The Berlin Philharmonic is one of the world’s most elite ensembles. Known for its beautiful tone, creative colours and commitment to high standard of artistry, it will perform Mahler’s Fifth Symphony, one of the world’s most beloved works of its kind.

“You forget that time has passed,” the Berlin Philharmonic’s long-time conductor, Herbert von Karajan, once said about this piece.

“A great performance of the Fifth is a transforming experience. The fantastic finale almost forces you to hold your breath.”

Only 37, Gustavo Dudamel is already one of the world’s most recognisable conductors. Born in Venezuela, he is the artistic director of the LA Philharmonic and a frequent guest conductor around the world.

Dudamel is motivated by a profound belief in music’s power to unite and inspire. As a companion piece to the Mahler symphony, Dudamel has chosen Bernstein’s “Divertimento”.

Seats cost Bt3,000 to Bt20,000 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456.

They had a meet-and-greet here last year.

Irene, Seulgi, Wendy, Joy and Yeri have enjoyed great success with the tunes “Ice Cream Cake”, “Dumb Dumb”, “Russian Roulette”, “Rookie”, “Red Flavour”, “Peek-A-Boo” and “Bad Boy”.

Tickets cost Bt2,000 to Bt6,000 at 7-Eleven and http://www.AllTicket.com. Find out more at (02) 826 7788 and http://www.Facebook.com/smtruethailand.

Visit Lampang and sing along

The free and eco-friendly Jae Son Music Festival at Pangma Panglor in Lampang on August 25 and 26 will feature Koh Mr Saxman & the Sound of Siam with Khru Kit the Voice and Alisa Janine Wollman.

The Sound of the ’80s with Maliwan Gemina and Uthane Phrommintr will be there, as will Viyada Komarakul Na Nakhon, Anchalee Chongkhadeekij, Jetset’er, Apaphorn Nakhonsawan and Surachai Chanthimathorn.

The festival is designed to promote marketing and boost tourism in Lampang.

Time flies to Day6

Korean boy band Day6 will be stealing Thai girls’ hearts at the Mall Bangkapi’s MCC Hall on September 15 as their first world tour, “Youth”, rolls on.

Jae, SungJin, Young K, WonPil and DoWoon actually play instruments, but it’s their looks and singing that will have the ladies swooning.

Seats cost Bt2,000 to Bt5,900 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456.

Vit singing, dancing for charity

Pacharapon “Vit” Jantieng, first winner of “True Academy Fantasia” Season 1, hits the stage at Bangkok’s Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre on September 9 for “Vit AF Live”, the second in the “Din … on the Floor” concert series.

Vit will be shaking the place with “Dancing All Night Long” and share the stage with Touch Na Takuathung, a top dancer in the 1990s, and actress-dancer Sawika “Pinky” Chaiyadech.

Seats cost Bt1,000 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456 or call the theatre at (02) 225 87578. A portion of the proceeds goes to the Pakkred Babies Home.

James will perform his freeform dancefloor-friendly style, sharing the stage with DJ Sweed.

Tickets are Bt300 at the door. Book in advance at (02) 392 7750 or http://www.BeamClub.com.

His career has come a long way since he emerged from Glasgow’s vibrant house scene. He broke away from his peers to become more than just “one to watch”, but a respected figure in his own right.

A DJ and producer with talent that stretches beyond his years, James has crafted and developed his own brand of offkilter house and headsdown techno through extended sets at some of the world’s most respected clubs.

He’s graced the decks to high accolades in venues such as Fabric, the Warehouse Project, Smartbar, Blitz, Lux, Bobbeaman and of course, Sub Club. Just as comfortable in Ibiza as he is playing a festival, James represents the same whether on the big stage or in an intimate basement.

Following the success of his yearlong residency at London’s Phonox in 2015 (playing six-hour sets every Saturday night), James moved up to No 69 on the Resident Advisors Top 100 DJs list.

He’s continued to develop his sound through his “Homework” tours alongside compatriots Tom Trago and Bambounou, while playing back to back with best friend and brother-in-arms Jackmaster wherever possible.

