From USA News

Opera Siam: Redefining Classical Music in Southeast Asia

Somtow Sucharitkul’s Opera Siam blends cultural heritage with modern operatic expression to create a thriving Southeast Asian music hub.

The year is 2023, and in the midst of the global recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, one artist is reigniting the operatic flame in Southeast Asia. S.P. Somtow, a National Artist of Thailand, faces the challenge of resurrecting Opera Siam—the opera company he founded—after a prolonged hiatus. With a vision of redefining classical music, Somtow does more than simply reopen the company. He reinvents the very essence of opera in the region, melding the traditional with the contemporary, and creating an operatic experience that has become a cultural landmark.

The Genesis of a Vision: Opera Siam’s Birth

Opera Siam was born from Somtow Sucharitkul's desire to bring opera to Thailand in a way that had never been seen before. As a composer and conductor, Somtow had already made waves in the world of classical music, but he knew that opera, a genre deeply rooted in European tradition, lacked representation in Southeast Asia. There was no company that embraced both international operatic standards and the rich cultural heritage of Thailand. Determined to change this, Somtow founded Opera Siam to be a platform where Southeast Asia could tell its own stories through the operatic form.

Somtow’s early career in music had already established him as a pioneering composer. In the 1970s, he became known for his ability to blend Thai and Western instruments in innovative ways. Despite facing considerable challenges in the arts community at the time, Somtow’s work gained recognition, and he became a celebrated figure in both the Western and Thai music worlds. His transition to opera, however, was driven by a deep passion to bring a unique cultural fusion to the genre.

Reinventing Himself and the Company

After a period of living abroad, where he reinvented himself as a novelist and a writer of speculative fiction, Somtow returned to Thailand with new insight and a renewed sense of purpose. In 2001, after becoming a Buddhist monk, he refocused his efforts on bringing the operatic traditions to his homeland. He founded Opera Siam, establishing the first international opera company in Thailand, with the mission to develop a platform where the operatic tradition could intersect with the diverse cultural narratives of Southeast Asia.

The company’s debut performances were met with widespread acclaim, as Somtow presented classical works with an Asian twist—incorporating themes from Thai culture and mythology. Through his leadership, Opera Siam flourished as a pioneer of this unique fusion, and Somtow's works, such as Madana, Mae Naak, and Ayodhya, became defining pieces in the company’s repertoire.

Overcoming Setbacks: The Pandemic Challenge

Like many artistic endeavors around the world, Opera Siam faced the harsh reality of the Covid-19 pandemic. The global lockdowns halted performances, and the future of the company hung in the balance. However, Somtow’s resilience and adaptability ensured that Opera Siam would not only survive but emerge from the crisis with a renewed sense of vigor. During this period, Somtow turned his attention to other creative outlets, including film. His collaboration with director Paul Spurrier on The Maestro: Symphony of Terror was a critical success, garnering over forty international awards and further cementing his position as one of the most innovative minds in the arts.

When the world reopened, Somtow focused on reviving Opera Siam with even greater ambition. He brought back the full force of his creativity, reimagining the company’s future and ensuring that it would once again lead the operatic scene in Southeast Asia. Opera Siam’s return was a symbolic moment—not only for the company but for the region’s cultural landscape as a whole.

Opera Siam Today: A Unique Global Voice

Opera Siam is now regarded as the most significant opera company in Southeast Asia, and its impact reaches far beyond Thailand. The company’s blend of Western operatic traditions and Southeast Asian cultural elements sets it apart from other opera companies globally. Somtow’s works have garnered international recognition, and his operas are regularly performed in renowned venues such as the Houston, London, and the Bayreuth Festival. Opera Siam’s performances are known for their stylistic authenticity and emotional depth, drawing audiences from around the world.

What makes Opera Siam truly unique today is its commitment to the educational development of young talent. Somtow’s creation of the Siam Sinfonietta, a youth orchestra using his innovative Somtow Method, has set new standards for classical music education. This orchestra, composed of young musicians from diverse backgrounds, has received standing ovations in prestigious venues like Carnegie Hall, Disney Hall, and the Konzerthaus in Berlin. The Siam Sinfonietta’s performances have shown that the future of classical music in Southeast Asia is bright, and Opera Siam is leading the charge.

