In Where Elephants Weep, the struggle
between East and West, tradition and modernity, plays out through a musical
score drawing on classical western, ancient Cambodian, and popular American
music traditions and a story set against the backdrop of a beautiful land
torn by a history of war and terror. Sam, a refugee from the Khmer Rouge
genocide, leaves America and returns to his homeland, Cambodia. Committed
to finding his roots in his native culture, he unexpectedly falls in love
with Bopha, a pop-star.
View production slideshow >
*Photos from the Lowell preview performances, April 27-29, 2007.
Photos by Kevin Trimmer, CHANGE
View production slideshow >
*Photos from the Lowell preview performances, April 27-29, 2007.
Photos by Kevin Trimmer, CHANGE
Where
Elephants Weep Production Description
Where
Elephants Weep is the first Cambodian rock opera. It tells a modern
story about Cambodians returning to their country following 30 years of
civil strife. Loosely based on an ancient Cambodian love story,
the opera follows Sam, a refugee from the Khmer Rouge genocide, who leaves
America to return to his homeland, committed to finding his roots. He unexpectedly
falls in love with Bopha, a Cambodian pop star. The story examines generational
and social dislocations caused by war, as well as more traditional clashes
with modernity. While following the traditional storyline, the opera also
speaks to the experiences of some of the artists involved in the project,
namely Arn Chorn-Pond, founder of CLA, and composer Him Sophy. Both survived
labor camps and atrocities committed during the Khmer Rouge’s four-year
reign.
Cambodian composer Him Sophy’s score combines ancient Khmer traditions with modern Cambodian and Western styles, merging ancient Cambodian lullabies and Khmer Rouge propaganda songs with elements of Western rock. The opera’s orchestra includes a rock band, traditional Cambodian ensembles, and a string quartet—bringing together state-of-the-art synthesizers and electric guitars with folk instruments dating back to twelfth-century Cambodia. Additional music and orchestral development is provided by Scot Stafford.
Where
Elephants Weep is the first Cambodian rock opera. It tells a modern
story about Cambodians returning to their country following 30 years of
civil strife. Loosely based on an ancient Cambodian love story,
the opera follows Sam, a refugee from the Khmer Rouge genocide, who leaves
America to return to his homeland, committed to finding his roots. He unexpectedly
falls in love with Bopha, a Cambodian pop star. The story examines generational
and social dislocations caused by war, as well as more traditional clashes
with modernity. While following the traditional storyline, the opera also
speaks to the experiences of some of the artists involved in the project,
namely Arn Chorn-Pond, founder of CLA, and composer Him Sophy. Both survived
labor camps and atrocities committed during the Khmer Rouge’s four-year
reign. Cambodian composer Him Sophy’s score combines ancient Khmer traditions with modern Cambodian and Western styles, merging ancient Cambodian lullabies and Khmer Rouge propaganda songs with elements of Western rock. The opera’s orchestra includes a rock band, traditional Cambodian ensembles, and a string quartet—bringing together state-of-the-art synthesizers and electric guitars with folk instruments dating back to twelfth-century Cambodia. Additional music and orchestral development is provided by Scot Stafford.