Celebrating German-Malaysian Friendship

 

The first line of the text message read like this, “Dear Ms Peggy, This is Peter Blomeyer, the Ambassador of Germany to Malaysia,” and His Excellency continued with an invitation to a German-Malaysian Friendship Concert and reception.

 

German-Malaysian Friendship over the years,
personified by pianists, Caroline Fischer [Left]
and Hii-Mei Lin [Right] at the musical showcase

He also sent a poster for the event along with the line, “Looking forward to seeing you there!”

 

My eyes zeroed in on the date and time of his invitation and realized that it clashed with another invitation that I had received prior to this.

 

I paused to weigh out the situation and after due consideration, made the decision to decline one and accept the other because it was not every day that one received an invitation from the German Ambassador to Malaysia to such a special event.

 

Ambassador Dr Peter Blomeyer and I met in October 2021 and over a leisurely dinner, I shared with him, some interesting insights into Johor.

 

Ambassador Peter Blomeyer
presented his welcoming speech

So it was timely for us to renew our acquaintance at this German-Malaysian Friendship Concert, hosted in the premises of Marlborough College Malaysia at Iskandar Puteri.

 

Since its inception, I have published several stories on Marlborough College events with my most memorable experience with them in 2018 as a Sunday Speaker to their boarders.

 

So it was good to be back again at Wykeham Hall in Marlborough College for an evening of elegant music, performed live by two distinguished pianists who represented the friendship between Malaysia and Germany.

 

The evening’s programme opened with a warm welcome by Master Simon Burbury of Marlborough College Malaysia, who then invited His Excellency, Ambassador Dr Peter Blomeyer to say a few words.

 

The pianists taking a bow next to the Steinway

The Ambassador opened his speech by drawing the audience’ attention to the universal language of music, a language which unites people as a common bond.

 

He went on to give a brief introduction of the two pianists, Caroline Fischer and Hii-Mei Lin, who will take us on a musical journey with their repertoire of music that spans from Classic, Romantic, European to Asian, Latin American and Gamelan.

 

Born in Berlin, Germany, award-winning German-Korean concert pianist, Caroline Fischer, performs and teaches masterclasses worldwide. She is also a recording artiste, entrepreneur and cultural manager as well as a model (carolinemodel.com).

 

The pianists performed together
on the Steinway

Hii-Mei Lin is an accomplished, award-winning Malaysian classical pianist who continues to reinvent herself by blending traditional performances with modern, multi-sensory art forms like poetry and calligraphy.

 

The Ambassador then graciously thanked the event sponsors, one by one, with a special mention of Bentley Music, sponsor of the two grand pianos for the evening’s performance.

 

These grand pianos stood at centerstage, with the Steinway Model B211 Spirio R to the left while the Boston Model GP178 Performance Edition, was at right.

 

The evening’s presentation was divided into two parts with the first part performed by the two pianists playing a delightful repertoire together on the Steinway grand piano.

 

The pianists performed duets on two grand pianos

As the talented fingers of four hands flew across the keyboard, the sweet energy of the Steinway filled Wykeham Hall, soaking the audience with the delicate and golden sounds that only a Steinway could create.

 

The gifted pianists aptly complemented the instrument as they not only showcased its beauty but also its sound and emotions that totally enthralled and held the entire audience captive.

 

After a brief Intermission, the pianists each played a repertoire of duets on the Steinway and Boston grand pianos, and exchanged places on the pianos in the latter part of the programme.

 

Presenting Book Three of My
Johor Stories to the Ambassador

With the continuous applause and standing ovation at the end of the Finale, the pianists obliged by playing an encore, much to the delight of the appreciative audience.

 

“Absolutely outstanding,” declared Master Burbury in his closing remarks as he congratulated the pianists on their performance.

 

He also took the opportunity to thank the German business community in Johor and the relevant people involved in arranging such an elegant evening of music.

 

Elated, Master Burbury joked about how this showcase inspired him to practice his music more seriously and warned parents that they may be kept awake by their children who were likewise, inspired to practice on the piano that very night.

 

As for me, I reciprocated the kind invitation to this magical musical soiree by presenting Ambassador Blomeyer with My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, the final instalment in the trilogy of My Johor Stories. 

Thank you, Your Excellency, for a most memorable musical evening.

. . .

Note: In Johor Bahru, the Bentley Music showroom is located at B0309, Level Two of Eco Galleria, Jalan Eko Botani 3, Taman Eko Botani, 79100 Iskandar Puteri, Johor.