November 15, 2019
Khmer tenor who introduced opera to the Kingdom

In Cambodia, opera, a form of theatre originating from western classical music and enjoyed by millions around the world, is still new and remains less popular among Cambodian theatregoers. But, it may be so today only because people here do not have enough exposure yet, says Khuon Sethisak, a Cambodian expert of the dramatic art and the one who introduced it to Cambodia. Taing Rinith sits down with Sethisak about the tenor’s passion as well as his ambition to make opera a part of the local art and a tourist attraction.

A FRIDAY’S evening in early October, hundreds of people from all nationalities laughed and cried and gave big rounds of applause in Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra’s ballroom where an Italian opera performed, kicking off the second Sofitel Phokeethra Classical Music Festival. The play, called ‘Pagliacci’ (Clown) and written by Ruggero Leoncavallo, narrates a tale of romantic entanglements of Canio, the head and a clown of a comedic troupe, Nedda, Canio’s wife and Silvio, Nedda’s love affair.
Sethisak, who understands and can sing in Italian, French, Russian, English and Khmer, even won third place in an international opera singing competition in Russia.
Continued here: https://www.khmertimeskh.com/660244/khm ... e-kingdom/