Once happy to save their talent and energies for the recording studio and stage, GMM Grammy’s bands and solo artists are now getting involved in selling themselves to their fans, working with the major label and Line Thailand on online content marketing under the slogan of “Beyond Music x Breakthrough”.

“It’s not just about music videos but includes a range of activities and events, among them fan meetings, school tours, meet and greet and mini concerts. All of these will be held throughout this year. We believe that artist content is important and are confident that our artists, musicians and singers can immerse themselves in it,” says Phawit Chitrakorn, chief executive of GMM Music at GMM Grammy.

“We are focusing on TV reruns, original content and music to go with those activities. More than 70 per cent of people today listen to music on their mobile phones. We want to make a difference but can’t do that with music only. We have to add different content related to those songs to generate more interest in Line TV. Grammy is a very important partner and will help our music experience become reality,” adds Kawin Tangudtaisak, director of content business at Line Thailand.

For the purposes of the collaboration, GMM Grammy’s bands and solo artists are categorised into two segments: “Premium Music Content” and “Artist Content”. “Premium encompasses direct content from bands and artists’ and includes “Exclusive Music Video”, “Fan Meeting” with popular artists Pongkool “Pop” Suebsung, Pramote “Oat” Pathan and Palitchoke “Peck” Ayanaputra, “Live Event Session” with Jetset’er, Mu Muzu and Chanakan “Atom” Ratanaudom, and “Genie School Tour” featuring Cocktail, Palmy, Potato and Paradox.

Artist Content will see the musicians take on new roles through 12 programmes to be aired on Line TV this year.

They are “Tai Ria Rad” by Supol “Bell” Phuasirirak, “Noo Paowalee Mee 300” by Paowalee Pornpimol, “Tiew Baan Phi Mike” by Mike Piromporn, “MBOKE” by Thanawat “DJ Nui” Prasitsomporn and MBO’s artists, “Kids Rock” by Retrospect’s Chanattha “Nap” Saisila featuring young rock band Overdose, “Ha Tae Lem” by Pramote “Oat” Pathan, “Why Always Oat”, also by Pramote, “Term Fun Khon Baan Klai” by Pai Pongsatorn, “Padox Tour” by Paradox, “Song Plaeng” by Ekkachai Euasangkomsert, “Sabaidee” by Tai Orathai, and “Behind the Song” by Nitipong “Dee” Honark. Each programme will comprise 10 episodes and be shown over three months.

“I’m used to recording parties or get-togethers on film. I always bring my camera with me, because I never know when I will see something interesting. I find out about the happening scenes from magazines and from other photographers’ works. Some of the images have a weird and unusual beauty, such as the one of members of a lion dance troupe eating noodle soup on the street which is in direct contrast to a businessman in a suit doing the same thing. When I see something that attracts my attention, I immediately pick up my camera,” says Bell Supol, a graduate of the Faculty of Communication Arts at Assumption University, who is never without his two Leicas and his Contax.

“Photographs are like my diary. They are a record of my life. Sometimes, a photograph reminds me of a story. When I open the images one by one on my computer, I relive those moments. I’m not a professional, just someone who likes taking photographs and recording moments. Mostly, I upload my images to Instagram.

“With ‘Tai Ria Rad’, fans will see another side of me. They may think they can read my character from my songs but this programme will uncover my lifestyle and my photography angles as well as those of other artists who will be my guests. The point of interest for this programme is taking photos and challenging guests to show their abilities within a limited time,” adds the pop singer.

The first episode of “Tai Ria Rad” has the Nanglen Music Festival as its setting and features Zeal’s singer Prach “Peck” Pongchai. It will air on Line TV next Tuesday at 6pm. Paowalee Pornpimol’s reality show “Noo Paowalee Mee 300” goes out the following day at the same time.

“The 300 refers to the Bt300 I can spend in each of the episodes at places like Phahurat Market, where I have to look for clothes. It’s not going to be easy – everyone knows that clothes there cost more than Bt300,” explains the luk thung star.

“My show is a semi-reality programme when I work to develop this young rock band, Overdose, who have become popular on YouTube, and turn them into a mature act,” explains Nap Chanattha, frontman of Retrospect.

