Bangkok--31 May--Total Quality PR
(from left to right) Assistant Professor Chainarong Ariyaprasert, Faculty of Decorative Arts, Silapakorn University;Dr. Narudee Kiengsiri, President of Wanglang – Wattana Alumni and Former International Nominating Committee (Asia) at Zonta International; Ms. Tassachon Thepgumpanat, Director of Cultural Studies Institute; Dr. Nadaprapai Sucharitkul, Chairman of Executive Committee, Bangkok Opera; Mr. Somtow Sucharitkul, President of Bangkok Opera, Composer, and Artistic Director of Opera Siam International; Ms. Thaitow Sucharitkul, Producer and Vice President of Bangkok Opera;Mr. Trisdee na Patalung, Conductor; and Dr. Schle Woodthanan, Managing Director of Textile Gallery Co., Ltd. and some dancers from Suriyothai, A Ballet – Opera
Bangkok Opera has recently held a press conference aimed at sharing insights on "Suriyothai" – A Ballet-Opera in honor of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit and announcing the upcoming performances, which are scheduled between May 27 – May 29, 2016. A panel discussion entitled "The Meaning of Suriyothai to Contemporary Thais" was also held during the press conference at Thailand Cultural Center.
Composed and directed by Somtow Sucharitkul, an ASEAN's leading opera composer and distinguished Silapathorn Artist of Thailand, this upcoming performance is a revival of his acclaimed masterpiece. Mr. Somtow said that in 2013, the five performances of
Suriyothai were completely packed and four more performances had to be scheduled a few months later, making this the most widely attended classical music event in the history of the Thailand Cultural Center and probably in Thailand.
Sucharitkul's 2013 Suriyothai was the debut of a new fusion art form. It is the meeting point of westernnarrative ballet and Thai dance drama. It is a new kind of bridge between western and Asian concepts of music, design, choreography and song.
Treating the story of Thailand's most famous warrior Queen, Suriyothai is set during a period of Siamese history in which the city of Ayuthaya was a major international metropolis, a meeting place for world cultures.
The art of the "narrative ballet" - telling an entire story in dance - has been moribund since the great days of the Ballets Russes, one hundred years ago. To revive the art form, Somtow asked choreographer Phuwarate Wongatichart, who has worked with him both in opera (Mae Naak, Otello, The Silent Prince)and musical (Reya - The Musical) to create a hybrid style of dance that contains elements of modern dance and Thai dance.
The designer of the show, Dean Shibuya, is the former artistic director of the San Francisco Lyric Opera. Fabrics for the production were created specially by design leader Pasaya. Major opera star Stacey Tappan will return to sing the heroic queen's words. Conducting the Siam Philharmonic Orchestra will be Thailand's leading international conductor, Trisdee na Patalung.