RBSO - A13 - Margulis plays Prokofiev Violin Concerto Englsh Review 

    After I start the project to write reviews of concerts in Thailand that I had the opportunity attended by myself. For now I can find an opportunity try to publishing these articles on podcasts for you to reading for my ease of writing. If you are interested in reading my articles I appreciate you for it. But if you're not interested in reading it, I hope this tentative program will make you enjoy listening more of the classical music podcast. In every classical concert held that is open to the general public in Thailand I will try to write about every aspect that I feel to it. Myself will write my own concert reviews as much as possible and I will be honest and not care for any object or any criticism for it because I am not affiliated with any western classical music organization in Thailand. If I have a chance I will explain in detail in my weekly article soon.

    In this concert, it's actually an interesting program that is not often heard. But maybe because at the time of writing this article, it is during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. It might be an inappropriate time for a orchestra to hold a concert like this. Because all of these piece were composed by Russian composers who lived during the Soviet Union era. But I think it's okay, I'm not Political Correctness on anything. Due to the relatively ticket sales times for this concert is limited, the audience are also limited. But there's a good thing because there is ATK testing before concert that doesn't take very long time and you might be able to sneak around more expensive seat later on. (But be sure that there is no one reserved there.)

    The Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (RBSO) is now at its peak, clearly better than the any orchestra concurrently playing in Thailand. In many years ago after Siripong Thipthun retired and quit as the Concertmaster of the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, the orchestra's quality and direction almost plummeted. Many reasons as orchestra's season programing is not consistent, The conductors change varied on occasions (feel like Vienna Philharmonic), And there is no chef conductor or main adviser to directing the orchestra. The unpredictable quality of play also come from many musicians have come and gone like playing musical chairs. Until the year of 2019, when the orchestra's board of directors has clearly restructured its organization with chef conductor of the orchestra. There is a Chinese woman as Concertmaster. And musicians' union become unify with no longer in conflict. Causing the quality of the performance to gradually improve. Because of that it is undeniable that Vanich Potavanich conductor of this concert has benefited from that many readiness mentioned above as the orchestra is much better than before. However if you're in Thailand and ever listened to him directing other orchestra which musicians aren't that good, it's hard for him to produce a great performance (In international standards). But not ordinary musician can lead the orchestra easily by just waving a baton. For being able to lead the orchestra on a good deed that person must has many qualities to accomplish the orchestra's performance when almost all of the orchestra members can trust him the most at that moment. As for now he's the best person in Thailand to lead the orchestra right now. (Different from another person who is known to have directed many international orchestra, but is now become writer and inspirational speaker who uses classical music as a tool.)

    His first performance was Dmitri Shostakovich's Festive Overture, Op. 96. The orchestral work was composed to celebrate the October Revolution that was later used as the opening broadcast theme for the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow (but the USA-led boycott, many countries did not participate in the competition). At first glance they play a gamble, If it's not hit then it's miss. And in just a short time of this work opened with a magnificent brass instrument. It would not be wrong to say that it is his specialty at brass instrument where the sound was loud. With a string instrument that rarely heard and many wind instrument get the big calls, it's shows that it is a very fun performance and full of romantics. That is very clear that I'm not disappointed with this performance, so it's a good debut.

    And then the subsequent work was Sergei Prokofiev's Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19, this time with a German solo violinist  named Alissa Margulis playing on the glittering dress. But this piece that is surprising composing method from the traditional concerto composing style as slow-fast-medium. That night's solo performers might not be the most prominent, but they performed more precisely than expected in the second movement. And for the first and third you can see she playing in a good detail, although not very deep as mush. As for the orchestra I think it can play up to the standards of a orchestra that have a great strength in the romantic era performing style. The same as previous work the wind instrument plays a larger role than expected, it might want to the wind instrument to shine on stage, however the rest, especially the cello and the viola it hits it off, I cannot feel the presence them or stings sections much. As for her Encore she played a hit from the lesser-known work opera The Méditation from Jules Massenet's Thaïs , The whole orchestra also performing along with her. Which she played very well, could be even better than Violin Concerto. It's so deep-resolution even that I forget about the past performing.

    The second half of concert culminates with Symphonic Dances' Op. 45 from Sergei Rachmaninov. This work considered as the last major work completed by the composer. Which looks back to the romantic era by mixing modern-style concepts. As for the performance it seems that the orchestra is trying to play during the symphonic poem as loud as possible before quickly fade away. Honestly even though string instruments section play a lot of roles in this work, but they don't play as detailed as they should be. Instead the woodwind has already played a huge role, it's become more evident. as is see in the concerto is still seen in this work. Honestly, it's a performance that doesn't last long in a sense, but plays hard and fast. Before the great rumbling, the long silence came to an end and the triumph of the performance came at last.

    In conclusion I think in the last 10 years of the orchestra they saw one of the biggest transitions of this orchestra as many older people and newer generation play together that it was difficult to unite. Until it takes a long time to be able to create a orchestra that performs as they should be. Overall, Vanich Potavanich might not be a good conductor enough to push the orchestra to better quality performance. But there's no doubt that his leadership gives the orchestra to push forward. Even though he came from the brass instrument player, In result he heard a lot of the sound from the wind instrument. But because this program relies heavily on the wind instrument, it can cover up this disadvantage. And last but not least, during the past year, there was an MC presenting the program at a concert. Although it might be useful, but I think if the orchestra foundation didn't need to hire him to speak. With or without it, it doesn't matter much.

At last for the score out of ten there it is.

• Festive Overture by Dmitri Shostakovich (8.0)
• Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19 by Sergei Prokofiev
• RBSO (8.5)
• Alissa Margulis (8.5)
• Méditation from Thaïs by Jules Massenet (9.0)
• Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 by Sergei Rachmaninov (7.5)