Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra Overall English Review

    After I've been hard selling with the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, the following orchestra are probably one of the best in ASEAN. It is a truly talented professional musicians circle in Thailand. It's one of my favorite music bands in any genre in Thailand. But despite being one of the best orchestras, there are many disturbing issues that greatly affect the orchestra's long-term competitiveness. How it will be, can be followed in the second part of Thailand's Symphony Orchestra Overall Review Series. Present the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra Overall Review (TPO).

Brief history: This orchestra is an original idea from Associate Professor Sukree Charoensuk. Who wanted to create this orchestra as a crown jewel for the Faculty of Music in Mahidol University. (Which Thai people acknowledge as a medical university) from the persuasion of Emeritus Prof.Poonpit Amatyakul began with the construction of a conservatoire to create a comprehensive in Thai classical music education center to become The College of Music, Mahidol University. Only after the college of music was built, the extension from there was to create an orchestra to set an example for Thai western classical musicians and set the standard of Thai western classical music to be a tangible and acceptable career. This orchestra was performed at their first event in 2005. Most of the musicians included there are Thai people who graduated from various institutions, and possibly moving from another orchestra as well. 

    After the formation of the orchestra as Prince Mahidol Hall it is still in planning stage. The orchestra performed regularly at the College of Music's own main hall, MACM HALL. After main hall finish in 2014, therefore moved to perform at thereafter. 

    Initially, the orchestra's first Chief Conductor was Gudni A. Emilsson an Icelandic led them for ten years, and headed by a brilliant Thai concertmaster, Sittichai Pengcharoen. After Dr. Sukree retied in 2019, the Chief Conductor of the orchestra was changed to Alfonso Scarano from Italy and the concertmaster from Greece is Omiros Yavroumis. 

    However, during the Covid's, the orchestra encountered many problems as many musicians absent due to early contract expiration or internal political problems. This caused the orchestra to find a number of temporary musicians to replace them, causing the balance of the orchestra's performance to be greatly lost. Until most of them come back to become a strong orchestra today.

Performance formats and main venues: The orchestra generally performs seasonally without outdoor performances from November through August with the exception of April. There is Concert perform in set in each program, there will be 2 concerts per set at a certain time, Friday at 7 PM and Saturday at 4 PM. There may be 2-3 sets per month depending on the various occasions. The concert is usually not held at the beginning or the end of the month. Generally, the orchestra will hold all concerts at Prince Mahidol Hall, which is Mahidol University's main auditorium at Salaya. The main transportation is driving to park in front of the building. You may park next to the building and have your parking ticket scanned at the concert to waive the parking fee. Another way to travel there is to take on Salaya Link bus, managed by the college themselves, which takes you directly from the Bang Wa BTS station to the auditorium for 30 baht per trip. In the auditorium, even if the music can be heard clearly throughout wherever you are sitting in whole auditorium. But for convenience, should not sit close to the wall on the first floor because the sound will compress us too much. Although the price of seats in many zones are expensive. But I suggest that if you really can't afford much, recommended to sit at the very back of the 1st floor. You can see the atmosphere of the performance more clearly. To sitting on the 2nd or 3rd floor is also good, but you have to look down to the stage, which is not very convenient. Although you can buy tickets through Thaiticketmajor outlet as same as RBSO, but I recommend buying at the venue or by reservation phone to the concert hall office. In addition to no fees, there are staff members who can help you better.

Pros:

1. The music quality is clearly better than another Thai orchestra. If speaking in terms of music This orchestra is considered the most quality in Thailand. Because the conductors received a very rigorous education in the old days, the quality of the performances was very intense. Even though the conductors of Thailand themselves came to lead this orchestra seemed more comfortable, but the legacy gained from the past still resonated. Makes the sound of the orchestra look not much different.
2. Create an opportunity to listen to rare and diverse works. Due to the fact that Thai orchestra are few and the potential of Thai musicians is not high enough, to perform in European standard such as well-known repertoire, which many works from famous composers. But because of the quality of this orchestra's continuous improvement, many concerts that are unlikely to be performed in Thailand before can actually happen. Some pieces that may be heard only in the recording can be performed live in Thailand in spectacular way. For some contemporary concerts, the orchestra can provide everything so that they can perform tasks that many people don't think are realistic, like playing a movie soundtrack or an anime song or a video game soundtrack in cooperation by private organization basis to until success.
3. Pre-Concert Talk Which is a very good idea brought from abroad. Because audiences arrive at the venue before the performance for a long time. And would like to hear various issues from music scholars to understand the performance ideas from those involved including from the conductor himself, guest soloist and those involved in the concert made the wait never boring.
4. Orchestra specialty is romantic to modern period. This is the repertoire this orchestra plays mostly. To be able to perform works that have very high power very intensely and gruelling. Although in some pieces, the power of the brass in need is so high that it may not be able to perform well in actual performance. But the real strength of the orchestra is the strings sections, especially from the violins, both of which are very strong foundation.

