There is a rare revolutionary secret behind the music of the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra's Royal Celebration Concert for the birthday of His Majesty the King.
When the dazzling Korean violinist Ye-Eun Choi waits for the introduction to Ludwig van Beethoven's only violin concerto on Dec 8, she will be listening to four notes that almost caused a scandal in 1804, when the piece was given its premiere.
Beethoven was known as the wild man of Vienna; nasty, undiplomatic, the most unpleasant eccentric. His music, though, while more emotional than the "Classical" composers like Haydn, was well appreciated, and Vienna High Society waited impatiently for his new (and only) violin concerto.
Thus, they were astounded when, instead of starting with an orchestral introduction, this crazy Beethoven started with four -- four! -- notes from the barbarian kettledrum. Although the four notes were played quietly enough, the kettledrum was not a good European instrument. It was "primitive", an instrument for the Turkish soldiers who were always attacking Vienna. What right did even Beethoven have for using that martial tool?
Even worse, the first soloist of the concerto had never even seen the music before he stood up on the stage, and played it for the first time, mistakes and all. Adding to its initial failure.
The world has long grown used to this opening. In fact, of the three pieces to be played on Dec 8 in the Thailand Concert Hall, the Violin Concerto offers the peace, the contentment, the tranquillity for such a momentous concert. Yet, the outstanding soloist and conductor are scheduled to bring unique sounds to the trio of outstanding music.
The first work will be, appropriately enough, one of His Majesty the King's most popular works, the song Sweet Words. The "original" piece was written by Prince Chakrabandh Pensiri. For a simple title, he created lyrics that were complex enough for His Majesty's invention.
Are these "the sweetest words and melody" that keeps the singer's heart "all flame"? Or are they part of "a game of teasing"? Though the melody is "haunting", the "words may not be true".
Those emotions were encapsulated into a song. Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky, like the inspiration for His Majesty's song, had his own questions for the dynamic Fourth Symphony, which ends the programme. Nor did Tchaikovsky hide his emotions when he wrote. In fact, he offered a complete programme to his emotional problems.
Beethoven never "explained" his opening four drum taps. But Tchaikvosky was never reluctant to say what he meant. An opening trumpet call, he says, "is the core of the whole symphony". This, he says, is fate, "that terrible power which hinders one from the pursuit of happiness, which shows that the sky is never free of clouds, that poisons the soul".
From then on, he continues with his problems. Increasing despondency in the first movement. Then the horror in the second movement of remembering youthful days that can never return. The third movement, he says, "is the picture of a drunken peasant… a street song… a military procession… pictures out of touch with reality". Tchaikovsky has a solution to these problems in the finale. "Don't look for joy in yourself. Go to the people. Surrender to your simple immediate feelings, and life will be bearable."
(The music is far better than the antidote, since the composer killed himself a few decades later.)
Beethoven never "described" the piece, but British critic Donald Tovey gave its secrets. "It is gigantic," he wrote. "One of the most spacious concertos ever written, but so quiet that originally listeners complained of its insignificance. All its most famous strokes of genius are not only mysteriously quiet, but mysterious in radiantly happy surroundings. It is, in a single word, serene."
Serene, yes, but it takes genius to bring this serenity to life. The performer here will be the young South Korean violinist, Ye-Eun Choi.
Her path has already taken her playing under the world's greatest conductors, including Sir André Previn, Alan Gilbert, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Manfred Honeck, Kent Nagano and Charles Dutoit, with the New York Philharmonic, Royal Philharmonic, Munich Symphony Orchestra and ensembles throughout the world.
In 2005, she was brought to the attention of Anne-Sophie Mutter, soon becoming a recipient of the Anne-Sophie Mutter Foundation scholarship, and continues to work closely with Mutter. As the "Rising Star" of the American Symphony Orchestra League, she was a recipient of the "Young Artist" European Cultural Award.
The conductor for the evening is known in Thailand, having conducted the orchestra previously for that thunderous pianist Krystian Zimerman. Charles Olivieri-Munroe is well known both in America (he is resident conductor with several orchestras) and Europe. There, he holds a number of eminent positions including chief conductor with Krakow Philharmonic Orchestra, Philharmonie Sudwestfalen and the North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra
Born in Malta, raised in Canada, a student in Europe, Olivieri-Munroe makes his home in Prague where he is recognised for his Czech music. His career has taken him across five continents, appearing with Israel Philharmonic, Czech Philharmonic, Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Berlin Deutches Symphonie-Orchester, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Munich Symphony Orchestra, Danish Radio Symphony, Budapest Symphony, Warsaw Philharmonic, Royal Brussels Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Oregon Symphony Orchestra, Kyoto Symphony Orchestra, as well as our own Bangkok Symphony Orchestra.
His previous concert in Bangkok was a rousing success. With this festive birthday celebration, the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra intends to give a new personality to three emotional fantasies.
- Royal Celebration Concert is on Dec 8, Thailand Cultural Centre, at 8pm.
- Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor Charles Olivieri-Munroe and soloist Ye-Eun Choi.
- Tickets cost from 300-1,500 baht and can be purchased from ThaiTicketMajor booths (visit www.thaiticketmajor.com).
- Contact Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Foundation on 02-255-6617/8 or 02-254-4954 www.bangkoksymphony.org
Charles Olivieri-Munroe.
