Harmony Oboe Quartet

Saturday, December 21st at 6pm

Harmony Oboe Quartet

Cooper Wright, Oboe

Visanee Vongvirulh, Violin

Zhenzhen Dai, Viola

Adam Satinsky, Cello

JC Bach: Quartet for oboe, violin, viola, and cello W. B 60 Johann Christian Bach

Haydn: String Quartet Op. 60 no. 5 Hob. III/48 “Dream” arranged for oboe quartet by Franz Joseph Rosinack

Benjamin Britten: Phantasy Quartet, Op. 2 

Mozart: Oboe Quartet in F major K. 370/368b

Reservations: 1,000 baht per person. Email asiachart@hotmail.com. All proceeds to the musician.

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: Photos may be taken during the encore only. During the main performance please put your phone in silent mode and put it away.

Children: Children aged eight years and older may attend the concert depending on the suitability of the program. 

Cancellations and credits: Credit will be allowed for future concerts in the event of illness. Please don't come if you're feeling sick or recovering but still coughing. 

Directions to Eelswamp: Find 'Eelswamp' on google maps.

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

Eelswamp Calendar 2025

Eelswamp Calendar 2025

Subject to minor changes

All concerts are at 6pm

January

Andrey Gugnin returns

Triumphant again!

"I told you I'd win it" ... and he did.

Winner of 12th International German Piano Award in 2023, the BBC Music Magazine Awards  Instrumental Award and the €100,000 2024 Classic Piano International Competition in Dubai, as well as the Sydney International Piano Competition in 2016 and the Gina Bachauer in 2015.

1. Friday 17th: 

Gugnin Solo 1: Liszt Twelve Transcendental Etudes 

Andrey's performance of the Liszt Etudes won the praise of Gramaphone Magazine:

"Gugnin’s cultivated pianissimo presto leggiero, imperturbable rhythmicality, his preference for the heroic over the melodramatic, and not least his wealth of poetic imagination, easily place him in elite company." Gramaphone Magazine. 

2. Sunday 19th  Gugnin Piano Quartets

Andrey Gugnin piano

Elizabeth Layton violin

Tasana Nagavajara viola

Edith Salzmann violoncello 

Schumann Piano Quartet in E flat op.47

Mozart Piano Quartet no. 1 in G minor K. 478

3. Monday 20th Gugnin Solo 2: 

Liszt Sonata in B minor 

and 

Chopin Etudes op. 10

Book now with Helen:

1,200 for one, 2,000 for two, 3,000 baht for all three concerts

Friday 31st 

Toto and friends

Schubert String Trio in B flat D471

Mozart's Divertimento in E flat, K563

Book now with Helen: 1,000 baht per person

February

Evgeny Starobdubtsev

After five years, one of the stars of Eelswamp returns with two programs. Evgeny has won more than thirty first and second prizes in international competitions in the last decade. He played at Eelswamp annually pre-covid to enthusiastic audiences. I'm very happy to welcome him back. 

1. Friday 14th 

Messiaen Vingt Regards Sur L'enfant Jesus  

The work is frequently compared to Bach's Goldberg Variations and Beethoven's late piano sonatas for its combination of intellectual depth and spiritual resonance. 

"... a landmark in the piano repertoire" Alex Ross

"a cosmic exploration of love, eternity, and the divine." Paul Griffiths

2. Sunday 16th

Evgeny joined by his wife, Alexandra

Beethoven Grosse Fugue for four hands, transcribed by Beethoven himself as op. 134

and Evgeny will play solo works by Liszt from Années de pèlerinage Book 3, The Martinu Sonata, Medtner and Feinberg 

Book now with Helen:

1,200 for one, 2,000 for two concerts

March

Eunhee Baek

Korean Liszt specialist, Eunhee Baek, was a prize winner in many competitions including the International Pietro-Argento competition, International Artur-Schnabel competition (2011/Berlin), International Liszt Danubia Competition, and International Franz Liszt Center Competition (2022).

She will give two performances of Liszt's monumental cycle,  Ten Harmonies poétiques et religieuses

I have listened to dozens of recordings of the Liszt Harmonies and Eunhee's July 2024 recording is one of the best. We are very fortunate to have her come to play it for us. I'm so thrilled to have her come here that I have scheduled two performances of the work. 

1. Friday March 7th Liszt  Harmonies poétiques et religieuses

and the same program repeated on

2. Sunday March 9th,  Harmonies poétiques et religieuses

3. Monday March 10th, Eunhee will play a solo recital

Works by Rameau, Liszt, Debussy and Grieg. Details available on request.

