Opera Siam and King’s College Bangkok collaborate on cultural events, including opera, symphony, and ballet performances, creating a cultural hub.
In the last three months of 2025, Opera Siam collaborated with King’s College International School Bangkok and produced several world-class concerts in their state-of-the-art Great Hall, including a performance of Mahler’s Titan, another of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and a new production of Somtow Sucharitkul’s opera The Silent Prince.
Reviews for the three events were impressive. “an abundance of passion and a truly deep understanding of the Mahlerian sensibility” stated Stan Gayuski of the International Mahler Society. “A terrific sound,” said the Bangkok Post of the Beethoven concert, and called The Silent Prince “something truly rare.”
Thailand National Artist Somtow Sucharitkul said, “in a time when major venues have begun to focus more on big commercial performances, King’s Bangkok has truly come to the rescue. Their Great Hall is a state-of-the-art venue for an intimate audience of around six hundred, acoustically able to host symphonies, chamber music, and all the operas and ballets except the very biggest.” This is one of the few major international schools still located within the city limits and with ample parking and even a shopping mall on the premises for concertgoers to be able to dine at before shows. The seats are modern and comfortable and the ambience for concertgoers is positive and inviting.
The collaboration came from a chance meeting between Somtow and the school’s founder, and executive committee chairman, Sakorn Suksriwong, at a luncheon for Old Etonians at the Royal Bangkok Sports Club. Somtow mentioned that opera could really use a mid-sized venue and this project was born. “It’s true what they say about ‘Old School Thais’,” the composer quipped. After three trial runs with three different genres, opera, epic symphony, and classical symphony with chorus, and the excellent audience feedback, Somtow and Opera Siam are about to announce their 2026 program, with many events happening at King’s. “When people realize what a convenient and amiable location this is, the Great Hall is going to evolve into a major performing arts and cultural hub for the area,” Somtow said. “It’s more than what you would imagine a ‘school hall’ to be. It’s reminiscent of the Farrer Theatre at my old school (Eton) which plays host to numerous public events and shaped the acting careers of many stars, including Tom Hiddleston, Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne, Hugh Laurie, Damian Lewis, and Dominic West.”
For 2026, Opera plans no fewer than three opera productions at King’s: Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte, Gluck’s Orfeo (Vienna version) and Somtow’s most popular opera, Mae Naak, not seen in Thailand since 2010. They will also put on the ballet Petrushka, choreographed by UNESCO dance specialist Darren Royston. As far as orchestral concerts, several major works are on the agenda, including The Rite of Spring and Don Quixote.
This is a two-way collaboration. Opera Siam plans exclusive school programming, including special youth concerts for members of the school, presentations to students by well-known international performers, and collaboration with the school’s drama and music departments to give young people experience working in professional productions.
“When the orchestra perhaps live works that are in the GCSE list of recommended music, and answers questions about the works, students will have a rare edge and context to their academic studies,” Somtow explained.
The year will open on January 18th with a concert in memory of the liberation of Auschwitz. The Siam Sinfonietta will be conducted by Somtow, joined by renowned American soprano Cassandra Black. The main work will be Górecki’s Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, one of the twentieth century’s most moving symphonic works.
Information about Opera Siam’s latest activities can be found at www.operasiam.com
