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Published on November 8, 2007

 Sir James Galway accomplished something at the Thai Cultural Centre last Thursday that few other performers can do: He quieted a bawling baby.

That wasn't the only magic of the evening pulled off by "the man with the golden flute", even if the choice of music was often simplistic.

The concert was part of the "Tribute to the Supreme Artist by Great Artists of the World" series being staged by the Culture Ministry and the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Foundation to celebrate His Majesty the King's birthday.

Belfast-born Galway, now nearing 70, has been praised as the world's greatest flute entertainer and interpreter. He can make compositions as simple as Cecile Chaminade's "Concertino" entrancing, as the baby in the audience discovered, much to the relief of his parents.

Also fully engaged were the formally attired aficionados of the classics in the crowd, who gleefully called out "Henry" on request when Galway played Henry Mancini's whimsical "Baby Elephant Walk".

Sir James' immense popularity comes as no surprise. He appeals to the masses by giving a heavenly lustre to music from "The Lord of the Rings", and he's a star on YouTube, where he advises students to get to know the flute, not the instruction books.

He's never taken a music exam in his life, but studied at the Royal College of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, then at the Paris Conservatory.

Galway started out with the violin, but the woodworms got to it so he switched to the instrument played by his grandfather and uncle. He does indeed perform with golden flutes, and now owns 15 of them, swearing by their strength and versatility.

He played with London's two opera companies, then with the BBC Symphony Orchestra as principle flautist, and was soloing by age 21.

Galway is dismissive of the rumour that he missed an opportunity to work with the Berlin Philharmonic because he was two hours late for the audition. "That's rubbish. I was there to receive an award," he says, and wasn't informed of a scheduling change.

Nevertheless, in 1969 he did become the Berlin Philharmonic's primary flute player.

All smiles in front of his audience, Galway can be testy offstage. Asked if he listens to other flautists, he sternly replies, "No. Listen, my level is here" - his hand is held high - "and all the other flute players are here" - far, far below.

Then he acknowledges that he does listen to "international music" from places like Thailand and Hong Kong.

Sir James seemed a bit grumpy prior to his recital here - the first half of the show, he said beforehand, was for people "who think they know music". Then onstage he turned golden, making the second half, after the intermission, for the benefit of the fledgling flautists in the house.

Pianist Phillip Moll accompanied the maestro on Sonata in F Major - which Mozart was obliged to compose despite his hatred of the flute - and Prokofiev's Sonata in D Major. Both were beautifully rendered and drew lengthy applause.

Galway also performed Antonio Bazzini's joyful "La Ronde des Lutins" and "Airs de Ballet d'Ascanio" by Camille Saint-Saens.

The second half was given over to jaunty, easier compositions that Sir James dubbed as "sixth-grade material". There was Ravel's "Piece en forme de Habanera", "Suite de Trois Moreceaux" by Benjamin Godard and "Andante and Ronde" by Franz Doppler, on which Galway was joined by his wife, Lady Jeanne, also a flautist.

For the encore there was Debussy's lovely "Claire de Lune" and Mozart's Sonata in A Major, dedicated "to Bangkok", ending with a rendition of Rimsky-Korsakov's "Flight of the Bumblebee" in 58 seconds flat.

As well, Galway played a prayerful Irish folk song by way of wishing good health to His Majesty the King.

Lisnaree Vichitsorasatra

 The Nation