“I don’t think their dream is very different from ours. I will make suggestions on everything from making music to sharing happiness with the audience. Other rockers will also offer suggestions. And in the end, the young rock band will share the stage at Retrospect’s concert.”

Pramote “Oat” Pathan will don a talk show host hat for “Ha Tae Lem” to be aired in May. “Why Always Oat” follows in June.

“I want my talk show to feature a female guest and we’ll talk about her personal life – what colour sheets she likes best or her preferred style of pyjamas, for example. ‘Why Always Oat’ gets its name from the ‘Why Always Me?’ slogan printed on [footballer] Mario Balotelli’s shirt. I would like everyone to know more about me, both the positive and negative. We’ll end with a concert,” says Oat Pramote.

Songwriter Nitipong “Dee” Honark is also showing his face on Line TV in the programme “Behind the Song” to be aired in November.

“We will present songs going back 20 or 30 years and give their background, show the atmosphere and mood as well as events from way back when,” Dee says.

“Older people will be reminded of their youth and youngsters will get to learn the songs that have been covered in more recent times. We will also talk to and about singers, songwriters and producers.”

Part of the auditorium’s “Thai Talents at Sala Sudasiri Sobha” concert series, the performance features the winners of the Yamaha Thailand Music Festival from different categories and age groups.

The programme features a demanding repertoire of classical piano music and ends with Haydn’s “Piano Concerto in D major Hob XVIII/11”, which will be accompanied by chief piano instructor Dr Yosuke Komura. The performance of the concerto will be a rare occasion for audience to listen to the Yamaha CFX Concert Grand together with Steinway Concert Grand.

Weetiwat Siriwattanakorn, winner of Piano Solo 9-12 Category and a media sweetheart, will perform Haydn’s “Sonata in E flat Major Hob 52”. He is the winner of Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition 2015 in Vienna, Austria.

Chin-Hung Lin, the winner of Piano Duet under 15 Category, will perform Beethoven’s “Sonata in C minor Op 10 No 1” and Chopin’s “Etude Op 25 No 1.” Chin-hung Lin is a regular prizewinner at the Yamaha Thailand Music Festival and has also picked up the top Golden Classical Music Award in New York.

Tarisa Chanpong, the winner of Piano Solo Senior Category, will perform Chopin’s “Ballade No 1 in G minor”. A first place winner from the American Protege Romantic Music 2014, she has given a performance at the Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall USA. She is currently an honour roll student at Ruamrudee International Choir.

Chaithawat Atiphophai, the winner of Piano Duet under 15, will perform Liszt’s “Mephisto Waltz No 1.”

The first prize of the Paris Grand Prize Virtuoso International Music Competition 2015, Chaithawat has performed at Studio Auditorium Paris Opera Bastille, France and received a high score in the exam of the Trinity College London piano Diploma level at the age of just 13.

Ariya Aothitipong, the winner of Piano Solo 12-15 Category, will perform Tchaikovsky’s “Dumka” and Haydn’s “Piano Concerto in D major Hob XVIII/11” together with Dr Komura.

She is also a major prize winner, most recently coming first in “The 5th International Franz Liszt Music Competition for young pianists 2017” in Weimar, Germany.

Tickets are Bt700 at http://www.SalaSudsiriSobha.com or by calling (02) 541 8662 and (080) 407 8231.

Proceeds will go to the Gift of Life Foundation for helping needy blood disease patients in Thailand.

The concert hall is on Lat Phrao Soi 41, yaek 7-2 and the performance starts at 4pm.

His voice packing an R&B brassiness yet refined with an unforced vibrato, Meachem is no dabbler in bar singing. He is one of opera’s rising stars, recently completing a stint as a male lead in “La Boheme” at New York’s Metropolitan Opera — and karaoke was key to his success.

Raised in rural North Carolina, Meachem got his big break in 2006 when he visited Paris for the first time as part of a fellowship and decided to make his move as opera glitterati went out drinking.

Meachem got on the karaoke machine and sang “I Believe I Can Fly,” R. Kelly’s ballad of discovering personal strength, and so impressed mezzo-soprano Susan Graham that she recommended him for a part at Lyric Opera of Chicago.

But karaoke runs deeper for Meachem. The skill needed to master it — imitating another’s voice — is how he entered opera.

