Photo Supplied

Ieng Sithol performs in the US preview of Where Elephants Weep.

Cambodia's first rock opera, Where Elephants Weep, will premiere at Chenla Theatre in Phnom Penh on November 28, marking Cambodian Living Arts' most ambitious project to date. Conceived by John Burt, with music by Sophy Him and libretto by Catherine Filloux, the opera is a contemporary performance rooted in the Khmer tradition. In August 2007, more than 4,000 people came to Lowell, Massachusetts, for three preview performances of the epic tale, which combines past and present musical styles. In Cambodia, a series of concerts featuring musical selections from the opera have received enthusiastic praise, and next Friday's world premiere is eagerly anticipated.

Full Story