Phnom Penh

[bibbyjackson]

i wrote the article that you can read online at the asialfie phnom penh website - www.asialifeguide.com. you should get more news about the concert in the next day or two.

[jarkko]

Welcome Bibby, nice to have you on our Forum!
We are waiting patiently (it's a phrase often used here) for more news about the tour plans. Meanwhile we are hanging fire til more tour dates are confirmed!

[IMM]

From the AsiaLIFE article:

The artist who once said: “I really do feel the enormous luck I've had in being able to make a living, and to never have had to have written one word that I didn't want to write,” will now be bringing his words to Phnom Penh.

I guess the alternate manifestation of that one, is that the poet was 'forced' to sing. Singing for your supper, and putting some of the poetry in song, is probably better than having to write advertising copy though.

[jmudrick]

The Cambodia Daily reports today, quoting an unnamed "tour manager" that of 4,400 available seats, only 1,400 will be available to the general public, the balance either "pre-sold" or made available to "VIP's". To anyone familiar with the meaning of VIP in Cambodia*, this is a rather unfortunate turn of events.

*look up the phrase "primitive accumulation" and you'll have some idea.

[Mabeanie1]

The Cambodia Daily reports today, quoting an unnamed "tour manager" that of 4,400 available seats, only 1,400 will be available to the general public, the balance either "pre-sold" or made available to "VIP's". To anyone familiar with the meaning of VIP in Cambodia*, this is a rather unfortunate turn of events.

I hope that's not true Jeff but I guess you know how things work there ... It sounds a bit like the set up in Moscow where all the best seats were reserved for "VIPs" and the few seats near the front that were available for the public were outrageously priced.

To put a positive slant on things, 1,400 is the capacity of a small theatre (the Rebecca Cohn Auditorium in Halifax NS holds 1,050 for example) and it's roughly the number of seats that were allocated to forum members for the "fan special" concert at the Beacon New York in February 2009. Fingers crossed those that want to go to the concert will get the tickets they want.

Wendy

[jmudrick]

Yes, 1,400 is still quite a few seats and I'm guessing there are far more of Leonard's fans in Halifax than here in Phnom Penh. We'll just have to wait and see where those seats are and the ticket prices.

[Roguesta]

I'll probably go, but it really depends upon the price of the tickets. Most expats cannot afford what is charged for concerts these days.

[sturgess66]

Reported by DrHGuy at his blog today - http://1heckofaguy.com/

Confirmation of Phnom Penh show, with the proceeds of the show going to benefit the Cambodian Red Cross and Cambodian persons with a disability.

From TheMekongSessions -
http://www.themekongsessions.com/index. ... 5&Itemid=5

LEONARD COHEN TO PLAY PHNOM PENH ON NOV. 27, 2010

A LEGENDARY ARTIST – A LEGENDARY CITY

(For Immediate Release – June 17, 2010) – To celebrate and contribute to the restoration of the majestic city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Leonard Cohen will perform at the Olympic Stadium on November 27, 2010. To aid victims of Cambodia’s recent tragic past, proceeds from this concert will benefit the Cambodian Red Cross and Cambodian persons with a disability. Tickets available online on July 15, 2010.

Leonard Cohen’s November 27th concert will be held under the patronage of His Excellency Samdech Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia and Lok Chumtuev Bun Rany Hun Sen, President of the Cambodian Red Cross. The performance is produced by The Mekong Sessions in conjunction with Robert Kory Management and AEG Live and is exclusive to the South-East Asian region.

Cohen’s legendary artistry and his performance, referred to by many as a “spiritual experience,” at the architecturally significant Stadium in one of the world’s most intriguing and reemerging cities is intended to be more than just a unique evening of music. As an ordained Buddhist monk, Cohen is known for his affinity for the culture and his commitments to assist those who have suffered from conflict.

“Leonard is deeply honored by this invitation, and we hope that in our small way, we can both assist in cultural restoration and personal healing,” said Robert Kory, Manager to Leonard Cohen. “The world is aware that Phnom Penh, once a cultural Mecca, and its people, suffered a brutal genocide thirty five years ago which ended lives and altered that magnificent city. We are hopeful that the concert may become a first step in celebration of the city’s rebirth as a vibrant cultural centre and serve to aid those who have suffered.”

“This is a landmark event for AEG Live as well as a significant international milestone where Phnom Penh announces its objective to become a premiere performance destination,” said Rob Hallett, President, AEG Live.

