Marc and Mary Frans, star in Where Elephants Weep in Lowell next week. (Photo: Lowell Sun)04/19/2007
By NANCYE TUTTLE,
ntuttle@lowellsun.com
Lowell Sun (Lowell, Mass., USA)
LOWELL -- Giving birth to exciting new art is nothing new in Lowell -- a city where world-class artists James McNeill Whistler, Jack Kerouac and Bette Davis were born.
It reaches back to the 19th century when mill girls wrote their published journals to today, where artists create distinct art in their studios; actors, dancers, singers, directors and designers perform on the city's stages; and poets and musicians offer enlightened words and music.
In the past month, creative forces have united in what may be one of Lowell's greatest artistic achievements -- preparing to stage the only American preview performances of Where Elephants Weep, the first known contemporary Cambodian opera ever written. Performances are next Friday-Sunday in the Cyrus Irish Auditorium at Lowell High School.
Where Elephants Weep is a love story that is loosely based on the Tum Teav story, Cambodia's Romeo and Juliet tale, it tells of two young Cambodian American men -- Sam and Dara -- who return to Cambodia to spend time in the Buddhist temples, paying respect to their ancestors. In the process, Sam falls for Bopha, a 20-year-old Cambodian pop singer whose brother is manipulating her career.
"Our goal was to find a dramatic way to tell the story of young Cambodians returning to their homeland. It is so operatic, with so much going on, that it seemed logical to do it as an opera," said producer John Burt.
Where Elephants Weep, commissioned five years ago, is the latest undertaking of Cambodian Living Arts, a project of World Education. Burt founded CLA in 1998 with Arn Chorn-Pond, a Cambodian refugee who was adopted by Americans and lived for a time in Lowell. The organization's goal is to revive and support Cambodian arts, which were nearly annihilated during the Khmer Rouge genocide.
In rehearsal spaces in Lowell High and the Mogan Cultural Center, the creative team has worked long hours the past month to bring the opera to audiences. Principal actors, Equity actors of Asian heritage with Broadway credits, and a chorus, are learning the score by rising star Cambodian composer Him Sophy and New York librettist Catherine Filloux.
Musicians, including an ensemble of instrumentalists from Cambodia, have rehearsed the music. A crew from Merrimack Repertory Theatre, a participating partner, has constructed the set and will help with sound, lighting and technical issues.
It's coming together well, said Burt.
"I can't believe it's happening. It feels like a lifetime to me, since it's been five years since we commissioned the composer and librettist. But any new piece often is a four to seven year process. It's akin to birthing and raising a child," he said.
Staging the first American performances in Lowell, with its large Cambodian population, raises the bar, too. It's similar to out-of-town Broadway tryouts, where producers, directors and composers re-work shows before a world premiere.
"We're still very much in development, and Sophy is writing for the musical stage for the first time. For us, it's still a workshop. But we are mounting a fully staged production. We're galvanized with ideas, and now we'll see how they work. The creators will be here, making notes. And we'll learn from our audience what works and what doesn't," he said.
Bringing the opera to Lowell for American previews started nearly two years ago, when Kay George Roberts, a UMass Lowell music professor and conductor/founder of the New England Orchestra, first contacted Burt about possibly staging the opera here.
(Roberts was to conduct the orchestra, but bowed out last week due to a reported back injury. Scot Stafford, the project's music director from the start, has stepped in to conduct.)
A meeting was held last March, with representatives from Lowell's educational and cultural communities pledging financial and organizational support.
"We'd had discussions with Long Beach and also with UCLA. But you cast your net where the strongest bite is, and that was Lowell. The city is a wonderful model of cooperation," said Burt, adding that Long Beach has the largest Cambodian-American population.
His partner agrees.
"I'm impressed with Lowell and its Cambodian people," said Filloux, who focuses on human right's issues.
To Filloux, staging an opera is more complicated than a play.
"Everything is multiplied by two, since there are many elements. This is complex with its rock band and traditional music. But it's wonderful putting it on stage and seeing how it lives and breathes in space," said Filloux.
Next week, the final key element to any production -- the audience -- adds its imprint to Where Elephants Weep.
The backdrop
What: Where Elephants Weep, first fully staged preview performances of world premiere contemporary Cambodian opera
When: Friday, April 27, 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 28, 8 p.m.; and Sunday, April 29, 2 p.m.
Where: Cyrus W. Irish Auditorium at Lowell High School, 50 Father Morrisette Blvd.
Tickets: $20; $10, students at Lowell Memorial Auditorium box-office in person or through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (617) 931-2000.
What it's about: A love story from a land where civil strife nearly extinguished a great ancient culture.
The plot: Sam, a refugee from the Khmer Rouge genocide, returns to his homeland from America. Committed to finding his roots in his native culture, he falls in love with Bopha, a Karaoke star.
The music: Draws on classical Western, ancient Cambodian and popular American music traditions. Performed against the backdrop of a beautiful land torn by war and terror. Khmer musicians, the New England Orchestra and an American rock band perform. Music director Scot Stafford conducts.
Creators: Music by Him Sophy, Cambodian-Russian trained musician; librettist Catherine Filloux, a playwright whose Eyes of the Heart and Photographs from S-21 were performed in Lowell in 2002. Other creative principals include Victor Moag, opera director; Sean Curran, choreographer, Angkor Dance Troupe, dance instructors; and John Burt, producer.
Long-term goals: To bring this dramatic, musical romance about Cambodian-American refugees to Phnom Penh, followed by a Southeast Asian tour and runs in American regional theaters. Eventually it could have a commercial run in a small Broadway or off-Broadway house.
It reaches back to the 19th century when mill girls wrote their published journals to today, where artists create distinct art in their studios; actors, dancers, singers, directors and designers perform on the city's stages; and poets and musicians offer enlightened words and music.
