Opening Concert

Bangkok Symphony Orchestra
with Michaël Cousteau and Sophie Marin-Degor

When: June 2nd – 8:00pm
Where: Thailand Cultural Center - Main Hall

Tickets: 1200 / 1000 / 800 / 400 Baht
Student Price: 100 Baht
Booking: ThaiTicketMajor.com (or at the door)

Classical Music Concert

As the core symbol of the festival "La Fête" 2008 is the cooperation between France and Thailand so called Franco-Thai, the grand opening therefore proudly presents the great classical music concert performed by the famous Bangkok Symphony Orchestra and conducted by Michaël Cousteau. Being honorable invited to lead the Orchestra for the second year, Michaël Cousteau has returned to Bangkok accompanied by the popular soprano singer Sophie Marin-Degor. Together with almost 60 Thai musicians within the orchestra, they will play celebrated masterpieces of French classical musics honoring their magnificent.

Download Programme

This concert will be dedicated to the memory of Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana Krom Luang Naradhiwas Rajanagarindra, in the presence of Princess Sirindhorn (to be confirmed).

Michaël Cousteau

Michaël Cousteau has learned conducting from Jean-Sébastien Béreau, Julius Kalmar and Karl Osterreiche and has been assisting renowned conductors such as Zoltan Pesko in Düsseldorf, Gary Bertini in Paris and Emmanuel Krivine in Lyon. During his career, he has regularly accompanied the greatest French soloists and conducted major orchestras like the “Orchestre National de Lyon”, the “Orchestre National de Montpellier Languedoc-Roussillon”, and the “Symphony and Lyrics Orchestra of Nancy”. Laureate of the programme of Culturesfrance, One Conductor, One Orchestra, Michaël Cousteau has been acclaimed in many countries and he has conducted in Mascate the “Royal Oman Symphony Orchestra”, in Minsk “The National Belarussian Radio and Television Orchestra” and “The National Philharmonic Orchestra of Belarussia”.

Sophie Marin-Degor

Soloist from the Master Choir of Radio-France, Sophie Marin-Degor indulges herself in many other passions: music, dance and drama. She had performed for two years at the “Comédie Française” in Paris before dedicating herself to contemporary opera with J.C. Malgoire. With him, she took on leading roles in Opera and baroque oratorio productions (Haëndel, Lully...), before specializing in Mozartean opera. She has then worked and recorded with famous conductors like Gardiner, Jacobs, Christie, Nagano, and Harnoncourt. In Germany, she has been one of the 3 nominees for “best lyric artist of the year” by “Opernwelt” in 2003 for Marianne and for Armide in 2004. This season (2007/2008), she has sang Mélissande directed by Olivier Py and conducted by Marc Minkowski in Moscow and La Chauve-Souris at the “Capitole” in Toulouse, in Monte Carlo and the German version in Lausanne. Her discography includes more than twenty CDs, the latest being Polyphemus by Jean Cras (nominated for best lyric record of the year 2003).

Bangkok Symphony Orchestra

The Bangkok Symphony Orchestra has the privilege to enjoy the Royal Patronage of the Crown Prince of Thailand, His Royal Highness Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn and is the most prestigious symphony orchestra of the Kingdom since its performance at the Opening Ceremony of the 13th Asian Games in Bangkok. As Thailand’s finest Cultural Ambassador, the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra performs a broad repertoire of classical and contemporary music, while preserving the musical heritage of Thailand. Not only the recording of Thai classics, such as “Khamen-Sai-Yoke” and “Bua Kao”, but also compositions based on the Buddhist story “Mahajanaka Symphony” and “The Story of Mahajanaka”, in honour to His Majesty the King, illustrate its commitment. As the seasons and encounters go by, the 70 professional musicians of the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra have expanded their talents under the baton of many internationally-renowned guest conductors including Loris Tjeknavorian, Takuo Yuasa, Massimo Paris, Paul Nadler, Zheng Xiaoying and Mickaël Cousteau in 2007, alongside guest soloists such as Peter Donohoe, Anthony Camden and Dang Thai Son.