CLASSICAL / CONCERTS

Music for Valentine's Day

Violin virtuoso Jonathan Glonek, well known for his many recitals here, is giving three concerts with pianist Eri Nakagawa of songs with a special meaning for Valentine's Day. These include works by great 20th century violinists who also composed and arranged popular songs that people loved; and by classical composers who had a gift for writing love songs.

The "Salut d'Amour" programme will feature Liebesfreud, Liebeslied, Schon Rosmarin, Caprice Viennoise and Danse Esagnol by Fritz Kreisler; Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair by Stephen Foster, Estrellita by Ponce, Sea Murmurs by Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Beau Soir by Debussy and Bess You Is My Woman Now by Gershwin, all arranged by Jascha Heifetz; and Salut d'Amour, La Capricieuse and Chansons de Matin by Edward Elgar; and The Girl With the Flaxen Hair by Claude Debussy.

In the 1920s, Fritz Kreisler was a superstar of classical violin. He could fill the grandest auditoriums with recitals of his own romantic songs for violin and piano that never failed to captivate his audience. His contemporary, Jascha Heifetz was one of greatest classical soloists of his day and also showed his sentimental side in arrangements of popular love songs.

Edward Elgar, too, a very English composer, showed a tender, emotional quality in his violin and piano compositions, and Claude Debussy, the towering French composer, also revealed a touching lyrical gift.

The three concerts will be given under the title of one of Edward Elgar's pieces, Salut d'Amour and they will be performed at Hilton Hua Hin Resort on Sunday, Feb 11 at 6:30pm. There will be a four-course, French-inspired pre-concert dinner and a welcome cocktail on arrival. The cost for the evening is 1,350 baht per person. For reservations, please call the hotel on 032-538-999.

In Bangkok on Feb 13 at 7:30pm, the concert will be at the auditorium of Nist on Sukhumvit Soi 15. Tickets are priced at 800 baht (400 baht for students). Call Bangkok Fine Wine at 02-392-0735/7 for more information.

On Valentine's Day itself, the venue is the romantic northern resort, Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai at 6pm. Tickets are 1,500 baht for two people, and there are three attractive dining options at this beautiful resort. For information, please call 053-888-888 ext 8878. RT

Bangkok Post
Friday February 02, 2007