Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Overall English Review

    For the first orchestra, this is the most familiar orchestra of Thai people. Maybe because it has been established for a long time and has continued empirical work in news and social events. Also, for me this is the first orchestra that I visited. But this orchestra setback to many political problems in terms of efficiency that need to be improved quite a bit. In the first episode of Thailand's Symphony Orchestra Overall Review Series, I would like to present the episode Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Overall Review (RBSO).

Brief history. The Orchestra originally had its roots in Pro Musica, a string quartet band, since in 1958. Later, in 1982, a group of musicians who had a passion gathered for Orchestra to be co-founded the transformation of the former Pro Musica quartet into the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, under the royal patronage (now Pro Musica has been re-established and still performs intermittently today). Driven by donations from various organizations at that time. However, listening to western classical music was very far from Thai people. From this point on, many scholarship students who graduated from abroad gradually gathered together to form a core group. From the beginning managing the orchestra is organize in a semi-professional format.  Most of the musicians were Thai and Weeraphan Woklang was the first Music Director of the orchestra. Later on, the orchestra continued to grow with a talented musician and a foreign music director. Until after Hikotaro Yazaki's departure from the orchestra in 2008, also private organizations reduced their support, causing the orchestra to continually reach a low point. But the members still had enough capability to have some performances because the core members of the orchestra who had been through their prime recently were able to continue their performances from their past reputation. Unfortunately, in the past 6-7 years after Siripong Thipthan departure from being the leader of BSO. The direction and quality of the orchestra almost plummeted. Since the programing is not consistent, changing conductors on occasion, there is no exact music director to guide the orchestra. And the quality of performances is unpredictable Because musicians have to switch regularly like playing musical chairs. It wasn't good until 2018 that the orchestra changed their name to the current name. The Orchestra Foundation has clearly restructured the organization, with the orchestra's current Music Director Michel Tilkin, the Chinese concertmaster Bin Han, and the creation of musicians with core group is no longer a conflict. The quality of the performance gradually improved. So now in they in period that is being the rise of the orchestra yet again. In addition, the orchestra also built a music school where the orchestra's musicians teach to enter the industry for children as well.

Performance formats and main venues. The orchestra normally doesn't have a season schedule and performs throughout the year at least once a month except during April, which falls on Songkran Holiday. Usually perform at the Thailand Cultural Center. There may be some other concerts perform elsewhere but most of them are perform here. Travel will be the easiest for people who already live in Bangkok. You can take the subway blue line and walk for about 10 minutes, or parking right inside the center with a dedicated parking facility. They are usually displayed at the Main Hall where large standard works and international guest artists are on performing. However, where the performances are small and including Thai guest artists, they will perform at small hall instead. Recommended to sit on the 1st floor for more convenience. If you can't sit in the middle, it is recommended to sit in the back zone. And in addition, during December to February, there will be outdoor music performances called Music in the Garden that have been held continuously for many years. Currently, they are performing at the CU Centenary Park near Chulalongkorn University. It features light music with contemporary music with classical singers. Anyone can sit and listen freely on the turf. In some instances, when performing on a large stage of a ballet or opera, the orchestra may play as the accompaniment, but the orchestra may not have made a clear statement in show program.

Pros

1. They are the most famous orchestra. Because it has been supported by large private companies including royalty member for a long time This makes it easier for the orchestra to earn money than other musician group in Thai classical circle together, as well as being a showpiece in high-class society. That sometimes many Thai people use to listen to this orchestra's concert as a kind of social event.
2. The time and place of the performance. That is most favorable to travel for a musical performance in Bangkok. Since the venues are easily accessible from within Bangkok, it is easy to drive. It has the most convenient public transportation to access.
3. It's not difficult to buy tickets. Due to cooperation with Thaiticketmajor For a long time, tickets can be purchased before the show through a variety of channels. And due to the popularity of listening to concerts, it's easier to find on-site purchases than other places with limited booking options.
4. Highest quality audience Because earlier reasons above, most Thais and foreigners come to listen to concerts from the orchestra. (In terms of collecting admission fees) it got the most educated audience that in Bangkok's concert could have.
5. The members of the group are in the middle quality. Many of the orchestra members are diverse many of them which graduated from well-known music conservatory overseas. or working in government service. The main strength of this orchestra is on the woodwind section with constant members and high experience. But in terms of stringed instruments, although it works satisfactorily, although I think it's not very intense in a European way.
6. Their specialize belong to classics to romantic periods. Because the orchestra's main forcus, including most of its members, are graduated from European countries. This makes the repertoire of this orchestra perform well in between the late Classical and the Mid-Romantic periods. Able to play the piece of the before or after that era fairly. But Baroque works are not very good, and modern works are the work of Thai composers whose nature is not so wonderful.
7. Their repertoire that are already widely known. Because most of the listeners form baby boomer generation. Most of the performance are well-known works, as not many works in the modern era.

