RIP La Stupenda

Wow its the end of an era. Dame Joan Sutherland was born in 1926 and went on to wow the world with her stupendous voice. As a tribute from The Mad Scene, let's go back to where it all began: a recording from THAT debut run of Lucia di Lammermoor at Covent Garden in 1959:

For something a little off the beaten track, I recommend opera critic Sonny Lim's 2007 feature about Dame Joan, as published on his blog Opera Recordings.

News source: Sydney Morning Herald via Parterre Box.

Choral Concert this Sunday - Manila, ManiLAH!

PsalmiDeo, a choral group made up of largely Filipino expats, will be staging Manila, ManiLAH! Now we know that our Filipino friends have wonderful voices - our SLO productions would only have 5 choir members left if not for their participation - so this is a great opportunity to see them take centrestage (quite a few SLO choir members belong to this group as well). Here is a brief but impressive list of what PsalmiDeo has achieved since coming together in 2003:

• October 2010 - SCO Ensemble Series 2010 at the Singapore Conference Hall's Concourse;
• August 2010 – Singapore Heritage Fest 2010, Suntec City Atrium;
• June 2010 – Philippine Independence day celebrations at the Philippine Embassy, Singapore;
• June 2010 - Collaboration with Rose Borromeo Spanish Dance Company, Dance Circle Studios and SaltShaker Productions, “Noche de Estrellas” Spanish fiesta at Villa Frangipani, Gilman Village;
• November 2009 and January 2010 – participation in the events to commemorate 40 years of Philippine-Singapore diplomatic relations (November 2009 – Asian Civilizations Museum; January 2010 – Singapore Arts Museum);
• December 2008 and 2009 - performance with Ms. Babes Conde at the Esplanade Open Amphitheatre during the “Celebrate December” activities;
• June 2007 - Philippine Art Trek (part of a series of Philippine Independence day celebrations), at the ARtrium of the Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts (MICA);
• June 2006 - Philippine Independence day celebrations at the Kallang Theater
• December 2005 - the group’s first concert at the Singapore Arts House;
• March 2005 - Guest appearance at “Babes & Friends” with Ms. Conde at the Esplanade Concert Hall;
• October 2004 – represented the Philippines at the United Nations General Assembly in 2004 (at request of the Philippine Embassy);
• July 2003 - represented the Philippines at the ASEAN@Play sports event (at the request of the Philippine Embassy)

The Mad Scene speaks to conductor Kiko Dimalanta about the show:

Opera Siam (formerly Bangkok Opera) Rebrands, Launches World Opera Week

The company formerly known as Bangkok Opera will now be known as Opera Siam. In conjunction with this new image is the launch of World Opera Week, a series of productions from 16 to 22 December including a visit from Opera Vista Houston, who will be presenting Somtow's opera The Silent Prince. The local company will also present a new production of Carmen by Darren Royston, starring Grace Echauri and Nancy Yuen. So if you really CAN'T WAIT to catch La Yuen's Micaela, here's where you can get more information.

Here is Grace Echauri singing a duet from José Pablo Moncayo's opera La Mulata de Cordoba with Rollando Villazon:

Pink Beats Interviews

Pink Beats takes place this coming Thursday, 7 October 2010. Three different concerts bringing together artistes from over the world and featuring numerous genres, all coming together to raise money and awareness for breast cancer (read more about the concert here). The Mad Scene is pleased to introduce two featured artistes:

Gabrielle Maes

Originally from Canada, Gabrielle Maes is a charismatic and multi-talented performer who's training and career has brought her to England, Jerusalem, Malaysia and Singapore in addition to her native Canada. Currently teaching musical theatre at LASELLE SIA, she will be featured in the cabaret section of the evening. You can find out more about Gabrielle and hear her sing on her website http://gabriellemaes.blogspot.com.

The Mad Scene: Hi Gabrielle, thank you for doing this interview with The Mad Scene. Firstly, tell us what is your experience in classical vocal music, and how did you end up here in Singapore?

Gabrielle: I studied early music in Canada. I have a graduate degree in it. I ended up in Singapore because my husband took a job here, and we were looking for interesting places to live. Singapore definitely lives up to the standard of interesting! Also, so I could work doing what I do best. Singing of course!

The Mad Scene: What pieces would you be performing for us that evening?

Gabrielle: Actually, I will be singing in the cabaret part of this show. There are three sections, so the audience has the pleasure of moving around each station and being entertained by a bunch of great musicians who do everything from jazz to grand opera.

The Mad Scene: Describe your voices for those of us who have not heard you.

Gabrielle: I have many voices…hehehe..I am pretty versatile. You have to be in order to survive the entertainment business, or at least make a living doing so. I have done everything from opera to musical theatre, from comedy to very serious stuff. I am a mezzo, but will sing whatever I enjoy!

The Mad Scene: This event is a fundraiser for breast cancer. Please tell us what breast cancer and early prevention means to you as a woman and singer.

Gabrielle: Its ironic that I am singing this show. My sister who I love with all my heart has breast cancer now, and is struggling through all the standard procedures. She has just undergone a mastectomy. She basically raised me when my mother died of ovarian cancer when I was eight. Breast cancer runs in my family, so I am fastidious about checking myself regularly. Also, most breast cancer is not genetic, so it is very important to bring breast cancer awareness to women. Come to think of it, I am due for a check now!

The Mad Scene: Who are your favourite singers, classical or otherwise? And why?

Gabrielle: I love Victoria de los Angeles for her natural warm sound, and her genuine musicality. Nina Simone for her great musical intelligence, and Patti Lupone for her powerful voice and theatrical presence. Those are three women off the top of my head. The list goes on and on and on..


