As part of Siam Sinfonietta's regular "Mozart And More Mini-Festival", now in its 10th outing, Somtow Sucharitkul has chosen to conduct a rare and beautiful work, Joseph Haydn's Mass In Time Of War, at the Thailand Cultural Centre's Small Hall, Ratchadaphisek Road on Saturday and Sunday at 8pm.
This is only the second performance in the Kingdom -- the first was 20 years ago, also conducted by Somtow, and was performed on the eve of the US-Iraq War. The maestro picked this work in homage to the current Ukrainian conflict.
Written when Austria feared invasion from Napoleonic forces, this mass is a moving work that ends on a note of optimism and hope.
This beautiful, late choral work was composed in 1796, at a time when Beethoven was already one of Haydn's students -- and the final movement, with its unusual military fanfares, was an important influence of Beethoven's late masterpiece, the Missa Solemnis.
The soloists and choir of Calliope Chamber Choir will join this work which will form the main event in the first of two concerts in the festival, on Saturday.
The other major works in the first concert are Mozart's Turkish-inspired Overture To The Abduction From The Harem and Beethoven's sunny, brightly coloured Fourth Symphony.
The second concert on Sunday will feature Mozart's Overture La Clemenza Di Tito and Weber's F Minor Clarinet Concerto, performed by Virtual Virtuoso Award Winner Suttiluk Wan, and conclude with Beethoven's thunderous Fifth Symphony. The Sunday concert will be conducted by Trisdee na Patalung.
At both concerts, there will be an opportunity to donate to help those suffering in the Ukrainian conflict and donations will be presented directly to representatives of the Ukrainian Embassy.
Tickets cost 600 baht and 1,200 baht (including a Siam Sinfonietta CD) and can be purchased from ticketmelon.com/operasiam/mozart10.
Email tickets@bangkokopera.com or add Line: @operasiam.
