AS TIME GOES BY
A Romantic Classical Concert
20th October 2024 | 16.00 hrs.
Steinway Thailand is delighted to host a beautifully selected classical concert featuring three accomplished performers, Pongpat Pongradit (Classical Guitarist), Masami Suzuki (Soprano), and Usa Napawan (Piano). Beyond time and boundaries, this beautiful collection reflecting love and nostalgia includes works by Dora Pejacevic, Astor Piazzolla, Joaquin Rodrigo, Villa-Lobos and Roland Dyens.
PROGRAM
Dora Pejacevic (1885-1923)
Blumenleben (Flower Life) Op.19
I. Schneeglöckchen
III. Maiglöckchen
IV. Vergißmeinnicht
V. Rose
Usa Napawan, Piano
Dora Pejačević, a Croatian composer, composed Blumenleben op.19 during the year 1904-1905. It consists of eight small pieces titled with different kinds of flowers and their characteristics; Schneeglöckchen, Veilchen, Maiglöckchen, Vergißmeinnicht, Rose, Rote Nelken, Lilien, and Chrysanthemen.
Léo Delibes (1836-1891)
Les Filles de Cadix (The Girls of Cadiz)
Masami Suzuki, Soprano
Usa Napawan, Piano
Léo Delibes was born in St. Germain-du-Val and studied in Paris. He worked as a rehearsal pianist at the Theatre Lyrique before his composing career took off in the 1870s. Delibes' talent was esteemed especially in his theatre works with their romantic charm, such as the ballets 'Coppelia' and 'Sylvia' and the opera 'Lakmé and they have been admired over the years. Together with Bizet, Delibes composed music that satisfied the nineteenth century French infatuation with exotic oriental cultures. This song “Les Filles de Cadix” describes an amorous woman who nonetheless resists the numerous advances of her admirers.
Heitor Villa-Lobos (1887-1959)
Melodia Sentimental (Sentimental Melody)
Masami Suzuki, Soprano
Usa Napawan, Piano
Heitor Villa-Lobos was a Brazilian composer, is known as "the most significant figure in 20th-century Brazilian art music". His music was influenced by both Brazilian folk music and stylistic elements from the European classical tradition. "Melodia Sentimental" was originally commissioned for Mel Ferrer's film ‘Green Mansions’ in 1958, starring Audrey Hepburn and Anthony Perkins. Villa-Lobos later turned it into a suite for soprano and orchestra, entitled ‘A Floresta do Amazonas’ (Forest of the Amazon). The stunning melody glides like a ray of moonlight through the night, and the underlying syncopated rhythm mimics the gentle blowing of the night wind. Villa-Lobos's melody speaks to all our senses and goes straight to the heart poetically and passionately.
Ástor Piazzolla (1921-1992)
Oblivion
Masami Suzuki, Soprano
Pongpat Pongradit, Classical Guitar
Composed in 1982, “Oblivion” which has a special charm among Piazzolla's works, was featured in the 1984 film ‘Enrico IV’ by Marco Bellocchio. The plot tells the story of a man who, after losing conscience, thinks he is the famous king. Piazzola elicits an atmospheric and haunting ambience in his composition, evoking the nostalgic image of oblivion. Surrounded by the milonga rhythm, the exceptionally passionate and melancholic masterpiece of Piazzolla is known as one of his greatest works.
Invierno Porteño (Winter of Buenos Aires)
Pongpat Pongradit, Classical Guitar
An Argentine tango composer, bandoneon player and arranger, Astor Piazzolla composed the pieces as the third movement from a set of “Four Seasons of Buenos Aires”. The pieces were scored for his quintet of violin, piano, electric guitar, double bass and bandoneon. By giving the adjective “Porteño”, referring to those born in Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital city. This solo guitar transcribed by Sergio Assad.
Prince NarisaraNuwattiwong of Siam (1863-1947)
Kamen Sai Yok (Sai Yok Tales, a Khmer Theme)
Pongpat Pongradit, Classical Guitar
Composed by Prince NarisaraNuwattiwong of Siam, son of the King Rama IV of Siam, which uses various Khmer themes and elements to describe the beautiful environment around him when he followed King Rama V to visit the famous waterfall in the Sai Yok district of Thailand. It was premiered in 1888 on King’s birthday.
