Opera Gala

by College of Music, Mahidol University

The Siam Society is delighted to host once again an evening of Opera Gala by the Classical Singers of the College of Music, Mahidol University. This concert will take place on Wednesday, 29 November at 7.00 p.m. It features well-known arias from operas and operettas, culminating in a sneak preview of the upcoming production The Land of Smiles (Das Land des Lächelns) by the Austro-Hungarian composer Franz Lehár. It is one of the most beloved romantic operettas known for its bittersweet ending when Lisa, a Viennese countess marries a Chinese prince Sou-Chong, and returns to Peking with him despite the warnings of her father, family and friends. Among the many wonderful tunes, the signature piece is the most beloved, “Dein ist mein ganzes Herz” (Yours is my entire heart), sung all over the world. This aria is also known as Tauberlied, as Lehár had composed it for his close friend, the tenor Richard Tauber. The plaintive tune is introduced in Sou-Chong’s aria: “Always smiles and always cheerful and content, no matter what happens, smile in spite of your sorrows and a thousand aches and pains.”

The Mahidol ‘Opera Team’ promises an evening of beautiful music, love story, Western and Oriental traditional dances with lavish sets and colourful costumes. We look forward to seeing you in both the Opera Gala at the Siam Society on November 29 and the full production of The Land of Smiles, scheduled for February 19-25, 2024.