Book now with Helen:

1,200 for one, 2,000 for two, 3,000 baht for all three concerts

May

Friday May 8th, 6pm

Ming Xie, piano

Gawon Award, South Korea; 

Gold Medal, 2016 Panama International Piano Competition

and prizes in 2016 Sydney International Piano Competition, Valsesia Musica International Piano Competition and Maria Canals International Piano Competition 

Chopin 24 Preludes op. 28

Scriabin 24 Preludes op.11

1,000 baht per peson.

10th Anniversary Orbit

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Dimitri Papadopoulos, piano and 

Alexandre Vay,  cello

with Tasana Nagavajara, violin

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Thursday October 31st duets 

Beethoven cello sonata no. 1 and lots of other goodies

and 

Friday November 1st at 6pm trios

Beethoven Archduke Trio and Haydn

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Thursday October 31st at 6pm

Dimitri and Alexandre

Cello and piano duo

Beethoven Cello Sonata no. 1 in F major, op.5 no. 1
A youthful masterpiece written when Beethoven was 26. 

Saint-Saëns Cello Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 33

An ebulliant, passionate and succinct gem 

Mendelssohn Variations Concertante op. 17
A jolly little work of the early-blossoming 19 year old Mendelssohn

Schumann Adagio and Allegro op. 70
One of Schumann's most popular short chamber works, transcribed for every instrument imaginable

Beethoven 12 Variations on ''Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen'', op 66
From a theme from Mozart's Magic Flute

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Friday November 1st, 6pm

Haydn: Piano trio in A-flat major, Hob.XV:14 

One of Haydn's most substantial trios with a sublime slow movement

Beethoven: Piano Trio in E-flat major Op. 97 ‘Archduke’

The most famous of the twelve piano trios by Beethoven

Dimitri and Alexandre need no introduction. They first visited us in May 2014 and have come every pandemic-free year since. Their visits are always a high point of the year. Don't miss them!

Reservations:  One concert for 1,200 baht or 2,000 baht for both. 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).

Cancellation: credit will be offered in the event of cancellation due to sickness. If you are feeling sick on the day of the concert, please don't come. No credit will be offered if you have a change of plans. 

Etiquette: Please turn phones to silent mode and put them away during the performance. 

No photos allowed during the main performance. But photos may be taken during encore. 

Directions to Eelswamp: search for 'Eelswamp' on google maps.

Friday, September 20th, 6pm

Robin Zebaida, piano

BACH/ LISZT

Prelude & Fugue in A minor for organ BWV 543, S462

TCHAIKOVSKY

Waltz in Ab major, op 40, no 8

Waltz in F# minor, op.40, no 9

Waltz-scherzo in A major, op 7

LISZT

Harmonies poétiques et religieuses S173, No.7

Funérailles

BEETHOVEN/ LISZT

Symphony no. 5 in C minor Op 67, S464

Allegro con brio (first movement)

CHOPIN

Polonaise in C# minor, op.26, no 1

Polonaise in A major "Military", op 40, no 1

PERCY GRAINGER

Opening of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1

Robin Zebaida: is a London born pianist. He studied at Oxford and the Royal College of Music. Robin has performed in over 100 countries across all continents. Highlights of past seasons include concerts in USA, Canada (collaborating with conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin), Central America, Europe, the Far East and Australia, where his Sydney recital was reported as achieving 'a warmth and empathy with the audience rarely seen'. Robin is recommended to us by Leo Phillips.

Reservations: 1,000 baht per person. Email asiachart@hotmail.com. All proceeds to the musician.

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: Photos may be taken during the encore only. During the main performance please put your phone in silent mode and put it away.

Children: Children aged eight years and older may attend the concert depending on the suitability of the program. 

Cancellations and credits: Credit will be allowed for future concerts in the event of illness. Please don't come if you're feeling sick or recovering but still coughing. 

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

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

Peccatte Quartet, plays Beethoven and Shostakovich

Peccatte Quartet

Plays 

Beethoven 1 and 

Shostakovich 9

Saturday, June 15th, 6pm

Rhys Watkins, violin

 Omiros Yavroumis, violin

 Aibek Ashirmatov, viola

Rowena Calvert, Cello

Beethoven Quartet no. 1 in F major, op. 18 no.1 

"I've learnt to write quartets!"

This is Beethoven's first published quartet. It was much revised before publication in 1801 and evidences Beethoven's great editing skill, as he boasts, himself. 

"I have made some drastic alterations. For only now have I learnt to write quartets; and this you will notice, I fancy, when you receive them."

Shostakovich Quartet no. 9 in E Flat op. 117

Another work of perfectionism, Shostakovich confessed that he destroyed the first version of the work:

"In an attack of healthy self-criticism, I burnt it in the stove. This is the second such case in my creative practice. I once did a similar trick of burning my manuscripts, in 1926."

The 9th is a highly original masterpiece in five movement: moderate, slow, fast, slow, fast, all played without break. 

