PHNOM PENH: Dignitaries, art enthusiasts and members of Phnom Penh’s burgeoning theater scene were treated to a rare operatic spectacle at the Koh Pich Theater on Sunday night. Sponsored by ABC brewing, the one-night-only performance of Madama Butterfly wowed a crowd of 1,800 that showed their appreciation with a standing ovation as the talented cast took their bows.
Before the start of the show, opening remarks were made by Italian Ambassador Paolo Dionisi and Assistant Operatic Director Sisowath Ravivaddhana Monipong, both of whom stressed the importance of such a massive cultural event taking place in Cambodia. They spoke on Cambodia and Italy’s shared appreciation for cultural heritage, with the Italian ambassador remarking on opera’s induction on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List just last week.
Madama Butterfly was written by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini in 1904 and features commentary on American imperialism against the backdrop of Japan. With such a confluence of cultures in one piece, this particular performance added Cambodian flare when Khmer Apsara dancers took to the stage during the famous Flower Duet, in which the eponymous character and her servant cover the ground in flowers and petals. It was a beautiful demonstration of cross-cultural ties represented in one of the more tragically hopeful scenes of the show.
The ensemble of over 70 performers also served to create an international convergence of talent on the Phnom Penh stage. While many were played by inspiring Japanese opera singers, including Yasko Fujii as Madama Butterfly herself, Italian tenor Enrico Guerra and Cambodia’s own Sethisak Khuon also wooed the audience with their tremendous voices. The show was accompanied by a full orchestra, which itself is a rare treat to experience in Cambodia.
While large theatrical productions are seldom seen in the Kingdom, there is hope in the air that more are to come. Assistant Director Sisowath Ravivaddhana Monipong made an impassioned case for sponsorship of more such events and expressed a desire to make the opera a yearly event in Phnom Penh. Having seen what is possible on the stage in Cambodia, it would be a shame to let such potential slip for Cambodia’s emerging fine arts scene.
