This was mainly because German Opera singer Juliette Mairoux, alongside Russian pianist Viktor Platkov was performing the music live, in Juliette’s home in Chalong.

Taking a break between the show that included classic French, German, and Italian numbers, alongside more contemporary show tunes from Cats and the Disney movie Pocahontas, Juliette explains how she – a young German woman discovered opera, or rather how it discovered her.

“My grandmother always used to sing around the house, but I suppose I started becoming interested in opera rather late – when I was around 22 – in Turkey of all places. Opera was never in my interest to begin with, but after a while I got into it. My husband is Turkish and we lived in Turkey for eight years. In fact I was ‘discovered’ there by a Dutch Opera singer.”

Despite the discovery, last month’s show is actually one of the first that Juliette has done.

“The irony is that although I attended a conservatoire (college of music and dance) in Turkey, as a foreigner I couldn’t play in any of the opera houses, because it is notoriously difficult to get a work permit.”

It is Juliette’s hope that the recently forged relationship with Mr Platkov – which began when they met while recording their own solo CDs at Legends Music studio in Phuket – will lead to performances in the finest ball rooms in Phuket hotels, and from there, the finest opera houses in the world.

The Saturday afternoon’s performance was videoed with the expressed purpose of helping the pair on their way. Juliette explained that the performance was also about something that is close to everyone’s hearts.

“This performance is all about love,” says Juliette.

“It takes a lot of courage to sing these kinds of songs. It’s rather emotional, especially when you get in touch with the beauty of the music, so it’s rather draining when you’re singing with all this emotion.”

Juliette and Viktor played exceptionally well together, and their performance was rousing, touching, and indeed a pleasant way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Let’s hope the hotels and restaurants on the island ensure that there are many more to come.

by  http://www.thephuketnews.com/

An operatic afternoon in Phuket with a difference