King and Queen to Attend Royal Requiem Premiere at Assumption Cathedral
Their Majesties the King and Queen will preside over the premiere of a royal requiem concert at Bangkok's Assumption Cathedral on November 18, celebrating interfaith ties and honoring Queen Sirikit
Key Points
- 1The King and Queen will attend the premiere of 'A Royal Requiem: Music in Memory and Prayers' on November 18 in Bangkok
- 2The event is organized by the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in Thailand and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Thailand
- 3The concert honors Queen Sirikit's charitable contributions and celebrates the relationship between the Thai monarchy and the Catholic Church
- 4Works by composers such as Mozart, Verdi, Fauré, Mahler, and Purcell will be performed by leading Thai choirs and orchestras
- 5Admission is free with online reservations opening October 26; a second performance is scheduled for November 29 at Mahidol University
Their Majesties the King and Queen of Thailand are set to preside over the premiere of "A Royal Requiem: Music in Memory and Prayers" on November 18 at Bangkok's Assumption Cathedral. The event is jointly organized by the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in Thailand and the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Thailand (CBCT), marking a rare moment of royal participation in a Catholic musical tribute
The sacred music performance will honor the charitable contributions of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit and serve as a symbol of enduring friendship between the Holy See and the Catholic Church in Thailand. Archbishop Peter B. Wells, Apostolic Nuncio to Thailand, emphasized the emotional weight of the occasion, stating that sacred music and prayer "offered ways to express feelings that words alone could not fully convey." Archbishop Francis Xavier Kriengsak Kovitvanit, president of the CBCT, highlighted the long historical ties between the Thai monarchy and the Catholic Church, dating back to the Ayutthaya period
The concert program will feature works by renowned composers including Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Giuseppe Verdi, Gabriel Fauré, Gustav Mahler, and Henry Purcell. According to Rev. Booncharoen Kwanasuk, head of sacred music at the bishops' conference, performances will include the Thai Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gian Paolo Peloso, alongside the Thai Christian Choir, Mahidol University Choir, and students from St Francis Xavier Convent School. The event aims to bring together government agencies, educational institutions, private sector representatives, and religious organizations, as noted by organizing committee chairwoman Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul
The Royal Requiem will take place in two sessions: the first attended by Their Majesties at 6 pm on November 18 at Assumption Cathedral, and a second performance at 4 pm on November 29 at Mahidol University's Salaya campus. Admission is free, with reservations available online from October 26. For the Koh Samui community and visitors, this high-profile cultural event highlights Thailand's deep interfaith ties and offers a unique opportunity for music lovers to experience a royal occasion
