People in Cambodia have enjoyed the first classical opera to be performed in the country. The event was organized through joint efforts by Japanese and Cambodian musicians.
The opera was “Cavalleria Rusticana” by Italy’s Pietro Mascagni. The main characters were performed by Japanese opera singer Ai Iwasaki and the only male opera singer in Cambodia.
The opera is a tale of a tragedy triggered by a love entanglement. The stars were joined by students of an art college in the country and local children.
Six hundred people filled the seats in the concert hall. The performances and orchestral music drew a standing ovation from the crowd.
One audience member called it a performance “full of emotion,” with “perfect” sound.
Ai Iwasaki said, “Opera is powerful. Music is powerful. This performance was realized by all the members’ hard work. I think they will find opera more enjoyable and improve their skills as they gain experience, so I will keep this project going.”
