GRANDEUR AND GRACE

The Bangkok Combined Choir and Orchestra's performance of Messiah was a blend of evolution and a tribute to the Queen Mother

- ■KULLWADEE SUMALNOP

Tararuee nongsriaru conducts the Bangkok Combined Choir and Orchestra.

Presented by B.Grimm, the annual performance of Handel's Messiah by the Bangkok Combined Choir and Orchestra once again affirmed its place as one of Bangkok's most cherished Christmas traditions.

Each year, the concert draws a devoted audience of Thai and international music lovers who gather not only to celebrate the season, but also to witness the continuing evolution of one of Thailand's most enduring private classical ensembles. This year’s performance played to a full house, reflecting the work’s enduring power and the strength of its artistic community.

The evening opened with a graceful invocation offered in both Thai and English, before flowing seamlessly into Still On My Mind, a royal composition performed in loving tribute to Her Majesty Queen Sirikit the Queen Mother. Sung by baritone Kittinant Chinsamran, the piece unfolded with quiet tenderness and noble restraint. His voice carried a sense of remembrance and reverence, while the orchestra responded with gentle elegance, allowing the music to linger — like a shared memory held in collective silence.

Among the soloists in Messiah, the two sopranos offered contrasting yet complementary interpretations. Tae delivered her lines with brightness and clarity, her tone fresh and focused, though greater precision in diction would have further strengthened her delivery. Minwon, by contrast, sang with a refined style, shaping phrases with sensitivity and depth. Her performance was especially memorable in If God Be For Us, where her musical phrasing and emotional poise were particularly moving.