Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Germany-Based Singaporean Baritone Eng Meng-Chia's Vocal Recital - 23 Jan 2016

Germany-based Singaporean baritone Eng Meng-Chia will be presenting a recital at the Japanese Association Auditorium on 23 January 2016. Meng-Chia has performed in almost every season of the Bayreuth Wagner Festival since the mid-80s, so you can expect a wealth of performance experience in his concert. Tickets on sale at $25 each, please call producer Eunice Ng 6717 6081 or 9730 7261 for bookings or more information.



Tuesday, December 22, 2015

Additional Zubin Mehta/IPO Concert Tickets for Sale - 7 Jan 2016


Tickets for Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra's concert on 7 January 2016 at the Esplanade Concert Hall are selling fast. Due to overwhelming demand, additional seats at the choral gallery behind the stage are now available for sale at $150 each. Here is your chance to see the Maestro in action from the same vantage point as the orchestra! Check out the Events Page for details!

Here is a short documentary about the founding of today's Israel Philharmonic, a story that started in the time of Nazi Germany that saw a mass emigration to the Middle East and their part in the founding ceremony of the State of Israel.


Friday, December 11, 2015

RWS 'Cinderella' in Review - 10 Dec 2015


Belgium-based Music Hall's new retelling of the Cinderella tale is high-quality entertainment for families. A great cast of talents sang, acted and danced beautifully around simple but detailed sets, filling up the huge RWS Theatre stage with lots of energy. This production, directed by Karina Mertens with mostly original music by Ad van Dijk and Matt Dunkley, was first produced in Belgium where it was a hit. The version now playing in Singapore has its lyrics translated to English from its original Flemish. Its a mish-mash of cultural references, starting from its fairytale scenery to its dance numbers in pop and jazz styles, punchlines referencing British royalty and a fiery ending that is reminiscent of Don Giovanni.


The Cinderella story holds no surprises for its viewers, and this retelling is mostly faithful to what we know (from Disney or elsewhere). While lots of physical humour kept the audience entertained, what sets this production apart its focus on the protagonist's relationship to her Mother. This time, 'Mama' (played by Deborah de Ridder) is no mere passing whisper but is an active participant of the plot in a spiritual form. Her exchanges with Cinderella  (or Louise in this production, played by Charlotte Campion) is the true heart of the show.


Tuesday, December 8, 2015

BHSO's "A Not-so-Classical X'mas!" - 13 Dec 2015, 5pm


The Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra presents an unusual Christmas concert, with a segment of Christmas carols set to popular Hokkien tunes. More traditional seasonal offerings include a set of songs from Home Alone, The Reluctant Dragon by John Rutter, a medley of tunes from Frozen and Christmas carols arranged for orchestra and choir. Vocal soloists are tenor Leslie Tay and baritone Alvin Tan (coincidentally my colleagues at Madison Academy of Music, hehe...) and boy soprano Samuel Yuen.


Concert is this coming Sunday 13 December 2015, 5pm at the Esplanade Concert Hall. Check out the Events Page for more information!


Fun with Christmas Carols Performance Workshop



My friend Iris Koh is conducting a workshop in Christmas caroling for children, with an actual live performance at the end! Let your child learn to sing and perform this holiday season, and put his or her new skills to good use right away. Check out the link below for more information.

https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/fun-with-christmas-carols-performance-workshop-tickets-19795996358

Cinderella - A Fairly True Story


Resorts World Sentosa presents a new adaptation of the Cinderella story, Cinderella - A Fairly True Story, is an original musical already a big hit in Belgium. The Singapore run features a professional cast and crew from Belgium and will also be the premiere on their English version set to tour the region. In the cast are locally-based girls taking turns to play young Cinderella. Check out the video below to find out more, and get your tickets at the Events Page!




Saturday, December 5, 2015

FREE: Cappella Martialis's 'The Christmas Project' - 19 and 20 Dec


Cappella Martialis, Singapore's only dedicated early music choir, presents two free concerts on 19 and 20 December at two local churches. Here's their write-up about the concerts:




Cappella Martialis, Singapore's only vocal group dedicated to early music, supported by King's College London Alumni Society Singapore, presents 'The Christmas Project', an Advent and Christmas recital of music for the season from the Mediæval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods.

The recital will include motets and anthems by Victoria, Morales, Palestrina, Monteverdi, Tallis, Vaughan Williams, Prætorius, and JS Bach, as well as ancient chants from the Eastern and Western Churches. Cappella Martialis will be accompanied by an instrumental ensemble that includes strings, recorders, dulcimer, harp, lutes, renaissance guitar, and period percussion.

Cappella is proud to announce this will be the world premiere performance of 'Advent', a new piece by Canadian-born London-based composer Kathryn Rose.

KCL has possibly London's best college chapel choir, and no less than three of their alumni are in Cappella Martialis, along with some alumni of Oxford and Cambridge chapel choirs, so expect a recital in the best English style. Admission is free, and music-lovers are invited to make a contribution in a box toward charities.

P.S.: look out for a brief singalong of familiar Christmas carols!



Check out their events pages on Facebook for more information!

19 Dec - https://www.facebook.com/events/932652070104868/

20 Dec - https://www.facebook.com/events/144269795934822/

Thursday, December 3, 2015

SLO Children's Choir - "Winter Wonderland" - 6 Dec 2015


The SLO Children's Choir presents their second concert this year on 6 Dec 2015. On the programme are pieces and arrangements by local composers a medley of songs from Frozen. Wind band Project W Musicians will also be accompanying the kids in some pieces. Conductor Rose Loh will lead the evening with accompaniment by pianist Aloysius Foong. Check out the SLO's website for more information:

http://singaporeopera.com.sg/currentseason/1516/slocc-concert-2.php?menugroup=0

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

PsalmiDeo Chorale's 'Cantate!' - 30 Nov 2015


PsalmiDeo Chorale's 2015 offering is a hallmark of sorts. Their 13th concert full-length concert is described by the first of the evening's many emcees as the choir entering its 'teenage year', a growing up of sorts that saw their debut at the Esplanade Recital Studio among many firsts. Standing in mixed formation and performing their 2 hour programme entirely from memory, the collective group of singers along with their conductor Eric Santos were well-prepared and ready to impress.


Programme-wise, contemporary religious works provide a challenge to test the ensemble's maturity. Works by Josu Elberdin, Ola Gjeilo, John August Pamintuan and a secular work of sound effects by Eric Whitacre (The Seal Lullaby). Standouts in this segment are Morten Lauridsen's setting of O Magnum Mysterium, with beautifully floated pianissimo singing by the choir, followed by a collective rousing belt in Charles Villiers Stanford's Beati Quorum Via. Indeed, Lauridsen's version of renaissance sacred music remains my stuck in my mind days after the concert, especially the hushed yet floated voices in the final chord.


Balancing the evening's presentation are choral arrangements of pop and folk songs from Singapore and the Philippines. Pianist Danny Imson was a generous accompanist to the proceedings. Violinist Cho Myung-Sik gave the evening much colour with his romantic playing in You Raise Me Up. A handful of vocal soloists (John Rae Cortes, Joan Baes, Pearl and Divine) showcased the ensembles strong individual voices supported by their fellow singers behind.

All in all, the choir came ready to impress and impress they did. It was a very successful evening of music making, ending with a standing ovation. Bravo Psalmideo, can't wait to see what you guys have in store next year!