The Mad Scene: Lastly, tell us why should we all come attend Pink Beats on 7 Oct 2010?

Gabrielle: Because the show will be fantastic!! You will have some of the best women in Singapore strutting their stuff. Sexy cancan dancers , a bit of comedy, dramatic opera arias for the more sophisticated, cabaret for the marginal folk…Its going to be a blast, and you can contribute to a very important cause! Keeping man’s best friend healthy!!

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Soprano Satsuki Nagatome started classical singing since she was 7, with the famous NHK orchestra's children's choir no less. Now settled in Singapore for work, Satsuki glad to take part in this series of performances in order to raise awareness for this disease that is very close to her heart.

The Mad Scene: Hi Satsuki! Thank you for doing this interview with The Mad Scene. Firstly, tell us what is your experience in classical vocal music, and how you ended up here in Singapore?

Satsuki: I started classical vocal training as a member of NHK Tokyo Broadcasting Children's Chorus at the age of 7, for 13 years. I had a chance to work in Singapore one day, so I came here. I’ve always been attracted to Singapore. While I was working here, I joined TPCC in 2000 and the SLO choir in 2001. I started classical vocal training as a soloist from 2002 under Mr Lim Shieh Yih, and now I’m studying as an opera singer under Ms Khor Ai Ming.

The Mad Scene: What pieces would you be performing for us that evening?

Satsuki: I will be singing the Flower Duet from Lakme by Delibes together with Ms Khor Ai Ming.
As a solo number, I will be singing Song to the Moon from Rusalka by A.Dvorak.

The Mad Scene: Describe your voices for those of us who have not heard you.

Satsuki: I thing my voice is brighter than the operatic voice we often hear, maybe because of my background in children’s songs and musicals rather than classical songs. I believe you can recognize my voice after hearing it for just one time (I hope tonight??).

The Mad Scene: This event is a fundraiser for breast cancer. Please tell us what breast cancer and early prevention means to you as a woman and singer.

Satsuki: I have a few friends who have breast cancer. It’s a serious and familiar problem for all women, not just a few. And for a singer, having good health is the most important thing. So I believe early prevention can help us a lot.

The Mad Scene: Who are your favourite singers, classical or otherwise? And why?

Satsuki: Actually I have many favorites, but if I need to choose only one, it would be Renee Fleming. I really love her performance when she sang Song to the Moon, and this is one of the reasons why I’ve decided to sing this number in the concert.

The Mad Scene: As our e-zine is called The Mad Scene, please tell us what is your favourite mad scene, and why?

Satsuki: I’m not sure what my favourite mad scene is, but I love The Mad Scene because I can find lots of information about local musicians like us!!

The Mad Scene: Lastly, tell us why should we all come attend Pink Beats on 7 Oct 2010?

Satsuki: You can enjoy performances by a cast of 13 artists from 8 nationalities, and all women! Opera, classical, jazz, blues, pop, and cabaret all in one night!! It’s a rare chance!! You must come to watch us!!

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Hear that fellas? Once again, Pink Beats is on this coming Thursday, 7 October. Ticketing information available on the Events Page.

Endlessly...

Well its the end of another long, tiring day. Now that the 2nd school year is in full swing, its been a non-stop whirl of work and practice since coming back on 1 September.

Now that I've been here for a year and starting another, the original sense of adventure and new beginnings are gone, replaced by an almost panicky desire to make the most of my time here.  Its of course my own choice to pursue music as a second career, so now I have to bear the consequences and make the best of it. Thing is, without the foundation that my classmates have, the cracks are really starting to show especially now that schoolwork is getting more demanding: sight-singing, harmony, piano playing, choir practice... trying not only to pass but to do well in these classes is akin to not just learning to run before learning to walk, but learning to sprint! All this only means endless hours in the practice studio, sometimes up to10 hours on a weekend or public holiday.

Strangely though not so much of it is spent on the the minutiae of vocal technique, as this is at least an area that I have some experience with, and the pressure to achieve competence in a short amount of time is not so strong. So to improve on this aspect, I've decided to plan a recital in November, which then means even more  work to be done, artistic and logistically speaking.

But while I believe that I've done my best in the past year, I'm determined to outdo myself this year. Yet practising this year somehow took on a whole new meaning, now that the novelty of this new life as a music student is gone and a bit of monotony is setting in. So discipline is another habit that needs working on. Yet somehow, all this work, in addition to being a means to achieve an end of competence and abilities for a career, has took on a meditative quality that seems to become a need to my mental well-being. Away from home, from friends, family and all entertainments, distractions and societal pressures, it seems that my life as I knew it till now has been suspended for the time being, while this morphing of sorts is taking place.

So yeah that's all I have to rant tonight. Going to get a good rest and get back to work tomorrow!

Alexandrina Pendatchanska's Amina

Reknown spitfire Alexandrina Pendatchanska takes a prozac and sings the optimistic final scene from La Sonnambula:

Darrell Ang - Classical Idol

So like its the start of the new school year which means a new batch of fresh meat men and women are settling down on campus. My new schoomate Chen-Chen, upon learning that there's a Singaporean among us, wasted no time to gush about what a wonderful summer he has had learning in the TSO (Taipei Symphony) Youth Orchestra Camp under the guidance of Darrell Ang. This is apparently Darrell's second time conducting the camp and has seemed to have won over many students; he will be returning soon for a few orchestra concerts and our besotted fanboy here has already secured tickets with his orchestra mates to see his new idol in action. Looks like Darrell has achieved what Stephanie Sun and JJ Lin has done in their respective fields, becoming the classical version of a Taiwanese teen idol!