One of four children supported by a schoolteacher mother, Meachem grew up with little exposure to opera, but would mimic songs on the radio by Top 40 artists from Michael Jackson to Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler — whose screeching climax on “Dream On” is another of Meachem’s karaoke tricks.

One Christmas his mother gifted him a tape of the Three Tenors — the legendary trio of Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti.

“It was next to godliness to me that these people could make this sound with the unamplified human voice,” he told AFP at the Upper West Side bar where he showed off his karaoke prowess.

“All of a sudden there was this type of singing that I could not replicate,” he said. “After hearing that, it changed my life forever.”

“Sorry, Steven Tyler, Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson — rest in peace — but you couldn’t pique my interest in the same way, because I could already do that.”

– Straddling two worlds –

Meachem — who has the strapping frame of a college athlete yet with piercing blue eyes and a natural affability — voiced pride in his North Carolina roots but joked that he came from “the sticks.”

He acknowledged that starring at the Met, the most prestigious US opera house, gave him limited cachet with childhood friends.

“I could go home and say, ‘I’m singing at the Met and in Vienna and London and San Francisco and Chicago and then I say that I sang the national anthem at the Rangers game in New York and they say, ‘The Rangers game — that’s something else!'”

With his insight into two worlds, the 39-year-old has taken to writing strikingly forthright essays aimed at aspiring singers.

Devoid of any diva-like pretension, The Baritone Blog offers everything from advice on taxes (make sure you pay them!) to his thoughts on feeling out of place as an opera singer when he won a Grammy last year.

Elsewhere on the blog, in what could have been a scene from “Les Miserables,” he admitted stuffing his coat with food to survive when he was a student. He also resorted to calling up food companies to compliment them on their products, leading them to send him packages of samples that would hold him over.

He said his experiences helped in “La Boheme” as he played Marcello, the struggling painter living among Paris bohemians.

“Somebody who can’t pay the bills — been there before. Somebody that can’t pay his utility bill, so it’s cold in the house, and he can’t afford firewood — been there, too,” Meachem said.

“There’s a lot of life imitating art in that opera for me personally.”

– Advice from love to singing –

Meachem also offers artistic guidance to new singers on The Baritone Blog. The most common mistake, he said, is not to sing in a forward position as opera, much unlike karaoke, involves no microphone.

His insights on his blog also revolve around making love last — he is visibly smitten with his wife Irina, a pianist and opera coach from Minnesota — and his decision to adopt a vegan diet, both out of compassion for animals and to lose weight.

“I saw the trend in opera shift toward a trimmer singer,” he said.

As for the future, Meachem sees himself assuming a mentoring role, remembering how much help he received as a young singer — and how many questions he had.

“Now that I am at the top, I want to pass that knowledge on to the next generation,” he said. “I want to give back in some way that’s tangible to them.”

The biggest surprise at the Guitar Mag Awards on Monday was the multiple successes of Big Ass, a rock band that’s clocked up 20 years in the business and lately refuses to be bothered releasing singles.

But the crowd at Show DC’s Ultra Arena Theatre was fully behind them as they collected Album of the Year for “The Lion”, Band Artist of the Year and Guitar Man of the Year.

“This year Big Ass reaches the 20-year milestone,” drummer-songwriter Kachorndej “Kob” Promraksa declared to spirited applause after collecting the Band of the Year trophy.

“We’ve overcome many hurdles and challenges throughout that period, even this year. But this award will be a driving force to help us overcome any obstacle.”

The latest “obstacle” is that every member of the band has been accused of copyright infringement following a performance of “Korn Tai” at a corporate party. Back in 2000, when they did release singles, that was a hit from their second album, “XL”, but the disc was on the Music Bugs label, and now they’re with GMM Grammy subsidiary Genie Records.

That aside, said Kob, this year has felt like a new beginning for the band because they have a new singer.

“It’s the same feeling we had when he won our first award. Some people thought we were crazy recording 10 songs for a full-length album, but those 10 songs mean a lot to us, because they’re all connected. This award is vindication.

“We were determined to make it big in music when we were 18, so no matter what we faced, even poor album sales, we kept making the kind of music we loved.”

