A Discovery

19th and 21st October

Yevheny Hepliuk, piano

Friday 19th October, 6pm

Bach: English Suite, no.3 in G Minor BWV 808 

Mozart: Sonata in C major, K545

Beethoven: Moonlight Sonata, No. 14 in C♯ minor "Quasi una fantasia", Op. 27, No. 2 

Schubert: Sonata in A minor, op. 143

Sunday 21st October, 5pm

Mostly Rachmaninov

Rachmaninov: Moments Musicaux, op. 16

Hepliuk: Variations on La Folia, which is the theme used by Handel in his Suite in D minor, which features in Stanly Kubrick's 'Barry Lyndon'. 

Hepliuk: Toccata A short work by Hepliuk demonstrating his amazing technique and original style.

Hepliuk: Vesnianka another short work based on a Ukraine folk dance

Rachmaninov: Etudes-Tableaux op.33 no. 7, 8, 9, op.39 no.1

Yevheniy Hepliuk is a Ukrainian pianist and composer. He was educated at the National Tchaikovsky Acadamy of Music in Kiev. Yevheniy won First Prize in the Ukrainian New Names Competition and First Prize in the National Competition, 'Con Amore Festum'. He is a member of the Ukraine National Composer's Union and is virtually unknown outside his home country. Yevheny has a remarkable pianistic technique and his compositions are impressive, to say the least. 

Reservations: 1,200 baht for one concert. 2,000 baht for two in the same series. 

Email asiachart@hotmail.com or call 038 069681 office hours. Due to limited number of places payment must be received before the day.

Tickets: No tickets will be issued for concerts. Admission to the music room on the day of the concert will be in accordance with the sequence of receipt of payment (ie, who pays first goes in first and can select their desired seat).

Etiquette: No photos allowed during the main performance. But photos may be taken during encore. Please do not upload videos to Youtube.

Children: Children aged six years and older may attend the concert except where otherwise advised. Smaller children may be left with the nanny on the premises. 

Cancellations and credits: Credit will be allowed for future concerts in the event of cancellation provided that the concert for which the original booking was made breaks even.

Directions to Eelswamp: search for 'Eelswamp' on google maps. Directions can be found at the bottom of this page: http://eelswamp.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-music-room-at-eelswamp.html

Taxi service to Eelswamp: Grabtaxi Just enter "Eelswamp" in the destination box.

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Three M's

Mozart, Mendelssohn and Messiaen

Evgeny Starodubtsev, piano

joined by Alexandra Lotova in the first program

Friday, September 14th, 6pm

Bach: Toccata in F Sharp Minor, performed by Evgeny

Mozart: Sonata no.12 in F major, K332 and Sonata no.13 in B flat, K333, performed by Alexandra Lotova

Mendelssohn: Octet op.20, arranged for four hands by the composer, performed by Evgeny and Alexandra.
This ebulliant work was written by the precocious boy-wonder at the age of 16. It was originally scored for two string quartets. Mendelssohn, himself, made the reduction for four hands which we will hear - a truly delightful work.

Sunday, September 16th, 5pm

"One of the great peaks of 20th Century piano writing." Groves

Olivier Messiaen in 1945

Olivier Messiaen: Vingt Regards sur l'enfant-Jésus (twenty visions or gazes at the infant Jesus) is one of the great musical masterpieces of the twentieth century. According to Groves, Vingt Regards, ...forms one of the great peaks of 20th Century piano writing.


It is a suite of twenty pieces, unified in a cycle of themes, much like Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. It is was written in Paris in 1944 while the Nazis were being repelled from the city and, no doubt, derives inspiration from that tumultuous period. 

Although inspired by religious themes, the work is much more than religious music. It contains rhythms alluding to Stravinsky's Right of Spring. It has a structure similar to Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition, albeit on a grander scale, with recurring themes (the Promenade) tying the cycle together and culminating in a rousing finale reminiscent of Mussorgsky's finale, The Great Gate Of Kiev, in Pictures. Messiaen was influenced by ancient Greek and Hindustani rhythms. His music also alludes to late Liszt, Stravinsky and Debussy. It contains its own, unique, 'bird music', reflecting the fact that Messiaen was a keen ornithologist. There are also allusions to jazz and latin rhythms, such as samba.

