Audiences at this year’s Toyota Classics are in for a treat as conductor Anthony Weeden, who conducted a few award-winning film scores, will be leading the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra (RPCO) from Britain.
Presented by UMW Toyota Motor and Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Classics is a musical charity event which will be held at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, KLCC, on Oct 31.
Weeden was a conductor on the film score for The Theory Of Everything, which earned its composer Johann Johannsson a Golden Globe for Best Original Score in 2015.
He also conducted the score for Sicario, which composer Johannsson received an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score in 2016.
Besides Weeden, audiences can also look forward to an enchanting performance by solo violinist David Juritz, who is known for his interpretation of Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, at the concert.
The RPCO is known for working with some of music’s biggest names, whether it’s opera singers Andrea Bocelli, Jose Carreras and the late Luciano Pavarotti or pop artistes Sting, Barry Manilow, Tina Turner and Stevie Wonder.
Anthony Weeden conducted the score for Sicario.
All proceeds from the concert will be donated to two recipients: the department of music, faculty of human ecology of University Putra Malaysia (UPM) and environmental organisation Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka).
Dr Indra V. Selvarajah shares the funds will aid in UPM’s research in using music therapy as a way to address mental health needs.
“Research shows that youths are willing to respond to music-based intervention for mental health,” she says at a press event in Kuala Lumpur. “And music therapy is an effective way to address the emotional, mental and growing psychological needs of youth.”
The rise in Malaysian youths experiencing mental health problems is alarming, she adds.
Meanwhile, Peka president Puan Sri Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil says the proceeds will contribute to its annual Save Our Rainforest Race (SORR) event. Around 2,000 participants at SORR will help plant trees and learn the importance of conserving our rainforest.
“To date, Peka has planted over 40,000 trees in Peninsular Malaysia. But this is far from enough. It is still a drop in the ocean to me,” says the environmental activist.
President of UMW Toyota Motor Ravindran Kurusamy shares Toyota Classics has donated RM8mil to 65 charity organisations and NGOs since its inception in 1990.
“I am confident that we’ll be able to collect more than RM400,000 this year with the support of the public.”
The Toyota Classics tickets, priced at RM265, RM212, RM159 and RM106, are available at Box Office, Dewan Filharmonik Petronas. Bookings can also be made via toyota.com.my.