Somtow’s vision for Opera Siam has been supported by numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Silpathorn award, the Golden W from the International Wagner Society, and the Europa Cultural Achievement Award. As one of the first Asian artists to receive the prestigious Europa award, Somtow’s influence transcends cultural boundaries, fostering greater understanding and appreciation of Asian contributions to global arts and culture.

What Makes Opera Siam Stand Out

At its core, Opera Siam’s strength lies in its ability to bridge cultures. While many other opera companies adhere to the traditional Western forms, Opera Siam infuses Thai cultural narratives into its productions. Somtow’s works explore themes of mythology, history, and human emotion, making them uniquely resonant with Southeast Asian audiences while appealing to global operatic standards. Opera Siam does not simply perform operas—it reinterprets the genre, ensuring that it remains relevant to contemporary audiences.

Furthermore, Somtow’s leadership has fostered an atmosphere of innovation. Under his direction, Opera Siam continues to experiment with new works, world premieres, and rare pieces, ensuring that each performance is not just an event but a celebration of artistic discovery.

Call to Action:

As Opera Siam prepares for its next chapter, there is no better time to explore its transformative journey and become part of this cultural renaissance. Visit Opera Siam’s official website to discover upcoming performances and witness firsthand the groundbreaking work of S.P. Somtow and his team. Whether you are a longtime opera lover or a newcomer to the world of classical music, Opera Siam offers an experience like no other. Join the movement today and immerse yourself in the magic of opera, where tradition meets innovation.

About S.P. Somtow:

• National Artist of Thailand (2023)
  

• World Fantasy Award Winner for The Bird Catcher
  

• Founder of Opera Siam and Siam Sinfonietta
  

• Recipient of the Europa Cultural Achievement Award (2017)
  

Explore more about Somtow’s remarkable journey and legacy through his official websiteswww.somtow.com andOpera Siam. You can also follow Somtow on Facebook at spsomtow.

Thailand’s Opera Maestro invades Singapore in upcoming “Aïda”

Five performances of Singapore Lyric Opera’s “Aïda”, perhaps the most lavish production in the flagship company’s 27-year history, will be conducted by Thailand’s maestro Somtow Sucharitkul from June 1-6.  Considering that Somtow is an operatic pioneer in the region, whose operas have been seen in the United States and Europe, one might ask why it’s taken so long for him to helm the opera in Singapore, but this epic production has more of Thailand’s influence than its maestro.

Somtow conducts a chorus rehearsal for the Triumphal Scene...

Five performances of Singapore Lyric Opera’s “Aïda”, perhaps the most lavish production in the flagship company’s 27-year history, will be conducted by Thailand’s maestro Somtow Sucharitkul from June 1-6.  Considering that Somtow is an operatic pioneer in the region, whose operas have been seen in the United States and Europe, one might ask why it’s taken so long for him to helm the opera in Singapore, but this epic production has more of Thailand’s influence than its maestro.

Performing the role of “Radames” is Spanish tenor Israel Lozano, whose Southeast Asian debut was in “Madama Butterfly” with Opera Siam nine years ago.  Since then, he has become a fixture in Singapore and Malaysia as well as Thailand.  The venegful Egyptian Princess, Amneris, is played by Mexican mezzo Grace Echauri — whose Southeast Asian debut was fourteen years ago with Opera Siam — as Amneris.  Nancy Yuen, artistic director of Singapore Lyric Opera and the region’s reigning diva, plays Aida, and she has done over a dozen roles with Opera Siam, including the title role in Mae Naak, Butterfly, Mimi in Bohème, Thaïs, Donna Anna, Pamina, and the Empress in Somtow’s Dan no Ura, as well as directing one of Opera Siam’s productions.

“There’s a sense in which it feels like an Opera Siam production,” says the maestro, “except there’s a real budget, and real preparation time.”   Singapore’s Aida is budgeted at five times the cost of the average opera in Bangkok.  Somtow opined that there were numerous differences in working in the two metropolises.  “There’s a serious work ethic in Singapore,” he says, “meaning that there’s a really heavy rehearsal schedule.  And it gives the opportunity for the stage director, Covent Garden’s Andrew Sinclair, to delve really deeply into the characters and to come up with a quietly revolutionary interpretation of the opera.”