The Peccatte Quartet is a group of Bangkok based musicians led by Rhys Watkins, a former violinist with the London Symphony Orchestra. The quartet is named after the famous French bow maker, Dominique Peccatte. 

Reservations: 1,000 baht per person. Email asiachart@hotmail.com. All proceeds to the musicians.

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: Photos may be taken during the encore only. During the main performance please put your phone in silent mode and put it away.

Children: Children aged eight years and older may attend the concert depending on the suitability of the program. 

Cancellations and credits: Credit will be allowed for future concerts in the event of illness. Please don't come if you're feeling sick or recovering but still coughing. 

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

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

Smetana and Brahms Quartets

Pro Musica Quartet

Plays 

Smetana and Brahms

Friday, May 17th, 6pm

Leo Phillips Violin

Jirajet Jetsadachet Violin

Tasana Nagavajara Viola

Hut Wongwechwiwat Cello

Smetana, String Qaurtet no. 1 in E minor, "From my Life". 

Bedrich Smetana was one of the great Czech composers of the mid 19th century. His first quartet is a passionate and autobiographical work, full of enchanting Bohemian melodies and dance rhythms. It was written in 1876, when the syphilitic Smetana was stone deaf. The iconic high pitched E at the end of the final movement is a poignant metaphor for the ringing in Smetana's ears which preceded his deafness. Lots of solos for viola in this work will keep Tasana on his toes and lots of jolly rhythms will keep your toes tapping. 

Brahms String Quartet no. 2 in A minor, op. 52 no. 2

This is the second of Brahms's three quartets. It written in 1873 when Brahms was 40. This is a meaty work. There is a strong Beethoven influence, but the work has clear Brahmsian qualities, such as the finale, which has a powerful Hungarian folk dance 'casardas' theme, reminiscent of the violin concerto. 

Reservations: 1,000 baht per person. Email asiachart@hotmail.com. All proceeds to the musicians.

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: Photos may be taken during the encore only. During the main performance please put your phone in silent mode and put it away.

Children: Children aged eight years and older may attend the concert depending on the suitability of the program. 

Cancellations and credits: Credit will be allowed for future concerts in the event of illness. Please don't come if you're feeling sick or recovering but still coughing. 

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

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

Maykin plays Russian

Sunday, April 28th, 6pm

Maykin Lerttamrab, piano

Recommended by my former piano teacher, Bennett Lerner

Plays Russian 20th Century music

Sunday, April 28th, 6pm

Medtner Sonata Reminiscenza op.38 no. 1
This is probably Medtner's most popular work, closer in style to Rachmaninov than contemporaries, Prokofiev and Shostakovitch, described by Georg Predota:

At the core of Medtner’s craft stands the lyric melody. Imbued by poetry and song, his melodies unassumingly grow into themes and are unique in their sentiment and melancholy. Everything emerges from the melodic element of his writing, although harmony and structure are important components of Medtner’s musical equation as well. 

Rachmaninov-Kreisler Liebesleid
Rachmaninov-Kreisler Leibesfreud

These are Rachmaninov's transcriptions of Fritz Kreisler's two love lollipops.

Scriabin Sonata No. 5 1907

Scriabin's watershed sonata that set the standard for 20th Russian music. It was written in 1907 in one movement. It is one of the most technically demanding works in the 20th century repertoire. Scriabin described it in a letter to a friend,

Today I have almost finished my 5th Sonata. It is a big poem for piano and I deem it the best composition I have ever written. I do not know by what miracle I accomplished it ...

Kapustin 8 Concert Etudes Op. 40 1984
Nikolai Kapustin (1937 to 2020) was a Ukraine born, virtuoso composer who employed jazz style in classical form. His concert etudes are something between Chopin and Oscar Peterson.

Book now by email: asiachart@hotmail.com

Maykin Lerttamrab is a Thai pianist, currently Professor of Piano at Chiang Mai University. He is highly recommended by my former piano teacher, Bennett Lerner, whom we heard performing a few years ago at Eelswamp. 

Maykin received a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Oregon in 2016 after graduating with a Master of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music in 2009. He has regularly performed throughout the U.S. and won the first prize in several competitions, such as the Young Artist Competition at Oregon State, the Phi Beta Scholarship Competition, and the University of Oregon Concerto Competition.

Reservations: 1,000 baht per person. Email asiachart@hotmail.com. All proceeds to the musicians.

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: Photos may be taken during the encore only. During the main performance please put your phone in silent mode and put it away.

Children: Children aged eight years and older may attend the concert depending on the suitability of the program. 

Cancellations and credits: Credit will be allowed for future concerts in the event of illness. Please don't come if you're feeling sick or still coughing. 

