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Somtow’s renowned Opera about the BuddhaTHE SILENT PRINCE”a timeless masterpiece …” Houston Chronicletwo public performances only in BangkokOwing to circumstances beyond our control, the production has been postponed as follows:
Nov 22-23 Koh Chang
December 6 King's College Great Hall
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Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Thailand's Ministry of Foreign AffairsThailand Foundation and Opera Siam present
a fully staged production of Somtow Sucharitkul's renowned music dramaTHE SILENT PRINCEfrom the Ten Lives of the Buddha * starring *Nadlada Thamtanakom • Kridhima Siriwattanakamol • John Tneoh • Kittin Suchato • Areeya Rojanapradit • Richard Wiegold • and • Potprecha Cholvijarn as the Bodhisattvawith the award-winning orchestraThe Siam Sinfoniettaconducted byMickey Wongsathapornpatdirected bySomtow Sucharitkulperformed in English with English and Thai surtitles
The first in a series of ten operas, Dasjati: Ten Lives of the Buddha, which was called “the largest integrated world of classical music in history” by London’s Opera Now magazine, The Silent Prince is also the most widely known of the series as it was first premiered in Houston, and in addition to Bangkok has been performed in Bayreuth, Brno, and Prague to ecstatic reviews. Many of the operas in the series are on a huge scale: the final one, Prince Vessantara, requires about 200 performers and will premiere in 2027. The Silent Prince has not been seen in Thailand for over ten years.
This is the timeless story of a young prince whose father bestows him a coming-of-age gift — the privilege of sentencing a criminal to death. But Prince Temiya is also the Bodhisattva, the Buddha-who-is-to-be. He cannot K*ll, and yet to disobey his father is also against the dharma. Unable to see a solution to the dilemma, Temiya withdraws into a world of silence. How his parents try to deal with their child is a morality tale that is relevant today as parents try to cope with problems such as autism.
WORLD-WIDE PRAISE FOR THE SILENT PRINCE
“Strong applause for both an opera that is both scenically exotic — yet musically accessible — whose music soars high and whose ethics plumb great depths” —Nordbayerische Kurier"An extraordinary achievement for Thailand, and a gift to the world” — The Nation
“The two-hour score spikes lush Western sonorities with tangy Asian elements ... the tambura’s drone, along with melismas and ululating vocal lines, wafts Indian incense over the mystical proceedings.…” — Opera Magazine, London
“... a timeless masterpiece … Somtow Sucharitkul’s sumptuous and marvelously lyrical score is enchanting (several traditional Indian instruments are used in the orchestra---tamburas, celeste, harmonium), moving, intriguing, and always retains a deep sense of mystery and spirituality. His rich and beautiful orchestrations are masterful, meaningful, and mesmerizing.“ — Houston Chronicle
There are only a limited number of seats for this production. Please book early.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
King's College International School Bangkok, บริษัท เอเซียพลาสติคอินดัสทรี จํากัด, ซอย ประสานใจ, ยานนาวา, กรุงเทพมหานคร, กรุงเทพมหานคร 10120, ประเทศไทย, Nana Plaza, Thailand
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