The Vingt Regards is a work of great virtuosity and as well as being carried along by the superb music, a live performance is a visual treat as well, replete with all the acrobatics that a piano work can offer. 

Don't miss this rare opportunity to hear this great work performed by a great artist.

* please note that this program is not suitable for children.

Evgeny Starodubtsev is a graduate of piano and composition from Moscow Conservatory. His long list of wins at international piano competitions (at least 17 first prizes) began in 2004 with first prize at the International Piano Competition "Compositores de Espa'a", in Madrid. Since then, the list of first prizes is too extensive to list (never mind second and third prizes!). Here are a few from recent years:

First Prize, International Competition La Palma d'Oro 2018

First Prize, International Piano Competition Maria Herrero, 2017
First Prize, Pietro Argento Competition, Italy, July 2016
First Prize, 21st International Competition, Mauro Paolo Monopoli Prize, Italy, 2016 

First Prize, 10th Sigismund Thalberg International Piano Competition, May 2016
First Prize, 24th Ennio Porrino International Piano Competition, Italy November 2015
First Prize, Palma d'Oro Competition, July 2015
First Prize, Nuova Coppa Pianisti Prize, 2015
First Prize, Roma International Piano Competition, 2015

Evgeny has won many other prizes in competitions in Spain, Mexico, Canada, Greece, Lithuania, Poland, France, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Serbia amongst other countries.

Evgeny has performed at top venues such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Konzerthaus in Berlin. Evgeny specializes in 20th Century music. He has recorded works of Szymanowski, Schoenberg and Hindemith on the Honens label and Prokofiev, Ginastera, Szymanowski and Bartok on Anima Records.

Evgeny is a regular visitor to Eelswamp in Pattaya. Last year he was invited to perform Frederic Rzewski's 'People United' variations which he accomplished brilliantly. During his visit I suggested that he tackle the Vingt Regards. We sat and listened to my favourite recording. After finishing Evgeny was inspired and, upon his return to Moscow, sent me a message that he had started preparing.

Alexandra Lotova is a graduate from Central Musical School of Moscow in 2000. In 2005 Alexandra graduated from Gnesin music academy of Moscow, one of the top music academies in Russia. Her teacher was Professor S. Margaritov. Alexandra has played frequently with Yuri Bashmet's orchestra “Novaya Rossiya”. Especially successful she was her interpretation the Third Concerto of Rachmaninov in St. Petersburg in 2011. She  frequently performs solo recitals in Russia as well as chamber music and  works for four hands and two pianos. For example, she gave a wonderful performance of Schubert's F minor Fantasy for four hands at Eelswamp with Yevgeny. She has also performed in Finland, Serbia, Germany, Greece and Italy. Alexandra’s repertoire is extremely wide and includes music of all styles from early Baroque to the middle XX century.  

Reservations: 1,200 baht for one concert. 2,000 baht for two in the same series. 

Email asiachart@hotmail.com or call 038 069681 office hours. Due to limited number of places payment must be received before the day.

Tickets: No tickets will be issued for concerts. Admission to the music room on the day of the concert will be in accordance with the sequence of receipt of payment (ie, who pays first goes in first and can select their desired seat).

Etiquette: No photos allowed during the main performance. But photos may be taken during encore. Please do not upload videos to Youtube.

Children: Children aged six years and older may attend the concert except where otherwise advised. Smaller children may be left with the nanny on the premises. 

Cancellations and credits: Credit will be allowed for future concerts in the event of cancellation provided that the concert for which the original booking was made breaks even.

Directions to Eelswamp: search for 'Eelswamp' on google maps. Directions can be found at the bottom of this page: http://eelswamp.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-music-room-at-eelswamp.html

Taxi service to Eelswamp: Grabtaxi Just enter "Eelswamp" in the destination box.

