Bangkok Post – Strings of diplomacy

With the generous support of the Tourism Authority of Thailand and B.Grimm, the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (RBSO) gave an uplifting concert in mid-February in celebration of His Majesty the King’s Sixth Cycle Birthday Anniversary and the 420th anniversary of cordial relations between the kingdoms of Thailand and the Netherlands.

Dutch violin soloist Niek Baar was joined by compatriot conductor Sander Teepen and the RBSO for a refreshing rendition of Bruch’s ever-popular Violin Concerto In G Minor, bookended by Verdi’s La Forza Del Destino and Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No.5 In E Minor.

La Forza Del Destino got proceedings off to a rousing start, and Teepen immediately set out with his energetic stall with an abrupt three-note fate motif announced emphatically by the brass which then segued effortlessly to the hushed, urgent murmurings for the combined violin…