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

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

Two Romantic Quartets

 Pro Musica Quartet

Plays Schumann and Mendelssohn

Friday, March 15th, 6pm

Leo Phillips Violin

Jirajet Jetsadachet Violin

Tasana Nagavajara Viola

Hut Wongwechwiwat Cello

Two great romantics: Schumann and Mendelssohn

Schumann String Quartet No.1, Op.41 no.1

Schumann wrote only three quartets, all in 1842. The first is a really polished work, with much variety of melody, rhythm and mood, from the dainty and sublime to the severe and rollicking. Guaranteed to please, this is a work that you'll enjoy from the first listening.

Mendelssohn Quartet no. 3 in D Major, op.44 no. 1.

This is a quartet from Mendelssohn's middle period. It's a jolly work, full of joie de vivre, exuberance and charm. 

Book now by emailing asiachart@hotmail.com.

Reservations: 1,000 baht per person. Email asiachart@hotmail.com. All proceeds to the musicians.

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: Photos may be taken during the encore only. During the main performance please put your phone in silent mode and put it away.

Children: Children aged eight years and older may attend the concert depending on the suitability of the program. 

Cancellations and credits: Credit will be allowed for future concerts in the event of illness. Please don't come if you're feeling sick or recovering but still coughing. 

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

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

Bach two violins and keyboard

 All Bach - Tuesday, February 27th, 6pm

Three talented Thai musicians

Anna Takeda, violin

Kasina Ansvananda, violin

and

Akkra Yeunyonghattaporn, keyboards

plays 

Works for violins and keyboard 

of 

JS Bach

Tuesday, February 2nd, 6pm

Sonata for violin and harpsichord no. 3 BWV 1016

Sonata for violin and harpsichord no. 4 BWV 1017 

Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor, BWV 1043  

Sonata in C major for 2 Violins, BWV 1037 

With violin and harpsichord

Earlier this month we heard the six solo violin sonatas and partitas of JS Bach. The sonatas for keyboard and violin are much lighter, jolly, easy-listening music. The Double Concerto in D minor is one of Bach's most well known works. 

The musicians are all overseas educated and among the best in Thailand. Anna studied at Manhatten School of Music. She has performed twice at Eelswamp. Kasina studies at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, and Akkra studied at McGill and John Hopkins music schools in the US. I have heard all of the musicians both at Eelswamp and in Bangkok. They are all excellent.

Reservations:  1000 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).

Cancellation: credit will be offered in the event of cancellation due to sickness. If you are feeling sick on the day of the concert, please don't come. No credit will be offered if you have a change of plans. 

Etiquette: Please turn phones to silent mode and put them away during the performance. 

No photos allowed during the main performance. But photos may be taken during encore. 

Directions to Eelswamp: search for 'Eelswamp' on google maps.

Bach Six for Solo Violin

February 2nd and February 4th 

Highly esteemed Czech violinist

Leoš Čepicky

First prize and Laureate at the Jaroslav Kocian International Violin Competition

  Winner and Laureate of the Beethoven International Violin Competition, Hradec

First prize at the Prague Spring Competition in 1988 and 

Winner International String Quartet Competition, London in 1991, chaired by Menuhin

plays 

The six works for solo violin

of 

JS Bach

"...the most masterly and expressive works ever written for solo violin" Menuhin

"the pinnacle of the entire violin repertoire" Jacques-André Houle

in two sessions

Friday, February 2nd, 6pm 

The Sonatas

Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001
Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003

Sonata No. 3 in C major, BWV 1005

Sunday, February 4th, 6pm

The Partitas

Partita No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002
Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004
Partita No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006

The six works for solo violin of JS Bach are one the pinnacles of his creative output and one of the greatest challenges for a violinist. They are not merely technical challenges, but explore the greatest depths of passion and soulfulness of Bach's music. Menuhin recorded the set in his teens. The collection is one of the most famous sets in recording history. He described the music as "...the most masterly and expressive works ever written for solo violin".

Leoš Čepicky (pronounced Leosh Chepisky) is a highly respected Czech violinist. He is one of the founders of the Wihan Quartet which has recorded over 40 CDs and is described by International Record Review as "one of the best quartets in the world today". The quartet won the prestigious International String Quartet Competition chaired by Menuhin.

Leos has recorded the Bach Six on Chandos label. We are very fortunate to have this eminent violinist come to perform for us - only at Eelswamp!

Reservations:  One concert for 1,200 baht or 2,000 baht for both. 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).

Cancellation: credit will be offered in the event of cancellation due to sickness. If you are feeling sick on the day of the concert, please don't come. No credit will be offered if you have a change of plans. 

Etiquette: Please turn phones to silent mode and put them away during the performance. 

No photos allowed during the main performance. But photos may be taken during encore. 

Directions to Eelswamp: search for 'Eelswamp' on google maps.