THIS WEEKEND AND BEYOND

TPO concert

Prince Mahidol Hall

Mahidol University, Salaya campus Feb 9 at 7pm and Feb 10 at 4pm

Held to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Italian-Thai diplomatic relations, the “Italian Reflection” concert will feature the world premiere of Riflessi written especially for this occasion by Italian composer Arnoldo de Felice. It will be performed by Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of Alfonso Scarano. The programme includes works by Joaquin Rodrigo and Tchaikovsky. Joining the orchestra as guest soloist is gifted guitarist Hitoshi Miyashita.

Tickets cost 400, 600, 800, 1,000 and 1,500 baht (half prices for students) from thaiticketmajor.com and by calling 02-849-6565 ext 6624 and 6626 (Friday up to 5pm and Saturday up to 2pm).

Gypsy carnival

Ton Phueng Farm, Suan Phueng Ratchaburi

Feb 10, 4pm-1am

The “Gypsy Carnival III: Circus” music and lifestyle festival will feature a number of favourite acts to perform on stage. They include Singtoh Namchoke, T-bone, Greasy Café, the Toys, Yoki Playboy, Flure, Alyn, and Phongsit “Pu” Kamphee. There will be a flea market, a picnic zone featuring well-selected food shops, a circus costume contest as well as the fun-filled “Hell On Dirt” motorcycle competition.

Tickets cost 1,400 baht from Counter Service at all branches of 7-Eleven. Visit gypsycarnivalthailand.com or allticket. com.

Valentine’s Day concert

Siam Ratchada Auditorium Fortune Town, Ratchadaphisek Road Feb 14 at 7pm

D&M Music Studio presents the “Valentine’s Day Celebration Concert” featuring Cascade Trio comprising Lidya Lukito (violin), Ade Sinata (cello) and Airin Efferin (piano) from Indonesia. The programme includes Gypsy Trio by Haydn, the first movement of Piano Trio by Ravel, Dumky Trio by Dvorak and Pentatonic Fragments by Balinese composer Budhi Ngurah.

Tickets cost 600 baht (300 baht for students) and are available at the door. For advance booking, call 081-682-8000.

Travelling extravaganza

Music Hall, Chulalongkorn University Phaya Thai Road

Feb 15 at 7pm

The Embassy of Italy presents a musical-cum-mime show (live show-cum-concert) performed by L’Allegra Orchestrina, a cabaret group from Italy, as part of the “Italian Festival In Thailand 2018”. It features four spiteful and vain musicians about to start a boring performance who realise the pianist is drunk. They challeng each other to a long music duel and whatever they play, magically becomes alive on stage interrupting the show. This goes on until the intervention of maestro Igor Stokansky who’s supposed to bring the situation back to normal.

There is no admission fee but registrations are required. Visit eventbrite.com.

Music fest

Bitec Hall 106, Bang Na-Trat Road Feb 17 at 7pm

The “TNT Music Festival 2018” features world-class DJs and local artists of various genres including R&B, hip hop, trap and EDM. The DJ line-up includes Lil Jon, Soda, Walshy Fire of Major Lazer, Clinton Sparks and Willy Monfret. Local acts will be hip-hop legends Thaitanium and Bank Clash.

Tickets cost 1,800, 2,200 and 3,500 baht (VIP) from thaiticketmajor.com.

Penang highlights

Seacon Bangkae, Phetkasem Road Feb 9-18, 11am-8pm

The “Street Of Penang” fair features replicas of Penang’s top five popular tourist destinations in the real atmosphere — George Town World Heritage Inc, Blue Mansion, Street Arts, Camera Museum and Bricklin Cafe & Bar. This is also a chance to taste Penang’s traditional dishes such as assam laksa, char koey teow, nasi lemak and nyonya laksa.

Call 02-454-7777.

Lion pole dance

The Mall Bangkae, Phetkasem Road Feb 9-11, 6pm-8pm

Six teams of lion pole dance performers will be competing in the final round of the “Acrobatic Lion Dance Presented by Muang Thai Life Assurance” competition, held as part of “The Mall Happy Chinese New Year” fair. The winning team will receive a cash prize and a trophy and will perform at The Mall Bangkapi on Feb 15 at 5pm. The fair also features “The Mall Mama & Me Competition 2018 “on Feb 11 at noon. This is a stage for around 30 pairs of mothers and children to dress up in traditional Chinese outfits and show off their special talents to win prizes worth 100,000 baht. A similar competition will also take place at The Mall Korat in Nakhon Ratchasima on the same day.

Call 02-310-1904.

