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Mozart with a Thai twist
Life, Michael Proudfoot, Published on 06/01/2015
» Christmas Day at the Thailand Cultural Centre saw the opening night of Opera Siam's wonderful new production of Mozart's The Magic Flute, conducted by the young Thai impresario Trisdee Na Patalung and directed by Somtow Sucharitkul (there were two further performances, one sponsored by the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority).
Somtow's new opera a resounding triumph
Life, Michael Proudfoot, Published on 19/08/2014
» The world premiere of Somtow Sucharitkul's Dan No Ura staged at the Thailand Cultural Centre on Aug 11 was the Thai composer's greatest operatic triumph to date. The opera deals with the Japanese sea battle of 1185, the final conflict in a war which effectively ended the power of the Taira samurai clan, close relatives of the imperial family of the time. They were defeated by the Genji, led by Minamoto no Yoshitsune, whose half-brother became the first Shogun, and power was effectively transferred to the Shoguns.
Siam Sinfonietta wins German hearts
Life, Michael Proudfoot, Published on 08/08/2013
» The Siam Sinfonietta, Bangkok's orchestra of musicians aged from 11 to 25 years old, won an international youth music festival in Vienna last year and another in Los Angeles earlier this year. They returned last weekend from a hugely successful German tour having won once again _ this time, the hearts of their German audiences. In each of their concerts, at historic venues in Berlin, Munich and Dresden, they received standing ovations and seemingly never-ending applause.