The Suanplu Chorus performed for the first time in the heart of Europe -- the Czech Republic's capital, Prague -- in a passionate choral concert hosted by the Royal Thai Embassy and the Czech-Thai Society. Led by Maestro Ramon M. Lijauco Jr, more than 30 Suanplu singers brightened with beautiful harmonies the Mirror Chapel of the Klementinum, a major historical venue in Prague. Thailand's finest a cappella ensemble -- a cappella is Italian for "in the manner of the chapel", making the Klementinum an auspicious venue for this performance -- earned a long standing ovation for their exciting blend of contemporary Western sacred music and Thai traditional songs arranged for chorus.
The Suanplu first bathed the Mirror Chapel in their rich sound with Gloria by the young Joshua Himes, born in 1987. Their co-ordination was immaculate as was the warmth of their sound. The chorus then breathed new life into Lux Aeterna, Ivo Antognini's gorgeous setting of this time-honoured text. The singers delicately traced its thousand-year-old scales and highlighted the luminous textures of a much more modern harmony. By subtle, recurring changes of the tonal centre, the Suanplu gave the impression their music could surpass time. They sang exquisitely, every note perfectly realised and every sonority an unfolding world unto its own.
According to a member of the Suanplu, Domine Deus Meus by Levente Gyongyosi presented the greatest challenge in the programme: "The piece is highly rhythmic with no strong structured harmony. The range of dynamics is extreme, and the singers need to carefully balance each voice part." The Suanplu singers made difficulty sound serene, celestial and effortless. Their voices had a healthy resonance and confidently soared especially in upper harmonics. In O Magnum Mysterium, the Suanplu conveyed the deep reverence that permeates Kevin A. Memley's setting of the traditional Latin chant. Their voices combined to create tender motives and resolved onto clear chords of gleaming purity.
In K.A. Anesen's Flight Song Maestro Lijauco's arms shaped the interweaving voices like sensitive wings. Each singer's vocal line revealed an inner longing to free itself. The following a cappella arrangement of the spiritual Way Over In Beulah Lan began unassumingly. Soft tones settled into the lightly coloured acoustic of the chapel. Suddenly, the singers jointly leapt into a contagious tempo. The male voices projected an edge of brightly focused clarity, while the female voices produced music of gentle liveliness and touching simplicity. The impeccably balanced chorus then built up to a powerful climax.
Having changed their radiant red dresses for traditional Thai attire during the intermission, the Suanplu treated the listeners to a choral arrangement of Thai songs including the charming Bua Khao, the moving Bupphesanniwas, the exhilarating Ramwong Suanplu, and the world premiere of Lijauco's own Pla Chalarm Khuen Bok. The Suanplu then gave a spirited interpretation of Alan Menken's Go The Distance, a well-programmed ending to a concert of stunningly high musical quality. The consistent energy of the singers would have left the chapel silent had it not been for the explosive applause. After a reception where the audience had a chance to talk with the singers, the sublime Suanplu Chorus headed to Vienna where they were to perform in St Peter's Church.
