Published on January 20, 2006

Nine days of performances of Mozart’s music began in Bangkok yesterday to mark the 250th anniversary of the Austrian composer’s birth. The event, called “Enchanting Austria”, is being held at Fashion Hall on the first floor of the Siam Paragon mall until January 27.

“During the coming week we shall celebrate Austria as a modern European country with plenty of culture and tradition. We celebrate the 250th birth anniversary of the great Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,” said Austrian Ambassador to Thailand Arno Riedel, who presided over the opening of the event yesterday.

“There will be hundreds of Mozart concerts performed all over Austria during the year. If you love the music of Mozart, Austria is definitely the place to go this year. Today, we celebrate here at the Siam Paragon with music, with fashion and with other typical Austrian features,” he said

The Austrian Embassy in Bangkok is hosting the event in collaboration with Austrian Airlines, Swarovski (Thailand) Ltd, the Dusit Thani Hotel and Siam Paragon Development.

Mozart’s music will be brought to life in free concerts from noon to 8pm every day. Several local music schools, including Indhuon and Artas Balakauskas Studio, Siam Kitarin Music School, DNUS International Music Academy, Yamaha Music Academy, Sarasas Extra School and Srinakharinwiroj University, will be performing.

The celebration wraps up with a grand finale charity concert by violinist Wolfgang David and renowned Thai pianist Srikaranonda Indhuon at the Dusit Thani on January 28.

Apart from paying tribute to one of history’s greatest composers, “Enchanting Austria” also aims to strengthen the ties between Austria and Thailand in art, culture, trade and tourism.

“Both Thailand and Austria are proud of their great traditions and outstanding cultures. This is one reason why the Thai people and Austrian people like each other so much. There are a great number of Thai students going to study Mozart’s music in Austria. We both share a clear understanding of beauty and style,” said Riedel

Among the highlights of yesterday’s opening was a performance of Mozart pieces by Thai soprano Nakananthinoo Worakhitanan – a student of reputed Ajarn Dusdi Banomyong Buntasnakul of the Suanplu Chorus, which has won many awards on the international stage – and a duet by celebrated young violinist Thaweewet Srinarong and pianist Pornphan Banterng-hansa. Both Thaweewet and Pornphan are PhD candidates in the US who have worked with many world-class musicians and have many awards to their credit. There was also a spectacular fashion show featuring crystal ornaments in Austria’s national flag colours of red and white by Austrian crystal maker Swarovski.

Austrian Airlines, Swarovski, and Dusit Thani are trying to show the best of Austria at the event. The airline will offer classes by waltz masters Heinz and Karin Grossmann, who flew in directly from Vienna.

Swarovski is displaying fine cut crystal and is holding a fashion workshop to guide fashionistas on fashion, crystal, and Feng Shui.

Kupluthai Pungkanon

The Nation

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