In the past month, creative forces have united in what may be one of Lowell's greatest artistic achievements -- preparing to stage the only American preview performances of Where Elephants Weep, the first known contemporary Cambodian opera ever written. Performances are next Friday-Sunday in the Cyrus Irish Auditorium at Lowell High School.
Where Elephants Weep is a love story that is loosely based on the Tum Teav story, Cambodia's Romeo and Juliet tale, it tells of two young Cambodian American men -- Sam and Dara -- who return to Cambodia to spend time in the Buddhist temples, paying respect to their ancestors. In the process, Sam falls for Bopha, a 20-year-old Cambodian pop singer whose brother is manipulating her career.
"Our goal was to find a dramatic way to tell the story of young Cambodians returning to their homeland. It is so operatic, with so much going on, that it seemed logical to do it as an opera," said producer John Burt.
Where Elephants Weep, commissioned five years ago, is the latest undertaking of Cambodian Living Arts, a project of World Education. Burt founded CLA in 1998 with Arn Chorn-Pond, a Cambodian refugee who was adopted by Americans and lived for a time in Lowell. The organization's goal is to revive and support Cambodian arts, which were nearly annihilated during the Khmer Rouge genocide.
In rehearsal spaces in Lowell High and the Mogan Cultural Center, the creative team has worked long hours the past month to bring the opera to audiences. Principal actors, Equity actors of Asian heritage with Broadway credits, and a chorus, are learning the score by rising star Cambodian composer Him Sophy and New York librettist Catherine Filloux.
Musicians, including an ensemble of instrumentalists from Cambodia, have rehearsed the music. A crew from Merrimack Repertory Theatre, a participating partner, has constructed the set and will help with sound, lighting and technical issues.
It's coming together well, said Burt.
"I can't believe it's happening. It feels like a lifetime to me, since it's been five years since we commissioned the composer and librettist. But any new piece often is a four to seven year process. It's akin to birthing and raising a child," he said.
Staging the first American performances in Lowell, with its large Cambodian population, raises the bar, too. It's similar to out-of-town Broadway tryouts, where producers, directors and composers re-work shows before a world premiere.
"We're still very much in development, and Sophy is writing for the musical stage for the first time. For us, it's still a workshop. But we are mounting a fully staged production. We're galvanized with ideas, and now we'll see how they work. The creators will be here, making notes. And we'll learn from our audience what works and what doesn't," he said.
Bringing the opera to Lowell for American previews started nearly two years ago, when Kay George Roberts, a UMass Lowell music professor and conductor/founder of the New England Orchestra, first contacted Burt about possibly staging the opera here.
(Roberts was to conduct the orchestra, but bowed out last week due to a reported back injury. Scot Stafford, the project's music director from the start, has stepped in to conduct.)
A meeting was held last March, with representatives from Lowell's educational and cultural communities pledging financial and organizational support.
"We'd had discussions with Long Beach and also with UCLA. But you cast your net where the strongest bite is, and that was Lowell. The city is a wonderful model of cooperation," said Burt, adding that Long Beach has the largest Cambodian-American population.
His partner agrees.
"I'm impressed with Lowell and its Cambodian people," said Filloux, who focuses on human right's issues.
To Filloux, staging an opera is more complicated than a play.
"Everything is multiplied by two, since there are many elements. This is complex with its rock band and traditional music. But it's wonderful putting it on stage and seeing how it lives and breathes in space," said Filloux.
Next week, the final key element to any production -- the audience -- adds its imprint to Where Elephants Weep.
The backdrop
What: Where Elephants Weep, first fully staged preview performances of world premiere contemporary Cambodian opera
When: Friday, April 27, 7 p.m.; Saturday, April 28, 8 p.m.; and Sunday, April 29, 2 p.m.
Where: Cyrus W. Irish Auditorium at Lowell High School, 50 Father Morrisette Blvd.
Tickets: $20; $10, students at Lowell Memorial Auditorium box-office in person or through Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.com or by phone at (617) 931-2000.
What it's about: A love story from a land where civil strife nearly extinguished a great ancient culture.
The plot: Sam, a refugee from the Khmer Rouge genocide, returns to his homeland from America. Committed to finding his roots in his native culture, he falls in love with Bopha, a Karaoke star.
The music: Draws on classical Western, ancient Cambodian and popular American music traditions. Performed against the backdrop of a beautiful land torn by war and terror. Khmer musicians, the New England Orchestra and an American rock band perform. Music director Scot Stafford conducts.
Creators: Music by Him Sophy, Cambodian-Russian trained musician; librettist Catherine Filloux, a playwright whose Eyes of the Heart and Photographs from S-21 were performed in Lowell in 2002. Other creative principals include Victor Moag, opera director; Sean Curran, choreographer, Angkor Dance Troupe, dance instructors; and John Burt, producer.
Long-term goals: To bring this dramatic, musical romance about Cambodian-American refugees to Phnom Penh, followed by a Southeast Asian tour and runs in American regional theaters. Eventually it could have a commercial run in a small Broadway or off-Broadway house.
2 comments:
Congratulation to the Team of Young Khmer performance.
You all will bring Khmer-Artistry to the world stage.Thanks.
Jeyo , Silapak Kar & Kariny Koun Khmer !
Jeyo , Proloeung Khmer !
Well done! World Ed. and CLA people! You have done quite a good job. We Cambodian people are so proud of you and are very grateful to your initiative in bringing Khmer arts and music to the world.
I wish I were there in Lowell to see the play. But, how can a teacher with 25 USD per month in Cambodia afford to see such a world-class play in his life time?
However, with all my heart, I pray for the success of the team of performers and the organizer of the event.
Teacher, in Phnom Penh
Post a Comment