To truly understand the rare musical bond the two Glaswegians share, check out their improvised “Mitchell Street” mix series, named after the infamous shared flat just around the corner from Sub Club.

Keen to expand his repertoire and knowledge, James launched Mitchell Street Records with two of his own original productions, “Crypto” and “These are the Beatz”, with both set for release later in 2018.

Jasper has also announced a temporary move to Amsterdam this summer to continue building ties with Europe’s wider electronic music scene and cement his reputation as one of Europe’s leading young selectors.

Acclaimed violinist Joshua Bell will join the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Charles Olivieri-Munroe for a concert to honour His Majesty Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun at the Thailand Cultural Centre on September 4 at 8pm.

Bell will perform two favourites from the Romantic repertoire – Pablo de Sarasate’s virtuosic “Zigeunerweisen opus 20” and Max Bruch’s evergreen “Violin Concerto No. 1 in G minor opus 26”.

The Indiana-born pianist has been attracting vast audiences ever since his very first concert at the age of 14, with Riccardo Muti and the Philadelphia Orchestra. The American Grammy award-winning violin virtuoso is without question one the most celebrated violinists in the instrument’s long and hallowed history. The 2018 season alone sees him performing with the National Symphony Orchestra and Gianandrea Noseda, the Cincinnati Symphony and Louis Langree, the Hong Kong Philharmonic and Jaap van Zweden, the Baltimore Symphony and Cristian Macelaru, as well as with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester, Tonhalle Orchester Zurich, and the Stockholm Philharmonic.

While Bell has encompassed the entire range of music, it is the 19th-century that fascinates him the most. The Bruch Concerto will show him at his emotional best. It begins with rush and fire and continues to an emotional climax. He will also perform one of the most difficult works ever written for the violin, “Gypsy Airs”.

Other than his passion for music, Bell will also bring his famed Stradivarius violin, which had been played by some of the most eminent violinists ever since 1713, during Antonius Stradivarius’s “Golden Period” to Thailand.

Tickets cost Bt800, Bt2,000, Bt3,500 and Bt5,000 and are available at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com or call (02) 262 3456.

The 76-year-old Franklin — who influenced generations of female singers with unforgettable hits such as “Respect” (1967), “Natural Woman” (1968) and “I Say a Little Prayer” (1968) — is said to be surrounded by her family and friends in Detroit.

Franklin has cemented her place in American music history with her powerful, bell-clear voice that stretched over four octaves. In her decades-long career, her hits spanned the genres, from soul to R&B, gospel and pop.

She was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987. In 2010, Rolling Stone magazine put her at the top of its list of the 100 greatest singers of all time, male or female.

Franklin’s declining health was first disclosed on the Showbiz 411 website late Sunday by Roger Friedman, a reporter and family friend. He wrote that she was “gravely ill in Detroit. The family is asking for prayers and privacy.”

Local media later confirmed Franklin’s illness. The Detroit News reported that she was in hospice care, citing two sources close to the singer and national radio host Tom Joyner, a Franklin friend.

Evrod Cassimy, a local television journalist for WDIV who also described himself as a friend of the singer, said he spoke with the legend Monday morning and she was “with close friends and family, resting.”

“I’ve been speaking with her family members,” Cassimy said during a newscast. “They have not only asked for prayers during this time, but they have also asked for their privacy.”

‘Everybody’s fearful’

Robert Smith, the current pastor at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit where Franklin’s father was the reverend, told AFP that Franklin’s representatives asked him Monday to “keep praying for her.”

“Everybody’s fearful,” Smith said. “I really don’t know what it would be like not to have her.”

Artists from across the musical spectrum offered well wishes to the legendary singer who has lived in Detroit — the Motor City, home of Motown — most of her life.

“My prayers are with Aretha Franklin and her family during this difficult time,” tweeted rapper Missy Elliott. “We MUST CELEBRATE the Living Legends while they are here to see it. So many have given us decades of Timeless music.”

