Official description

The Pro Musica Orchestra will perform compositions by two of Russia's greatest composers during the "Russian Serenade" concert at M Theatre on Aug 31 at 7pm.

The programme will feature Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky's joyful Serenade For Strings and Dmitri Shostakovich's darkly tragic Chamber Symphony For String Orchestra, arranged by Rudolf Barshai.

Though Tchaikovsky was a solidly Romantic composer, one of his idols was Mozart, whom he once referred to as "the Christ of music". In 1880, Tchaikovsky composed Serenade as a homage to the composer.

Chamber Symphony was written shortly after two traumatic events in Shostakovich's life — the first signs of the debilitating muscular weakness that would eventually be diagnosed as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and his reluctant joining of the Communist Party.

The Pro Musica Orchestra is a contemporary reincarnation of one of Thailand's first chamber musicgroups. It has performed internationally in many countries.

The upcoming concert will be directed by British violinist and conductor Leo Phillips.

- M Theatre is located on New Phetchaburi Road. Tickets cost 500 and 800 baht (100 baht for students and 1,200 baht for VIP tickets which include an after party and free-flow bar).

- Call 02-718-0597 or email creativeindustriesbkk@gmail.com.