It’s not often that we get
classical concerts hosted in Pattaya and even rarer is a full orchestra in a
splendid theatre; however, that all changed on April 5 as the Silpakorn Music
School orchestra performed under the guidance of conductor Maestro Hikotaro
Yazaki at the Tiffany Theatre in North Pattaya.
Paul Strachan
It’s not often that we get classical concerts hosted in Pattaya and even
rarer is a full orchestra in a splendid theatre; however, that all changed on
the afternoon of Saturday the 5th of April as over 500 guests came to hear the
SSMS (Silpakorn Music School) orchestra under the guidance of conductor Maestro
Hikotaro Yazaki at the Tiffany Theatre in North Pattaya.
The SSMS is regarded as the most prestigious music school in Thailand. It
comprises over 100 young musicians and has a foundation of highly skilled
instrumentalists who mentor the students, along with a conductor who
collaborated with the young artists throughout the duration of the summer
school.
Horn Soloist Thossaporn Sombat
sails through intricate passages of the Horn Concerto No.1 in E-flat Major by
Richard Strauss.
This charity concert was titled, “Romance of Orchestra” and
was organized by the Pattaya Classical Music Society & Pattaya International
Ladies Club, in aid of the Hand to Hand Foundation.
The program for the concert was not a particularly popular one but rather one
that would challenge the musicians … and perhaps the audience.
It was evident from the opening strains of the King’s anthem that these
musicians were of a very high caliber and that they were working as one with the
conductor.
The concert then proceeded in earnest with the prelude to Die Meistersinger Von
Nurnberg by Richard Wagner. This piece was originally conceived in 1845 and
premiered in 1868. The SSMS rendition was warmly received by the audience and
was followed by the world premiere of a piece titled, ‘Chakri Day’ by the Thai
Composer M.L. Usni Pramoj. This colorful piece conjured up images of comedic
movies and was for the most part lighthearted and energetic.
The assistant managing director of
Tiffany’s Pattaya, Alisa Phanthusak, presents flowers to Maestro Hikotaro
Yazaki.
The winner of the Thailand International Horn Competition
2014 Thossaporn Sombat then performed three movements from the Horn Concerto
No.1 in E-flat Major by Richard Strauss. Thossaporn is currently a first year
student at the Music Education Department at the Faculty of Education at
Chulalongkorn University and began playing the French horn at the age of 13.
His rendition was not note prefect and surprisingly he sailed through the more
intricate passages but stumbled a little with some of the more rudimentary
phrases. Yet for his age he performed very well especially in front unfamiliar
audience.
After the intermission was a sublime performance of The Moldau by Bedrich
Smetana. This piece encapsulated the title of the concert and the orchestra had
the audience on the edge of their seats with their note perfect recital.
Gregory Barton, president of
Pattaya Classical Music, presents Thossaporn Sombat with a token of
appreciation.
Lastly was Till Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks, again by Richard
Strauss, which again provided a platform for showcasing the musicians’ abilities
to create movement and comedy through music.
The concert was followed by presentations to Thossaporn Sombat by Gregory
Barton, the president of Pattaya Classical Music Society, and to Maestro
Hikotaro Yazaki by Alisa Phanthusak, the assistant managing director of
Tiffany’s Pattaya, and to Concertmaster Leo Philips by Helle Rantsen, president
of the PILC.
Conductor Maestro Hikotaro Yazaki
takes a bow after a great performance.
The concert was very well received by members of the
community and raised approximately 100,000 baht for the Hand to Hand Foundation.
The show demonstrates that there is, indeed, an audience for classical music in
this sometimes crazy city.
It was evident from the opening
that these musicians were of a very high caliber and were working as one with
the conductor.
Allan Riddell, Ben Hansen, Tony
Portman, Doris Berger-Peters, Helle Rantsen, Dr. Margret and Dr. Otmar Deter,
Dave Anderson, Elfi Seitz and Nigel Quennell are ready to witness a great
performance.
Children from the Hand to Hand
Foundation also enjoyed the concert.
