Showing 1 - 10 of 10
Viennese masterclass
Life, James Keller, Published on 20/02/2025
» In what must surely rank as a standout concert in the entire four-plus decades of the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, the ensemble was joined recently by acclaimed Austrian violinist Daniel Froschauer at the Thailand Cultural Centre for a resoundingly successful collaborative performance of Beethoven's genial Septet In E-flat Major Opus 20 and Brahms' mighty Symphony No.1 In C Minor Opus 68.
Masterpieces of the Magyar
Life, James Keller, Published on 14/05/2024
» Supported by B.Grimm, the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (RBSO) gave a dedicated concert late last month at the Thailand Cultural Centre to mark the 155th anniversary of formal diplomatic relations between Thailand, Austria and Hungary. Many ambassadors were in attendance for this important historical event in the social calendar, including HE Dr Sándor Sipos of the Embassy of Hungary. The emphasis was, in fact, wholly on the music of the Magyar people, featuring top-drawer Hungarian violinist Vilmos Oláh and compatriot conductor Andrea Daru from Budapest. That culture certainly boasts earthy music of the most profound emotional depth, and indeed, the programming for this concert was an absolute delight for the aural senses, opening with the glorious Les Préludes by Franz Liszt.
Strings of diplomacy
Life, James Keller, Published on 29/02/2024
» With the generous support of the Tourism Authority of Thailand and B.Grimm, the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (RBSO) gave an uplifting concert in mid-February in celebration of His Majesty the King's Sixth Cycle Birthday Anniversary and the 420th anniversary of cordial relations between the kingdoms of Thailand and the Netherlands.
A 'goddess of the flute'
Life, James Keller, Published on 28/09/2023
» To mark the 145th anniversary of B. Grimm Ltd in Thailand, the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (RBSO) paid suitable homage to its chief supporter and benefactor in mid-September with a concert at the Thailand Cultural Centre (TCC), featuring one of today's bona fide classical superstars, the Korean sensation known as the "Goddess of the Flute" -- Jasmine Choi. Formerly Principal Flute of the Cincinnati Symphony at the tender age of 22, and subsequently the first female player to win the same position with the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, Choi now pursues a successful top-flight solo career which captivates audiences the world over.
A jolly night indeed
Life, James Keller, Published on 01/05/2023
» As if a continuation of the joy and exuberance of recent Songkran festivities, the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra's latest concert at the Thailand Cultural Centre on April 21 was a singularly lighthearted and delightful affair, full of playful energy and vivacity.
No notes required
Life, James Keller, Published on 23/12/2022
» The huge audience at the Thailand Cultural Centre earlier this month certainly knew that they were in for the rarest of treats when the legendary Russian-born Israeli violinist Maxim Vengerov made his first ever appearance in the second half of an utterly unique concert, performing Prokofiev's ravishingly sublime Violin Concerto No.1 In D Major and Ravel's dazzling Tzigane, while his compatriot pianist colleague Roustem Saïtkoulov -- likewise a top-ranking soloist -- was also on the billing with the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra in the first half for another favourite Prokofiev work from his youth, the scintillating Piano Concerto No.3 In C Major. Meanwhile a delightful, unprogrammed surprise encore of sheer brilliance also awaited the capacity crowd at the end of what turned out to be a most generous musical feast par excellence.
Happy birthday, father
Life, James Keller, Published on 08/12/2022
» In celebration of the auspicious occasion of His Majesty the King's 70th birthday this year, two evenings of immense beauty and stunning creativity were staged at the Thailand Cultural Centre recently, featuring the brilliant and original music of his highly talented daughter HRH Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, performed with great passion and commitment by the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra under the baton of music director Michel Tilkin.
Crowd pleaser
Life, James Keller, Published on 25/08/2022
» The Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra has for a very long time enjoyed the enthusiastic support of a sizeable, loyal local cohort of music aficionados who attend many (in a few cases, all) of each season's concerts as a significant part of their essential cultural experience. Following the latest outing by Thailand's most august classical symphony orchestra, a particularly ardent concertgoer who follows the entire Bangkok music scene very closely could be overheard stating in the foyer: "That was one of the finest concerts I have ever heard by the RBSO!"
Rising star Bomsori Kim wows RBSO audience
Life, James Keller, Published on 26/05/2022
» Every new generation produces a fresh young crop of brilliant violinists, but only a very select few of them possess all the requisite qualities to achieve true star status on the international circuit. Having already achieved superstar status in her home country, South Korean born Bomsori Kim is without a doubt destined to become one of these, bursting onto the scene and announcing her stall in 2017 with her debut Warner Classics recording of Wieniawski's Violin Concerto No.2 and Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No.1.
A poignantly brave opening to 2021 concert season
Life, James Keller, Published on 21/01/2021
» The Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra presented an extremely inspired evening of music earlier this month in the Main Hall of the Thailand Cultural Centre, a welcome relief for many who suspected that live performances might be put on hold indefinitely at the start of this new year.