Chris Minko, Founder of the Mekong Sessions Concert Series stated, “We wish to convey our gratitude to Mr. Cohen for this epic event that demonstrates that Cambodia has emerged from tragic civil conflict and its tradition of cultural excellence is reborn.”

Phnom Penh’s Olympic Stadium is a rare example of the work of famous Khmer architect Vann Molyvan, whose designs are the current subject of international interest. His distinctive designs combine High Modernism with elements of classical Khmer design and are a reminder of the days of Phnom Penh’s former cultural stature.

ABOUT LEONARD COHEN: Leonard Cohen is a master songwriter, musician and poet whose stunning body of original work has touched the lives of millions with a career spanning five decades. He was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame (2006) and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2008) for outstanding work. Cohen’s world tour, which inaugurated in May 2008, is still playing to sold-out crowds.

MEDIA CONTACT:
For Leonard Cohen:
Sunshine, Sachs & Associates
Ken Sunshine / Tiffany Shipp
212-691-2800 / shipp@sunshinesachs.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For AEG Live:
Rob Hallett: rob@aeglive.co.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For Mekong Sessions Concerts Series:
Christopher Minko
cminko@themekongsessions.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.themekongsessions.com
855-(0)12-932642

[sturgess66]

From Khmer Nz Media-
http://khmernz.blogspot.com/2010/06/leo ... toric.html

KHMER NZ News Media
KHMER NZ News Media dedicated to provide quality information related to Cambodia for all Cambodian peoples.

Thursday, 17 June 2010
Leonard Cohen - Cohen To Play Historic Cambodian Show


Caption: Leonard Cohen (Picture) performs live in concert at the Beacon Theater New York City, USA ....

via Khmer NZ News Media

16 June 2010

LEONARD COHEN is to perform a historic concert in Cambodia in November (10) to help restore the city of Phnom Penh.

The legendary singer/poet will play at the Olympic Stadium on 27 November (10) to benefit the Cambodian Red Cross and other local charities.

The concert will be held under the patronage of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen and Lok Chumtuev Bun Rany Hun Sen, the president of the Cambodian Red Cross.

An ordained Buddhist monk, Cohen hopes the concert will be a "spiritual experience" at an "architecturally significant" stadium.

The Canadian star's manager, Robert Kory, tells WENN, "Leonard is deeply honoured by this invitation, and we hope that, in our small way, we can both assist in cultural restoration and personal healing.

"The world is aware that Phnom Penh, once a cultural mecca, and its people, suffered a brutal genocide 35 years ago, which ended lives and altered that magnificent city. We are hopeful that the concert may become a first step in the celebration of the city's rebirth as a vibrant cultural centre and serve to aid those who have suffered."

[sturgess66]

A recent article from the Lifestyle section of GMANews.tv about Phenom Penh today - 35 years after the onset of "Pol Pot's reign of terror" -
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/190502/the- ... phnom-penh

Click on the link for the whole article - but here is an excerpt -

...

The Hidden Charm of Phnom Penh

Over the years, I keep coming back to Phnom Penh because of its numerous charms. One of them would undoubtedly be the Cambodian people who are highly influenced by their glorious past, as indicated by the many notable ruins left behind by their Khmer ancestors. But there are also the less palatable parts of Cambodian history, particularly the Pol Pot years.

In the past decade or so, life has become as normal as it can get. Even though the economy was affected by the economic recession, the Cambodian people still go about their daily life as it was in the ancient past -- with the belief that anything can happen any day as part of their karma.

The resilience of the Cambodian people can be seen when they start telling their sad and disturbing stories, in a very matter-of-fact way. My Cambodian friend Vuthdey occasionally recalls how her family and relatives hid during Pol Pot's reign of terror as his soldiers rounded up all the citizens of the city for extermination, particularly the well-to-do families and the intellectuals. This is the story of the infamous Cambodian "Killing Fields" where most of these families were executed.

That was 35 years ago. Today, remnants of its brutal and gruesome past can be seen at the Tuol Sleng prison, a former school that was turned into a torture chamber for thousands of Cambodians who were deemed “enemies of the state." But the spirit of the citizens of Phnom Penh have prevailed and they are understandably proud of their culture and history.

These are some of my favorites sights and scenes in Phnom Penh:

The Royal Palace of Phnom Penh

Khmer-influenced wats dot the landscape of Phnom Penh, like this one beside the Royal Palace and overlooking the Tonle Sap River.

