Cello Concert by Dr Beat Richner in Siem Reap Hospital

This cello concert, as the name implies, is a unique show presented by Dr. Beat Richner a Swiss national who is fondly referred to as Beatocello by Cambodians. Born in 1947 in Zurich, he received his medical degree in 1973 and worked as a pediatric specialist at the Zurich Children’s Hospital before he came to Cambodia in 1975 as per the request of the Red Cross to work at the Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospital. Though he was forced to return to Switzerland because of Khmer Rouge invasion, he came back to Cambodia in 1991 and founded the Kantha Bopha Jayavarman’s Hospital in Siem Reap Foundation in 1992.

 Every Thursday and Saturday, the conference hall of Jayavarman VII Hospital becomes the venue for Dr Beat Richner to perform Bach on his cello. An accomplished entertainer who used to act as a singing clown in Switzerland, Beatocello however now performs as a cellist primarily to collect money for the activities of his Kantha Bopha hospitals that also include a maternity ward for HIV mothers. The performance is followed by a video, which throws light on social prejudices in the country.

As part of the concert, he also speaks about his work in these hospitals and encourages audiences to generously contribute towards the mission of combating child health crisis in the country. In addition to money, the doctor also requests young audience members to donate blood in order to maintain the Kantha Bopha Foundation’s blood bank that observes the WHO guidelines.