KONSERT DIRAJA PERLIS 2008

Exclusive Interview with Dato' Mokhzani Ismail on Konsert DiRaja Orkestra RTM di Perlis
A Perlis native, Dato Mokhzani looks forward to conducting and performing another annual Konsert DiRaja at the Dewan Wawasan 2020.

Konsert di Raja Perlis will take place at Dewan Wawasan 2020 on 16th May 2008 in conjuction with the official birthday of Tuanku Raja Perlis. RTM Orchestra comprising of 45 musicians under the direction of Dato Mokhzani Ismail will accompany Malaysian popular singers and outstanding musicians such as Jamal Abdillah, Ning Baizura, Man Kidal, Dia Fadila and Juara Bintang RTM 2008, Rey. Other celebrity performance include Lah V.E. , Rohaslam Hizad Ahmad (talented flautist) and Rozaini (impersonator of A. Ramli).

The concert will be recorded live and telecast on RTM 1 at a later date to be announced. The repertoire includes a wide spanning genre such as pop (Jamal's Senandung Semalam, Ning's Awan yang Terpilu), Broadway (All I Ask of You), Jazz (Orange Colored Sky), Rock (Sentuhan Man Kidal) and symphonic works of Yanni. The concert is open for invited guests and the public. Rehearsal will take place from 14th to 15th May (Full dress rehearsal). For more info please contact Encik Purkhan Mokhtar at 019 4394111.

PENGARAH MUZIK RTMY. BHG. DATO’ MOKHZANI BIN ISMAIL

The http://ww.orkestrartm.my/ editors thank Dato' Mokhzani for taking time to answer a few questions:

1. Dato', so you are preparing for yet another round of annual Konsert Di Raja Perlis. What have you done different this year in preparation? In terms of artists and repertoire selection, or the total production treatment of the show?

This is gonna be the third visit of RTM Orchestra to Perlis in conjunction with Tuanku's Birthday. Due to political scenario in Perlis after the election, the confirmation was only available at the end of April. Well, time is a very important factor for any orchestra performances as it involves booking of artistes, outside musicians, set designer, music arrangements etc . Despite all these constraints, I'm still looking at every angle to make it better than previous years and money well spent ... (well, nothing less than 400k!!). We will get the stage designer to set a different stage arrangement, may be to get the string section to be at the front; add french horn players, omit some blowing parts, and concentrate more on woodwinds with an exception for those bigband music. Repertoire will vary from Yanni's symphonic works to big band selections, and of course our local pop numbers sucha as hits of Jamal and Ning Baizura and not forgetting Man Kidal's touch of rock numbers. No doubt, in Perlis, the appreciation towards orchestra music is still at minimal level, we need to portray good orchestral music to make sure that the singers will not overshadow the existence of the 45 piece orchestra. Based on previous experiences, the acoustics of the hall must be taken into account whenever we set the size and repertoire of the orchestra

2. Being a Perlis native, how does it feel to be back home conducting, and what do you do extraordinaire for Perlis?

For sure, the same crowd will come: my school friends, my relatives, music teachers, local musician etc. The good thing is that they always look up to the orchestra, especially to some of our senior musicians such as Jonet Tuah, Hassan, Razak Rahman, Eddy, Yap Yen etc, who have followers no matter where they (perform). Well, somewhow after each rehearsal or performances, we never fail to go out and have 'teh tarik', and this is when I get comments for the benefit of our show. I'm sure they look forward to catching Man Kidal perform with the orchestra and one talented young flautist playing in a dangdut number. Hope our selection meets the taste of the local audiences and of course we'll introduce (the works of ) some international composes such as Andrew Lloyd Weber and Yanni.

3. How have the audiences of Perlis changed since you left for college in the USA and subsequently to work in RTM? Have they changed to like the contemporary music like hip-hop, rock, or rap?

Well, in 80s, I used to have a kampung band when I came back from Teacher Training College. We tried some Grover Washington, Casiopea, Sadao Watanabe stuff and I have a friend, a guitar player, we call him Pak Wan, our very own Wes Montgomery. I bought a tape of Wes in KL and passed to to him. He transcribed every note of Take Five and One Note Samba. During jamming (sessions), everybody started clapping, even though we just 'hantam'...When I came back from Berklee, I bought him more CDs and books and we began to realize that jazz is not how many notes you play but what notes should be played. What I like most about Perlis is that the audiences begin to appreciate orchestral music, maybe this is because they have the opportunity to have our yearly concerts. Well, of course, we need to include other genres such as contemporary pop and dangdut with orchestral touch.

4. Since this live concert will be braodcasted at a later date, over RTM1, do you make a conscious effort to portray and reflect the Perlis cultural element in this show? Or, is there such Perlis factor in the first place?

Well, as I said this is the third visit to my kampung. The first two concerts in 2006 and 2007, we managed to inject some local elements such as Changgung and last year, we arrange an opening number called Tasik Overture where the traditional Awang Batil performed with the orchestra. This year, let us concentrate on our own performance to potray our talents. There will not be any traditional dancers, let it be a pure orchestral performance.

5. Having Jamal, Ning, and Man Kidal leading Rey, Rohaslam Hizad Ahmad, Rozaini, seems to be a deliberate effort in pairing the established artists with the upcoming artists. What do you say about this?

Even though it is an orchestra performance, the appearance of popular artists will help to draw in crowds. I would say in our orchestral performance we will ONLY include talented artists who can deliver at their very best with the orchestra. Jamal and Nings are among the best Malaysian artistes, both equally popular and talented. (On the other hand) RTM needs to portray young and talented (even though not popular) singers such as our very own Rey, winner of Suara Emas Bintang RTM 2007 (he'd just cut a new album with the RTM Orchestra), the talented flautist Roshaslam and Rozaini (impersonator of Pop Yeh Yeh A. Ramli). We need to give them a special platform to build their career. I am very sure with these repertoire, singers, orchestral arrangement, instrumentalists and of course our very own orchestra, we will present the best concert and definitely better than the previous years.

6. Are there any Perlis native artists or musicians worth highlighting? May be performing ethnic instruments, or singing folk songs?

As I mentioned earlier we invited some local artists and musicians (violinist-Mat Long) during our previous performances and this year we do have Dia Fadila, a recording artist of Perlis native.

7. What would you say to invite the music lovers to watch Konsert Di Raja Perlis, either live or delayed broadcast?

Be it live or delayed broadcast, the musicians will still perform at their very best to deliver a 'live' performance. The only thing good about late broadcast is that we'll get ample time to analyze our music especially the overall sound before it goes on air.

Thank you Dato' for your time. We wish you all the best in the show.