Conductor: Anthony Inglis

Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra

Superstar Mezzo Soprano Katherine Jenkins, OBE (Order of the British Empire), officially became the world’s most successful classical singer after she was honoured as ‘The Biggest Selling Classical Artist of the Century’ by Classic FM. Having sold more than 2.6 million albums, and achieved the No. 1 Album an astounding 14 times since signing to Universal Classics, she has smashed all record books. 

Katherine Jenkins’s concerts always incorporate a mixture of much-loved classical highlights. A favorite of the British Royal Family, she has been invited several times to perform at Her Majesty’s celebrations.

Classical ballet in three acts

Music: Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Libretto: Vladimir Begichev and Vassily Geltzer
Choreography: Vladimir Burmeister
Set and Costume Designer (1992): Vladimir Arefiev
Lighting Designer (1992): Ildar Bederdinov
Conductors: Felix Korobov, Arif Dadashev, Roman Kaloshin

The most loved and mesmerizing of classical ballets, Swan Lake was composed by Tchaikovsky in 1875. It is a timeless love story that mixes the magic, tragedy and romance of Prince Siegfried and an enchanted swan princess named Odette. This version was originally staged by famed choreographer Vladimir Burmeister in 1953 and over the years it has become a trademark of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theatre Ballet.

A little-known fact about Swan Lake is that most performances do not employ Tchaikovsky’s entire score. But Burmeister’s genius not only carries rapt audiences from prologue through epilogue including the rarely performed farewell dance of the swans, but also incorporates many touches that enhance the story’s narrative realism. Though originally considered quite experimental, this ballet is now renowned for its lightness, lyricism, ingenious patterns and vivid characters.

The biggest selling Classical – Crossover pianist in the world

A global icon of substance and style, Croatian-born Maksim Mrvica is one of the best-selling classical-crossover pianists in history, with an MTV Award, a double-platinum album and even the title of Best Dressed Man by Vogue Homme under his belt. 

Having won first prizes in the National Competition in Croatia and the Rubinstein Piano Competition in France, Mrvica signed with record label EMI and his album “Piano Player” sold more than 4 million copies. Among his resume of global performances is a 20-city tour of Japan that was considered the largest ever for an international musician. 

His music style has broken down the boundaries between music genres, from classical and movie music, to pop and electronic. And his personal style has led to collaborations with houses such as Dolce&Gabbana and Christian Dior. 

Tango Viva by Lorena Goldestein & Cristian Gallardo

Having performed in more than 50 countries and for dignitaries such as Barack Obama and the G-20 summit, this thrilling dance troupe from Buenos Aires has earned cultural recognition from the Ministry of Culture of Argentina. 

Artistic directors, choreographers and lead dancers Lorena Goldestein & Cristian Gallardo held the same positions at the prestigious El Viejo Almacen, one of the oldest traditional dance theaters in Buenos Aires. At the invitation of the Argentinean government, the pair has given masterclasses to hundreds of professional dancers at the World Tango Championships. 

While this show mainly features traditional tango music, the group mixes things up to surprising effect with pieces like Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake and the Queen’s Love of My Life. The arrangements were done by the same highly lauded Argentinian musician behind the soundtrack of Evita starring Madonna.

Todes

From their roots as a breakdance team and back-up act to pop stars, Todes incorporates ballet and classical opera to create an entirely new, rule-bending form of contemporary dance. This exciting style of performing is the brain-child of revolutionary artist Alla Dukhova, the group’s founder, artistic director and chief choreographer, and an inexhaustible source of inspiration across the dance world.

The show that Todes brings to Bangkok, “Attention,” will change your ideas about the possibilities of modern choreography. An exciting journey through the expanse of the human soul, it explores the complex relationship between woman and man, fiery passion and boundless happiness. You won’t want to miss this irresistible tribute to the power of love and the incredible beauty of life.

Amidst incredible international success, these phenomenal tenors accompanied by a band that excitingly blends rock and classical styles is one of the greatest musical touring acts in the world. Performing an average of 250 shows per year across multiple continents, they have sold more than four million concert tickets, racked up four gold and two platinum CDs, and released a couple of popular DVDs.

All that hoopla led to an appearance on Oprah’s Ultimate Australian Adventure. Touring in support of their 10th-anniversary album, a pair of discs titled Double Platinum, the TEN Tenors are crowd-pleasers, inspiring favourable comparisons to Queen and Meatloaf with their original and compelling take on rock endowed with classical music embellishments. Or, put a snazzier way: classical that really rocks. 

Irish dance & music

Musical Director: Sean McCarthy

Choreographer: Jacintha Sharpe

​​If you’re looking for fleet-footed excitement, this is the show for you! Irish music and dance culture comes to life spectacularly in brilliant flashes of speed and a joyous soundtrack by these award-winning dancers and musicians, some of whom have toured with shows like Riverdance and Lord of the Dance. 

Celtic Legends has brought a taste of Ireland to more than a million people worldwide, led by choreographer and renowned soloist Jacintha Sharpe. Whether in theatres or on television shows, her striking style wins critical acclaim everywhere. Under musical director Sean McCarthy, traditional instruments such as fiddle, drum, bodhran, and uilleann pipes take centre stage. The spectacular show pays homage to Irish culture and ancient history, and generates an electric atmosphere that will sweep you away to the Emerald Isle, its culture, its land, its pubs, its music and its heart.

