Malaysia's first philharmonic starts

Malaysia's first philharmonic starts

KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Malaysia's first world-class philharmonic orchestra held an inaugural concert Monday night at the new 70 million ringgit (US$16.6 million) concert hall in the world's tallest building, news reports said yesterday.

The gala concert by the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra was attended by 800 invited guests, who included Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and his wife, Siti Hasmah Ali, who opened the Petronas Philharmonic Hall.

The hall, on the ground level of the 88-story, 451.9-meter- tall Petronas Twin Towers in the capital city, was designed by architect Cesar Pelli and is built in the traditional shoe-box shape of 19th century European concert halls.

The 105-member orchestra, which is sponsored by patrons including the state oil firm Petronas, is under the directorship of Dutch conductor Kees Bakels and assisted by Malaysian resident conductor Chean See Ooi, the New Straits Times daily said.