pianomania: LEGACY: THE NEXT PIANO GENERATION / Soloists with Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra / Review

LEGACY: THE NEXT PIANO GENERATION

David Chen & Roman Blagojevic

Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra

Victoria Concert Hall

Wednesday (17 March 2026)

This review was published on Bachtrack.com on 19 March 2026 with the title "Argerich grandsons make a splash with the Thailand Philharmonic in Singapore".

Music runs in families. There were the Bachs, Mozarts and Mendelssohns, and more recently, the Tcherepnins, Sanderlings and Järvis. Two grandsons of great Argentine pianist Martha Argerich, 19-year-old Roman Blagojevic and 17-year-old David Chen, have now joined the worldwide concert circuit. Their 2026 Legacy Tour with the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra led by Argentine conductor Dario Ntaca, presented by Altenburg Arts and 54 Entertainment, included concerts in Bangkok and Singapore.

Blagojevic is the son of Argerich’s third daughter Stéphanie, director of the Argerich family docu-movie Bloody Daughter, and grandson of American pianist Stephen Kovacevich. He appeared tense and ill-at-ease in J.S.Bach’s Keyboard Concerto in F minor (BWV.1056) but was able to project and articulate with clarity, with accompanying strings kept as discreet as possible. Entering one bar late in the Largo could have derailed the movement, but its aria’s elegance partnered by string pizzicatos was sustained through its short duration. The brisk and business-like run-through in the finale suggested he was more comfortable away from the stage.

Photo: Ung Ruey Loon

David Chen is the son of Martha’s eldest daughter violist Lyda Chen-Argerich and pianist-composer Vladimir Sverdlov-Ashkenazy (nephew of Vladimir Ashkenazy). He was by far the more confident of the two, possessing nerve and chutzpah to take up the challenge of Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto in B flat minor (Op.23). The striding chords of its famous opening were resonant and well-projected, and the cadenza showed he clearly had the fingers for the well-worn warhorse.

He channelled his grandmother’s fiery temperament but also the tendency to rush fences, as if on a whim. When Martha transgresses, it is through authority and instinct but for someone this young, impetuosity and indiscipline are more likely reasons. The slow movement was somnolent until sparks flew in the Prestissimo episode, and the finale was a race of the fastest thoroughbreds, the stampeding octaves culminating with that rolled Horowitzian chord. Undeniably brilliant in the final pages, the audience was duly thrilled, but he is still scaling a steep learning curve.

Photo: Ung Ruey Loon

Both pianists had each an encore playing four-hands piano with Ntaca, in movements from Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite - Pavane of the Sleeping Beauty (Roman) and The Fairy Garden (David). The latter, who received longer and louder applause, also offered Chopin’s Mazurka in C major (Op.24 No.2), displaying more liberties and a free spirit.

The Thailand Philharmonic was more an accompanist than partner in the concert’s first half, and thankfully had its own show for the balance of the evening. Founded as recently as 2005, it has since made rapid progress. This reviewer has been fortunate to have witnessed very commendable performances of Mahler, Sibelius, Schoenberg and Shostakovich at its 2000-seater Prince Mahidol Hall in the outskirts of Bangkok. Its touring programme was, however, to be lighter and more popular.

Directed from memory by Ntaca, Brahms’ Academic Festival Overture received a suitably rousing performance. The orchestra, peopled by mostly young Thai nationals with a handful of expatriate musicians, generated the impetus and momentum for its succession of popular drinking songs. By the time when the valedictory Gaudeamus igitur rang out, brass and percussion were at full throttle for one final carouse.

More substantial was Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture, which revealed more of the young orchestra’s qualities, including proficient woodwinds and a sonorous bass of low strings. There was no shortage of passion for the Montague and Capulet feud, later rising for the memorable love theme which swept the board. From the encouraging audience response, TPO’s first visit to Singapore may be judged a success.