Roland Dyens (1955-2016)
Fuoco (Fire)
Pongpat Pongradit, Classical Guitar
Composed by a French Composer Roland Dyens, “Fuoco” is in the last movements of Libra Sonatine including "India"and "Largo", and was composed after Dyens had heart surgery. The three movements are an explicit portrayal of that very particular period of his life. First the chaotic India (before the operation), then the Largo (during it) and finally the Fuoco, in which the unrestrained rhythms depict a veritable incarnation of his return to life.
Joaquin Rodrigo (1901-1999)
Aranjuez, ma Pensée (Aranjuez My Thoughts)
Masami Suzuki, Soprano
Pongpat Pongradit, Classical Guitar
The second movement of Joaquín Rodrigo’s “Concierto de Aranjuez”, the Adagio, is undoubtedly one of the best-known and most popular pieces in the entire classical guitar repertoires. The theme has been adapted by countless musicians since the Concierto was premiered in 1940 by the guitarist Regino Sainz de la Maza with the Orchesta Filarmónica de Barcelona. So many decades later, Rodrigo pulled it out and wrote a non-symphonic work called “Aranjuez, ma Pensée” and is being loved as one of the most exquisite pieces for for soprano and classical guitar since then.
Andrea Morricone (1964-) & Ennio Morricone (1928-2020)
Se (Love Theme) from the film “Nuovo Cinema Paradiso”
“Se”, also known as “The Love Theme”is composed by Ennio Morricone, a legendary master of film music, is featured in the Academy Awarded "New Cinema Paradise" directed by Giuseppe Tornatole in 1988. The film itself tells the story of a filmmaker, is saddened by news of a death, to recall scenes of childhood. In those scenes, he falls in love with the images projected by the cinema of his home village, and forms a deep friendship with the cinema’s projectionist. The emotional melody that touches our heartstrings is later performed with Italian lyrics and has become more popular by the Italian Tenor Andrea Bocelli.「If you were in my eyes.. If you were in my heart... 」 The beautiful song “Se”(Love Theme) portrays all about love and devotion.
Rodolfo Falvo (1873-1937)
Dicitencello vuie (Just Say I Love Her)
Masami Suzuki, Soprano
Pongpat Pongradit, Classical Guitar
Usa Napawan, Piano
“Dicitencello vuje” is composed by Neapolitan composer Rodolfo Falvo in 1930 with the original Neapolitan lyrics by Enzo Fusco.The person begs his friend to tell her that he is uncontrollably loving her and thinking of her every single moments.The ardent love song is also arranged in the United States by Jack Val and Jimmy Dale as its title “Just Say I Love Her”.
PERFORMERS
Masami Suzuki (Soprano)
Japanese Soprano Masami Suzuki graduated from the Kunitachi College of Music, studying under Sachie Nakayama. She continued her vocal studies at the Conservatoire Shobi where she received a Diploma, and then trained and completed master at the Tokyo Nikikai Opera Studio. Masami has won many prizes in singing competitions, including the Judges' Award at the Les Splendeurs Music Competition, the Incentive Award at the French Music Competition and the International Spanish Music Competition. She is a finalist in the Concours d'Honneur des Maîtres du Chant took place in Paris in 2017.
Her entire opera appearances include Papagena in Mozart's “The Magic Flute”, Micaëla in Bizet's “Carmen”, Mimì in Puccini's “La Bohème”, Annina in Verdi's “La Traviata”, Lucy in Menotti's “The Telephone”, and other roles include Zerlina in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni’”, Adina in Donizetti’s “L’elisir d’Amore”, Norina in Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale’”, Juliette in Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette”, and Violetta in Verdi’s “La Traviata”. Masami was honoured to participate in the Seiji Ozawa Opera Project IX; founded by the internationally acclaimed conductor Seiji Ozawa who aims to foster promising musicians. She has appeared on TV, as a member of the vocal group Foresta, in the “Nippon Kokoro no uta”, a music programme on BS Nippon. The group later toured various cities in Japan and became popular throughout Japan. In 2022, she received a praiseworthy occasion to perform with the international classical guitarist Christoph Denoth and they had a toured in several cities in Thailand. In 2023, she appeared in the concert at Hankoji where the main hall was designated as important cultural heritage in Japan.
