RBSO delivers a heroic Marvel concert
From the opening notes of Alan Silvestri's iconic Avengers Theme, the atmosphere in the hall turned instantly electric. Maestro Vanich led the orchestra with precision and infectious enthusiasm. The RBSO strings surged with purpose and the brass and percussion rang with heroic triumph. What followed was a curated programme that traversed the history of Marvel's most beloved characters and stories. Silvestri's sweeping melodies from Avengers: Endgame stirred deep nostalgia, while the menacing march from Age Of Ultron brought a darker gravitas to the first half. Particularly striking was the Iron Man Suite, where electric guitar riffs fused seamlessly with orchestral textures, paying homage to the rock-driven swagger of Tony Stark with thrilling verve. In Black Panther, Ludwig Göransson's Afro-futurist score pulsed with polyrhythms and melodic layering, brought vividly to life by the chorus, RBSO's woodwinds and drums. The Doctor Strange suite brought a surreal, mystical edge, as harp glissandi and bending harmonics painted a world beyond time and logic.
Equally captivating were selections from Thor, Captain Marvel and Guardians Of The Galaxy, each offering its own distinct tone -- from the nobility of Asgard to the bright, retro-tinged adventures. The orchestra embraced these contrasting worlds with impressive versatility, shifting styles and dynamics with superhero-like agility.
Beyond the music, what truly elevated the evening was the immense joy created by the performances. Cheers erupted at familiar motifs and many attendees, young fans and enthusiastic Marvel fans were immersed in a shared memory of the movies. In a world where orchestral music continually evolves, "MARVEL Movie Music" was a resounding success.
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Bangkok Post
5 days ago
- Bangkok Post
A night of titans
Decidedly heroic music was the order of the day earlier this month at the Thailand Cultural Centre as the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra marked the auspicious occasion of Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Krom Phra Srisavangavadhana's birthday. There is arguably no symphony mightier than Beethoven's third, the Eroica, and this most fitting choice of programming welcomed a fresh new maestro to the RBSO podium -- charismatic Polish conductor Slawomir Grenda, who has also been principal bassist of the great Munich Philharmonic since 1996. Balanced in the first half by an exceptionally impressive showcase of two of Thailand's master musicians, pianist Jayanat Wisaijorn and double bassist Nattawut Sungkasaro performed Rachmaninoff's famous Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini and a slightly lesser known treat -- the Double Bass Concerto In F-sharp Minor by Serge Koussevitsky. That composer premiered this challenging staple of the bass repertoire himself in 1905, and it is notable for the raised scordatura tuning by a whole tone, with the extra tension facilitating projection in venues as large as the Thailand Cultural Centre. Of all his phenomenal piano creations, Rachmaninoff's iconic Paganini Rhapsody is perhaps captures the imagination more than any other and Jayanat's superlative rendition of it certainly reaffirmed this perception, as it thrilled an enthusiastically engaged audience. He possesses a consummate mastery at the keyboard, which is the result of arduous studies with the great virtuoso and pedagogue Emile Naoumoff -- the last disciple of none other than the legendary Nadia Boulanger. An alumnus of the prestigious Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, Jayanat has the rounded personality of an exceptional artist who can certainly hold his own on the international stage. This warhorse is one of those perennial favourites which never becomes any easier for soloists or indeed an orchestra and conductor -- the score is as filigree as it is multifaceted and the 24 variations demand intense levels of concentration and focus. Indeed, Rachmaninoff himself acknowledged having occasional problems with some of the variations of his own spectacular masterpiece, despite famously having perhaps the largest hand-span of any pianist in history. However, from the word go Jayanat assumed absolute control of the knotty material, reassuring the attentive patrons that a musically profound and technically assured interpretation was just about to unfold, and indeed it did. The theme and 24 variations are of course based on Paganini's instantly recognisable 24th Caprice In A Minor for solo violin, and the combined violin sections introduced the legendary 1st position theme neatly and without fuss, setting on their course variations 1-10, which effectively constitute an extended 1st section. Grenda kept the soloist and RBSO rhythmically tight in expert fashion, attentive to all details in the score with all orchestral interjections precise and clear, whilst Jayanat himself was note-perfect. Delicate pianistic touch is the essence of the next, much slower and reflective eight variations, which as a group constitute the 2nd section of the piece. Variation 18, of course, is one of those irresistible melodies which, when heard, strikes one as surely among the most iconic in all music history. A slowed-down melodic inversion of the Paganini theme, both soloist and orchestra were obviously full of emotion at this crucial moment. Variations 19-24 correspondingly constitute what can be thought of as the finale of this work, increasingly frenetic and furiously active as the masterpiece builds to its almighty statement of the "Dies Irae" -- an entertaining demonic nod to the devilish Paganini himself! RBSO double bass principal Nattawut Sungkasaro is a genuinely incredible young virtuoso of his instrument, and as a highly privileged beneficiary of a Princess Sirivannavari Cultivated Arts Foundation Scholarship has received the best education at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna. One of his many esteemed tutors is Slawomir Grenda himself -- hence their pairing in this programme -- and their partnership produced a beautifully etched interpretation. Nattawut's awe-inspiring technical facility is married to the deepest levels of musicality and the RBSO is most fortunate to count him among their ranks. Also, Claudio Abbado's hand-picked choice as principal bassist for the top-notch Lucerne Festival Orchestra since 2006, Grenda like his Thai disciple is a formidable musical personality. Returning to the podium after the interval to conduct the Eroica from memory (like Karajan and indeed Abbado, without the need for stand or score) he certainly brought many of those familiar tropes from the Central European tradition to his energetic interpretation. This was a powerful and gripping performance from first to last, with some delightful touches of subtlety. For example, amid the predominance of thick, heavy textures and long sustained fortissimos, near the start of the Finale, it was perfectly charming to hear as a counterbalance that brief string quartet variation as stipulated by the genius creator himself.