When Somtow produced “Aida” in Bangkok in 2005, the production was a revelation.  Richard Harrell, the guest stage director from San Francisco Opera, said “It is still one of the productions I am most proud of.”  Instead of being set in Egypt, the production was given the look and feel of ancient Siam at war with Burma, the milieu of Suriyothai and Naresuan, giving an interesting series of local metaphors for its audience.

In terms of look and feel Singapore’s “Aida” is more traditional in that it is set in Egypt.  But in other ways it too is revolutionary.  “After a five minute conversation with Andrew Sinclair, we discovered, amazingly, that we were on the same page,” Somtow said.  “We were both fatigued with the epic, monumental ‘Aidas’ we see frequently, and we could see another ‘Aida’ inside the spectacle — an intimate family tragedy of people caught up in a sweeping history they can’t control.”

Nancy Yuen, Tomas Ruud, and Somtow appear on Singapore's morning news

Somtow’s take on the music digs deep under the crust of “epic splendor” to try to pull out Verdi’s “intimate drama.”  He’s been working with Singapore Lyric Opera’s orchestra to bring out the music’s exotic, subtle colors.  He’s removed dozens of “traditional” exaggerations that singers have overlaid onto Verdi’s score, and eschewed the monumentally slow tempi of some interpreters for a much more exciting pace.  “I hope that local audiences will be sucked into the story in all the richness and complexity that Andrew Sinclair has found in the text,” he says.

Will the production eventually come to Bangkok?  “I’m trying to talk them into it,” the Thai maestro says cryptically.

***

Singapore Lyric Opera’s AIDA plays June 1,2,3,5 and 6 at the Esplanade in Singapore. Opera fans from Thailand, Malaysia, and even Norway are flying in for the show.  For tickets, go to sistic.com.sg.

Latest News

Thai composer, conductor and novelist Somtow Sucharitkul has won the 2017 European Award for Cultural Achievement.

The Award is from the Kultur-Forum Europa, founded in 1992 on the initiative of Hans-Dietrich Genscher, the German statesman who shepherded Germany’s foreign ministry through the years of reunification, promotes European thought in all areas of culture.

The KFE cited Somtow for his services to the spirit of international diversity, as a cultural ambassador between East and West, overcoming national borders and cultural-historical barriers, and establishing meaningful cultural connections between Thailand and Europe.

The President of the KFE will travel to Thailand and present the award to Somtow in person on December 18th, the UN International Migrants Day, at a concert in the Thailand Cultural Center in which Somtow will conduct Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.

“Well deserved!” tweeted Germany’s Ambassador, Dr. Peter Prügel.  Thailand’s Tourism Minister, Kobkarn Wattanavrangul, called Somtow “the pride of Thailand” in a LINE message.

“I’m thrilled and humbled by this award,” said Somtow, noting that the only composer ever to win the award in the past is Hans Werner Henze, one of Germany’s most celebrated twentieth century musicians.  Other laureates have included actor Georges du Fresne, American writer Dough Wright, Dmitris Tsatsos, Mayor of Athens, and Elzbietta Penderecka, creator of the Krakow Beethoven Festival.   Winners have included theater directors, politicians, and choreographers.  The first person to win theaward was Annemarie Renger, the first woman to serve as president of a German Parliament and the first woman to be nominated for President by a major party in Germany.

Since 2005, the KFE also awards a European Tolerance Prize, which in 2009 went to German physician Dr. Dirk Weeber-Arayatumsopon, for his work in Thailand with disabled children and in preventing HIV.

He credits the widespread attention in the international media for his DasJati project, a series of ten linked music dramas based on the iconic last ten lives of the Buddha, which when completed will constitute the “largest classical work of all time” in the words of London’s Opera Now.  Part of the work toured in Europe last year, and was an eye-opener for European audiences, positioning Thailand in the cultural limelight.

Somtow is the first Thai and the first East Asian to receive the European Award for Cultural Achievement.

“It’s important to me that the KFE’s website’s headline is ‘2017 Award to Thailand.’” Somtow added.  “Exciting things are happening here artistically.  I firmly believe that we are heading toward a realignment of the world’s cultural map and that Thailand is going to be a regional center of such a map.  This is why, after a half-century of a career in the west, I came back to Thailand.  This is where it is truly happening now.   I am gratified to be a small part of this revolution.  I am proud to accept the award on behalf of all the artists and the people of this country.”