a performance. But within 24 hours, his printed judgements will have reached millions. And like a Roman Emperor signalling "up" or "down" to a gladiator, his opinions to a young artist can mean professional life or death.
Bangkok to hear Bartók's Viola Concerto
Life, Harry Rolnick, Published on 13/03/2018
» So many jokes have been written about the viola that it really should be pitied. Without a look of its own (the viola resembles an overweight violin), without its own sound quality (it shares three-quarter of the violin notes, three-quarter of the cello notes), stuck behind the violins in the orchestra, the poor viola is hardly singular. In fact, when Hector Berlioz wrote solo viola into the Harold In Italy symphony, Paganini refused to play it. And the conductor Sir Thomas Beecham, noting how the viola shared the looks and music of other stringed instruments, called the instrument "the hermaphrodite of the orchestra".
A mix of musical temperaments
Life, Harry Rolnick, Published on 20/02/2018
» The three composers for the next Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, on Feb 28, could not be more dissimilar personally — or more alike historically.
'The Great American Songbook' in Bangkok
Life, Harry Rolnick, Published on 25/01/2018
» Never, ever call American popular melodies mere light music.
Valentina Lisitsa's outspoken words, outgoing music
Life, Harry Rolnick, Published on 12/12/2017
» Wonderful news for music lovers who hate Tchaikovsky symphonies. On Friday, the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (RBSO) will be performing a Tchaikovsky symphony.
The violinist whose bow is a sabre
Life, Harry Rolnick, Published on 23/11/2017
» Attention Insurance Companies: Boris Belkin is coming to Bangkok on Nov 28, and nothing anywhere in the path of his knife-sharp bow is safe. Not the Bangkok Concert Hall, not Michael Tilkin, the conductor of the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra or any buildings in the area are liable to shake, rattle and roll.
Brahms, Schumann and a royal tribute
Life, Harry Rolnick, Published on 06/07/2017
» On July 15, the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra will feature two giants of 19th century musical history and one world premiere tribute to Thailand's late monarch.
Russian extremes and caviar dreams
Life, Harry Rolnick, Published on 18/05/2017
» 'I have every reason to go insane," said Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky in a typical mood, "except for music."
A rare piece of Tchaikovsky
Life, Harry Rolnick, Published on 27/04/2017
» So you thought you knew everything about Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky? His morbid Pathetique? His romantic Romeo And Juliet? His warmongering 1812 Overture? Well, think again. Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra is offering on Friday a major work by Tchaikovsky which is rarely played these days -- but counts, in its original form, as one of the most celebrated works in the history of music.