The band’s double-trouble axe men, Poonsak “Off” Jaturaboon and Apichart “Moo” Promraksa, shared the Guitar Man of the Year award. “We’ve been friends since high school,” Off said, “and there’s nothing better than receiving this award together on this stage.”

Songwriter of the Year honours went to the Rube, who are billed as a “modern Thai traditional” outfit for placing characters from classic Thai literature into hip-hop-tinged productions. Their track “Foe: Mai Chai Phra Aek” was also named Choice of the Year.

With singer Siwapong “Get” Hemwong, bassist Songpol Srisaard and drummer Natcharapong Watthanajarupong by his side, guitarist Theerawong Watthanajarupong thanked the host magazine and Spicy Disc, their label.

Credit was also shared with Bodin “Pe” Charoenrat of the pop band Mild, who wrote the song with Get Siwapong.

“I started writing songs when I was in high school and now I’m 31, so this is a thrill,” Pe said of the long-dreamed-of award. “I’m very proud of the combination of traditional Thai and modern music.”

“The Rube couldn’t have got to this point without the Mild,” Get chimed in.

The Rube performed “Sia”, a recent release, and there were brief sets by Slot Machine, ETC, BNK48, the Toys and Klear.

Suthee “Kai” Saengsereechon was named Producer of the Year for his brilliant touch on the Room 39 track “Pen Thuk Yang”. He cracked that he was the oldest of the nominees for the award, then turned serious.

“Let me vent my feelings. Last year I almost quit being a producer because there was so much pressure working under the ‘old system’. But this award makes me feel good again.”

Kai thanked his friend Boyd Kosiyabong, LoveIs and Room 39 for showing him the “respect” to handle their album.

“The system has changed now,” he explained later. “Producers used to get paid a percentage of sales of CDs and cassettes. Nowadays, with everyone online and focused on live shows, producers get a flat rate. The producer is like a member of the band, and since it’s impossible to sell CDs these days, he should be paid on those terms.”

Sexy girl group BNK48 – Cherprang Areekul, Kanteera “Noey” Wadcharathadsanakul, Patchanan “Orn” Jiajirachote, Isarapa “Tarwaan” Thawatpakdee, Milin “Namneung” Dokthian and Natruja “Kaew” Chutiwansopon – had their fans in a frenzy as they accepted the Single Hit of the Year award for “Cookie Siangtai” (“Fortune Cookie”).

Cherprang got choked up as she described the group as “just ordinary girls” and thanked Jirat Bawornwatana of Rose Artist Management, Pongchak “Aey” Pisatthanporn and Tanupop “Man” Notayanont of Laongfong and their other songwriters.

“We never thought our single had a chance to win this award,” she said. “From now on, our songs and performances will be for everyone.”

New Wave of the Year honours went to the Toys, Best Style of the Year to 25 Hours, Best Male of the Year Chanakan “Atom” Ratanaudom and Best Female Artist of the Year Kanyarat “Lula” Tiyapornchai, while Palitchoke “Peck” Ayanaputra won the Popular Vote.

Sompol “Laem” Rungpanich, frontman of 25 Hours, was grateful for the confidence booster. “We’ve reached our 10th year, but time has never changed us.”

Lula said that, in her pre-performing days, she was “a working woman” who overcame her tiredness by singing from and playing piano along to the sheet music published in The Guitar Mag. The award, she said, was a dream come true.

“This is the first award I’ve ever received and I find it unbelievable that I’m getting one now, said Peck, who took a long hiatus from the business. “Thanks to all the fans around the country who voted for me and welcomed be back into the music scene again.”

The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award went to veteran singer Thaneth Warakulnukroh.

Some of Hong Kong’s best-loved musicians are joining up with talented chefs every weekend this month as the Drink’N Music Festival returns to Ocean Park for its second edition. Running every Saturday and Sunday through April 2, the event offers fun lovers the chance to dine on a wide variety of quality beers and gourmet food while listening to contemporary sounds.

“Last year, we celebrated the park’s 40th anniversary by launching a brand new night fiesta, which proved very popular with locals and guests from overseas. It did so well that we decided to host an even larger event this year,” says Perry Chung, executive director of Ocean Park’s commercial operations.

“Our aim is to firmly establish Ocean Park as the hub for dining and entertainment on the southern side of Hong Kong.”