Chinese celebration

Terminal 21, Asok Road

Feb 9-18, 10am-10pm

The “Chinese New Year 2018” fair features the atmosphere of Hong Kong’s famous temple, Che Kung. This is an opportunity for local worshippers to spin a replica of the sacred fan-bladed wheel of fortune, the temple’s signature feature, to earn good luck. Replicas of sacred Chinese gods known for their meritorious legends are also housed at Fashion Island for local worshippers to pray for blessings. Two acrobatic troupes from China will perform on Feb 10-11 and Feb 16-18. They will also take turns to perform at Fashion Island, The Promenade Ramindra and Terminal 21 Korat in Nakhon Ratchasima on those days.

There is no admission fee. Call 02-1080888 or visit www.terminal21.co.th.

Acrobatic shows

Future Park, Phahon Yothin Road Feb 10-11, Feb 14-18 at 3pm and Feb 16 at 6pm

Future Park presents the “Unexpected Extreme Chinese Show” featuring six exciting acrobatic shows that combine Chinese art and culture with extreme sports performed by a local troupe on Feb 10-11 and Feb 16-18. They include “Jumper Extreme Dance”, “Chinese Opera On Top”, “Chinese Balancing Dance”, Extreme Lion Sketch”, “Unexpected Wheel Dance”, and “Hip Drum Dance”. A number of unique Chinese cultural and traditional performances imported from Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, with the support of China Cultural Center will be staged on Feb 14-15.

There is no admission fee. Call 02-958-0011.

Lantern and lively shows

Parc Paragon, Siam Paragon, Rama I Feb 15-18, 11am-9pm

Held under the “Lantern Festival” theme, the “Siam Delightful Chinese New Year” celebration will feature 999 coloured sculpted lanterns including large pieces in the shape of 12 Chinese zodiac animals, reproductions of teahouses and a lit-up plum blossom-decorated tunnel. In the evening will see Chinese cultural performances by a troupe of 100 performers from the city of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province of China. Music performances featuring guzheng (Chinese zither), erhu (Chinese violin) and xiao (Chinese flute) will be presented in the Hall of Fame, M floor. An exhibition of lantern-mounted photographs under the “All We Need Is Love” theme by up-and-coming collage artist Nakrob Moonmanas will be displayed at Siam Center.

Call 02-658-1000.

Japanese film fest

SF World Cinema Central World, Ratchadamri Road Until Feb 11

Held to mark the 131st anniversary of Thailand-Japan diplomatic relations, the “Japanese Film Festival 2018” feature a selection of 11 recent films that reflect Japanese art and culture as well as Japanese people’s way of life. All films come with English and Thai subtitles. After Bangkok, the festival will move to three provinces in the North, the Northeast and the South, with a selection of seven movies to be screened at SFX Cinema at Maya Chiang Mai shopping centre from Feb 23-25; Central Plaza Nakhon Ratchasima from March 2-4; and Central Festival Phuket from March 9-11.

Tickets for Bangkok screening cost 120 baht from the box office (visit sfcinemacity.com or call 02-268-8888). Visit th.japanesefilmfest.org.

Iranian drama

TK Park, 8th floor, Zone D Central World, Ratchadamri Road Feb 10 at 4pm

TK Park will open the “Contemporary World Film Series” for 2018 with the screening of Leila, one of the most acclaimed films in Iranian cinema directed by Dariush Meherjui, one of Iran’s most admired filmmakers. It revolves around a couple a modern upper class family who are affected by the husband’s remarriage following his wife’s infertility. It comes with English subtitles.

Entry fee is 20 baht. To reserve a seat, visit goo.gl/forms/QzXLwYwNhdGVpvKR2.

Rohingya’s ordeal

Sea Junction, 1st and 4th floor Bangkok Art and Culture Centre Pathumwan intersection

Until Feb 18, Tue-Sun 10am-8pm

The “Unmentionable: Rohingya Refugees in Cox’s Bazaar” photo exhibition portrays the impact of the latest attacks against Rohingyas in Rakhine State, which started last August, through the lens of Bangladeshi photographer Mahmud Rachman. The images illustrate the camp conditions and the vulnerability of Rohingya refugees, with particular attention to women and girls and their specific, and too often neglected, needs and rights.

Visit seajunction.org or call 097-002-4140.

Contemporary Russian art

Galleria, 2nd floor of River City Bangkok Charoen Krung 24

Until Feb 20, 10am-8pm

Organised by the Bureau of Creative Expeditions (Moscow) with the support by the Russian Embassy to mark the 120th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Russia and Thailand, the “Suvarnabhumi — A Golden Land” exhibition features Russian artwork including 120 paintings by Russian artists led by Vladimir Anisimov from the Russian Academy of Fine Arts, icons, handicrafts, sculptures and memorial medals. Most of the exhibited artworks are available for sale. There is a free daily workshop on Russian lacquer box painting for those who purchase the box (limited boxes).

Visit rivercitybangkok.com or call 02-237-0077 ext 700.

