Twelve members from the string section of the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (RBSO) have just returned from the artistic experience of a lifetime in Hamburg, Germany, having received the immense honour of being invited to participate in the opening concert for one of classical music's most elite and prestigious annual events -- the Martha Argerich Festival.
Regarded as one of the greatest pianists of all time, at the age of 82 the legendary Argerich still exudes remarkable vitality and artistic vision, filling her 11-concert celebration with hand-picked musicians of only the very highest quality. Made possible by the chairman of the RBSO, Harald Link, who has close associations with the city of Hamburg, this incredible privilege was awarded to violinists Bing Han, Chitipat Darapong, Aradee Iamsakulpanit, Kunut Chaloempornpong, Yada Lee, Setthawut Milton, Yanisa Srirojanun and Pattrasai Tipyananukul; violists Narawit Phoomesat and Pisoot Saay-op-oua; cellist Apichai Leamthong; and double-bass player Nattawut Sungkasaro.
They proudly joined the ranks of the Symphoniker Hamburg, an orchestra with a strong international reputation and presence, as guest musicians for two extremely special concerts. The first was this orchestra's own end-of-season celebratory event on June 18 at the Great Hall of the Laeiszhalle Hamburg, a historic venue which dates to 1908.
Directed by their chief conductor Sylvain Cambreling, the programme was particularly exciting and challenging -- Arnold Schönberg's expressionist, one-act monodrama Erwartung, and Hector Berlioz's ground-breaking Symphonie Fantastique. Schönberg's atonal creation is a key work of modernity, and featured the exceptionally versatile soprano voice of Anne Schwanewilms, whilst Berlioz's masterpiece remains one of the most virtuosic showpieces in the entire orchestral repertoire, with a musical language far ahead of the early Romantic period during which it was written.
The 12 RBSO musicians. RBSO
The second concert marked the beginning of the Martha Argerich Festival itself, and took place two days later on June 20 at the Grand Hall of the Elbphilharmonie, a marvel of cutting-edge modern concert hall design and acoustics which has established itself as one of the world's top venues since opening in 2017.
Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique was performed once again, but the concert started with Argerich herself as soloist in Beethoven's Fantasy For Piano, Choir And Orchestra In C Minor Opus 80, joined by a stellar line-up of international opera singers and the Carl-Philipp-Emanuel-Bach-Chor-Hamburg. Conducted again by the highly distinguished maestro Sylvain Cambreling, the 12 RBSO musicians absolutely revelled in this unique opportunity to enjoy one of the very finest modern concert halls in such an illustrious company.
The amazing 2,100-seat Elbphilharmonie is in the so-called "vineyard" style, whereby the stage for artists and orchestras is situated at the centre of the concert hall, surrounded by terraced seating. This was certainly a defining career highlight for all concerned, and hugely beneficial to the growing reputation of the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra.