Largest Opera Production Ever Mounted by a Thai Opera Company opens April 28
Event information courtesy of Bangkok Opera Foundation
An exciting new production of Verdi’s Aida by Bangkok Opera will open at the Thailand Cultural Centre on 28 and 30 April. The opera is being presented to HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana as the Bangkok Opera Foundation’s annual birthday gift to its Royal Patron.
The Opera includes the Triumphal March which is the magnificent climax to one of Verdi’s best known operas.
Aida features a distinguished international line-up including: Taiwanese -soprano Jessica Chen as Aida whose performance in Bangkok Opera’s 2004 production of Turandot so delighted audiences; tenor Todd Geer from the US as Radames; and Mexican mezzo-soprano Grace Echauri. Alongside them will be a cast of more than 200 performers, including the Orpheus Choir, musicians from the Siam Philharmonic Orchestra and dancers and children.
Aida is being conducted by Bangkok Opera’s artistic director Somtow Sucharitkul and directed by Richard Harrell, formerly of the San Francisco Opera Center, who most recently worked together on Bangkok Opera’s acclaimed production of Don Giovanni in December 2004.
The stunning new production will be a new Siamese interpretation of Verdi’s opera – relocating it from the original Egypt to ancient Siam – giving a new slant to the conflicts of love between a slave princess and a victorious young captain from opposing nations set against the back drop of epic wars.
The production will be sung in Italian with both Thai and English subtitles.
Aida will open with a Royal Command Performance in front of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana on Thursday 28 April, followed by another performance on Saturday 30 April, at the Main Hall, Thailand Cultural Center.
Aida which is being presented in conjunction with General Motors (Thailand) Ltd. and Chevrolet, is Bangkok Opera’s eighth production since it started in 2001, under the artistic direction of Maestro Somtow Sucharitkul.
Tickets for Aida are priced from 500 to 2500 Baht. A 50% discount is available to students. Special deals are also available for schools on request. Tickets are available from Thaiticketmaster on 02 262 3456 or at www.thaiticketmaster.com or from Bangkok Opera on 02 661 4688-9.
Bangkok Opera is a non-profit foundation under HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana’s patronage producing more than 3 operas and 30 concerts and music events each year, Bangkok Opera has been increasingly praised for the standard of its work. London’s OPERA NOW called Madana - “the operatic event of the year” and OPERA magazine has commented that its productions “can reasonably be seen in European houses”.
In 2005 Bangkok Opera is dedicating a portion of all ticket sales to tsunami relief, and has already raised 1m baht from its performance and broadcast of the Mozart Requiem. It recently organized the highly successful Vanessa-Mae benefit concert in conjunction with the International Peace Foundation and General Motors (Thailand) Ltd and Chevrolet in aid of charities for victims of the Tsunami Disaster.
Further information from:
Ratana or (Sandra / Topaz / Alex)
Bangkok Opera
Tel: 02 261 4688-9
Fax: (02) 261-2235
E-mail: ratana.roi@gmail.com