VIVA!

Be prepared to be blown away! (Review by Ailsa Windsor, Editor of Going Places)

Seabrooke’s Theatre at Durban High School is the setting for five sensational voices from Thailand currently providing their renditions of popular operatic, classical and pop hits for one week only at Seabrooke’s Theatre at Durban High School. Their performance is guaranteed to be the highlight of your week

Picture Il Divo, now add the voices of two stunning female sopranos and you have VIVA!, Thailand’s ‘first and only’ pop-opera musical ensemble. Even if you’re not ‘into opera’ you are sure to be won over by their vibrant, harmonic performance.

Comprising baritones Bodin Piyatanasirikul and Tulanan Narasetapisarn (baritone); tenor - ‘Film’ Thanapat Yartcharoen; and sopranos ‘Organ’ Fueanglada Prawang and ‘Pae’ Kamonporn Huncharoen – all of whom are classically trained, VIVA! takes the audience on a classical crossover musical journey. Oceano, 21 Guns, Toreador, Figaro, You Raise Me Up, Barcelona and more form part of the delectable feast.

Mastering a variety of languages has proven no problem as they flow from one song to another - Italian to Spanish, English, even a smattering of Thai ... and they manage to keep up the banter between the songs. They had the opening night audience on their feet on more than one occasion – to tell you which renditions would spoil the surprise.

The group originally débuted in Bangkok in December 2010 and have since featured in many popular Thai Television Specials. Although this is not their first visit to South Africa, it is their first to Durban which, according to Bodin ‘has captured their hearts’. Allegedly the view of the sea from their hotel window has impressed ‘Organ’ most of all.

Don’t miss these extraordinary performers. VIVA! perform nightly at 20h00 at Seabrooke’s Theatre at DHS until May 26 with an additional performance on May 26 at 17h00. Tickets R140pp BUT if you purchase tickets for tonight’s show (May 22) you will only pay R95pp.

Booking is through Computicket or Seabrooke’s on 031277 1570. – Ailsa Windsor (KZN Entertainment News and Reviews cc t/a GoingPlaces)