The concert series starting tomorrow at the Thai Cultural Centre is taking its name seriously. "The Great Artists of the World" imports an eclectic roster of performers who routinely play to sell-out crowds.

The programme, continuing with irregular shows through December 11, is a joint presentation of the Culture Ministry and the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra (BSO) Foundation.

 "All the great artists are coming for this event," says foundation secretary general Atchara Tejapaibul. And Sadabpim Ratanaruang, who's in charge of the classical music at Chulalongkorn Radio, says these artists are all big names in the business, not faded musicians doing Thai gigs at the end of their careers.

Japan's Tokyo Dagekidan, an all-male group of drummers, and Hono-O-Daiko, all women, get things off to a thunderous start tomorrow. Their country's traditional taiko drumming is given a contemporary treatment in an exciting show that earned equally roaring applause when they played at the 1998 World Cup in Paris.

Latin passion follows with award-winning Spanish flamenco dancer Eva Yerbabuena and her troupe - eight dancers and eight musicians and singers.

The Moscow Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Constantin Orbelian, will perform classics by Boccherini, Tchaikovsky, Sarasate and Glazunov.

Then the Italian chamber orchestra I Solisti Veneti makes a return to Thailand with another engaging show of frivolity and virtuosity under the leadership of Claudio Scimone.

Much anticipated is American Renée Fleming, considered by many the world's pre-eminent soprano. A jazz and opera singer, she also performed on the soundtrack of "The Lord of the Rings".

"Renée's a real diva," says Bangkok pianist Jamorn Supapol, a fan. "Her voice is one of the most beautiful in the world."

In May the BSO and conductor Hikotaro Yazaki will present Handel's "Royal Fireworks" and Beethoven's Triple Concerto in C major Opus 56.

Then the Swiss Piano Trio will take the stage with pianist Martin Lucas Staub, violinist Angela Golubeva and cellist Sebastian Singer.

One of France's most celebrated choreographers, Thierry Malandain, will present "Lés Creatures" with the Ballet Biarritz, set to the music of Beethoven's "The Creatures of Prometheus".

In September, the Asean Japan Festival Orchestra joins the BSO and musicians from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Philippines and South Korea. They'll perform works by Mozart, Haydn, Shostakovich and Beethoven.

In October the BSO will offer its original, classical version of the royal compositions of His Majesty the King.

James Galway, "the man with the golden flute", will be joined in November by pianist Phillip Moll, and that same month the BSO and Hikotaro Yazaki will have pianist Janis Vakarelis as a guest for a concert of Prokofiev and Leonard Bernstein's "West Side Story".

The BSO wraps up the series next December with Russian pianist Mikhail Pletnev, himself a conductor and composer.

"Pletnev conducts some famous orchestras, so this will be amazing for the BSO because the Thai musicians can lift their ability to another level," says Khunying Malaival Boonyaratavej, a National Artist in choral music.

Too many choices?

"Music is an emotional matter," says Chetana Nagavajara, retired professor of Silpakorn University. "You have to take risks and discover new music rather than listen to advertisements and wait for the famous musicians."

Also if cash is a problem, he adds, "the third floor of the Thailand Cultural Centre is the best and cheapest place to listen to classic music!"

Tickets will be on sale through Thai- TicketMaster.com and its outlets a month in advance of each show.

Lisnaree Vichitsorasatra

The Nation