Cons:

1. Strict guidelines. Because the orchestra's main hall is located within a public university that has strict dress code rules. Causing people who did not know before may not be able to come in. In addition, the use of various electronic devices during the performance may be interrupted by the shooting of laser light will be disturb that user and those who observe it. Causing discomfort to the audience as a whole.
2. Performance of rearranging or recompose from Thai traditional music. It is a policy in the past when of Dr. Sukree who wanted to raise the level of Thai traditional music to be known. Therefore, the orchestra's Composer in Residence who are many Thai people asked to arrange and harmonize many traditional Thai songs as an overture to many concerts, many of them are very little-known songs even in Thai people. Although nowadays the concept like this is less performed, but still overly pressurized. Many listeners do not like to listen to this work very much because they are different styles of music. It differs from the concept of western classical music that most listeners are interested in listening to their concert.
3. There are few listeners. Due to the problem of transportation to concert hall are far from most listeners to reach and performances concerts in seasons are large compared to the number of listeners in Thailand. Therefore, the audience that usually comes to listen are very low compared to the large auditorium (But at least there are more listeners than musicians, of course). To urgently solve this problem, the orchestra invites (or even recruits) students or cadet from various institutions come to attend, including free admission to Mahidol University students, as well as discounts to student from other institutions.
4. Often less famous guest artists. Due to the required large budget of the orchestra to maintain, most of the guest artists to perform are not very well known if they are not Thai people (With the support from their friends or relatives of the musicians themselves), although international talent may be very good but not well-known enough. This affects listeners the decision to travel and listen to the concert quite a bit.

Oppurtunites:

1. Get the most stable support. Because it was directly supported by the College of Music. This makes it more difficult for the orchestra to face financial problems than the others. Because there will be government agency that takes care of it directly.
2. Support Thai guest musicians in concerto performance. Because another important policy of the orchestra is to support most Thai musicians who graduated from college to have their own concerto performances. To accumulate as a portfolio to continue to expand internationally. However, I would like to expand to include Thai musicians who graduated from other institutions to have the opportunity to perform as well.
3. Musicians have full time performance. Unless those musicians choose to do other jobs as well. (Not a lot of them), the orchestra's core musicians are able to perform music alone for a living (But the core of the orchestra members is taught in this music college. Therefore, it's not difficult to travel). Making the overall performance quality better than most other orchestra that their members have to work in other ways simultaneously.
4. Having a fixed schedule in a season. I think this is the main pros of the orchestra because of the exact scheduling. This gives a certain degree of assurance that during the season you will be able to listen to the performance at certain times.

Threats:

1. Excessive budgeting for the orchestra. Although the orchestra is supported through the government through the university's own funding. But to admittedly, the existence of the orchestra was clearly more costly than any orchestras as well. Simply put, since the completion of Prince Mahidol Hall for many years, the university's request for the Thailand budget is the number one in case of higher education, 35% more than Chulalongkorn University, which come second in many years. Although it is undeniable that most of them are used to improve the Thai public health system. But to hold each orchestra concert cost a lot of money, with few audience members seeing very bad effective with such a huge budget.
2. Long traveling. because the main hall is located at Salaya in Nakhon Pathom Province, which is far from the center of Bangkok. Therefore, people who are interested in listening to a concert from the east of Bangkok may waste more time traveling than the west side. May have to prepare at least 1-2 hours. In the case of Friday may not be able to catch up the concert in time. On Saturday, it may be necessary to prepare as far by noon. Make people interested in listening take more considering. (But on the other hand, it helps filter out the quality people who listen a lot. even if filtering a little bit much.)
3. The orchestra only performed too many large works. This is the biggest threat in my opinion. Because the orchestra is trying to mostly perform romantic to modern period works that use full orchestra musicians. But I would like to point out that there are many works from the classical to early romantic periods that require few musicians that are also very popular. But the orchestra doesn't perform that much. And because with this intense performance and the use of musicians and such a strenuous performance, it's extremely wasteful to have to perform like this at every concert throughout the season. Although it is indirectly helping musicians to have a steady income. But on the other hand, it's cost too much of a budget anyway.
4. There is internal politics involved. Because this orchestra is supported and managed through government agencies. Thus, the orchestra became a tool to support the idea of ​​the College of Music, Mahidol University as well as the government inevitably. As the organization has to support the policy of the main sponsor which is the government in various performances that many times conflicting the ideas of some very progressive musicians. This caused frequent political interference among the orchestra's musicians, especially Thai musicians who were in conflict with those policies. being pressured to leave the orchestra to lose the opportunity to show their skills and that loss of good to great music personnel.

