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.