KUALA LUMPUR, 23 June 2009 - The performance of Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5, fourth movement by the accomplished piano professors from the Korean Piano Society proved to be the highlight of the 1st Asia Grand Piano Concert that was held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre recently.
The professors were accompanied by the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra on the trumpet, trombone and timpani and delighted the audience with an inspiring show that was well received by the audience, who included the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, Raja Permaisuri Agong Tuanku Nur Zahirah, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamed and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, and Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Ahmad Fuad Ismail.
The performers went on to delight the crowd further with such numbers as Franz Liszt’s Hungarian Rhapsody No. 2, which elicited appreciative responses from the audience.
The Rhapsody’s romantic, folk-like tune, imitating the sounds of the guitar and violin, was performed with vitality and verve and proved to be highly entertaining.
The charming Three Chinese Folk Tunes and Julie Kuok’s Mah-jong on Stage, performed by the Hong Kong Piano Quartet, were considered a rare treat.
The Gala concert featured the participation of piano professors from South Korea, Hong Kong and Indonesia who performed together with Malaysian piano students and teachers. They played a repertoire of well-loved pieces by celebrated composers like J.S. Bach, A. Dvorak, Beethoven and W.A. Mozart, impressing the audience with their talents.
Before that, 76 young Malaysian pianists had participated in the Junior concert. Although some of them were as young as six years, they gave a flawless presentation.
The highlight of the Junior concert was the lovely performance by 12 children (three on each piano) who delighted the audience with their simultaneous rendition of an arrangement of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.
Organised by the Malaysian Chopin Society, the concert attracted a total of 134 performers: 97 from Malaysia, 32 from South Korea, four from Hong Kong, and one from Indonesia. The pianists, appearing in pairs, simultaneously played a repertoire of classical compositions on four full-size concert grand pianos throughout the evening.
The concert was a collaboration between the Malaysian Chopin Society and the Korean Piano Society to promote cultural and musical exchange between Malaysia and South Korea.
Society president Tunku Munirah Tunku Mustapha said it was also a great platform for local talents to come together to share a common goal, which was the love of making and performing music.
The society also hopes to inspire and encourage budding and talented young Malaysians interested in learning to play the piano by supporting them in fulfilling their career aspirations and helping them develop an appreciation for classical as well as other kinds of music.
Judging by the overwhelming response from both the performers and the public, every one came away from the concert inspired.
For details, visit www.chopinsociety.com.my.
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