MUSIC & DANCE

ROMANTIC SPIRIT (Prince Mahidol Hall, Mahidol University, Salaya campus, today at 4pm) The next TPO concert titled “Mendelssohn and Mussorgsky” sees the return of Czech violinist Pavel Sporcl as guest soloist for the performance of Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto. Italian conductor Alfonso Scarano will direct Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra to perform pieces by Mussorgsky. Tickets cost 300 and 500 baht (100 baht for students). Visit www.thaiticketmajor.com or call 02-849-6565/6 ext 6603 and 6609.

SHAKUNTALA WITH FULL ORCHESTRA (Thailand Cultural Centre’s small hall, Ratchadaphisek Road, today at 8pm) Franz Schubert’s recently completed opera Shakuntala is presented on stage with full orchestra by Bangkok Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Sri Lankan conductor Leslie Suganandarajah. The cast includes contemporary Thai opera singer Saran Suebsantiwongse, Janaki Rangarajan from India, soprano Laura Verena Incko from Munich and tenor John Haque from Sweden. Based on Indian master poet Kalidasa’s Sanskrit fiction Shakuntala, the intercultural performance features traditional Indian dance and includes spoken interjected Thai texts by King Vajiravudh (King Rama VI). Tickets cost 800, 1,000 and 1,200 baht (50% discounts for students) from Thai Ticket Major (visit www.thaiticketmajor.com).

CONCERT FOR JAPAN (Okura Prestige Bangkok’s Ballroom, Witthayu Road, tomorrow at 3pm) Thailand-based professional Japanese musicians and their outstanding Thai counterparts will join hands to perform during the “Charity Classical Concert Series Vol.8 ‘Pray for Japan’”. All proceeds will go to help the victims of the earthquake that hit eastern Japan in 2011. There is no admission fee but donations are welcome. For reservations, email vcyukky@gmail.com.