Ask anyone who was quick, and affluent, enough to book a ticket to last Wednesday’s concert by Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra (IPO)—respectively, one of the world’s greatest living conductors and busiest orchestras whose unique and strong partnership in spreading peace messages around the world has lasted more than three decades—and the responses would probably be unanimous. It’s truly a one-of-a-kind evening. 

The concert commenced with “Symphony No. 6 in B Minor”, Tchaikovsky’s personal cry of grief. Thanks to Zubin’s passionate command and IPO’s emotional and technical prowess, the experience was like, theatrically speaking, watching great tragedies performed on the stage. The audience felt and empathized with the composer’s deep pain yet in the end we were left with exaltation, not depression. 

After the interval, the audience’s imagination was colorfully stirred as Zubin and IPO took us to “Pictures at an Exhibition”. Although Mussorgsky’s masterpiece was composed in memory of his architect friend Victor Hartmann, its exuberance, variety of tones, and limitless creativity made it more like a celebration of life, than a mourning of death. It’s like an example of how a great artist’s works inspired those who live to keep on creating arts. Yes, we can mourn; but we should continue doing what we’ve been doing at full strength as well. 

As the concert was held as the opening act for Bangkok’s 10^th International Festival of Dance and Music, dedicated to the memory of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, the audience could easily draw the connection between the robust music they just heard to the loss of one of the country’s greatest patrons of the arts. 

Believe it or not: we listened to the same programme as performed the previous Saturday (July 26) at the Sydney Opera House—and that’s part of the reasons why they were perfect in showing the original intention of the two composers here. Had Zubin and IPO had more time here in Bangkok, we might have had another two performances with Beethoven’s Symphonies No. 5 and 6 and Mahler’s Symphony No. 3, like Sydney.

Credit and gratitude were due to H.E. Yael Rubinstein, Ambassador of Israel to Thailand, whose close personal tie with IPO led to this special South East Asia stopover engagement. Congratulations, as well, to the local promoter International Cultural Promotions, and all supporting governmental and private agencies, whose tremendous efforts led to this grand and fitting opener for the 10^th edition of the festival. If more efficient co-operation like this takes place, Thai performing arts aficionados will no longer have to travel overseas to quench their thirst.

More to come

The second, and main, part of the country’s largest annual showcase of international performing arts will not start until five weeks from now. But that shouldn’t prevent you from planning your evenings ahead and securing your good seats now.

Any must-not miss? Yes, aplenty. We’ve glanced through the programme, and would like to highly recommend the following: “Requiem” (September 15); “Raymonda” (September 19); “Winds in the Void” (September 24-25); Introdans (September 27); Paul Taylor Contemporary Dance Company (October 3-4); G-Strings and Bconnected (October 12); and Inaki Urlezaga Group (October 13).

In the meantime, our fond memories of Zubin and IPO—especially of their solid proof of the emotional and spiritual powers of arts—persist.

>> “Bangkok’s 10^th International Festival of Dance and Music” continues from September 15 to October 13, at Thailand Cultural Centre’s Main Hall.

>> Tickets to all performances are now available at Thaiticketmajor website and outlet.

>> Click to www.BangkokFestivals.com, or call 02 204 2394 for more details.

written by Pawit Mahasarinand

published in Daily Xpress on Wednesday, August 6, 2008

photo courtesy of International Cultural Promotions

special thanks to Khun Jenjira van der Linden