Since she moved to Europe in 2012, she has eagerly developed her career across the UK, Germany, France, and Japan, studying with those internationally distinguished musicians; Yvonne Kenny (ROH), Romana Noack (Deutsch Oper Am Rhein), Edwige Herchenroder (ROH, Opéra National de Bordeaux), Mary Sattherwaite (Deutsch Oper Am Rhein), Jeremy Silver (Glyndebourne Opera, Cape Town Opera), and Peter Robinson (OHP). Since 2021, she has been living in Thailand and is developing her career in Southeast Asia and Japan.
Pongpat Pongpradit (Classical Guitar)
Thailand-born guitarist Pongpat Pongpradit has given concerts in various countries Europe and Asia. He studied under Wirach Bosuwan, at Supakarn Music School and continued his studies at the Silpakorn University Faculty of Music, where he received his Bachelor’s of Music with second class honors in Classical Guitar Performance, under Vithaya Vosbein and Ek-karach Chareonnit, later earning a Master of Arts Degree in Music Performance (classical guitar emphasis) at the Mahidol University College of Music), where he studied with Suvich Klinsmith.
He started his music career in 2003, where performed in various well known hotels in Bangkok as well as many International Guitar Festivals around Asia since 2010. He recorded for various television shows and advertisements. He can also be heard on film scores for Secret (2007), a critically-acclaimed Taiwanese film directed and performed by Jay Chou, Vinai’s Sea and Athit’s Sunlight (2008), a documentary recounting the life and activities of Thai Princess Galyani Vadhana.
In 2017 he founded ASEAN Guitar Friends together with many active guitarists around Southeast Asia. Together, they started the first Southeast Asia (SEA) Guitar Festival & Performance Awards in 2018 in Bangkok, Thailand.
Currently, he serves as guitar lecturer at Silpakorn University, Director of Silpakorn International Guitar Festival and Summer Camp, and Festival Coordinator of Asia International Guitar Festival.
Usa Napawan (Piano)
Usa ventured into political science for her undergraduate studies in International Relations from Chulalongkorn University. She decided to return to music after graudated and received her Master in Music in Piano Performance from the College of Music, Mahidol University under the tutelage of Dr. Nopanand Chanorathaikul.
She has a long-standing artistic relationship with the Pro Musica international vocal and collaborative piano masterclasses under the renowned vocal coach Loh Siew Tuan. She has worked closely with Ms.Tuan and a celebrated collaborative pianist Hein Boterberg in masterclasses held in Thailand and Malaysia in collaboration with Opera Studio Vlanderen (Belgium) from 2008-2013.
She is a sought-after educator and collaborative pianist who performs regularly with both Thai and international artists, in recitals and festivals, including Julien Beaudiment, James Hall, Philippe Cuper, Edwin Rodriguez, Sergio Bosi, Arnaldo de Felice, Angela Firkins, Gianni Biocotino, Johan van der Linden, Robert Visser, Lia Uribe, and Magnus Nilsson. Recently in May, she went to Palermo, Italy for collaborative performances with Giovanni Mattaliano and Francesco Sclafani.
Currently, she's a piano faculty at international schools and Princess Galyani Vadhana Institute of Music (collaborative piano and chamber music).
LOCATION
Steinway & Sons Showroom
#1F-04 Gaysorn Center, 1 Floor
999 Phloen Chit Rd., Lumpini, Bangkok
ADMISSION
The admission fee is THB 800 per ticket (person). Please proceed to below to register. Upon your registration an email will be sent to your email address to confirm your RSVP.
For your information and etiquette
- This is a free-seating event.
- Strictly no liquids or food should be brought into the showroom.
- Kindly maintain decorum upon entry and be conscious of your belongings (e.g., bags, rings, watches, cameras) around the instruments.
- During the performance, kindly wait for the conclusion of a piece or an intermission to enter the audience seating area.
- Parking validation has to be done directly with the Gaysorn Concierge.