Built in 1866 with French support and officially opened in 1870 by then King Norodom of the Royal Family of Cambodia, the Royal Palace is not to be missed. From its entrance facing the Mekong River, visitors walk through a rectangular compound where the Royal Palace stands in the middle, with a little temple at the back and a little house with French-inspired architecture.

Originally constructed of wood and later reconstructed in concrete, stucco and brick, the Royal Palace with its gilded curved roofs is reminiscent of Buddhist wats (temples) in Bangkok with their pointy roof gables and a little brass bell hanging at the end that every so often tinkles with the wind.

Manicured lawns add an air of stateliness. Indeed, the Royal Palace of Phnom Penh seems to me like a smaller version of the Grand Palace in Bangkok.

...

[jmudrick]

A recent article from the Lifestyle section of GMANews.tv about Phenom Penh today - 35 years after the onset of "Pol Pot's reign of terror" -
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/190502/the- ... phnom-penh

Click on the link for the whole article - but here is an excerpt -

...

The Hidden Charm of Phnom Penh

Over the years, I keep coming back to Phnom Penh because of its numerous charms. One of them would undoubtedly be the Cambodian people who are highly influenced by their glorious past...,

... My Cambodian friend Vuthdey occasionally recalls how her family and relatives hid during Pol Pot's reign of terror as his soldiers rounded up all the citizens of the city for extermination, particularly the well-to-do families and the intellectuals. This is the story of the infamous Cambodian "Killing Fields" where most of these families were executed.

That was 35 years ago. Today, remnants of its brutal and gruesome past can be seen at the Tuol Sleng prison, a former school that was turned into a torture chamber for thousands of Cambodians who were deemed “enemies of the state." But the spirit of the citizens of Phnom Penh have prevailed and they are understandably proud of their culture and history.

These are some of my favorites sights and scenes in Phnom Penh:

The Royal Palace of Phnom Penh

Khmer-influenced wats dot the landscape of Phnom Penh, like this one beside the Royal Palace and overlooking the Tonle Sap River.
...

Just a couple of brief comments for those who have an interest in Phnom Penh but might be misled by some of the above (there are far better articles out there on Phnom Penh, several from the New York Times for example).

While "Cambodians" may be of Khmer, Vietnamese, Chinese, Cham or any mix of these ethnicities, most are Khmer. The article gives the impression of some kind of discontinuity between the Angkorian Khmers and the "Cambodians" which there is not, they are the same people. Wats, therefore, are not "Khmer influenced", they are Khmer.

With some obvious exceptions (e.g. people of some rank in the Lon Nol administration) residents of Phnom Penh were not "rounded up for extermination". The city was forcibly evacuated and residents sent to work in the countryside, where many did indeed perish from disease, starvation and execution.

Toul Sleng was in large part a torture center for officials of the Khmer Rouge itself (and their families). After torture and "confession", people were typically taken for execution to Choung Ek, a particular location which has become known as "The Killing Fields". Most Cambodians who perished during the period did not die in the Killing Fields of Choung Ek.

The Royal Palace looks out on the confluence of the two rivers, the Tonle Sap and the Mekong. Cambodia had already become a French Protectorate at the time of its construction.

[jmudrick]

Posted today on the AsiaLife website:

Chris Minko of the Mekong Sessions said there had been an “exceptional level of interest in the concert” with high pre-sales through fan clubs.

Pre-sales through fan clubs??? Hello??

http://www.asialifeguide.com/News-Event ... l?-events=

[Mabeanie1]

Posted today on the AsiaLife website:

Chris Minko of the Mekong Sessions said there had been an “exceptional level of interest in the concert” with high pre-sales through fan clubs.

Pre-sales through fan clubs??? Hello??

Jeff

I will keep my fingers crossed for you that there is a genuine pre-sale for the genuine fan club - ie the members of this forum. I hope you get the tickets you want and deserve.

Wendy

[jmudrick]

600 seats (out of 4400) are being "held back" for Cambodian residents. The fact that they've determined they have to hold back seats without any public sale of tickets having been made, or ticket prices even announced is indeed bewildering.

Honestly Wendy many expat residents I know here have already decided to boycott the concert because of the way it has been managed. And that's a shame, I know Leonard is doing an extraordinary thing by coming here.


Jeff

[jmudrick]

Mark from AsiaLife tells me "promoters have amended press relaease copy to "pre-sales are anticipated to be high" guess that explains that tickets aren't yet on sale to fan club". Well that's more like it.