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Official media partner

On a lighter note

Saturday 30th June, 5pm

Piano Duo from Spain

Carles and Sofia

“Duo with a rare and spectacular synchronisation …Their technical qualities shine in the service of a truly great power to communicate and a capacity for expression …” Scherzo Magazine

“Their Schubert is elegant and refined...The waltzes by Brahms present some complexities of expression which Lama and Cabruja resolve with the greatest elegance...Their Brahms possesses a renowned symphonic sound, a majesty evident in the touch...” CD Compact

Carles Lama & Sofia Cabruja are a paragon of artistic talent in the world of classical music and one of the Europe´s most renowned piano duos. Hellostage.com

Songs and Dances of Schubert, Brahms and De Falla

Schubert Five Songs

(Transcription for 4 hands piano: Christoph Ewers)

An die Musik

Auf dem Wasser

Du bist die Ruh

Ständchen

Ungeduld

Brahms Six Songs

(Transcription for 4 hands piano: Christoph Ewers)

Hochgetürmte Rimaflut

Wie Melodien ziht es mir

Dein blaues Auge

Von ewiger Liebe

Wie bist du meine Königin

Meine Liebe ist grün

Manuel de Falla “El Sombrero de Tres Picos”

(Transcription for 4 hands piano: Abraham Espinosa)

Danza de los Vecinos

Danza del Molinero

Danza de la Molinera

Manuel de Falla “El Amor Brujo”

(Transcription for 4 hands piano: Abraham Espinosa and Daniel Basomba)

Danza del Terror

El círculo mágico

Canción del Fuego Fatuo

Pantomima

Danza Ritual del Fuego

Carles Lama and Sofia Cabruja have been performing together for more than thirty years. Their career has taken them around the world, with performances in the Americas, Asia and Europe in world capitals such as Paris, London, Madrid, Brussels, Rome, Barcelona, Milan, Prague, Belgrade, Tokyo, Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, St. Petersburg, Moscow and Buenos Aires. Their repertoire ranges from Bach to 21st century and includes all major works for piano four hands together with the most brilliant and demanding orchestral transcriptions.

Reservations: 1,000 baht. 

Email asiachart@hotmail.com or call 038 069681 office hours. Due to limited number of places payment must be received before the day.

Tickets: No tickets will be issued for concerts. Admission to the music room on the day of the concert will be in accordance with the sequence of receipt of payment (ie, who pays first goes in first and can select their desired seat).

Etiquette: No photos allowed during the main performance. But photos may be taken during encore. Please do not upload videos to Youtube.

Children: Children aged six years and older may attend the concert. Smaller children may be left with the nanny on the premises. 

Cancellations and credits: Credit will be allowed for future concerts in the event of cancellation provided that the concert for which the original booking was made breaks even.

Directions to Eelswamp: search for 'Eelswamp' on google maps. Directions can be found at the bottom of this page: http://eelswamp.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-music-room-at-eelswamp.html

Taxi service to Eelswamp: Grabtaxi Just enter "Eelswamp" in the destination box.

A member of 

Official media partner

Schubert: The Darkening Landscape

Friday, 22nd June, 6pm

Tra Nguyen, piano

"a performance of surpassing keyboard artistry and passion." 

Stephen Haller, American Record Guide  

"[S]tylish aplomb. Altogether an engaging and attractive discovery." 

Jeremy Nicholas, Gramophone

"...she has technique to burn"

Martin Anderson, International Piano 

"The night undoubtedly belonged to Nguyen, who showed herself to be a virtuoso capable of coupling power with poetry and intelligence with a commanding technique. ... Tra Nguyen’s is a name to look out for." Mark Thomas - RAFF.ORG

"Rich with poetry and lyricism, Tra's touch is profound, subtle, and at the same time deeply intellectual."  Minh Chau - Music Magazine

Schubert: The Darkening Landscape 1823 - 1825

Three sonatas from the beginning of the late period of Schubert's life, starting in 1823, when the composer became seriously ill, realizing that the end was near, yet still managed to compose 'magical music'.