Contemporary ballet in two acts

Ballet Preljocaj, France

Choreography: Angelin Preljocaj
Music: Piotr Ilitch Tchaïkovski
Additional music: 79D
Video design: Boris Labbé
Costumes design: Igor Chapurin
Light design: Éric Soyer
Assistant, Deputy to the Artistic Direction: Youri Aharon Van den Bosch 
Rehearsal assistant: Cécile Médour
Choreologist: Dany Lévêque

Your traditional Swan Lake this is most certainly not. Choreographed by the deeply creative Angelin Preljocaj, a French Officier des Arts et des Lettres and Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur, this is a powerful, thought-provoking ballet for our current era, introducing environmental conservation, corporate greed and issues of inheritance and family legacy as motivations.

Combining Tchaikovsky’s musical masterpiece with more contemporary arrangements as he likes to do, Preljocaj, who has received the Samuel H. Scripps/ American Dance Festival Award for Lifetime Achievement, takes possession of the myth of the swan-dancer, paying tribute to Marius Petipa while at the same time sailing in wholly original directions. The video design by award-winning graphic artist Boris Labbe adds depth and dimension to the exquisite technique of the 26 dancers on stage. 

Classical ballet in two acts

Libretto: Valentin Elizariev, based on Marius Petipa’s libretto
Choreography and staging: People’s Artist of the USSR and Belarus, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus Valentin Elizariev
Musical director: People’s Artist of Belarus, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Anissimov
Musical director of the new version: recipient of the Francysk Skaryna Medal Vyacheslav Chernukho-Volich
Sets: People’s Artist of Ukraine, laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine Eugene Lysik
Costumes: Oksana Zinchenko
Lighting designer: Nina Ivankina

A timeless hallmark of the festive season, The Nutcracker has long been one of the most delightful ways to discover the enchantment of ballet and makes for a sparkling festive treat for the whole family. Tchaikovsky’s much-loved music is matched to a story of magic on Christmas Eve, and the journey of Clara and her Nutcracker to the Land of Fairytales brings with it some of the most familiar of all ballet moments.

No family should miss this beloved classical performance with an exuberant cast of the Ballet Theatre of the Republic of Belarus, a national treasure since 1933 that has been awarded UNESCO’s commemorative Five Continents Medal, in recognition of its considerable contribution to world culture.

The popularity of this show cannot be understated and it provides an unforgettable spark to everyone’s holiday season.

Two one-act ballets

SCHEHERAZADE

Libretto: Michel Fokine, Leon Bakst
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Staging: People’s Artist of Russia Andris Liepa
Musical director: Honoured Artist of Ukraine Viktor Ploskina
Sets and costumes: Leon Bakst
Reconstruction of sets and costumes: Anna and Anatoly Nezhny
Artistic heads: People’s Artist of Russia Andrey Petrov, People’s Artist of Russia Andris Liepa

CARMEN SUITE

Libretto: People’s Artist of the USSR and Belarus, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus Valentin Elizariev based on Alexander Blok’s cycle of poems Carmen
Choreography and staging: People’s Artist of the USSR and Belarus, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus Valentin Elizariev
Musical director of the revival: People’s Artist of Belarus, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Anissimov
Designer: People’s Artist of Ukraine, laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine Eugene Lysik
Lighting designer: Nina Ivankina

The scores of Scheherazade and Carmen Suite are among the most perfect in music history. They are delicate, with excellent part leading and unforgettable style, and thus pair perfectly as two one-act ballets.

Scheherazade, named after the main character of the One Thousand and One Nights, is renowned composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s most popular work. The dramatic tragedy of the sultan and his wife was a triumph from its original debut in Paris more than a century ago.Carmen Suite was first staged in 1974 with original libretto and choreography by Valentin Elizariev. This revival thrusts Carmen more prominently into the spotlight as she dances with her two lovers and fate itself en route to ultimate tragedy. Neither a vamp, nor a femme fatale, we are attracted by her solid and uncompromising nature and her inner beauty.

Ballet-extravaganza in two acts with prologue and epilogue

Libretto: Marius Petipa, Valentin Elizariev based on Charles Perrault’s tales and Ivan Vsevolozhsky’s scenario
Choreography: Marius Petipa, People’s Artist of the USSR and Belarus, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus Valentin Elizariev
Staging: People’s Artist of the USSR and Belarus, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus Valentin Elizariev
Musical director: Vladimir Ovodok
Designer: People’s Artist of Russia, laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus Vyacheslav Okunev
Lighting designer: Nina Ivankina

Come along with us to the halcyon kingdom of King Florestan, whose wife has just had a beautiful baby girl. Meet the treasured Princess Aurora, and follow her charmed life until it is interrupted by the curse of a wicked fairy. Here is a case of innocence suspended… but then revived by the magic of a true love’s kiss.

Marius Petipa’s original beloved choreography is interpreted here by laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Belarus Valentin Elizariev, for a splendid ballet extravaganza that will have you entranced no matter how well you know the story.

Adults and children alike will find it impossible to resist this classic fairytale in which love triumphs over wickedness. It’s the perfect capstone to a Festival celebrating joyfulness, optimism and rebirth.