A Thai chorus wows an international audience in Paris
As Bangkok simmered and its citizens slept under curfew last month, a group of Thai artists was in Paris, demonstrating with amazing vocal prowess that while politics can be ugly, Thailand's culture remains extraordinarily beautiful.
The Thai choir was performing at the International Festival of Cultural Diversity, an event created in 2008 to celebrate the World Day for Cultural Diversity on May 21. This year, the celebrations were held in various parts of the globe, with the Paris event hosted by Unesco's headquarters emphasising Latin American and Caribbean countries.
So the fact that Thailand was also invited to showcase its culture was really quite remarkable.
"We're lucky to have such an opportunity. It's not easy to have a cultural showcase in France, as French society is very diverse and there are various art and musical events organised all year for the public. They have so much choice," explains Orachart Suebsith, Deputy Permanent Delegate of Thailand to Unesco.
At last year's event, Orachart presented Thai silk, including Her Majesty Queen Sirikit project and dresses, to the Unesco audience. "The show was very successful. The French were very appreciative of our culture and heritage," said Orachart. This year she opted for Thai music and identified the Suanplu Chorus as being perfect match.
"The group offers a mixture of both Thai and Western elements. Although choral singing is a Western art, the group performs Thai style. I am very impressed at the way they've rearranged some of His Majesty the King's songs as well as traditional Thai songs. Having them here certainly enriches the celebration and promotes cultural diversity.
Dusdi Banomyong, daughter of former prime minister and Thailand's statesman Pridi Banomyong and the group's director, says Suanplu Chorus's goal is to present Thai culture in a Western medium so that it reaches a wider audience. "Our singers dance and interact with the audience. It is not just about the music, it is a show," says Dusdi.
The group, which has nearly 40 members, has won various awards, including two silver medals in the category of folk a capella and contemporary music from the fifth World Choir Games 2008 in Graz, Austria. It performs regularly, particularly at government functions, and holds an annual concert.
Dusadi says the group was formed after her father was named one of the world's great personalities of the 20th century by Unesco in 2000. "So it's a great honour being invited to perform here," she says.
In the show titled "Harmony of Life", held on May 18 in Salle 1 - where the Unesco's general assembly takes place - the Suanplu Chorus mesmerised the audience with both classic and Thai pieces. The choir began the show with "Paen Din Kong Rao" ("Our Land"), a particularly poignant piece for many Thais in the audience as they reflected on the battles raging on Bangkok's street.
Then came such well-known songs as "Oh I say" by HM the King, "Plaudite Minibus" by Branko Stark and Filipino folk song "Rosas Pandan" featuring solos on the sor-u (Thai fiddle) and ranad ake (Thai xylophone).
The second half the show was more upbeat, with Thai songs from the provinces including "Hae Rua" (the royal barge procession chant), northern Thai folk song "Say Lay Mao", "Ramwong's Medley" (a medley of central Thai traditional dances) and HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn's renowned "Som Tam".
The two-hour show ended with the world's premiere of "Ngoo Kin Hang" ("snake bites its tail"), a traditional play song of Thai children), and was rewarded by long and loud applause from the international audience.
"I like singing myself, and this show was beautiful, both the music and expression," said Davidson L Hepburn, president of the 35th session of the Unesco General Conference.
Gilles Tabourel, a French engineer who is married to a Thai, was delighted by the Suanplu Chorus before.
"When I first heard about it, I thought it is just a chorus, you know, people standing singing. But this is actually a show. It is fascinating! I like it very much. I hope they come back soon."