“Last year Chill Out@The South was designed around three themes: All About Sake, Pop & Rock Beer Fest, and In Taste of Excellence. The 2018 Drink’N Music Fest is inspired by Chill Out and once again combines the best location with food, beer and music. The concert setting offers an intimate experience for both the audience and the musicians, which was greatly appreciated by those who came last year. That’s why we have expanded the concert lineup for this year, increasing the number of shows at Applause Pavilion to 20 from 16,” adds Lau Ming-wai, the park’s deputy chairman.

“The response has been very enthusiastic following our announcement of the event in January and tickets for some concerts were almost totally sold out within just a few days of going on sale. The fiesta will showcase more than 200 unique food and beverage items so fair-goers can truly indulge themselves in what Hong Kong has to offer as a food paradise,” he continues.

This year’s Drink’N Music Fest features a diverse lineup that ranges from pop and rock to indie and alternative nightly from 7.15 to 9.15. Participating artists include pop stars Justin Lo, Endy Chow, Ellen Joyce Loo, Eman Lam and Chet Lam, Cantopop duo Shine featuring Chui Tienyou and Wong Younam, Yoyo Sham, Alfred Hui, Jill Vidal, Jason Chan PakYu, Chan Winghim, Phil Lam, Robynn & Kendy, and Mischa Ip. ToNick, Kolor, Chochukmo, Dear Jane, Qiu Hong, Kimman Wong, Chochukmo, Jude, and RubberBand provide the rock.

“Shine has a lot of good memories of Ocean Park and they will bring a great show to fans. The members of RubberBand told us they were delighted to be invited to perform at Ocean Park again this year. They love the stage and the vibe here because Applause Pavilion allows them to get closer to the audience for a more engaging experience,” says Lau Ming-wai.

RubberBand was there for the opening ceremony too, kicking off the event with a tight set that had fans up on their feet and dancing.

“Ocean Park has a wide variety of guests attending the festival and we are thrilled to be joining them. We look forward to being part of a special weekend,” a member of RubberBand told The Nation after their set.

“This year’s Hong Kong pop music live at Drink’N Music Fest 2018 presents music fans with an even more diverse lineup of the city’s hottest singers and bands than last year. Together with an amazing choice of beers and popular restaurants, we expect attendance figures at this year’s event to surpass last year’s,” said Timothy Ng, executive director for Ocean Park’s operations and entertainment.

Ocean Park has partnered with celebrity chef KK Chan Kwok-keung for the first time to present a fine dining menu at Neptune’s Restaurant featuring contemporary Chinese food made with the finest ingredients and sustainable seafood.

“We invited Kwok-keung to share his extensive culinary experience and cooking skills with the park’s F&B team at Neptune’s Restaurant by launching exclusive tasting and a la carte menus. Blending concepts and techniques of iconic regional cuisine from all over China, the menus will please gourmets seeking a high-quality Chinese dining experience,” Lau Ming-wai explains.

And anyone who loves their suds will be in beer drinker’s heaven with dozens of beer brands from different countries and cities among the 100-plus types of beers and other alcoholic drinks available at the fest. These include several beers that have received international awards and new craft beer flavours that have been developed locally. Punters can line their stomachs with the plethora of street food and snacks with enticing flavours from around the world, including Shanghai panfried buns, Taiwanese treats and Hawaiian barbecue platters.

One not to miss is the Orange CreamsicAle that’s been crafted by local brewery Heroes Beer specifically for the event. It was inspired by a recent visit to Ocean Park by the brewer who thought it would be fun to conjure up a drink that reminded him of his happy childhood visits to the park and his favourite orange ice lolly. The result is a craft beer imbued with a tantalising, succulent citrus flavour and accented by a dash of sweet vanilla.

See it, taste it

– By buying a reloadable e-token with a HK$50 (Bt240) stored value, guests can enter the park after 6.30pm with a coupon booklet and a souvenir beer mug to enjoy the event’s food and beverage offerings.

– Concert tickets cost HK$180 and HK$280 and are available at the park after 6.30pm, with a reloadable etoken with a $30 stored value, a coupon booklet and a souvenir beer mug included.

– For tickets and a full schedule of events, check out http://www.OceanPark.com.hk.

