Showing 1 - 10 of 27
Spirit of Siam
Life, William Niall Morris, Published on 14/03/2026
» In Thailand, family is sacred and mothers above all are revered. Perhaps this is why the tale of Mae Naak -- the young mother who dies giving birth -- has resonated so deeply within the national psyche for well over a century.
Royal memory honoured with Mozart
Life, William Niall Morris, Published on 07/03/2026
» At the end of last month, I had the honour of attending a performance that felt less like a regular concert than a moment briefly lifted out of history. Presented by the Siam Society, "Concert In Memoriam" brought Mozart's Requiem Mass to the private throne room of Phaya Thai Palace -- the Deevaraja Sabharamaya Hall -- in commemoration of the centenary of the passing of King Vajiravudh (Rama VI), who died on Nov 25, 1925.
A Thai odysseyin good voice
Life, William Niall Morris, Published on 26/12/2025
» Taking a pair of scissors to your own work is a difficult task, but when you're the director, cinematographer, and writer of a movie, it's downright impossible. Every shot, every word, every emotion is infused with the unconditional love of a parent. To cut anything must feel like an act of betrayal.
How China won innovation in lieu of freedom
Oped, Jennifer Lind, Published on 28/11/2025
» A decade ago, China's government unveiled Made in China 2025 -- a bold vision for transforming the country from the world's assembly line into a global innovation leader. The plan was met with considerable scepticism, particularly in the West, where a robust scholarly consensus held that authoritarianism was fundamentally incompatible with innovation. China was light-years behind the global frontier. Barring drastic political change, many observers concluded, China would remain a "copycat nation".
An intimate secret plays out in Jomtien
Life, William Niall Morris, Published on 11/10/2025
» At the end of a quiet Jomtien lane sits an unassuming villa that, once a month, becomes Thailand's most intimate concert hall. With a seating capacity of just 50, Ben's Theatre is the inspired creation of Ben Hansen, a Dutch photojournalist turned cultural host who now runs his music venue as a charitable venture.
Audacious, vivacious talent
Life, William Niall Morris, Published on 30/08/2025
» Back in 2021, a group of intrepid Bangkok music students decided to create their own opera company, undeterred by the fact that this is the most difficult art form to produce.
A night of prodigies
Life, William Niall Morris, Published on 23/08/2025
» In 1978, composer John Williams won the Best Original Music Oscar for his work on the movie Star Wars. We've all heard the main theme countless times over the years, but listening to it performed by a live symphony orchestra is a whole new intergalactic experience. Such was the intense power of the Siam Sinfonietta as it swept over the Main Hall of the Thailand Cultural Centre that my nine-year-old nephew, Hummer, was pinned to his seat with wide-eyed wonder.
Are you a 'doomscroller' or 'hopescroller'?
Oped, Jennifer Mercieca, Published on 10/07/2025
» My students tell me that they don't sleep. They stay up all night endlessly scrolling their social media feeds. Their attention has been captured, but not by anything in particular, not really, they say. Like a lot of us, my students are chronic doomscrollers.
A master class in acting
Life, William Niall Morris, Published on 26/06/2025
» I'm not at all convinced by Terrence McNally's stage play Master Class, based on the legendary opera singer Maria Callas. On the other hand, Tarin Prinyaknit's production, featuring a tour de force performance from the award-winning actress Jaa Phantachat as the faded opera star, is a triumph of the Bangkok stage.
King Rama VI play shines as a grand opera
Life, William Niall Morris, Published on 13/05/2025
» It has been 25 years since National Artist Somtow Sucharitkul was commissioned to compose an opera based on the much-loved play Madanabadha by King Vajiravudh, Rama VI. The play is dedicated to the king's wife Queen Indrasakdi Sachi who, in a remarkable tie-in, also happens to be maestro Somtow's great-aunt.