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A night at the opera

Thousands participate in Rotary Charity Walk

A night at the opera

by Cherie Schloemer

Opera is one of those distinctive cultural experiences that cross the boundaries of generation, nationality and even language. On March 13 the community of the Eastern Seaboard was treated to a one-night only concert performance of the National Opera Company of Korea.

Duangdao & Mongkol Chayasirisobhon have worked very hard to bring cultural sophistication to Pattaya.

Organizers of this extraordinary event, the Royal Cliff Beach Resort in association with D & M Music Studio, and Pattaya Mail’s Peter Malhotra, felt there was a desire for more cultural sophistication in the local community. This perception was proved true enough. Tickets were sold out and over 300 people from the Thai and foreign community attended the gala evening.

Presented in the elegant setting of the Royal Cliff Resort’s Grand Ballroom, guests were first served a sumptuous seven course meal including such delicacies as marinated shrimp on grilled vegetables, a delicate cream of pumpkin soup with a marinated crab dumpling, leek tart served with an aromatic wine sabayon sauce and a choice of entr้es, either roast beef tenderloin with aromatic thyme red wine sauce, or a baked salmon cutlet accompanied by guacamole and pommery mustard. Desert was a work of art; a baked apple in fillo graced with a creamy cardamom ice cream and vanilla sauce, served with freshly brewed Royal Friandises coffee and chocolates. The lavish dinner was flawlessly prepared and service was impeccable. After dinner, the lights dimmed and a hush fell over the room. This was the moment everyone was waiting for. The performance was about to begin.

Royal Cliff MD Panga Vathanakul thanks the opera stars for their great performance.

During the past few years there has been a remarkable growth in operatic talent in Korea - remarkable because it has been home-grown in an Asian country. As a result of more training and schooling in the major conservatories of Europe, a number of young Korean artists are now developing their careers both locally and overseas. The evening’s performance was presented by Young-In Lim (Soprano), Hae-Chul Lim (Bass), Heui-Up Yu (Mezzo Soprano), Bun-Jin Kim (Baritone), Ki-Nam Bae (Soprano), Hong-Tae Kim (Tenor), Kwi-Ok Jin (Soprano), Bum-Jin Kim (Baritone), Jae-Gwang Lyu (Tenor), and Park-Seon-jeong (piano accompanist). These accomplished artists filled the ballroom with an extraordinary explosion of musical energy and poised stage presence.

The showcase concert program included excerpts from the most popular and enduring works of genius from the world of Grand Opera. The first half of the program included such masterpieces as Mozart’s “La ci darem la mano”, C. Saint-Saens’ “Amour! Vien aider ma faiblesse”, U Gordano’s “La Donna Russa”, G. Puccini’s “Quando me no” and G. Verdi’s haunting “Mira, di acerbe lagrime”.

After a brief intermission the audience was mesmerized by the prodigious “Scuoti quella fronda di cillegio” an excerpt from Pucccini’s Madame Butterfly, Scorozabal’s “Un di felice, eterna”, Verdi’s magnificent “Credo, in Dio Crudel” from Othello, “Voi lo Sapete o mamma” by P. Mascagni, and more.

The grand finale brought a beguiled and enthralled audience to their feet for a standing ovation. This was an evening they would not forget. Three hundred people stood to applaud; not only to show their appreciation for the fine performance of the Korean artists, but to affirm what the Pattaya organizers of this event had predicted. There is a thirst for fine culture in this resort city and we are all looking forward to more evenings like this one.

The stars perform during a magical evening at the Royal Cliff.

Thousands participate in Rotary Charity Walk

Hundreds of thousands raised for children

A crowd of about 3,000 people turned up for the Rotary Charity Walk last Saturday. Through public and private sponsorships, the event raised an estimated 500,000 baht to help children.

Decked out in their Muay Thai outfits, these pugilistic youngsters did their part to raise money for charity.

President of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, Alvi Sinthuvanik said that the event was a great success. At press time they were still collecting funds, but Alvi was confident that, “Most likely we will reach our target of 500,000 baht.”

Funds raised at the Rotary Charity Walk, organized by the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, will go to help care for children born HIV positive in Thailand, currently under Royal Patronage, and for other local youth-help programs and projects.

Such precision at such a young age - the marching band from Pattaya School #3, fresh off their rousing performance at the Pattaya Mail PC Classic Royal Cliff Beach Resort International Regatta 2002 the week before, entertained the crowd at Pattaya pier after the Rotary Charity Walk.

The charity drive received a huge boost on March 6 when local businessman Bruce Hoppe, on behalf of the Copeland Corporation, donated 200,000 baht towards the charity cause.

The charity walk began on schedule at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 16. Beginning at Pattaya City Hall, students from 10 Pattaya schools, sailors and officers from Sattahip Navy Base, police, Rotarians, community leaders and local citizens set off to tackle one of two courses, the shorter being 3.7 kilometers and the longer being 8 kilometers.

The Thai Navy Band from Sattahip led the procession and set the beat for others to march to.

Both courses proceeded to Beach Road, down the ‘Walking Street’ section of the Amazing Thai Wisdom Fair, and eventually finished at the South Pattaya pier in the heart of the fair.

The bustling crowd was then treated to fun and games, prizes and music for an afternoon not soon to be forgotten.

A half dozen students became the first recipients of the benevolent organization’s event at the after-walk ceremonies at the pier. Three students received 5,000 baht scholarships, whilst three others received 2,500 baht to go towards their education.

The day was all about children - and these children surely enjoyed themselves.

The event was supported by the City of Pattaya, the local TAT office, YWCA, PILC, Pattaya police, tourist police and Rotarians from throughout the region.

Chonburi’s deputy governor Preecha Kamolbutr presided over the opening ceremonies and banged the gong to set the walk in motion. Rotary past district governor Prempreecha Dibbawan headed the list of honored guests.

Copeland Corporation was the main sponsor of the event. Other sponsors included Pattaya Mail, Bayer, Kings Seafood Restaurant, YWCA, PILC, German-Thai Group, Breda Holland, Northern Thailand Community Pattaya Members, De Brujia Group, Flamingo Resort, Maharaja Tailor, Bruno’s Restaurant, Thai-German Institute, CIA Surin Insurance Agency, Tropic Restaurant and Pattaya Language & Computer School.

Literally thousands of children and adults took part in the Rotary Charity Walk.