See Buddha’s latest incarnation tomorrow
“Suwana Sama – The Faithful Son” is the third of the “Ten Lives of the Buddha” that makes up a cycle of stories familiar to all Buddhists – known as DasJati.
Leading Thai composer Somtow Sucharitkul has for the last 10 years been working on a full cycle of all 10 music dramas, one about each life, which when completed will be, according to London’s Opera Now magazine, “the largest integrated work in the history of classical music”.
“Suwana Sama – The Faithful Son”, has never been performed in Bangkok, but its premiere two years ago at the Rangsit Suryadhep Auditorium received rave reviews.
Its Bangkok premiere will be tomorrow (August 5) at the Thailand Cultural Centre.
It’s a simple story of miracles, and of the love of a mother that can reach even beyond death.
An international cast has been assembled, spearheaded by Thailand’s Jak Cholvijarn as the incarnation of the Buddha, Chicago’s Stacey Tappan, Australian bass Damian Whiteley, and Houston’s dramatic soprano Cassandra Black as a statue who comes to life.
Each of the works in the DasJati cycle has different musical innovations. This one is scored for two chamber orchestras on either side of the conductor, representing the dualities of the story: two villages, an urbane court and a magical forest, natural and supernatural, gods and humans. The noble gods of the Tavatimsa Heaven also perform earthly roles as very venal humans.
“This is not ‘opera’ in the traditional sense, which is why I use the word ‘music drama.’ In the DasJati music dramas, dance propels the story as much as singing, and modern narrative modes derived from cinema underscore the presentation,” said Somtow.
It is also a new way to present the Buddhist message in an accessible format, reaching more and more people both in Thailand and internationally.
The Bangkok premiere tomorrow starts at 8pm. There will then be a family matinee at 4pm on August 6 and a final performance on August 7 at 8pm. Tickets are available from all Thai Ticket Major outlets.
