Today at Expat-Advisory.com: a mini-interview I did with Cambodian-American Amara Chhin-Lawrence, classically trained in Western opera, who’s just finished performing in her country of origin after years of preparation. (Photo courtesy Chean Long)

http://www.expat-advisory.com/cambodia/phnom-penh/opera-observation-the-singer.php

More Opera updates:

http://www.whereelephantsweep.net

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2009010723516/National-news/Elephants-gets-green-light-from-ministers.html

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5iMwPNgsuy3ka7Df2eJmDYEc9v3eg

http://detailsaresketchy.wordpress.com/2009/01/04/buddhist-council-silences-rock-oera/

http://mongkol.wordpress.com/2009/01/02/cambodian-monks-force-nations-first-rock-opera-off-air

http://detailsaresketchy.wordpress.com/2009/01/08/council-clash-monks-vs-ministers/

http://jinja.apsara.org/?s=%22Where+Elephants+Weep%22

———-
Not Cambodia, but of interest:

Cambodian women face the danger of of acid attacks.
In Afghanistan, they happen too, to keep female students out of class:

“My parents told me to keep coming to school even if I am killed,” said Shamsia, 17, in a moment after class. Shamsia’s mother, like nearly all of the adult women in the area, is unable to read or write. “The people who did this to me don’t want women to be educated. They want us to be stupid things.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/14/world/asia/14kandahar.html

…all I can do is echo a phrase from Amara’s interview: “You are so brave”. What amazing strength and determination.

———–
Bloggery: As the Weblog Awards close, UK nominee Pete Ashton wins his campaign to come in last, and Details Are Sketchy has embraced a similar strategy.
A wrap-up to follow as the reverberations echo through the noosphere. Vote tallies may be adjusted as they were last year.

Tags:opera,cambodia,khmer,TV,buddhism,afghanistan,blog,awards,buddhism

There were no immediate plans to re-broadcast the show…
This should ensure bootleg copies of the naughty opera hit the stands within days.
Like the tempest in a teacup with Reahu, censorship just brings more attention.

(Above: Em Satya & family)

It didn’t disappoint, and it was great to finally see the show that’s been years in the making. My only regret is we couldn’t take pictures of the show and set inside, but that’s show biz, and a nudge for you to check it out yourself.

The show was accessible to both a Khmer and foreign audience, and while subtitled, many could get the gist of the dual-language story due to savvy staging. Ieng Sithul added a real sense of grounding and gravitas to the show.  Tony Re-al stole his scenes as a gleefully glib rapping bodyguard – having seen the show shape up over time, he was well chosen for commentary on centre stage action.

Some familiar faces were back in town: nice to see John Burt, Him Sophy and Catherine Filloux in their element.  Also managed to catch up with opera singer Amara, and (PP Post dubbed ‘glamour girl’) Duey Kol – the former playing a ‘beer girl’ as well as general ensemble member, the latter helping out with the production. Both did short stints with Cambodian Living Arts in 2003 & 2004, and are back for more! Now that’s follow-through.

Apparently the show has evolved and changed a lot since the premiere in Lowell, which no doubt reflects creative minds at work.  How many operas can you watch, and then get to meet the cast and crew directly after? Phnom Penh is a small city but in this instance, I’m not complaining.  Seeing the Cambodian Living Arts crew, as well as friends from Siem Reap, Amrita Performing Arts, Sovanna Phum, Epic, and Meta-House made for a great time.

Without the pressure of the opening night, the crew seemed pretty relaxed and happy to be doing their thing.  Goss has it that Sok An showed up the first night, which made for a little nervousness. Would the show cut too close to the bone in social commentary?  Well, judging by the fact that H.E. sent a heap of his pals to the second night would indicate he liked it.  The organizers had to scramble to get some extra seats. And it’s hoped that there might be performance for the King, pending protocol.

Despite rumors of a third week, John Burt regretfully noted that while there is heaps of enthusiasm, logistically the opera would lose money the longer it stays here.  International stars + low cost local seats = a negative cash balance. But there are definitely more staging plans in the works. And I’ll be back with some friends for the final show.

More? Blogs:
http://www.andybrouwer.co.uk/blog/2008/11/legendary-ieng-sithul.html
http://www.andybrouwer.co.uk/blog/2008/11/elephants-are-celebrating.html
http://dianephelan.wordpress.com
http://www.scotstafford.com/index/scot_stafford/Entries/2008/4/25_Entry_1.html

Tags:opera,cambodia,khmer

*Dai Krahom transition Update:
http://dayeekrahom.blogspot.com/2007/08/dayee-krahom-conflict-on-aug-4.html
Considering that many of the evicted were artists, it calls to mind the opera La Boheme and the more recent Rent. Maybe the residents don’t need news stories to raise awareness; perhaps a rock opera would be less controversial?

*Adopt A Duck For Cambodia
‘Quack if you like Prakok’

http://www.thegreatbritishduckrace.co.uk/charitypage.php?charity=22

*Discovered a few old zine friends who now have moved to blogs. What is a zine? Back before the internet, there was the papernet.

*Hooray, Cambodia has oil! Oh no, Cambodia has oil! Can we avoid the petroleum curse, as in Nigeria and other countries?
http://altmapcambodia.blogspot.com/2007/08/cambodias-offshore-oil-concessions.html
http://www.africamasterweb.com/AdSense/NigeriaOilBountyDauntingCurse.html

*and With oil, who needs aid? Africans to Bono: “For God’s sake please stop!” Nicholas Kristof takes a break from his flawed analysis of Cambodia’s sex trade to make a handful of cogent points about the need to ‘make aid smarter‘.

*Tonle Sap: dialysis needed?
http://leahbowe.com/deathpower/2007/08/08/downstream-in-the-liver-of-asia

*Ooh, pretty photos.
http://thetravelphotographer.blogspot.com/2007/08/jenny-jozwiak-wanderlust.html

*Drinkin’ beer @ Cambodia’s Shooting Range:

http://peripateticlis.blogspot.com/2007/08/fun-with-gunswhy-there-is-need-for-gun.html

tags: cambodia,music,rock,opera,africa,oil,guns,aid