A ‘Legend’ onstage

Veteran diva Nanthida Kaewbuasai will add her show “Legend” to the “Memories Are Forever” series in the Dusit Thani Hotel’s Napalai Ballroom on March 24. Seats cost Bt3,000 to Bt5,000 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456.

And another Legend

John Legend will perform in Bangkok for the first time in Hall 106 of Bitec Bang Na on March 23 as a part of his “Darkness and Light” tour. Seats cost Bt2,800 to Bt8,000 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456.

Fans flock to BtoB

South Korean boy band BtoB – Eunkwang, Minhyuk, Changsub, Hyunsik, Peniel, Ilhoon and Sungjae – will meet their fans at the Thunder Dome in Muang Thong Thani on March 24. Seats cost Bt1,800 to Bt5,800 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456.

Make room for Room 39

Pop trio Room 39 – Issara “Tom” Kitnitchi, Chutimon “Mon” Vichitrissadee and Olran “Wan Yai” Chujai – hit the stage of Hall 105 at Bitec Bang Na on March 31. Seats cost Bt1,500 to Bt4,000 at http://www.ThaiTicketMajor.com and (02) 262 3456.

The premier US opera house, which had faced criticism in some quarters that it had been too slow to respond to Levine’s alleged behavior, voiced disbelief at its orchestra’s longtime music director and vowed to “vigorously” make its case in court.

“It is shocking that Mr Levine has refused to accept responsibility for his actions, and has today instead decided to lash out at the Met with a suit riddled with untruths,” Betsy Plevan, a lawyer for the Met, said in a statement.

“There is no basis for Mr Levine’s assertion that the Met was on a vendetta against him, when in fact the Met supported him through prolonged and repeated periods of illness that kept him from the podium,” she said.

The Met noted that it had created a new position of music director emeritus for Levine, who retired in 2016 amid persistent health problems.

The opera house said Monday that it had terminated its relationship with the conductor after a three-month investigation found “credible evidence that Mr Levine had engaged in sexually abusive and harassing conduct.”

A number of musicians have come forward to say that Levine inappropriately touched them when they were students.

The Boston Globe earlier this month reported that Levine became a virtual cult figure at the Cleveland Institute of Music, pressuring students to swear loyalty to him, cutting them off from the outside world and coercing them into sex.

Levine’s lawsuit, according to The New York Times, seeks more than $4 million and alleges that the Met had a plan to erase his legacy.

The lawsuit, according to the newspaper, said that Levine had been set to be paid $400,000 a year plus $27,000 per performance until he was sacked.

Levine denied wrongdoing but had otherwise said little since the allegations first became public in December amid the rise of the #MeToo movement against abusive men.

The Met, in its response, said that Levine had refused to cooperate with the investigation until the very end when it became clear he would be fired.

Levine set “impossible terms” by asking for investigators to name his accusers, who had been granted anonymity, Plevan said.

Alfonso Scarano is the conductor. Admission is free but registration is required. Find out more at Facebook.com/ItalianFestivalThailand/.

Write your own songs

Temp – a new, up-and-coming band made up of like-minded seasoned musicians from other outfits – will talk about how to write pop songs and perform them at “Music ed 2018”, a new activity being organised at TK Park’s Learning Auditorium tomorrow from 4. The auditorium is on the eighth floor of CentralWorld.

Chilling by the beach

SDF, Instinct, Season Five, Urboy TJ, Slot Machine, and Jazz Sputnix Papiyong Kookkook are among the artists performing at the fifth edition of “Chill Six Pack on the Beat” being organised by radio station EFM 104.5 at Ocean Marina Yacht Club in Pattaya on March 31 at 4pm. Admission is free. Find out more at http://www.EFM.fm and http://www.Chillfm.fm.

Bands on the run

Slot Machine, Scrubb, Saksit “Tor” Vejsupaporn, Lipta, Bedroom Audio, 60 Miles, Electric Neon Lamp, Yented , 23’O, Shane Thana, Nattapong “Kerb” Thongmueng and Chaba and Synth from “The XFactor” are now on a campus tour, which will see them play in nine provinces as part of the “Pepsi x Joox presents Sa Thuk Yuk … Mai Mee Plien” concert series.

Follow this tour at pages of BecTero Music, Joox and Joox Thailand.

