The Hard Rock Hotel and local residents celebrated the music of Franz Schubert at a “Schubertiade” held at the beachfront resort.
Sponsored by New Frontier Music Academy, Acorn Distribution, and the Pattaya Mail, the Aug. 30 event aimed to recreate the traditional atmosphere of 19th century Vienna.
During Schubert’s lifetime, these events were generally informal, unadvertised gatherings, held at private homes. While in those years many Schubertiades included the composer’s participation, this was not necessary, and they were sometimes held in places other than Vienna, where Schubert spent most of his life.
Aree Kunapongkul and Mathias Boegner enchant the audience with their heartfelt renditions of Schubert’s masterpieces.
Schubertiades in early 19th-century Vienna were typically sponsored by wealthier friends or aficionados of Schubert’s music. In addition to Schubert’s music, they often also featured poetry readings, dancing, and other sociable pastimes. Attendees numbered from a handful to over one hundred. Schubert’s friend Leopold Kupelwieser claimed to hold them on his own, writing, “I treat myself to a Schubertiade now and again”.
Modern Schubertiades are more likely to be formal affairs, presented as concerts or festivals devoted to Schubert’s music.
Mathias Boegner pours his heart out.
Entering the Hall of Fame at the Hard Rock, one had the feeling of being brought back to those old times, with the piano prominent in the middle of the saloon and tables placed around it. Slowly the hall filled, with elegantly dressed women in gowns greeted by hotel General Manager Jorge Carlos Smith.
Before the concert, the hotel served a menu selected to underline music’s Austrian roots, starting with a vegetable soup, followed by Wiener Schnitzel and apple strudel.
After this meal, Peter Malhotra, managing director of the Pattaya Mail Media Group, introduced the composer, two artists and guests of honor: Gen. Kanit Permsub, deputy chief aide-de-camp, general to HM the King, along with Khunying Busyarat Permsub and their son Kanate, who had brought the artists to Pattaya.
Schubert’s pieces, including Sonata Arpeggione, Variation “Trockne Blume”, Rono Brillant and Fantasy “Sei mir gegrüßt”, were brought to the audience by two exceptionally gifted musicians: Aree Kunapongkul, a Thai pianist and Mathias Boegner, a German-Swiss violinist.
After each piece, the audience would give a resounding ovation to the artists, who bowed to a command-performance encore.
At the end of the event, Gen. Kanit and Khunying Busyarat Permsub presented two beautiful garlands to the artists which were bestowed them by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.
Praichit Jetpai, Chairwoman of the YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya Center and Peter Malhotra presented flowers to the artists. Irene Sukanya Thepper, PR executive of the Siam Bayshore Hotel also presented flowers to Kanate Permsub.
The event concluded with a surprise birthday greeting for former YWCA Chairwoman Nittaya Patimasongkroh.
Proceeds from the event will be donated to the YWCA in assistance of children and abused women.
And the end of this most enchanting evening of classical music, the audience repeatedly chanted… ‘Encore’.
Pattaya Mail will seek every opportunity to support and organize such evenings of culture and romance again.
Gen. Kanit and Khunying Busyarat Permsub present royal garlands to the talented artists.
Aree Kunapongkul mastered the piano with charm and flair.
Peter Malhotra congratulates Aree Kunapongkul for her superb performance.
Irene Sukanya Thepper (right) presents a bouquet of appreciation to Kanate Permsub (2nd right).
Praichit Jetpai, Chairwoman of the YWCA together with her members thanks the audience for their support of the charity concert.
Ladies of the YWCA wish Nittaya Patimasongkroh a Happy Birthday.
