Argerich grandsons make a splash with the Thailand Philharmonic

David Chen and the Thailand Philharmonic

Roman Blagojevic and the Thailand Philharmonic

By Chang Tou Liang, 19 March 2026

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“Chen channelled his grandmother’s fiery temperament but also the tendency to rush fences”

Reviewed at Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore on 17 March 2026

Bach, Keyboard Concerto no. 5 in F minor, BWV1056

Ravel, Ma mère l'Oye (Mother Goose): 1. Pavane de la Belle au bois dormant

Tchaikovsky, Piano Concerto no. 1 in B flat minor, Op.23

Ravel, Ma mère l'Oye (Mother Goose): 5. Le jardin féerique

Chopin, Mazurka in C major, Op.24 no.2

Brahms, Academic Festival Overture, Op.80

Tchaikovsky, Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy Overture

Roman Blagojevic, Piano

David Chen, Piano

Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra

Darío Ntaca, Conductor

Staatskapelle Dresden’s sonic alchemy at the Elbphilharmonie

Mengguang Huang, 2nd June

From the earthy joy of Meistersinger to the sublime textures of Debussy, Daniele Gatti channels the Dresdeners' legendary, layered warmth into an unforgettable evening of pure acoustic luxury.

****1

Kissin, Bell and Isserlis: remembrance and loss at Carnegie Hall

Edward Sava-Segal, 31st May

Solomon Rosowsky, Shostakovich and Tchaikovsky form a matinee programme whose deeper connections gradually came into focus.

****1

Jurowski marks Hans Werner Henze’s centenary at the Elbphilharmonie

Mengguang Huang, 31st May

Vladimir Jurowski and the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin deliver a lean, razor-sharp exploration of captivity and survival, balancing Beethoven’s and Brahms’ structural clarity against the devastating, high-fidelity distortion of Henze’s Ninth Symphony.

****1

Mischievous Pan at Hong Kong Sinfonietta’s French May

Christopher Halls, 30th May

French clarinettist Raphaël Sévère unearths beauty in Nielsen’s concerto and the Hong Kong Sinfonietta impress in two settings of Pan’s antics at the French May Festival.

****1

It's a hero's life for Gustavo Dudamel at Disney Hall

Néstor Castiglione, 29th May

Dudamel closes in on the end of his Disney Hall tenure in heroic style with Richard Strauss' tone poem, Ein Heldenleben.

****1

Alsop conducts a substitute Marsalis symphony at Carnegie Hall

David Wolfson, 29th May

The premiere of Wynton Marsalis’ Symphony no. 5 is postponed, substituted by selections from his Jungle Symphony, along with a disappointing Beethoven’s Seventh at Carnegie Hall.

***11

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Chang Tou Liang

Chang Tou Liang, a native of Singapore, is a family physician by profession. Actively following the classical music scene in Singapore since 1979, he has been a music reviewer of The Straits Times from 1997, contributing over 2300 articles to the national daily. He was also editor of several local musical newsletters and served as Artistic Director of the Singapore International Piano Festival from 2004 to 2008. His blog Pianomania has covered international piano competitions and musical events in four continents. He has a keen interest in travelling, street food and cat photography.

Argerich grandsons make a splash with the Thailand Philharmonic in Singapore