The Secret Garden concert: An inspired idea blending music, culture and community
A special event is coming to Phnom Penh. The Secret Garden concert to be held on Feb 19th on the grounds of the Sofitel hotel will feature a lineup of acts including a high school choir, a jazz combo, a pop duo, a bonafide Cambodian music legend and finally a 20-piece orchestra playing European folk tunes.
Imagine a large park-like setting filled with a family-friendly festival crowd picnic blankets taking in a concert that starts in the late afternoon and stretches into the evening. The event is being organized by the Flüf partnership: Aymen Ghali and Alex Dance.
Ghali explained the concert’s genesis by saying they wanted to something big. Dance adding that in November as Cambodia reopened, the two realized the window for such an event was closing and they had to move very fast in order to have an outdoor concert.
“It was either do it right now or wait for next year, Ideally, planning should have started in June.” said Dance.
To read about some LengPleng click here.
The roadmap to an inspired idea takes shape
The two proceeded by deciding to approach Sofitel management with a refined concept. Their projections and numbers added up and the proposal was well received. Then they approached BMW to come on board who gave the two a thumbs up. Others soon joined in.
Ghali noted, “Kilat Events, without hesitation, let us know that we had their full support. Next Baramey Productions, Northbridge International School, The Piano Shop, the Russian Center of Science and Culture, Eurocham,and Last2ticket joined in collaboration.
The concert concept was built around Ghali’s Maki Orkestr project.
Said Ghali, “The first Maki show was in 2020 at Alchemy, and the second in January of 2021 at Azure. That show featured numerous guests, in the end we had up to eleven people on the stage and this inspired a longer-term goal to do something really big together. In March we started arranging, making plans, and then got the orchestra together to rehearse for the first time in September.”
Maki Orkestr’s repertoire is built around music from Eastern European, the Mediterranean, with some influences from Maghreb and the Middle East. Its line-up includes its vocalist, five violins, two cellos, drums, two percussionists, electric bass, two saxophones, bassoon, two trumpets, clarinet and two trombones. Members hail from dozen of nationalities including Russian, Malaysian, Hong Kong, Khmer, Indonesian, Australian, American, Welch, Czech, Tartar, French, Tunisian and Cuban.
Says Ghali, “I’ve never done an ensemble this big and I’m learning a lot. But we have an amazing group of people. They’ve been really patient and supportive. It’s been a very humbling experience. I believe we have created something beautiful together and we are all excited to share it.”
He notes, “I love music and I love events, but I don’t have anything to do with the musical side. Aymen is the music manager and curator. Our partnership works as we have the same overall vision. We have a great friendship and I couldn’t ask for a better partner. My role is managing the communications and keeping the other things on track.
No longer a “secret”, a dream concert lineup is set
The pair’s wish-list for the concert schedule began by wanting to mix things up by being international in scope to give both the Phnom Penh community at large and its musicians something special.
They landed their first choice, chappei dong veng master Kong Nai and then rising Cambodian pop star Sophia Kao signed on. She will be accompanied by pianist Metta Legita. Maki trumpeter Ross Clarke, head of the music department at Northbridge International Schoo,l was the link to bring in their middle school choir. And securing Intan Andriana on the bill brought in a sparkling jazz combo to round out the event.
The concert’s title – The Secret Garden – was inspired by the large green space in the grounds of the Sofitel.
Ghali adds, “It’s an idyllic refuge from urban Phnom Penh. The concert will be family friendly, picnic style with blankets as well as with seating. Kids under six get in free. There will be rows of seating and in front of the stage about 20 metres of grass space open for mats. We will supply some, but people can also bring their own. So, you can stand, dance or mingle as you wish but there will also be plenty of seating for people that prefer to sit.”
“The Secret Garden concert will not be a one-off,” says Dance. “We want to do it again next year and hopefully be able to bring in an international act. Ghali adds cheerfully, “We are striving to survive this one first but our ambition is certainly to do it again.”
Doors open at 4 pm with music commencing with the choir’s performance at 5 pm. Tickets are available from Last2Ticket. For more information, check the Facebook page and watch the trailer.
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Author: Leon Havana
A trained chef and sports aficionado with extensive experience across South America and Asia. Leon’s culinary creations celebrate local flavors, while his love for sports like football and boxing connects him with local communities.