Boy George said: “This is sad news. Aretha Franklin, what a voice.”

“Pray for the Queen, Aretha Franklin, a true warrior and my dear friend,” tweeted civil rights activist Al Sharpton.

Legacy in American music

Franklin — who is widely known by only her first name, in true diva style — rose from singing gospel in her father’s church to regularly topping rhythm and blues and pop charts in the 1960s and 1970s.

Beyond “Respect,” her powerful cover of the Otis Redding tune that became her calling card, Franklin had dozens of Top 40 singles, according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Other hits include “Day Dreaming” (1972), “Jump to It” (1982), “Freeway of Love” (1985), and “A Rose Is Still A Rose” (1998). A 1986 duet with George Michael, “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me),” hit number one in several countries.

Her style influenced singers from pop diva Mariah Carey and the late Whitney Houston — whose mother was a backup singer for Franklin — to Alicia Keys, Beyonce, Mary J. Blige and Amy Winehouse.

“You know a force from heaven. You know something that God made. And Aretha is a gift from God,” Rolling Stone said of Franklin in its list of greatest singers of all time.

She won 18 Grammy awards, including one for lifetime achievement, and sang at the inaugurations of two presidents — Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.

In 2005, Franklin was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom — the highest award for an American civilian — by then-president George W. Bush.

In 2010, she suffered serious health problems, but continued to perform until late last year, singing last in November 2017 for the Elton John AIDS Foundation in New York. That same year, Detroit named a street after her.

Standing outside the Motown Museum in Detroit on Monday, Linda Laura-Culbreath told AFP that Franklin had influenced a generation of women who were empowered by her songs.

“We all were blessed with pure talent,” said the 53-year-old musician, who was visiting from Milwaukee.

“She made sure that women in general knew that they were not under a man, that they were supposed to walk next to them.”

The Boise native will perform in the intimate surroundings of Bangkok’s leading live jazz venue with the Randy Cannon Group from Tuesday to Thursday from 9.15pm and every Friday and Saturday at 8.30pm onwards.

Renowned for his power-packed performances, Cannon’s piano playing is complemented by drummer Willard Dyson, and bassist Therdsak Wongvichien.

Braden has been described as “smokin’ hot” and “the sound of the new Harlem.” Whether she is fronting a genre-defying orchestra or leading a world-class trio in the heart of Manhattan, she has the innate ability to win the heart of any audience with her powerhouse vocals and striking stage presence.

Winner of New York City’s “Best of the Best” Jazzmobile Vocal Competition, Braden is a magnetic performer. Her signature sound is an effortless blend of jazz and soul. Her knock-out debut album “Soul Walk” is composed of high-energy original songs and “flipped-out” jazz standards.

She as performed at New York City’s top jazz venues including the Blue Note Jazz Club, Birdland Jazz Club, Le Poisson Rouge, BAM Cafe and Minton’s Playhouse, as well as on the international festival circuits. In April 2014, Braden was selected by the US Embassy to travel to Burkina Faso, West Africa as part of the Arts Envoy programme, where the Emily Braden Quartet closed out the Jazz at Ouaga Festival to a standing ovation. Her own group Double Bass, Double Voice released their debut album in the USA and Japan in February 2017.

Book your seat at (02) 649 8353.

The decision to go to the ECHR comes after Jean-Michel lost his bid in a French court to overturn the will of Oscar-winning Maurice, who wrote the scores for “Doctor Zhivago” and “Lawrence of Arabia”.

“My sister Stefanie and I are taking our case to the European Court of Human Rights, over the failure to respect our familial rights and for excessive infringement of our legal security,” the French artist wrote in Friday’s edition of Le Parisien newspaper.

Another giant of French music, Johnny Hallyday, also disinherited his children and they have became embroiled in a highly public battle with his widow Laeticia.

Jean-Michel, 69, said that “the right to inherit is not only about money, it has ramifications in more important areas such as the protection of family ties, and for creatives, the spiritual rights of artists”.

