Thursday, 30 October 2008

Cambodia's First Rock Opera "Where Elephants Weep" Opens Next Month

October 29, 2008

Shannon Moore - Celebrity News Service Reporter

Phnom Penh, Cambodia (CNS) - In a country where performing arts were banned during the Khmer Rouge years, the city of Phnom Penh is breaking the mold and opening the country's first rock opera.

The rock opera titled, "Where Elephants Weep," uses a mix of Western rock and traditional Cambodian music and will eventually tour in the United States, South Korea and Singapore.

The opera tells the story of Cambodian-American young man, Sam, a refugee from the Khmer Rouge genocide who leaves America and returns to his homeland of Cambodia. While tracing his roots, he falls in love with Bopha, a Cambodian pop singer who works as a karaoke singer.

World Education is the parent organization and fiscal sponsor of the Cambodian Living Arts, who commissioned the show. The CLA helps to revitalize performing arts among Cambodians.

Him Sophy is the composer for the show, Scot Stafford is the music director and Robert McQueen is the stage director. John Burt is the executive producer. The opera's orchestra includes a rock band, traditional Cambodian ensembles and a string quartet that combines synthesizers, electric guitars and folk instruments that date back to twelfth-century Cambodia.

Him Sophy told the Associated Press, "It is going to be a big national cultural event. And the entire team is committed to making it happen flawlessly and perfectly."

The show will open on November 28 and will have a 10-day run in a converted movie theater.

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