Feedback:

1. Create an official orchestra offshoot. There are a number of circles with members in this orchestra join neighbor orchestra such as the Mahidol Symphony Orchestra, Mahidol Wind Orchestra, as well as the college amateur Mahidol Woodwind Quintet, but none of these orchestra or any musical groups are recognized as part of the Thailand Philharmonic directly. So, the university or music college itself should upgrade or encourage those orchestra to be part of the TPO brand. Maybe to be create a new group to become the Thailand Philharmonic Strings Players, including creating a schedule from time to time. Determine when and what works should be performed at appropriate concerts. This includes creating an amateur orchestra for students who do not study music directly such as a student orchestra, a youth orchestra and an official university orchestra and as part of the college's own promotion to reduce the cost of the TPO itself and create more variety in the performance too.
2. The presence of parallel performance venues. As explained in the brief history that before Prince Mahidol Hall was built the orchestra performs concerts in MACM HALL. As many of well-known repertoire do not require many musicians. Performing there will give a better concert experience and save your performance budget in the long run. If the number of seats is inappropriate, the college may be able to renovate the MACM HALL to expand seating or create better acoustics for better performances. It may cost a bit more, but it can save budget in the long run. For example, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, which usually performs in the smaller Victoria Theatre performs in general, but for popular concerts are performs at the Esplanade, a larger auditorium.
3. Concert Touring in a potential area. Because this orchestra doesn't get much attention internationally or domestically. To make more popular will need the orchestra's tour in more potential areas. For example, going abroad to neighboring countries with similar classical music culture such as Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and the Philippines is a good thing. But as for the domestic tour, it should go to provinces that have foreigners, tourist or have an economy that can support concerts, such as Chiang Mai, Phuket, Chonburi, etc. May go to provinces that are tourist destinations to promote like some orchestra as well but doing it to show the potential of the orchestra directly would be more appropriate.
4. Creating network and exchange single musicians performing within the region. Due to the large number of musicians who graduated from college Including the orchestra has many talented members. The College should establish soloist artist exchange cooperation agreement between intra-ASEAN orchestras together so that their members can perform soloist with international orchestras to develop their potential. Including the orchestra will have the opportunity to see the direction of the orchestra in other nations as well.
5. Support Thai musicians to study in the world class. Although it is not directly the responsibility of the orchestra. But because the orchestra is a product or Output from the College of Music. To creating opportunities and developing Thai classical musicians to study in world-renowned institutions, as well as giving chance to compete in famous classical music competitions, will develop their own orchestra and musicians. And build a reputation for Thailand as well
6. Creating A live broadcast of the orchestra's performance that everyone can access. Because in the past, access to classical music concerts was difficult. So, he College of Music agreed with CAT Channel to broadcast live in every concert for many years (Currently, this channel is no longer available). But since the Internet is now easily accessible. The college should create a system for broadcasting those concerts to audiences around the world. This may be through the orchestra's website or social networking sites. That may include on demand concerts broadcast also, as well that many orchestras do. For example, the Detroit Symphony, with its direct sponsorship of live broadcasts, brings the performances of world-renowned musicians across the Internet. Although the audience is not many, but it is more to create awareness of the world classical music industry.
7. Perform more contemporary works. Although these days the orchestra has perform more contemporary style of music including games, anime and children's works. But creating concerts of contemporary works, such as performances for movies (Related to classical music like Fantasia 2000 or not related to like Harry Potter Series) or performances alongside famous Thai string bands. It will help orchestra reach more viewers and earn more accordingly.
8. Producing more recordings from mid-range record labels. Although the orchestra has already recorded numbers of recording, most of them are original Thai traditional works. But to making more recording works that are rare to hear and are not popular works. By being hired by a not very famous label by bringing in a solo artist from Asia or in Europe in a one-off pay-form, with no Royalty-fee will continue to increase the reputation of the orchestra as a brand.

Recommend Piece I want to hear: Due to the abundance of resources the orchestra has, there are many works that want to see that require a lot of energy for the orchestra such as Mahler Symphony No.8 "Symphony of a Thousand", Saint-Saëns Symphony No. 3 Organ Symphony, Requiem by many composers. Or maybe playing a full opera once would be nice. And at one point the orchestra had the idea to performing all Beethoven's Symphony within 2 days in 2020 before canceling the entire season. I would like to bring this idea back next year for the 200th anniversary of premiering his Symphony No. 9 (in May 2024).

    In the end, if I had to choose if listening to the only live music organization in Thailand, including if I had to introduce classical orchestra to foreigners, this orchestra would be the one I choose. With a very high orchestra building effort with the absolute support from many parties. Also, Diversity in performances that are accessible. Although this orchestra may not be established for a long time, but for those who like to listen to classical music in our country. This orchestra is an important choice to gain access to world-class music and I believe it is an important milestone to continue to showcase the potential of Thai western classical music on a global scale. In the next episode, I may not present a single orchestra, but several orchestras that are tied only to one person, Somtow Sucharitkul and his youth musicians.

The total score range is out of ten:

• String: 8.5 - 9.0
• Woodwinds: 8.5 - 9.5
• Brass: 7.5 - 8.5
• Percussion: 8.0 - 9.0
• Conductors: 8.5 - 9.0
• Overall Average:  8.2 - 9.0