Stay in step with modern Thai opera

NUNI Productions led by Saran Suebsantiwongse comes as a breath of fresh air to the otherwise traditional local opera scene. This Friday, July 4, the outfit is staging its third opera, "Il Campanello", Gaetano Donizetti's 19th-century one-act comedy that Saran designs to break with tradition. The opera company is known for extending traditional opera a bit by introducing contemporary dance.

"As a founder of NUNi, it's our goal to design a new, different opera experience. I try to add something contemporary to opera, such as dance. Thais perceive opera as being long and boring, but with our innovative approach, opera is something reachable. With visual excitement and a basic understanding of the story and subtitles, Thais will find opera quite interesting," Saran says. He is the artistic and managing director, and founder of NUNi Productions.

His blend of traditional and contemporary styles is part of the trends that are sweeping the global opera scene. Singing is not the most important thing as opera lovers look for more acting and body movements.

The company's two previous works, "Mozart in Mischief" and "The Orpheus Schemata", were staged last year to a full house because of Saran's innovative ideas. Women of gentry in "Mozart in Mischief" wore gowns that used Thai poultry coops instead of hoops. 

"Both were successful. People liked them. When I do opera, as NUNi's producer and founder, I try to produce it in a way the audience wants or expects to see [the production] on-stage. So, it's done from the angle of what people want to see and I want to take it to a higher level. But I don't want to do something pop," he says.

He adds that members of the audience of his previous productions included local and foreign opera fans, performing arts students and other foreign-educated theatre-goers. "Operas don't usually enjoy a full house here. But our 'Mozart in Mischief' ran to a packed house."

Saran is confident that "Il Campanello" will be just as well-received. Set in Naples, "Il Campanello" is the story of a love triangle. Don Annibale Pistacchio, an old apothecary, has just married the young Serafina, much to the disappointment of Enrico, her former lover. Enrico relentlessly interrupts the wedding night by showing up in several disguises and calling at Don Annibale's drugstore by constantly ringing the night bell and by badgering the unfortunate groom with a preposterous list of prescriptions.

Directed by Pattarasuda (Bua) Anuman Rajadhon and accompanied by the Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, the show has a cast of young, energetic local opera singers.

Thailand's leading baritone, Saran has lived and breathed opera since his high-school days. He learnt the art form first at the Manhattan School of Music in New York, graduating with a bachelor of music in vocal performance before winning a Chevening scholarship for a postgraduate study in opera studies at the Royal College of Music in London. He was also a recipient of the Young Thai Musicians Scholarship Fund awarded by Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana.

With an eye on expanding the fan base for the art form in Thailand, he founded NUNi Productions last year to introduce new standards and provide opportunities to aspiring young Thai performers and singers. "Giving opportunities to the younger-generation performers is important. My staff and I have also been training local talents. Experience comes from acting."  

The 28-year-old ("too young for an opera singer") has several ambitions: find more overseas experience, develop the Thai opera world and put Thailand on the international opera map. "The local scene is already picking up pace. Our productions have become the talk of the town. We have had a positive feedback. Students keep e-mailing us, expressing interest in joining our company. All we need is to reach out to a wider world."

'Il Campanello', will be staged on July 4, at 8pm in the small hall at the Thailand Cultural Centre. Tickets at Bt1,000, Bt700 and Bt500 can be reserved by calling Thai Ticket Major at (02) 262 3456. E-mail: Info@NuniProductions.com