JS Uberoi has arranged for more than 800 musicians and singers to perform the requiem he commissioned for the late Princess Galyani Vadhana
Four Russian cities - Moscow, St Petersburg, Ekaterinburg and Novosibirsk - will hear "Requiem Aeternam for Princess Galyani" this month and next, the tribute to Her Royal Highness the late Princess Galyani Vadhana composed by Russian Boris Tischenko.
JS Uberoi, founder of Bangkok's International Festival of Dance and Music, commissioned the work to honour the annual event's long-time royal patron. The work had its premiere in Bangkok in September 2008.
Princess Galyani, the sister of His Majesty the King, was at the forefront of promoting Western classical music and performing arts in general in Thailand. She encouraged, supported and gave hope to both established artists and young aspirants.
She was honorary chairperson of the Festival of Dance and Music from 1998 to 2003 and its patron thereafter.
After the Princess' death, Uberoi sought to show his gratitude for her instrumental role in making the festival a regional entity. He asked Tischenko, one of Russia's greatest living composers, to create a requiem for her.
"I wanted a lasting homage that would speak of Her Royal Highness' work and reflect the deep respect all of us have for her," Uberoi says.
Over the last two years he's assembled more than 800 musicians and singers for the performances in Russia, bringing together the country's best orchestras and choruses.
These are the St Petersburg Philharmonic Orchestra and St Petersburg Cappella Chorus, the Moscow State Philharmonic Orchestra and Sveshnikov State Russian Chorus, the Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Ekaterinburg State Opera and Ballet Theatre, and the Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of the Novosibirsk State Opera and Ballet Theatre.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand, King Power Group, Kempinski Hotels and SCG, along with the International Festival of Dance and Music, are financing this expensive venture.
The orchestras will devote half of their performances to "Requiem AEternam" and the rest to other selections.
Uberoi also managed to secure the services of Russia's best conductors.
Alexander Dmitriev is artistic director and chief conductor of the St Petersburg Philharmonic and a People's Artist of the USSR.
Yuri Siminov of the Moscow State Philharmonic Orchestra is a People's Artist of the Russia Federation and for 10 years was chief conductor at the Bolshoi Theatre. He's been guest conductor of both the London Symphony and the Vienna Philharmonic.
Fabio Mastrangelo is principal conductor and music director of the Ekaterinburg State Opera and Ballet Theatre and State Hermitage Orchestra and has guested with the famed Mariinsky.
Andrei Danilov was, at age 32, appointed conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of the Novosibirsk State Opera and Ballet Theatre. He's also a regular guest conductor at Mariinsky and last year was awarded the Golden Mask as the best conductor in Russia.
Also on stage will be award-winning sopranos Zhanna Dombrovskaya, Ekaterina Neyzhmak and Veronika Dzhioeva and mezzo-soprano Olesya Petrova.
An added attraction in Moscow is world-class pianist Ekaterina Mechetina, who made a critically acclaimed appearance recently at New York's Carnegie Hall.