Bangkok Post
17-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
RBSO delivers a heroic Marvel concert
The Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, following the anime music concert, displayed another range of dynamic breadth with two incredible performances of "MARVEL Movie Music" -- a concert that showcased the cinematic experience of superheroes through orchestral soundtracks. Under the baton of resident conductor Vanich Potavanich, the RBSO delivered a thunderous delivery of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. From the opening notes of Alan Silvestri's iconic Avengers Theme, the atmosphere in the hall turned instantly electric. Maestro Vanich led the orchestra with precision and infectious enthusiasm. The RBSO strings surged with purpose and the brass and percussion rang with heroic triumph. What followed was a curated programme that traversed the history of Marvel's most beloved characters and stories. Silvestri's sweeping melodies from Avengers: Endgame stirred deep nostalgia, while the menacing march from Age Of Ultron brought a darker gravitas to the first half. Particularly striking was the Iron Man Suite, where electric guitar riffs fused seamlessly with orchestral textures, paying homage to the rock-driven swagger of Tony Stark with thrilling verve. In Black Panther, Ludwig Göransson's Afro-futurist score pulsed with polyrhythms and melodic layering, brought vividly to life by the chorus, RBSO's woodwinds and drums. The Doctor Strange suite brought a surreal, mystical edge, as harp glissandi and bending harmonics painted a world beyond time and logic. Equally captivating were selections from Thor, Captain Marvel and Guardians Of The Galaxy, each offering its own distinct tone -- from the nobility of Asgard to the bright, retro-tinged adventures. The orchestra embraced these contrasting worlds with impressive versatility, shifting styles and dynamics with superhero-like agility. Beyond the music, what truly elevated the evening was the immense joy created by the performances. Cheers erupted at familiar motifs and many attendees, young fans and enthusiastic Marvel fans were immersed in a shared memory of the movies. In a world where orchestral music continually evolves, "MARVEL Movie Music" was a resounding success.
Bangkok Post
14-07-2025
- Bangkok Post
RBSO set to honour HM the King's birthday
In celebration of the auspicious occasion of HM the King's birthday, the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (RBSO) presents "Royal Celebration Eternal Grace", a memorable evening of music and dance, in the Main Hall of Thailand Cultural Centre, Ratchadaphisek Road, on Thursday, at 7.30pm. Under the direction of returning Dutch conductor Sander Teepen, the concert will open with Giuseppe Verdi's stirring Nabucco Overture, a dramatic and triumphant work that sets the tone for the night. The first half continues with Cello Concerto In E Minor, Op 85, the last major work Edward Elgar composed in 1919, after the end of World War I. It's been hailed today as one of the most beloved works in the cello repertoire. The atmosphere of the piece reflects the loss, sadness and fragility of the human mind but, at the same time, it also contains profound beauty and a spark of hope. The piece will be performed by the distinguished Johan van Iersel, assistant principal cellist of the Netherlands' Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. The second half of the programme will shift to the world of myth and movement, beginning with Igor Stravinsky's spellbinding Firebird Suite (1919 Version), a vivid and colourful orchestral work rooted in Russian folklore. The evening will conclude in a grand style with Bolero: Music And Dance Performance, a contemporary performance that fuses powerful music with expressive movement. A unique collaboration by artists from PCK Dance (UK), Bangkok City Ballet and the RBSO, this show reimagines Maurice Ravel's iconic classical composition Boléro through a contemporary lens, featuring choreography by James Pett and Travis Clausen-Knight of PCK Dance. Both choreographers will also perform on stage alongside professional dancers from Bangkok City Ballet, accompanied by a full live orchestra led by the RBSO. Tickets cost 400, 800, 1,000, 1,500 and 2,000 baht (half price for students and seniors aged above 60) from
