Two-Hour Respite from the Gloom of Bangkok’s Floods

Japanese pianists Tetsu Mashiko and Masaki Nishihara, following their fun Bangkok recital.

Goethe-Institut Thailand. Bangkok. November 5, 2011. Two fine Japanese pianists, Tetsu Mashiko and Masaki Nishihara, braved the Bangkok floods to travel here from Japan to perform their scheduled musicale, “A Dancing Night in Bangkok for Two Pianos,” one of the few recent events not canceled due to the horrendous flooding in Bangkok. One pianist on a Steinway, and the other playing a Bosendorfer, blended together in a perfectly balanced ensemble, performing short, bright, dance pieces of mostly classical works, with some interesting combinations, such as a polka of Balakierev’s arranged by Shostakovich. They struck the right mood among the very small audience, which, despite its size, was enthusiastic in its applause and appreciation. This is the duo’s third appearance in Bangkok, and I, for one, will be in the audience when they come again, as I was for their first recital several years ago.