Published on July 25, 2005

A couple of Bangkok Opera evenings prove to be a mixed blessing

The new series of evening concerts in the intimate setting of the Bangkok Opera headquarters on Sukhumvit Soi 36 provides a true chamber experience and surprises on each occasion.

On July 12 American piano professor Scott Price gave both a recital and a masterclass. Price played a number of short Grieg pieces beautifully. In one of the lyric pieces called “Homesicksness”, Price’s reflective pace revealed a yearning breathlessness.

Price wasn’t quite prepared for the first movement of Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata”, which seemed a bit rushed and lacking in inspiration.

Several other pieces were nicely done, however, and Price’s interpretation of Chopin’s Ballade No 1 was powerful in its intense lyricism and quite masterfully delivered.

Price really came into his own after the intermission, when he gave a public piano lesson to young pianist Channarong Jantarat. Channarong started the proceedings with a surprisingly mature performance of a difficult piece by Scriabin.

Price then invited him to consider what he had done well and what needed improving, prompting him with extreme gentleness to enlightened self-criticism and enabling him to quickly see the way to improving his technique and interpretation.

Price is obviously a great teacher, and the audience was captivated by the magic rapport he quickly developed with his talented Thai pupil.

As an added treat, eight-year-old Yae Ram Park played Bach on the flute during the intermission, while drinks and snacks were served. A truly charming event.

Yae Ram also performed during the second concert on July 18, when her account of the Stamitz Flute Concerto with Trisdee na Patalung on piano was the highlight of the evening. Her technique has not yet reached perfection, but her sound was beguiling and the performance included many measures that were really lovely.

As for the main programme, Trisdee playing Bach’s complete “Inventions” and “Sinfonias”, it really did not work out. The cheap and nasty piano on which the 19 year old had to perform presented a principal barrier: its vile thick tone made a mudworks of music that demands clarity and an ability to separate and appreciate each and every individual note.

To make matters worse, however, Trisdee had put rather too little preparation into what is a major undertaking, played too many wrong notes, and showed inadequate thoughtfulness in conveying those notes which he did manage to hit correctly.

Trisdee currently has no piano teacher: for someone of his extraordinary talent – and he is clearly one of Thailand's most important musicians – this is a crime. He needs guidance, preferably from someone of Price’s calibre.

The evening ended on a spirited note as Trisdee performed a series of the more unusual “National Anthems of the World” and some “newly-discovered” Bach with themes based on the “Pink Panther” and the “Fuguestones”.

More evenings are to follow. Call the Bangkok Opera at (02) 661 4688 or get on the mailing list at www.bangkokopera.com.

Jonathan Richmond

Special to the Nation

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