IN ITS FOURTEENTH YEAR

The Orpheus Choir is the resident chorus of the Opera Siam and also a highly active choral group that performs concerts throughout the year when they’re not involved in the opera.  The choir has members from over a dozen countries, all living and working in Bangkok.  Many choristers have graduated to solo roles in the Opera Siam.

While there are almost 200 registered members of the choir, each production calls upon a smaller number, from as few as 25 to about 100.  The choir rehearses every Thursday year round.  It trains under Bangkok Opera’s artistic director, Somtow Sucharitkul, as well as a variety of guest choir masters.

The choir was first formed as an ad hoc choir to do the world premiere of Somtow’s Requiem: In Memoriam 9/11 two years ago.  The choir continued to work together and has since performed many major works such as the Brahms and Mozart Requiems, the Haydn Mass in Time of War, and Handel’s virtuoso Dixit Dominus.  They have appeared in operas as varied as Dido and Aeneas, The Magic Flute, Turandot, and Mae Naak.  

The choir performs two major choral works each year, including, recently Mahler's Eighth Symphony and Resurrection Symphony, Tippett’s A Child of Our Time, and Somtow’s Requiem for the Mother of Songs.  

The Orpheus Choir rehearses on Thursdays.  Auditions are held on a regular basis.

In 2015, the Orpheus Choir created a spinoff, the Siam Orpheus Chamber Choir, in order to do more intimate repertoire.