Khmer Opera Opens in Cambodia

CHAN:
And now onto Cambodia where the capital is running its first ever modern opera. The show called "Where Elephants Weep" is a modern remake of a traditional Khmer love story.


STORY:
Crowds gathered at the Chenla Theatre in Phnom Penh to see the performance of modern opera "Where Elephants Weep."

The story is loosely based on the life story of Arn Chorn-Pond, a Cambodian refugee who grew up during the reign of Pol Pot when nearly two million people were killed or starved to death.

The orchestra fuses western pop and rock with ancient Cambodian tunes using traditional and western instruments.

And the performers are also a mix of Broadway and native actors.

For the performers of Cambodian descent, the story resonates with their own experience or that of their own family members.

[Amara Chin Lawrence, Lead Actress]:
"It so beautifully marries my love for my motherland, Cambodia and my capacity in the arts in singing and you know the story touches on social issues and I think it is such an important story to tell for my people."

The audience seems also very enthusiastic.

[Thou Chhengli, Audience]:
"I want this sort of opera performance to be held more often in theaters in our country, if we can have more, that would be great."

Performances will continue until this weekend.

Category:

Entertainment

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• Khmer
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• Opens
• Cambodia

[LechiPockyPocky]

Superb!!! I hope Cambodian opera and ballet and other arts will flourish once again. Show the world what we got Kimeii people! Pocky!

[ProsSteav]

Too bad this opera was banned on TV. Becuz the Cambodian monk leader was not happy about it. Sigh...people never see the value of arts.

[SiemReapII]

Thank you for your advertising on Cambodia Opera but I can see your people media exaggerate the past: Cambodian opera had open in every regime even Khmer rouge regime and the killing was not exactly 2 million.

[mskatwoman022008]

yes we need to have that in our country!!!

[TheKampuja]

Ohh... I really miss this Khmer opera!! When you can show it on TV again? When people will see the value of Khmer art?

[srossnas]

awesome.

[kbalkdorthom]

is not an opera... Opera voices sing without microphones.. I heard Cambodian Tenor sings better than this Korean, and he has more khmer styles and feeling..he sang many times before this production came...

[lchan90a]

this looks great! is there anyway i can purchase it on dvd, if possible?

[pontien]

Fantastic, I hope we continue to have support and progress further.

[phany92]

mee too