Published on January 31, 2005

The Bangkok Opera, which in conjunction with the Bangkok Music Society and numerous Catholic organisations, put on Mozart’s “Requiem” at the Trinity Hall on January 22, was able to raise Bt1 million in contributions to assist victims of the tsunami disaster.

Bt500,000 was donated by Khun Patama Leeswadtrakul, a prominent philanthropist. Her Royal Highness Princess Galyani Vadhana, patron of the Bangkok Opera, personally wrote a cheque for Bt50,000.

Further donations, coming in during the Channel 11 broadcast of the Mozart “Requiem” later that evening, have not yet been tallied.

Somtow Sucharitkul, artistic director of the Bangkok Opera, put together the performance with about 100 musicians at two weeks’ notice. It was, in the words of the Bangkok Post, “as fine a performance as one is ever likely to hear anywhere”.

“Mozart’s ‘Requiem’ is the world’s most recognisable anthem of bereavement and healing,” Somtow said. “Classical music is a wonderful avenue for people from all walks of life to be together, experiencing shared emotions, healing and redemption.”

The Bangkok Opera has started a relief fund, which will be administered under the guidance of HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana. It has created a Bangkok Opera Tsunami Relief Committee headed by Patama. “So many musicians from overseas have written to me, asking if they could come and play to help the victims,” said Somtow, “that we have decided to pledge a portion of every ticket sale to this fund for the rest of the year as well as holding several more events throughout the year in which all donations will go to the fund.”

The next such event will be the opening concert of the Third Mozart and More Festival on March 1, in which Austria’s famed Haydn Quartet will play a programme with the brilliant young Thai pianist Trisdee na Patalung.

For information on contributing to the disaster relief fund, please call the opera at (02) 661 4688/9 on weekdays from 10.30am to 6pm.

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