THE Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) welcomes Malaysian viola da gamba player Ibrahim Aziz in an evening of Baroque music on Nov 30 at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP), KLCC, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.
A native of Kuala Lumpur and currently based in London, Ibrahim will enthrall audience with his unique artistry on the fascinating six-string instrument through masterpieces such as Telemann's 'Overture Suite For Gamba In D' and Fiala's 'Concerto in F major for Gamba & Orchestra'.
Prior to his debut with the MPO, Ibrahim had performed at the Wigmore Hall and Purcell Room in London, and the National Concert Hall in Ireland.
His performances have taken him to the USA, Europe and the Far East, showcasing his virtuosic playing on the viola da gamba.
He has performed with different kinds of chamber ensembles — period, modern and contemporary.
PROLIFIC
A prolific recording artiste with 20 albums under his belt, his debut album 'Risonanze' was described as "a recording to be reckoned with" by the American Record Guide.
The MPO will open and close the concert with a symphony — Bach's 'Symphony In D' and Mozart's 'Symphony No. 39 In E Flat'. Benjamin Bayl returns to the DFP podium to weave his magic after his collaboration with the MPO in 2019.
UNIQUE SOUND
In a recent interview Ibrahim said: "Music was always around when I was growing up and I started playing when I was 7 or 8 years old.
"Music and school developed together and I was always into it but I can't say that it was a dream for me from day one to become a musician.
"There might have been a vague notion of it but I was actually working towards a different career path at first and music somehow called me back.
"I was attracted to the unique sound of the viola da gamba. It somehow stood out for me and I liked the sound of other old instruments but even among those, the viola da gamba was different."
He loves the viola da gamba as it shares some of the qualities of the violin family such as its mellow and warm middle register and bright top notes, but is a much gentler instrument with a plangent quality to its sound.
"I love all kinds of instruments and the first instrument I became proficient on was the keyboard which I still sometimes play professionally."
THRILLED
Ibrahim is thrilled to be performing at DFP.
"It has a great sound and is a very comfortable hall to be in.
"I performed at DFP about five years ago with a group of musicians in a small-scale concert and I was also involved in an MPO music appreciation session on baroque music and the viola da gamba.
"This will be the first time I will be performing with the full-fledged MPO which is a tremendous honour for me."
The biggest challenge for an independent artiste like Ibrahim is finding work.
"I think having the right contacts is important as well as building a sustainable relationship with them."
He enjoys enjoy experiencing the culture and heritage of different nations.
"I have been away from Malaysia for over 25 years now and one of the the biggest things I have noticed from living abroad is that people around the world are essentially the same – we are all human beings, experiencing the same needs and feelings.""
YO-YO MA
There have been many special moments in Ibrahim's career, ranging from performing at the Wigmore Hall in London to a rustic village fest in a remote part of Italy.
One of Ibrahim's most memorable concerts was when he had the honour to perform for King Charles when he was still the Prince of Wales in Highgrove House.
"There are so many musicians I look up to," said Ibrahim.
"If I look at my iTunes playlist I can see names such as cellist Yo-Yo Ma, gamba player Jordi Savall, pianist Tatiana Nikolayeva and the Kuijken brothers.
"I admire them for their musicianship and skill of course but also something about the sincerity that I can sense from their playing."
Ibrahim is drawn more towards classical and baroque music.
"I listen to quite a lot of piano music when I am driving."
"I like something that creates a calming atmosphere."
RADIO
Ibrahim does feel homesick at times, for family and friends, the ease of getting great food almost any time of the day, the weather, the rainforest, swimming in warm waters and Radio Klasik!
"I suppose I could say the same about the UK when I am in KL — missing friends, cooler weather, fish and chips and the BBC Radio."
He believes musicians should take up opportunities to go abroad and see how things are done.
"I think you can excel in music if you keep working at what you love and believe in, no matter if it is classical music, traditional music or jazz.
"These days, it is easier to capture the international scene through social media and online technology."
ALBUM
Ibrahim has several interesting projects coming up next year including a recording of an album of music during the time of the French Revolution (called 'Before the Guillotine').
"I would love to collaborate more with Malaysian musicians so please feel free to get in touch!"