Visit galleries at night

Feb 9-10, 5pm till late

Held for the fifth year, the “Galleries’ Night 2018” invites art lovers to enjoy contemporary artistic creations, exhibitions and special events at more than 50 galleries in Bangkok. Participating galleries for the first night are those located along the BTS Silom line and by the Chao Phraya River while the galleries located along the BTS Sukhumvit line will stay open until late on the second night. A number of dedicated tuk-tuks will help take visitors between galleries, free of charge.

There is no admission fee. Visit goo.gl/ ZhAUSm.

Festival to warm hearts

The Royal Plaza of Dusit Palace and Sanam Suapa, Sri Ayutthaya Road Until March 11, 10.30am-9pm Sun-Thur and 10.30am-10pm Fri-Sat

Graciously organised by HM King Rama X to reflect the long-standing bond between the royal institution and the Thai people, the “Un Ai Rak Khlai Khwam Nao (Love and Warmth at Winter’s End)” festival features many activities including exhibitions that honour the Chakri dynasty and its part monarchs, particularly King Rama V and King Rama IX. Thai food stalls and products, Thai-style lucky draws and games are available with proceeds going to support the underprivileged and needy in all regions. A number of cultural performances are staged daily. Visitors are invited to dress in traditional Thai period costume or Thai textiles of the bygone era.

Visit tourismthailand.org or call 1672.

Ajahn Brahm’s talk and retreat

Samitivej Sukhumvit Hospital Sukhumvit 49

Feb 12, 6pm-8pm

British Buddhist monk Ajahn Brahm, abbot of Bodhinyana Monastery in Western Australia, will give a dhamma talk on “Good Bad Who Knows?” at the hospital’s Bancha Lamsam Room, 6th floor. The next day the venerable monk will give a one-day meditation retreat titled “Highway To Happiness” at the World Fellowship of Buddhists at Benjasiri Park, Sukhumvit 24, from 9am-3pm. Ajahan Brahm is a popular teacher to a growing international audience of people keen to learn meditation and develop a deeper spiritual understanding. Both sessions will be conducted in English.

There is no admission fee. Call 02-0222513 or 02-022-2534 for the Feb 12 talk and call 02-661-1284—7 or email abrahmretreat@gmail.com for the Feb 13 retreat.

Learn about Lisu

Siam Society, Asok Road

Feb 15 at 7.30pm

Siam Society is holding a lecture on “The Lisu: Far From The Ruler” conducted by award-winning journalist and historian Michele Zack. It’s based on the book of the same title to be launched at the talk. She travelled extensively in tribal areas of Southeast Asia from the 1980s to the present documenting 30 years of globalisation on the egalitarian Lisu, a small ethnic group living primarily in mountainous regions of southwest China, Myanmar and Northern Thailand. Until recently, they avoided becoming subject to these states, preferring to live “far from the ruler”.

Donation fee is 200 baht (free for members and students). Call 02-661-6470—3.

Life in West Berlin

Goethe Institute, Sathon 1

Feb 12 at 4pm

Filmmaker Knut Hoffmeister and musician Mark Reeder will be speaking about living examples that retrace their experiences of life and work in West Berlin in the 1980s. It will be followed by a screening of B-Movie: Lust & Sound in West Berlin 1979-1989, at Bangkok Screening Room at 7pm. This essay film documents various stages of Reeder’s life during this exciting time in Berlin.

There is no admission fee. Visit goo.gl/3w2jkX or call 02-108-8231/2.

Musical workshop

The Hop art and dance studio Silom Road

Feb 12-16, 10am-2pm

Musical Theatre for Kids presents the Peter Pan mini-musical workshop for seven-12 year-old children to sing, dance, act and design with professional artists. The first part of each day includes theatre warm-ups and exercises. The second part, the children work with the show script (lines, blocking, choreography and song) and finally the children work with our art director Youngji and create the backdrop for the show. The next workshop will be based on The Little Mermaid from Feb 19-23.

The fee is 6,500 baht per week including art materials and costumes. Visit musicaltheatreforkids.com.

Game development

Comm De, Department of Industrial Design, Faculty of Architecture Chulalongkorn University

Phaya Thai Road

March 16-18

Goethe-Institut Thailand and Comm De at Chulalongkorn University are accepting applications to join the “Game Jam” workshop designed for game developers, programmers, artists, musicians and other creative minds. This is a platform to develop new computer games within 48 hours to win a trip to Germany and get connected to both German and the international game scene. The workshop is a collaboration with Maschinen-Mensch, an award-winning game-developing studio based in Berlin. All games created during the Game Jam will be presented on the ART-GAMES website of Goethe-Institut.

Applications should be made by Feb 15. There is no admission fee. Visit goo.gl/Qur3wc or email Gabriele.Sander@goethe.de.