In September 2017, France’s Supreme Court ruled in line with the wishes of Maurice, who had bequeathed all his property to his last wife through a “family trust”, a valid legal structure under Californian law.

“Forbidding access to a photo or to a personal possession of one’s father or mother. That is what is shocking,” Jean-Michel said.

“There are also dozens of requests to use the works of our father that arrive at my house and which remain unanswered,” he added.

Jean-Michel has performed some of history’s largest concerts over a four-decade career. He was the first Western musician to perform in China after the Cultural Revolution and played a massive city-wide light and music show in Houston in 1986 to celebrate the NASA space program.

Maurice died in 2009 in Los Angeles after suffering from cancer. He won his first Oscar in 1963 for “Lawrence of Arabia”, and three years later was awarded a second statuette for “Doctor Zhivago”.

The Rhythmic drumming, perfectly choreographed exchanges, breathless pauses and explosive atmosphere all leave the audience stunned as wave after wave of musical percussion engulfs the performance space with its sheers power and musicality.

If rhythm fuels your musical taste, this is one performance by Taiwan’s Ju Percussion Group you cannot afford to miss. The group will be in Thailand on September 16 as part of Bangkok’s 20th International Festival of Dance and Music, which runs from September 12 to October 18.

Famous for their innovative blend of East and West, traditional and contemporary, Ju Percussion Group’s latest production, “Stunning Virtuosity”, is extremely compelling.

The concert features specially commissioned works that weave rhythms and patterns on large drums, gongs, marimbas, Chinese drums, cymbals, timpani, vibraphone and all kinds of percussive instruments.

The show is full of modern, experimental and cross-disciplinary elements that transcend the boundaries between classical, modern, world, pop and other genres.

The Bangkok performance features renowned pipa soloist Pei-Ling Chung from the Taipei Chinese Orchestra.

With a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Chung is famous for her handling of the four-stringed instrument: delicate and mellow, adding a wonderful counterpoint to powerful percussive beats. Though Ju Percussion Group’s music is rooted in contemporary Western percussion music, expect to hear distinct threads of traditional eastern culture woven in. They’ve commissioned around 200 pieces over the 30-plus years of their existence. And in Bangkok they will showcase a varied selection that will underline their mastery of different genres.

The touring setlist includes stellar pieces like “3 Epilogues” (by Gerard Lecointe), “J Effect” (Huan-wei Lu), “Solar Myth” (Chiung-ying Chang), “Zhong Kui Marrying His Sister Off” (Yu-yun Liu), “Espiritu Libre” (Stephen Whibley) |and “Drumming Fest” (Hong-chi Ho).

The group has taken its brand to more than 30 countries, including Austria, Britain, the US, Germany, China and Hungary. It has also performed at major international events like Quartier D’ete in Paris, the Budapest Spring Festival, the 2005 World Exposition in Japan and the Chekhov International Theatre Festival in Moscow.

Founded by Ju Tzong-ching in 1986, the group currently features 15 talented percussionists and one composer-in-residence who are all masters of Western percussion instruments as well as Chinese gong drums and other Asian traditional music.

Ju, who is also the artistic director, has played a significant role in enhancing public interest in percussion music in Taiwan. In 1992 he established the Ju Percussion Music School. “It hasn’t been easy, but the support and encouragement of audiences made the impossible possible,” he says.

Although trained in Western percussion, he realised that drawing on traditional music was a powerful resource when attempting to promote percussion music locally in Taiwan. It also helped establish Taiwan’s percussion music on the world stage.

There, Ju took the group out of the urban concert hall and into public spaces, to temple courtyards and school campuses in rural areas. He makes his music readily accessible to the public. “Percussion is the earliest instrumental form in human history,” he points out. “It’s close to the beating of the human heart, so anyone can relate to it.”

Soon the group became a household name and they hold three grand concerts every year to demonstrate their creativity. This is one of the few ensembles with their own exclusive composers.

