Interview with Elena Xanthoudakis, SLO's 'L'elisir d'amore' - 19 to 22 May 2017

As Adina for Scottish Opera

The Singapore Lyric Opera has scored a coup with soprano Elena Xanthoudakis in the role of Adina for their upcoming production of L'elisir d'amore. She is a much sought after performer with numerous competition wins and has a CD (Jewels of the Bel Canto – Arias Donizetti, Bellini, Verdi and Rossini) recorded with no less a luminary as Maestro Richard Bonynge at the podium.

Bel canto and especially Donizetti is a specialty of Elena's. In 2016, she sang the title roles in the composer's Anna Bolena (Melbourne Opera) and Pia di Tolomei (English Touring Opera) in addition to debuting as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni (Winslow Hall Opera). She will perform Pamina again in New York City later this year.

Other roles she has performed are Miss Schlesen in Satyagraha (English National Opera and Opera de Quebec), Lisa and Amina in La Sonnambula and Frasquita in Carmen (Royal Opera House, Covent Garden); Gilda in Rigoletto (Opera Queensland), the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor (Opera de Quebec and Winslow Hall), Clorinda in La Cenerentola (Glyndebourne), First Niece in Peter Grimes for Accademia di Santa Cecilia (Rome); Jemmy in Guillaume Tell (BBC Proms) with Pappano, Adina in L’elisir d’amore (Scottish and Victorian Opera), Euridice and Genio in L’anima del Filosofo (Pinchgut Opera). She covered Gilda in Rigoletto and Countess Adele in Comte Ory for The Metropolitan Opera, NY.

Elena has performed with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Scottish Chamber and Royal Scottish National Orchestras, Orchestra Victoria, Sydney Philharmonia, Tasmanian Symphony, Melbourne Musicians, St Petersburg Camerata, Orchestra de Quebec, British Music Festival, Melbourne Symphony, TrioKROMA, Oxford Philharmusica, the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Krakow and Poznan Filharmonia Orchestras, Mozarteum Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra and the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Elena has won over 80 first prizes in Competition and Eisteddfodau across Australia. International prizes include the Tait Memorial Trust Vocal Prize, the ‘Maria Callas International Grand Prix’ (Oratorio/ Lied), the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg. Elena is a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Artist.

(Information taken from Elena's website http://elenaxan.com)

Here, we discuss her portrayal of Adina in her upcoming debut in Singapore. Check out our conversation below!

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'If I could set with the sun' and 'RawGround:Clutter' by RAW Moves (Dance) - June and July 2017

Here are two upcoming productions by contemporary dance company RAW Moves, as they present two months of research with upcoming productions Archipelago Archives Exhibit #3: If I could set with the sun on 9 to 11 June 2017 and RawGround: Clutter on 14 -15 July 2017 at Goodman Arts Centre.

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Archipelago Archives Exhibit #3: If I could set with the sun
Dates: 9 to 11 June 2017
Venue: Goodman Arts Centre

If I could set with the sun is a 3-hour durational performance that undertakes the construction of dances in the Indian Ocean, somewhere between India and Indonesia. Conceptualised by Kiran Kumar (India), this dance-making process is part reconstructive, part speculative, part archaeological, part anthropological and part fantastical. The focus of the project is not to merely present dance as an accomplished object, but as a continual process embedded in the aesthetic, social, political, cultural and economic milieu of contemporary South and South-East Asia.

This research presentation will comprise a series of essayistic works in video, movement and installation formats.

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RawGround:Clutter
Featuring working concepts by Jeryl Lee, Matthew Goh and Ebelle Chong in collaboration with Neo Hong Chin and Pat Toh.

Dates: 14 and 15 July 2017
Venue: Goodman Arts Centre

In this process-oriented platform, audience will experience diverse modes of creative explorations based on the theme “Clutter”. With this platform, RAW Moves strives to provide company dancers a space to present their research ideas while promoting an active dialogue-exchange between practitioners and audience in an informal setting.

Tickets available at Peatix.

Piano and Violin Recital by Siew Yi-Li and Beatrice Lin - 24 April 2017

Brownhill Consultancy presents Les Sonates Françaises, a Monday evening concert at the Esplanade Recital Studio, April 24th. Come and join our beloved husband and wife duo violinist Siew Yi-Li and pianist Beatrice Li as they bring you an exquisite program of French violin sonatas by Claude Debussy, Gabriel Fauré and Gabriel Pierné. 

A protégé of the world-renowned concert violinist Pierre Amoyal, Yi-Li regularly performs as both a soloist and chamber musician, and is often invited to join orchestras as a freelancer. Recitals and concert tours have taken him to major cities in Switzerland, France, Austria, South Korea and China.

Beatrice graduated from the Royal Academy of Music and the Conservatoire de Musique de Genève, where she was awarded the Adolphe Neuman prize by the canton of Geneva. She has performed widely in Switzerland, collaborating with instrumentalists, singers, choirs and contemporary music ensembles.

Tickets area available at SISTIC.

Belleepoque Presents 'Scents of Josephine' - 27 to 29 April 2017

A new Bellepoque production, Scents of Josephine is an exploration of the multicultural life of African American jazz icon and civil rights activist, Josephine Baker, through the lens of four female performers.

Intrigued by what they know of Josephine, these artists discuss her life journey alongside theirs, accompanied with her signature tunes in both English and French.

Featuring:
Andayoma
Sharon Frese
Caitanya Tan
Sabrina Zuber

Playwright: Marc Goldberg
Stage direction: Samzy Jo
Music direction: Dr Robert Casteels
Ensemble: Viviane Salin and Balraj Gopal

Tickets available at Peatix

Local Composers' Showcase - 'a Feast of Melodious Songs' - 22 April 2017

Here is a concert of Chinese vocal works numerous local composers, featuring numerous singing talents based on our shores. More information via the banner below:

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Interviews with cast of W!ld Rice's 'La Cage aux Folles' - 19 April to 13 May 2017

We visited Victoria Theatre today to chat with two actors in the cast of W!ld Rice's La Cage aux Folles! One could not ask for better company than with Mae Elliessa and Sean Ghazi, who shared with us their passion for musical theatre, who they play in the production and what we audiences can look forward to. Check out our interview videos below!

Video can also be seen on http://hawkliuh.wixsite.com/singing/copy-of-interviews-2017

See also: our exclusive interview with La Cage director Glenn Goei:
http://the-mad-scene.blogspot.sg/2017/03/glenn-goei-interview-for-wild-rices-la.html


W!ld Rice's La Cage aux Folles runs from 19 April to 13 May. Check out the Events Page for tickets!

Yannis Xylas Piano Masterclass - 21 and 22 April 2017

Greek-American pianist Yannis Xylas will be giving masterclasses at Madison Academy of Music on 21 and 22 April. Now's your chance to have your skills honed by an expert in the field! (Hear Yannis play via YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQpsX4XxEQ4)

Apart from being a master of the classical piano repertoire, he is also a specialist in Greek classical music. He will be giving a talk at Madison Academy on 21 April, Friday at 7pm.

Please call 6836 1088 or email masterclass@madisonacademy.com.sg to reserve a slot. It will be an enriching experience!

New Performance Videos by Steven Ang

Here are two new performance videos by baritone Steven Ang (me!), performing Stars from Les Miserables and and Let it Go from Frozen. Check them out below. Hope you'll like them!