SOCIETY

'Dido and Aeneas' revival

Bangkok Opera is to revive its 2002 production of Dido and Aeneas, staging three performances in Bangkok later this month.

Derived from a story in Virgil's Aeneid, the opera, by English baroque composer Henry Purcell, recounts the love affair between Dido, queen of Carthage, and Aeneas, who ends up in Carthage after fleeing from Troy after its defeat in the Trojan War. However, some witches living near Carthage, who hate Dido, remind Aeneas that he is fated to found the Roman Empire. So Aeneas leaves the city and a heartbroken Dido kills herself.

Sandra Partride will play Dido; Koravich Devahastin na Ayudhya, Aeneas; and Catherine Harsono, Belinda.

The musical accompaniment will be provided by the Bangkok Baroque Ensemble, conducted by Trisdee na Patalung, and the Orpheus Choir of Bangkok, with Dominic Sargent as choir master.

Dates and venues are as follows:

- April 23: Special children's version of the opera at Bangkok Patana School, Sukhumvit Soi 105.

- April 24: Pridi Banomyong Institute, Sukhumvit Soi 55, 8pm.

- April 25: Staged at the Four Seasons Hotel to raise funds for the Bangkok Opera. A pre-concert dinner will be served at 7pm. The 5,000 baht tickets include admission to the performance. Seats are limited so book early by phoning 02-663-3236 (weekdays, from 10am to 6pm).

For more information, call 02-663-3236.

'Orfeo' comes to Bangkok

Composed by Monteverdi with lyrics by Alessandro Striggio, Orfeo is regarded as the earliest full-scale opera ever produced. It was first performed in Mantua, Italy, in 1607, so this year marks its 400th anniversary.

Early next month the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra will be giving two performances at the College of Music, Mahidol University, of a version of the opera adapted by Achim Kubinsky and directed by Manuel Lutgenhorst.

Orchestral compositions by Monteverdi have long been admired for their powerful narration and stylish scenes and the songs in Orfeo are particularly effective in reflecting the depth of the characters' emotions; this is especially true of the lament describing Orfeo's sadness in the wake of his lover's death.

Conducted by Gudni Emilsson, the opera will be staged on May 11 in the college's Music Auditorium, starting at 7pm, with a 4pm matinee there the following day. Tickets cost 500, 1,000 and 1,500 baht (50 per cent discount for students with valid ID) and are available directly from the college and from Thai Ticket Master booths around the city.

For more information, visit http://www.thai ticketmaster.com or call 02-800-2525 ext 154 or 155.

Free tickets to see Avril Lavigne

Interested in attending a performance by US singer Avril Lavigne in Hong Kong on May 3? MTV Thailand is offering a pair of tickets to the concert plus return air fare for two to Hong Kong and free accommodation there to the fan who gives the best answer to the question, What's the best thing happening in your life?

To enter the competition, visit http://www.mtvthailand.com on or before April 20. For more information, call MTV on 02-681-4646.

Asia Dive Expo

Check out the very latest equipment for underwater adventures by visiting the three-day Asia Dive Expo, which is scheduled to open at Bitec, Bang Na on April 27. The event incorporates Boat Thai 2007, Bangkok's first major sailing exhibition, and there will be a host of luxury yachts, marine equipment and cutting-edge technology on display.

Marine conservationists, training and travel specialists will be conducting seminars, and there will be classes on such topics as underwater photography.

For more details, visit http://www.asiadive expo.com or call 02-749-3939 - 60.

Basic enneagram

A short course in the fundamentals of enneagram, a technique said to boost self-understanding and personal growth and improve the quality of one's relationships, will be given from May 12 to 14 in Chachoengsao province.

The tuition fee of 4,000 baht includes the cost of transportation, meals, accommodation and books.

For more information, visit http://www. enneagramthailand.com or phone the Thai Enneagram Association on 08-1922-9161.

Funds for scientific collaboration

The British Council is inviting proposals from Thai nationals interested in taking part in an initiative aimed at supporting new links between early-stage researchers in the UK and other countries.

The Researcher Exchange Programme provides individual researchers with awards covering travel and subsistence expenses, and the cost of some consumable items needed to develop new scientific collaborations and contacts through exchange visits of between one week and three months in duration.

The research link can be in any area of science, engineering and technology, including the social sciences and humanities. The applicant must have either obtained a doctoral qualification or be within 12 months of obtaining one, have no more than two years full tenure in a university or research institute, and have no more than six years active experience as a researcher.

The closing date for applications is June 2. Go to http://www.britishcouncil.org/science-rxp for full details and an online application form. For more information, phone 02-652-5480 - 9 ext 306.

Bangkok Post

Last Updated : Wednesday April 11, 2007