Sonata no. 14 in A minor, D.784,(1823)
A masterpiece in every respect: sparse, succinct, dark and resolute, with contrasting moments of tenderness and fury. This is the work of a man staring into the abyss. The virtuosic, whirlwind finale will take your breath away.

Sonata no. 15 in C major, D.840 (1825) - unfinished
Schubert only completed two movements of this sonata. They are nonetheless so original and appealing that they were published posthumously.

Sonata no. 16 in A minor, D.845 (1825)
This is the most substantial of the set, with four movements. It is less severe than its A minor companion, no. 14, with more of the sonorous charm for which Schubert is famous.  The song-like theme and variation movement and the virtuosic finale are reminiscent of Beethoven's middle period in levity but infused with Schubert's inimitable charm.

These are three works of genius which are overshadowed by the last three sonatas (C minor, A major and B flat). When I proposed them to Tra she responded, "Oh! That's a great set." Come and discover this great set, performed by a first-class pianist.

Tra Nguyen is a British-Vietnamese pianist. She studied at Moscow Conservatory with the legendary pedagogue, Lev Naumov, nicknamed,  "The Godfather of the Russian piano school". Naumov taught many famous pianists, such as Andrei Gavrilov, Vladimir Viardo and Alexei Sultanov. In 1997 Tra went to London. She studied with professor Christopher Elton at the Royal Academy of Music where she received the Academy's highest award for her final recital.

Tra has performed the complete Schubert piano sonatas in London, described by Musicweb as a,

“... top-class performance ..., her technical prowess augmented once again by an intuitive sense of expression and phrasing that brings this magical music to life.” MusicWeb International

She has performed in Wigmore Hall, one of the most prestigious solo venues in London, as well as the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall and Kennedy Center, among others. She has recorded for Sterling Records and Naxos.


Reservations: 1,000 baht. 

Email asiachart@hotmail.com or call 038 069681 office hours. Due to limited number of places payment must be received before the day of the concert.

Tickets: No tickets will be issued for concerts. Admission to the music room will be according to the sequence of receipt of payment (ie, who pays first goes in first and can select their desired seat). Pay early and get the best seats.

Etiquette: No photos allowed during the main performance. But photos may be taken during encore. Please do not upload videos to Youtube.

Children: Children aged six years and older may attend the concert. Smaller children may be left with the nanny on the premises. 

Cancellations and credits: Credit will be allowed for future concerts in the event of cancellation provided that the concert for which the original booking was made breaks even.

Directions to Eelswamp: search for 'Eelswamp' on google maps. Directions can be found at the bottom of this page: http://eelswamp.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-music-room-at-eelswamp.html

Taxi service to Eelswamp: Grabtaxi Just enter "Eelswamp" in the destination box.

A member of 

Official media partner

Mozart and Dvorak for String Sextet

Friday, 11th May, 6pm

Pro Musica Sextet

Leo Phillips and Tasana Nagavajara, violins

Born Lau and Omporn Kowintha, violas

Leslie Tan and Panyaphat Wongwechwiwat, cellos

Mozart: Grand Sextet Concertante 
A transcription of the Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola in E flat K 364

Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante is one of his finest orchestral works. It was written in 1779, when the composer was 23 year-old. Although strictly speaking a hybrid symphony and concerto, it is effectively a concerto for two soloists. It is a remarkable work with lyrical intertwining of the solo passages reminiscent of an operatic duet. There is something magical about this music, as musicologist Richard Wigmore observed,

"The initial entry of the soloists, suspended high above the orchestra’s cadential phrases, is one of the most magical moments in any Mozart concerto."

The original orchestral version was transcribed for string sextet in 1808. According to Edward Rothstein, "the work was transformed from a drama involving duo soloists playing against orchestral textures to a fabric of interacting melodic lines." This is the version we will hear.

This should be a fantastic performance with the largest group of musicians yet to perform at Eelswamp. Don't miss it!