To Ju, this percussion is also about “Taiwan reaching out to the world”. For his artistic excellence, he has received numerous honours, including the National Award for Arts (Taiwan’s highest honour ). The Percussive Arts Society in the US awarded him the Outstanding Contribution Award four times and in 2015 he received the Order of Brilliant Star with Violet Grand Cordon from the president of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou. In 2016 he was inducted by the Percussive Arts Society into its Hall of Fame.

Supporting the festival are Crown Property Bureau, Bangkok |Bank, Bangkok Dusit Medical Services, BMW Thailand, |B Grimm Group, Dusit Thani Bangkok, Indorama Ventures, Ministry of Culture, Nation |Group, Major Cineplex, PTT, Singha Corp, Thai Union |Group, Thai Airways International and Tourism Authority of Thailand

“Stunning Virtuosity” by Ju Percussion Group will be staged at the Thailand Cultural Centre on September 16 at 7.30pm. Tickets cost Bt1,000 to Bt2,500 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3191.

For more information visit http://www.BangkokFestivals.com.

“Spotify can confirm it has removed specific episodes of ‘The Alex Jones Show’ podcast for violating our hate content policy,” a spokesperson told AFP in an e-mail on Friday, without specifying how many or which episodes were removed.

Jones, a Donald Trump supporter who runs the far-right website InfoWars, has been sued by the parents of the children killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting for claiming the massacre was staged.

Spotify’s move to remove some of his content came after complaints by users.

“We take reports of hate content seriously and review any podcast episode or song that is flagged by our community,” the Swedish company said.

This is not the first time the music service has removed content under its policy banning material that “promotes, advocates or incites hatred or violence against a group or individual based on race, religion, gender identity, sex, ethnicity, nationality and sexual orientation” among others.

Spotify announced in May that it would no longer feature R.Kelly songs in its playlists or user recommendations, after the Time’s Up movement for gender equality urged the music business to dump the R&B star over sexual abuse allegations.

But the company later backtracked on the policy after facing criticism that it was hurting musicians over vague criteria.

First introduced to the country early last year with the formation of BNK48, one of the international sister groups of Japanese idol prototype AKB48, the idol pop phenomenon appears to have cemented itself in Thai society. The members’ good girl images have proved seductive in courting commercial success with some or all of BNK 48 presenting a range of products from soy milk to toothpaste and film.

And with the popularity of the all-girl group stronger than ever, what better time than the present to inaugurate a new generation to the idol world? Last week, the 27 second generation members of BNK48 were introduced to more than 1,000 “otaku” or true fans at a special event held at Quartier Gallery of The EmQuartier.

The cheering and screaming, already disconcertingly loud at the start of the event, rose to a crescendo as 16 of the 27 girls were announced as “senbatsu” members – “selected” members who have earned the privilege of representing the group.

Seven of the 16 senbatsu members hail from Bangkok, namely Chanyapuk “New” Numprasop, 15, Khawisara “Myyu” Singplod, 19, Nuttakul “Gygee” Pimtongchaikul, 17, Paweethida “Fifa” Sakunpiphat, 17, Pimnipa “Deenee” Tungsakul, 17, Plearnpichaya “June” Komalarajun, 18, and Tarisa “Stang” Preechatangkit, 15. Three others – Janista “Bamboo” Tansiri, 16, Juthamas “Kheng” Khonta, 18, and Nannaphas “Mewnich” Loetnamchoetsakun, 16 – are residents of neighbouring Samut Prakan while the others come from further afield. Warinrat “Niky” Yolprasong, 13, and Ratah “Ratah” Chinkrajangkit, 16 are from Chiang Mai, Natticha “Fond” Chantaravareelekha, 16, is a Prachuab Khiri Khan native, Jidarpha “Panda” Chamchooy, 21 is from Nakhon Pathom, Kamonthida “View” Rotthawinithi, 14, from Nonthaburi, and Weeraya “Wee” Zhang, 17, from Chonburi.

