« Back to article: Opera goes Bollywood (live elephant included): Grandma won't recognize this Houston first
Fashion designer Prashi Shah's first involvement in opera will include exotic, colorful and delicious costumes.Courtesy of Prashi Shah
Somtow Sucharitkul, one of Thailand's leading operatic composersCourtesy of Somtow Sucharitkul
For Sucharitkul, "The Silent Prince" allows him to indulge in a 35-year obsession with Indian melodies and themes.Courtesy of Somtow Sucharitkul
Sucharitkul today composes in a neo-romantic style influenced by not only composers closest to him follows Asian philosophy: the past is immediately present. Scene from "MAE NAAK" at the Thailand Cultural CenterCourtesy of Somtow Sucharitkul
If Strauss had gone to Bali, this is what Thai composer Sucharitkul would envision: a scene from "AYPDHAYA," one of his large-scale operas performed at the Thailand Cultural CenterCourtesy of Somtow Sucharitkul
Shah loves Bollywood movies, and working on "The Silent Prince" is both natural and exciting.Courtesy of Prashi Shah
In Bollywood movies, people dance for no reason, but dancing also requires exquisite clothing.Courtesy of Prashi Shah
Viswa Subbaraman, artistic director and conductor of Opera Vista, brings yet another world premier to the Houston operatic stage.Courtesy of Viswa Subbaraman
"The Silent Prince" is a first for many, including Opera Vista, composer Somtow Sucharitkul, artistic director Viswa Subbaraman, fashion designer Prashi Shah and choreographers Rathna Kumar and Mahesh Mahbubani.
In rehearsal, Subbaraman always wanted to produce a work that weaved Indian thematic material.Courtesy of Viswa Subbaraman
