After 3-year absence, Opera Siam finally returns with groundbreaking Wagner event

May 9, 2024 / News

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

After 3-year absence, Opera Siam finally returns with groundbreaking Wagner event

Bangkok, 9 May 2024—Since 2001, Opera Siam (formerly Bangkok Opera) has produced sixty-three full-scale opera productions in Thailand, putting Bangkok on the world opera map and earning the city the title of “the operatic hub of Southeast Asia” from London’s Opera Now and New York’s Opera News.

Opera Siam is now easing its way back, post-Covid, into full scale production by mounting a semi-staged concert performance of the first act of Wagner’s Die Walküre, with international opera stars and the celebrated Siam Sinfonietta orchestra, augmented to almost one hundred musicians. It is the first Wagner produced by Opera Siam since The Flying Dutchman, more than a decade ago.

Somtow Sucharitkul will conduct the Siam Sinfonietta in this project, which is partially sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, the Goethe-Institut, the International Wagner Society and the Richard Wagner Circle Bangkok.

Somtow has earned the “Golden W” award from the International Wagner Society and was the first conductor to introduce full-length Wagner operas to Thailand. He conducted the Thailand premieres of Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, and The Flying Dutchman. He is the first president of the Richard Wagner Circle Bangkok, the Thai member organization of the International Wagner Society.

The first act of Wagner’s Die Walküre, often performed as a separate concert piece, is presented in semi-staged form by Opera Siam in its first return to opera since the Covid crisis. Almost one hundred musicians will assemble to present one of the most powerful acts in the history of opera.

A warrior fleeing through the darkness. A beautiful woman who evokes poignant memories. A sword stuck in a tree-trunk in the middle of a hut in the forest, owned by the forboding Hunding. The meeting of these three characters will unleash a world-shaking passion, and change the fates of the gods in Walhalla as well as set in motion the destruction of the universe. That is the story of the first Act of Wagner’s Die Walküre, the most popular segment of the massive Ring Cycle, the grandfather of all epic fantasy film and film.

Three fine international opera singers play the three main roles.

Sieglinde is Cassandra Black, famous in Thailand as the star performer in “Helena Citronova” as well as many other roles. She is an “assoluta” soprano, able to sing the biggest dramatic roles as well play intimate, character-driven roles. Her performances in roles like Tosca are justly praised around the world. This is her Wagnerian debut. She will be appearing in Bangkok in the Covid-delayed Thai premiere of “Salome” in a coming season.

Warren Mok is one of the most well-known of Asian tenors, who is also the director of the Macau Festival and the founder of Opera Hong Kong. He made his debut at the Deutche Opera Berlin and has done many of the big roles, from Caláf to Radames.

Damian Whiteley is an Australian bass and a big favorite of audiences in Thailand. He performs all over the world, from baroque roles to iconic romantic opera bass roles and has had many 21st century new opera roles written especially for him. He is a much sought-after coach who has coached international starts like Diana Damrau.

Wagner, Die Walküre Act I, concert performance

Cassandra Black, Warren Mok and Damian Whiteley

Siam Sinfonietta conducted by Somtow Sucharitkul

May 16, Thailand Cultural Center at 8 pm

Tickets may be obtained from ticketmelon.com/operasiam/wagner

500 to 2,000 baht

Information from LINE @operasiam

Write to: operasiam.pr@gmail.com

Inquire about bulk rates and student group discounts

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Warin Pattarapatumthong (Audi)