Cons

1. Unprofessionalism. With the structure of the group in the past, it was a recruit of members that were unprofessional. Often relying on persuading people within the orchestra to play in a hired manner from time to time. Therefore, the playing position in the orchestra is not certain. Many works require different numbers of musicians. And because everyone has a real full-time job that they already do, some come, and some don't. It is true that there are many graduates of Thai musicians, but it is rare to find musicians who are well-equipped in terms of performance and skill.
2. The musicians have too many responsibilities outside the orchestra. And because the orchestra's jobs are like a supplement to the previous one mentions. This makes performing with this orchestra are not the main duties. Many musicians who have a lot of other jobs. It clearly affects the group's performance that should focus primarily on the group's performance.
3. Brass sections that are often distorted as Due to the above mentions, the musicians are unable to show their talents to the maximum effort. It can be seen that brass sections have a disadvantage because they require physical strength. Technical skills as well as high accuracy especially trumpets, trombones and French horns are often distorted. It is noticeable during the performance that it becomes irritated by some listeners
4. The auditorium has bad acoustics. Problems with the acoustic of the Thailand Cultural Center main hall that is closed in the back causing the sound of the back to reflect too loudly ahead especially from the brass were sits against the back wall. When they perform too loud, it can't be heard from other sections. enough at the front, especially from a soloist playing the piano. And if the air in the Main Hall was very cold the acoustics at the back of the Auditorium are more resonant, so it's easy to accuse the sound of distortion. Especially coming from the various brass, when you can hear it, no one in orchestra will help infiltrate it.
5. Sale of programing book. The orchestra's foundation will sell it for 20-baht per book (and 30-baht next year). Although later you were able to scan the QR CODE for it but listening to you were unable to turn on the mobile phone to read the details during the performance.
6. International artists and guest conductors who often see this orchestra as just a passageway. Although it is not as devoid of direction as in the past, but many times when orchestra want to earn money support, they ask embassy for musicians or guest artists and maybe need to help supportive for it. Although it would allow the orchestra to go on, but it had effect on the orchestra's reputation. Because those musicians they get may need experience in performing in public in order to advance in music competitions or as evidence of going to a higher stage.

Oppurtunites

1. More reputation and capital. With the potential of sponsors who are mostly large private entities and from the embassy who can invite guest artists came to perform also the royal family backed up (That actually doesn't fund that much). Makes the orchestra the most famous of all classical music organization in Thailand. This makes this orchestra as is like the highest peak in the eyes of many Thai musicians who want to play on a professional level.
2. Hiring Good to world class guest musician, From the previous point I mention, it can be seen that the opportunity for this orchestra to be heard at an international level makes it possible to hire special guest musicians to perform very famous or better than another orchestra that can't.
3. Most of the core musicians are teachers who graduated from famous music institutions abroad. As you know, because of the support of many organizations, the musicians who are regularly in the orchestra are graduates from the top music institutes in the country or abroad, unlike all other orchestra. Makes the orchestra's sound more universal than others clearly.
4. Ability to accept a variety of tasks. Because the orchestra is in an independent organization, the orchestra can accept outside performances independently. (Depending on the contract of the musicians themselves) can be seen more than another orchestra.