The remaining 11 are known as “Undergirls” meaning a special group that takes charge of the main B-side of most of the singles. They’re made up of Bangkokians Nawaporn “Cake” Chansuk, Maira Kuyama, Rachaya “Minmin” Tupkunanon, Dusita “Natherine” Kitisarakulchai, and Natcha “Oom” Krisdhasima, plus Punyawee “Aom” Jungcharoen from Chiang Mai, Sumitra “Faii” Duangkaew from Lamphun, Manipa “Khamin” Roopanya from Khon Kaen, Phattharanarin “Nine” Mueanarit from Nakhon Sawan, Pakwan Noijaiboon from Sakon Nakhon, and Sirikarn “Phukkhom” Shinnawatsuwan from Samut Prakan.

What makes their success even more remarkable is that the 27 were chosen from the more than 10,000 girls from all regions of Thailand who applied.

“BNK48’s second generation members obviously have less practice than the first generation and will be under a great deal of pressure to succeed. Their first job is to overcome the wall of popularity enjoyed by the first BNK48 while also having fun doing it,” says Jirat Bawornwatana, executive chairman of BNK48 Office.

The mainly male audience seemed to have accepted them without any problems, whooping and shouting as they came out on stage to perform “Yak Ja Dai Phop Ther – Aitakatta” and “BNK48”. The “Undergirls” then peeled off and left the 16 senbatsu members to sing their debut single, “Rudoo Mai – Tsugino”, the lyrics of which talk about the beginning of their new life and encourage all of us to achieve our goals.

In line with idol group tradition, the second generation members used their self-created catchphrases to introduce themselves to the fans.

Mewnich’s catchphrase is a kind of spoonerism – “Leek Mew Na, Rak Mewnich” – while View’s is somewhat simpler. “Love View, love View” she instructed the fans after adapting the first verse of Queen’s “We Will Rock You” to “we will, we will “love View”. Deenee, Nine, Fifa, and Wee introduced themselves in song while the other girls asked fans to shout out their names.

“I’m so excited to see everybody and thank you all for coming today. We’re now ready to stand by you,” Bamboo told the crowd.

The screams rose another few decibels as Cherprang Areekul, Punsikorn “Pun” Tiyakorn and Rina Izuta, representing BNK48’s first generation, came out onstage and presented flowers to congratulate the rookies represented by Mewnich.

“It reminds us of the day when we were introduced to the public for the first time,” said Cherprang, looking at Pun and Rina, and having a little cry.

“We are very glad that BNK48 is going forward with the second generation.”

“I’m very proud of the second generation members and want to thank all of them for encouraging us. We are all the same family of BNK48, so we will go on together … fighting!,” Pun added.

“Thank you all of you, our seniors. If you hadn’t put in the hard work, we wouldn’t have had our day. We promise not to disappoint you,” replied a tearful Mewnich.

BNK48’s manager Nattaphon “Job” Bawornwatana, the younger brother of chairman Jirat, was next to take the stage and surprised fans by announcing the first and second-generation’s upcoming dates with their adoring public.

These include the participation of BNK48’s second-generation members in the handshake event for BNK48’s third single “Wan Raek – Shonichi” at Hall 98 of Bitec Bangna on August 18 and 19; additional rounds of performances at the BNK48 campus theatre on Friday at 7pm and Sunday at 1pm; and their appearance in the Digital Live Studio.

Nattaphon also announced that BNK48 members would be at the Nippon Haku Bangkok at Siam Paragon on September 2; that the song “Rudoo Mai – Tsugino Season” would appear on BNK48’s fourth single CD and its music video, a joint venture between BNK48 Office and Workpoint Entertainment, will be released this month.

Additionally, BNK48’s first generation members are all set to release their fourth single, “Kimi Wa Melody”. And fans can show off their talents to by taking part in the “BNK48 Fan Solo Campaign” and recording a video clip using any of the musical instruments from “Rudoo Mai” and uploading to Facebook or YouTube. The prize is a guitar pick with the signatures of the 16 Senbatsu members.

The second-generation members closed out their day in the sun with a performance of “365 Nichi no Kamihikouki – 356 Days with Paper Plane” and “Cookie Sieng Thay  Koisuru Fortune Cookie”.