Bangkok National Orchestra resumes concerts but steps away from power
Audio 02:28
Illustration image © thailandphil.com
By: Carol Isoux
2 mins
In Thailand, the National Orchestra of Bangkok has just resumed service, after two years of health restrictions.
Musicians relieved to return to work, but who wish to distance themselves from the country's elites, the monarchy and the army.
However, they come up against the lack of funding for this kind of music in the country.
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From our correspondent in Bangkok,
At the national theater, in the heart of Bangkok, a few steps from the royal palace, it's dress rehearsal for the 83 musicians of the national orchestra.
At the end of December, they gave their first post-Covid concert, after almost two years of health truce.
A very difficult period for most of them who had to manage without a government allowance.
“
Already in normal times in Thailand, it is difficult to live from our music.
We must have two or three jobs in addition to music, for most of us,
testifies Chot Buasawan, first violin.
We start with around 300 euros per month, barely enough to survive and there with the Covid, everyone had to find alternative income.
You see, I even became a café owner.
»
Some even had to sell their instrument to survive during the crisis.
Symphonic music is underfunded in Thailand, still little known to the general public.
Its importation from Europe dates from the 19th century, at the court of King Rama V. The brass instruments were immediately successful, especially with the army, which set up military bands all over the country, thus offering a salary to the musicians. traditional.
Musicians in search of independence
Even today, the royal family and the army are the main patrons of classical music, an economic reality badly experienced by young orchestral musicians, most of whom support the Thai youth movement which has been calling for a reform of the monarchy and the abolition of elite privileges.
And if most are discreet, it is for fear of not being able to work.
“
You know, today musicians are educated, they went to university.
They think completely differently from their elders.
I think the new generation, the one who spends their time on social networks, on Twitter, is much more liberal, progressive,
says Wynn Rapeedech, conductor, director of a studio in the suburbs of Bangkok.
It would be a mistake to think that orchestral musicians, for one reason or another, would be more conservative, more in favor of the monarchy or the military regime.
The Thai youth movement includes all youth
.
»
The only way out for these artists: to expand their audience to be able to be independent of the subsidies of the aristocracy and thus conquer their artistic freedom.
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