IN TUNE WITH CHARITY
National Artist Manrat Srikaranonda marked his auspicious 88th birthday with an evening full of joyful music By Sanitsuda Ekachai
What could possibly be a greater birthday gift for a musician than to have his best works sung by the nation’s bestloved princess? National Artist Manrat Srikaranonda received exactly that honour, and more, for his 88th birthday.
As a royal present to her music teacher, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn presided over the maestro’s birthday charity concert and, with him and his daughter Indhuon at the piano, sang two of the his classics Rak Oey (Oh, Love) and Chua Fah Din Salai (Until Eternity), mesmerising the audience with her sweet renderings.
The princess, herself an avid Thai xylophone player, also delighted the Srikaranonda family and their guests with her playful Jambalaya on the vibraphone. The maestro and his wife Laorwan, 70, were born on the same date and it is the family tradition to celebrate their joint birthday with a charity concert, which this year took place at the Performing Arts Centre of Ruamrudee International School.
Maestro Manrat is a giant in musical circles. He is also a court musician, a member of the royal Or Sor Wansook Band, and a music teacher to the prince and princesses during their childhoods. Many singers who are National Artists consider him their teacher and mentor.
Like previous years, the concert featured musical talents of the Srikaranonda family. Both Indhuon and her husband Artas Balakauskas are the country’s top concert pianists. Manrat’s son Pathorn is an accomplished jazz musician while grandchild Asta, 14, is also a talented singer.
Though frail, Manrat took the stage to play Take the A Train with Indhuon who, together with Artas, delighted the audience with Tiger Rag in a piano duel. After a video clip of five-year-old Indre adorably singing I Love a Piano, Asta showed off her stunning vocal power with The Girl on 14G, and Getting to Know You from Broadway musical The King and I which she sang with Indhuon’s piano students.
Father Yuthana Sriprapha of RIS sang Moon Beam, HM the King’s composition with family chorus, while Pathorn Srikaranonda and his band the Jazzminions filled the concert hall with lively music.
The charity concert raised 1.4 million baht. All proceeds go to support the education of hill tribe children under the care of the Redemptorist Fathers and St Joseph School Mae Chaem in Chiang Mai.