Dvořák: String Sextet in A major op. 48

Composed in 1878, this work was Dvorak's first international success, being performed by celebrity violinist Joseph Joachim and friends in Berlin in London. It's a lively work in four jolly movements, similar in spirit to the composer's earlier hit, the Slavonic Dances op. 46 with plenty of folk melodies and dances. 

Reservations: 1,000 baht. 

Email asiachart@hotmail.com or call 038 069681 office hours. Due to limited number of places payment must be received before the day.

Tickets: No tickets will be issued for concerts. Admission to the music room on the day of the concert will be in accordance with the sequence of receipt of payment (ie, who pays first goes in first and can select their desired seat).

Etiquette: No photos allowed during the main performance. But photos may be taken during encore. Please do not upload videos to Youtube.

Children: Children aged six years and older may attend the concert. Smaller children may be left with the nanny on the premises. 

Cancellations and credits: Credit will be allowed for future concerts in the event of cancellation provided that the concert for which the original booking was made breaks even.

Directions to Eelswamp: search for 'Eelswamp' on google maps. Directions can be found at the bottom of this page: http://eelswamp.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-music-room-at-eelswamp.html

Taxi service to Eelswamp: Grabtaxi Just enter "Eelswamp" in the destination box.

A member of 

Official media partner

From The Passionate to The Inferno

Sunday May 6th, 5pm

HyoungWuk Kim, piano

Beethoven, Sonata no.23 in F minor, op.57, Appassionata. One of the greatest and technically challenging piano sonatas, this work needs no introduction.

Ligeti, Musica Ricercata. Written in 1953 by Hungarian composer Gyorgi Ligeti.

This work has eleven movements, each of which becomes progressively more complex, adding a tone to each successive movement. The first movement starts with two notes albeit in different octaves, the second movement three notes and so on... until the 11th movement, which uses all 12 notes of the scale. The work is one of the great masterpieces of the 20th century. It appealed to Stanley Kubrick, who used one of the movements for his movie, 'Eyes Wide Shut'. 

Scriabin, Preludes op.11 nos 1, 6 , 10, 14 and 16
Scriabin wrote no fewer than 15 sets of preludes, as well as many other single works entitled, 'prelude'. The selection we will hear is from the earliest set, op. 11, written in 1896, concluding with the Horowitz showpiece, no. 16.

Liszt, Dante Sonata: This is the final piece in Liszt's Second Year of Pilgrimage, 'Italy'. The full title of the work is, 'Après une Lecture de Dante: Fantasia quasi Sonata'. It represents the descent into the Inferno and, as described by Allmusic.com, is

...a work that demands vast reserves of both intricate dexterity and raw muscular endurance from any pianist who hopes to emerge--as Dante himself does at the end of Inferno--unscathed

HyoungWuk Kim has an interesting history, having been a trumpeter in the South Korean military before deciding to focus on his piano studies. He graduated from the Eastman School of Music, one of the top music acadamies in the United States, having completed his doctorate under Nelita True, described by Clavier Companion as “One of the world’s most sought-after and beloved pianist-teachers.”.  HyoungWuk is brought to us by Mongkol, of D and M Studios.

Reservations: 1,000 baht. 

Email asiachart@hotmail.com or call 038 069681 office hours. Due to limited number of places payment must be received before the day.

Tickets: No tickets will be issued for concerts. Admission to the music room on the day of the concert will be in accordance with the sequence of receipt of payment (ie, who pays first goes in first and can select their desired seat).

Etiquette: No photos allowed during the main performance. But photos may be taken during encore. Please do not upload videos to Youtube.

Children: Children aged six years and older may attend the concert. Smaller children may be left with the nanny on the premises. 

Cancellations and credits: Credit will be allowed for future concerts in the event of cancellation provided that the concert for which the original booking was made breaks even.

Directions to Eelswamp: search for 'Eelswamp' on google maps. Directions can be found at the bottom of this page: http://eelswamp.blogspot.com/2013/11/the-music-room-at-eelswamp.html

Taxi service to Eelswamp: Grabtaxi Just enter "Eelswamp" in the destination box.

A member of 

Official media partner