Showing 1 - 7 of 7
The sound of Thai innovation
Life, S.P. Somtow, Published on 05/06/2025
» Last weekend, I attended a "live cinema" rendition of the classic animated film Kan Kluay (known as Blue Elephant in its international incarnation) at Kantana studios. There had already been five performances the previous weekend and I was catching one of the second set of five.
Trisdee's trailblazing trifecta
Life, Somtow Sucharitkul, Published on 11/02/2025
» It's been over 15 years since London's Opera magazine labelled Trisdee Na Patalung "a genius" for his interpretation of The Magic Flute, and his illustrious career since then conducting world-renowned orchestras such as the Scottish National Orchestra and the Orchestra della RAI in Italy has borne this out.
A fun time for classical
Life, S.P. Somtow, Published on 12/09/2024
» I've lived in Bangkok three times; first, as a child, between the ages of seven and twelve, sneaking out to see concerts by the Royal Navy Orchestra conducted by ML Usni Pramoj; next, as a young man, in the 1970s, battling to create new audiences; and finally, in my old age, for the last twenty years, when I've had the chance both to witness and to be a part of exciting new developments in music. But it is only in the last month or so that it's really hit home: the audience in Bangkok has come of age at last, and it's a young, passionate, and uniquely local audience.
Amal Naj: Taking inspiration from crisis
Life, S.P. Somtow, Published on 06/06/2024
» Once a powerful executive for a worldwide Big Pharma company, Indian-American author and entrepreneur Amal Naj found his true calling in a hospital in Bangkok during the Covid crisis. Suffering from the virus, involuntarily sequestered in strict quarantine during one of this century's darkest times, he had the chance to reflect on what life really means, who he really wanted to be in life, and how he could truly make a difference in the lives of others.
Remembering Bruce Gaston
Life, Somtow Sucharitkul, Published on 20/10/2021
» There are many people who claim to personify the "origin story" of contemporary music in Thailand, but when the actual history is finally written it will be shown that it was a group of three people working together in the 1970s who laid the groundwork for everything that was to come. A paper in Hong Kong called this group "The Holy Trinity".
A journey full of perils
Life, Somtow Sucharitkul, Published on 18/08/2020
» Siam Sinfonietta, one of the region's premier youth orchestras, is gearing up for its 10th season and has been long overdue to give its 10th-anniversary concert, which has been postponed since March due to the Covid-19 crisis. However, tomorrow the concert will finally take place at the Thailand Cultural Centre at 8pm and it's sure to be a spectacular one.
Madame Butterflyin the age of human trafficking
Life, Somtow Sucharitkul, Published on 10/07/2018
» Tomorrow and on Thursday, Opera Siam's 17th season will close with two performances of one of the "top 10" operas, performed over 2,000 times around the world this year alone, Madame Butterfly. It's a tear-jerker, a relentlessly romantic piece full of famous melodies and a can't-lose formulaic plot: boy meets girl, boy dumps girl, girl kills herself.