Magical mysteries on Ekamai

A new electronic dance festival dubbed “U Mystic Machucan” will hold its inaugural event on March 24 at Acmen Ekamai Complex. The festival will be divided into three zones: “Unique” designed to look like Machu Picchu in an LED forest, “Unexpect” with many creatures and rites for the Sun God, and “MysterioUs” as a photo landmark. The music comes from Phase One, BangBangBang featuring Khan Thaitanium and Keezy, TwoPee Southside, DJ Cleo P, Young Ohm, YB, J$R, DJ What dat Frog and DJ TNT and two brothers Marvinzir and Master Mind.

Check it out at Facebook.com/Mystic.MachUcan.

Violinist Siew Yi Li, pianist Beatrice Lin and cellist Brandon Voo made an auspicious debut at the Academie de Musique Tibor Varga in Switzerland and have since presented many acclaimed recitals in Singapore, including a memorable performance of Beethoven’s “Triple Concerto” in 2010.

The trio also presented the Singapore premieres of piano trios written by Claude Debussy and Ernest Chausson, and have championed local composers Phoon Yew Tien and Chen Zhangyi.

In Hua Hin on March 23, the Incursion Trio will perform at “Classical Music of the Night” in the Colonial Hall of the Centara Grand Hua Hin.

On the bill will be Debussy’s “La Mer” and Schubert’s “Symphony No 8”.

Tickets cost Bt700, including canapes and drinks. Call (032) 51 2021.

The leading US opera house had already suspended Levine in December after allegations first became public against him. Levine guided the Met’s orchestra for 40 years as music director.

The Met said it has “terminated its relationship” with Levine, who retired in 2016 amid failing health but until the scandal had remained a frequent presence as a conductor.

“The investigation uncovered credible evidence that Mr. Levine had engaged in sexually abusive and harassing conduct both before and during the period when he worked at the Met,” the opera house said in a statement.

The three-month investigation concludes a spectacular fall from grace for a musician often hailed as one of the top US conductors of his generation.

Fittingly perhaps, his final Met appearance was conducting Verdi’s “Requiem” in December.

The opera house said it was “committed to ensuring a safe, respectful and harassment-free workplace for its employees and artists.”

The Met, however, also absolved itself of blame after criticism that it could have acted before longstanding allegations about Levine made headlines amid the growing spotlight in the United States on sexual abuse by powerful men.

“Any claims or rumors that members of the Met’s management or its board of directors engaged in a coverup of information relating to these issues are completely unsubstantiated,” it said.

The Met, which like many major US music institutions has a constant challenge of shoring up its finances, has acted quickly to move past the taint of Levine.

It has brought forward the appointment of Levine’s successor, youthful French Canadian Yannick Nezet-Seguin, who will become music director with the upcoming season.

Allegations of sex cult

Levine, 74, was said by younger musicians to have sexually abused them when they were vulnerable students and he was the charismatic visiting instructor, with most cases dating decades ago.

In an investigative piece published this month by The Boston Globe, former students at the Cleveland Institute of Music described Levine as a cult-like figure who not only coerced them into sex but controlled their lives.

Quoting former students, the newspaper said that Levine would pressure them to cut off ties with the outside world and pledge loyalty to him as he led meetings that involved everything from studying opera scenes to anonymous sex.

“I thought it was sex for my improvement, sex to make things better,” violinist Albin Ifsich, who was a 20-year-old student when he said the abuse took place in 1968, told the newspaper.

“Obviously that’s not what it was, but we were led to believe that.”

Levine’s downfall began in December, when the New York Post reported on a 2016 police report in which a teenager alleged decades of abuse by the conductor starting when the victim was 15 at the Ravinia Music Festival near Chicago — one of a number of classical institutions that has since cut ties with Levine.

The conductor in an earlier statement called the allegations against him “unfounded,” saying he was not an “oppressor or an aggressor.”

Levine is one of the most prominent musicians to see his career ended in the #MeToo era, initially triggered by the furor over alleged widespread abuse by Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.

Other musicians who have quit or lost positions over alleged abuse include hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons and Charles Dutoit, until recently the principal conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in London.

But some in the music industry expect more cases to come out, seeing how rock culture in particular is so intertwined with sexual inhibition.