Threats

1. Time limit. Due to the policy that began in the recent days to limit all performances time to no more than 1 hour and 45 minutes, when including a 15-minute intermission will be for 2 hours, making good piece and many popular events will not be able to perform due to taking too much time. As many concerts has to include the pieces that are rarely heard so that people do not listen to each other very much.
2. Creating a brand that looks classy makes it difficult to access. Although this orchestra helped to enhance the Thai western classical music industry a lot. However, this orchestra plays an important part in the misunderstanding of the classical music scene in the country. because of receiving the promotion of noble people, including the royal family member. This makes this genre always misunderstood for high income people to listen. (It's like the opposite of the very cheap ticket price ever) Makes people feel like they don't want to have much access to live performances. Even if those people like to listen to classical music.
3. The administration as a foundation. Today, the organization responsible for the orchestra is on the name of a "foundation", although it has the advantage of being easy to earn money from the elite because it is tax-deductible and has lower administrative fees. However, due to the slow nature of this system, it was difficult to develop an orchestra. It's too amateurish. There is no goal to achieve.
4. Uncertainty in the number of musicians. Because the organizational structure and recruitment of members are not very open. By using word-of-mouth recruit between the members, although most of them are not very problematic (because the orchestra members are teachers of new depositors or hard to find members), but they can't attract good Thai musicians to play. Finally get into the orchestra as some musician may come and gone after performing. The only really good musicians are the principal and associate principal of the sections. The members are easily interchanged by the stringed sections making the unity of the performances from these sections not as good as it should be.

Feedback

1. Reform new organization management regulations. Today there are more organized way of organizing classical music organizations, especially in Europe. The RBSO should adopt those approaches to make management transparent and orchestra to earn money in other ways than just accepting donations from the wealthy. This may include having a sponsor to see more prominently in the programing book or being read out in front of the stage, such as showing signs in the arena. or car parked in front of the main hall, etc.
2. Aim for more professionalism. Since the change of the new organization in 2018 onwards However, the nature of the orchestra's management that is still skewed towards the semi-professional is still there. The organization should be transformed into a full-fledged professional. and clearly define the direction and duties of the members. Maybe the members are missing quite a bit but will give better quality as a team.
3. Inviting more world artists. As far as I've concern lately, the orchestra likes to invite musicians who already have recordings. Including the musicians who are compete in international music competition. If I'm not mistaken, we invited an award-winning pianist from International Chopin Piano Competition before such as Vladimir Ashkenazy, Krystian Zimerman, Yundi Li as we have invited many more from this group such as Seong-Jin Cho, Yulianna Avdeeva, Ingolf Wunder, Daniil Trifonov, Rafał Blechacz, Dang Thai. Son too, which will help to promote tourism in Thailand to another level. Even though I think there is a high cost of hiring.
4. Perform more popular piece. From what I can see in the latter on, it is found out that they often perform works that are not often heard. Although it may help musicians perform variety of piece. But from the orchestra schedule that is organized very little concerts in a year (Compared to many orchestras in ASEAN) It ​​would have been better to perform a more acceptable performance, mainly to perform the top 300 most performing piece and this should be enough to attract people to attend the concerts.
5. Having a fixed schedule of performances ahead and handling of official media announcements. If orchestra want to make them more well-known and recognized. Organizing press conferences for the music news parlor media in particular. Including announcing the exact show schedule, making the calendar season, clearly organized as a pre-bundle ticket sale. (As Subscription Packages) It will help to reach more audiences, not just announcing the concerts in earnest. Closer to the show date, it makes it difficult to sell tickets.
6. More efforts to perform abroad. Because the Thai princess who is the orchestra's patron has connections from listening to many European classical music. It would be a great opportunity to push RBSO to perform in some European countries, but it shouldn't be just asking to perform with our own investment. There should be some support between each other so that the orchestra can go on tour to make their fame in the long run.

Recommend Piece I want to hear. I want to hear Beethoven - Symphony No.9 in its entirety. Even though it sounds very simple, it's strange that the orchestra didn't have a choir perform with them for a very long time, so it wasn't easy to perform. I was also expecting to hear Mahler - Symphony No.5 as the same standard repertoire but the orchestra didn't pay much attention to the show because the intensity was too high for the members to be able to perform. Actually, I think the genre of music that they are good at in the late classical to early romantic period is the one that they are most comfortable with.

    Finally, although RBSO is one of the oldest orchestras in Southeast Asia, but because of the unprofessional arrangement of the orchestra and the small number of talented musicians A small audience Supporters tied to you make music difficult to approach. even so but because the future looks brightest from the opportunities given. Including the time that this orchestra has accumulated to make this orchestra become the standard of Thai orchestra performances at the international level.

The total score range is out of ten.

• String: 7.5-8.5
• Woodwinds: 8.0-9.0
• Brass: 6.0-7.5
• Percussion: 7.0-9.0
• Conductors: 8.0-9.0
• Overall Average: 7.3 - 8.6