Dick Lee's Beauty World - 13 Nov to 12 Dec 2015

Dick Lee's landmark musical Beauty World returns to the stage from 14 November to 12 December this year. It will star TV actresses Jeanette Aw and Janice Koh in their first ever stage musical. Check out the Events Page to find out more!

Interview: SLO Young Divas Sachika Ito and Marlena Devoe

We have a chat with the two new leading ladies of the Singapore Lyric Opera's upcoming double bill of Pagliacci and Gianni Schicchi. Young, beautiful and talented, Japanese Sachika Ito and New Zealander Marlena Devoe look set to sparkle on the stage of our Esplanade Theatre when the production runs next week (10 to 12 Sep, Thursday to Saturday). Here's their respective introductions, followed by what we talked about:

Sachika Ito
Nedda / Nella (soprano)

Sachika Ito graduated in opera singing and chamber music with a certificate of honour. She won the 3rd prize in the Competition for Young Singers of Foggia and the 2nd prize at the Concorso G.Poggi in Piacenza, the Certaman New Voices Ciudad de Sevilla.

She has performed with soprano Maria Laura Groppi in Conservatiorio Nicolini in Piacenza since 2004. Her notable main roles include Oscar in Un ballo in maschera, Norina in Donizetti's Don Pasquale, Elvira in Rossini’s L'Italiana, Frasquita in Bizet's Carmen, Lauretta in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, Serpina in Paisiello’s La Serva Padrona, Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata, Rosina in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Sofia in Rossini’s Bruschino Signor, Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Musetta in Puccini’s La Boheme, Adina in Donizetti's Elisir d’amore and Countess of Folleville in Rossini’s Il Viaggio a Reims. Sachika has recently started singing modern and contemporary music with various composers.

The Mad Scene: Tell us, in your own words, which character in this doublebill production are you playing, and what does she do in the opera?

Sachika Ito: I’m playing Nedda in Pagliacci and Nella in Gianni Schicchi. Nedda is a traveling actress, wife of Canio (Pagliacci) but is in love with Silvio, a farmer from the village where they will perform at. She decides to leave her husband and her career for a new life with Silvio, but her desire is not realized because Canio discovers their secret.

Nella is the wife of Gherardo, mother of Gherardino. She is concerned about her inheritance from of her recently deceased uncle Buoso Donati, just like all her other relatives. They ask Gianni Schicchi (a trickster) for help in rewritting the will of Buoso.

SLO's Gianni Schicchi and Pagliacci - Preview and Exclusive Interview with Director Tom Hawkes

Our special thanks to the Singapore Lyric Opera for allowing Hawk Liu to film rehearsal footage of their upcoming Gianni Schicchi production (running 10 to 12 September along with I Pagliacci) as well as having a conversation with director Tom Hawkes about what we can expect. Hope you enjoy these videos, and remember to get tickets at the SLO's SISTIC page!

Review: 'Dreams' by Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra

Dreams by Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra
Music Director - Adrian Tan

School of the Arts Concert Hall
23rd August 2015, 5pm
Piazzolla - Four Seasons of Buenos Aires
soloist - Gabriel Ng

Low Shao-Ying and Low Shao-Suan - Dreams (premiere)
Dvorak - Symphony 8

A Review by Hawk Liu

The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires by Piazzolla was a great choice for the concert as it was romantic and very attractive. The main motives from Vivaldi's Winter and Summer were heard in a few places, as well as hints of Piazzolla's own Adios Nonino. Gabriel Ng brought out the romantic elements quite well. There were a number of pitch problems that unfortunately stood out a little more, just because there were so many glissandi to stand next to notes which had to be pitch perfect. Nevertheless, that didn't spoil my enjoyment of the program.

Gabriel Ng tackled the technicalities quite well, especially in the most virtuosic fourth movement. With a little more flair, Piazzolla would be happy too. The orchestral ensemble was beautifully played, blending well and sounding lush, players decked with red flowers in their hair! After four curtains calls, we were treated to a spirited encore of Paganini's caprice no. 19 by the soloist.

Dreams, a 2-movement short programme, was delightful from start to finish, sounding a little John William-ish in the happy parts of the original Jurassic Park. It was a feel-good fix. Dvorak was the piece that would test the orchestra. The piece was played with authority and confidence throughout. Yes there were intonation problems here and there, especially from the trombone section (sorry, folks). That being said, the orchestra has come a bit of a way to being the much tighter orchestra today. Good job, Adrian. I have to add that the woodwinds did not make a false move in the entire symphony!

After, the symphony, we were given a surprise encore with Dvorak's Romance in F minor, played by concertmaster David Loke. He coaxed full perfect tones from every bow and I enjoyed the piece very much. Dvorak's Symphony 9 next round, please??

Chanticleer in Singapore - 4 Oct 2015

Grammy Award-winning American all-male vocal ensemble Chanticleer will stage their full-length concert entitled Over the Moon on 4 October at the Esplanade Concert Hall. Check out their videos below, and find information about their concert here!

'Aftonen' by SYC Ensemble Singers and Conductor Cecilia Rydinger Alin - 5 Sep 2015

The SYC Ensemble Singers present a new concert programme on 5 September 2015 at Victoria Concert Hall, featuring Swedish conductor Cecilia Rydinger Alin. Here's more information about the concert:

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Aftonen – SYC Ensemble Singers with Cecilia Rydinger Alin (Sweden)
VENUE: Victoria Concert Hall
DATE AND TIME OF EVENT: 5 September 2015, 7:30pm

SYNOPSIS:

“Blessed Cecilia, appear in visions
To all musicians, appear and inspire:”
- W.H. Auden, Hymn to St Cecilia

The Patroness of Musicians makes an appearance via her namesake, and startles singers into a sonic journey through hills and meadows, hallowed halls and secret gardens. Evening comes: joy and yearning mingle in equal parts with melancholy and dread.

Join the SYC Ensemble Singers and guest conductor Cecilia Rydinger Alin as we enjoy a Little (mostly Swedish) Night Music from Alfvén to Sandström with a mini-tour of 20th century Europe thrown in.

About Cecilia Rydinger Alin

Conductor, clinician, academic and a leading figure in Swedish musical life, Cecilia Rydinger Alin is best known in choral circles as the artistic director and conductor of Orphei Drängar, an all-male choir established in 1853, which today continues to attract international esteem for its groundbreaking commissions of works for male voice.

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Wanna attend? Find out how to get tickets at the Events Page!

'Ghost the Musical' at MBS - Starting 20 Oct 2015

Ghost - The Musical will play in MBS starting 20 October. Unlike other movie to musical adaptations, this musical is not a jukebox with famous songs only somewhat related to the plot of the story. It features original songs written by Bruce Joel Rubin (lyrics) and original music and lyrics by a team of Grammy Award-winners, including Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard, but also features that hit number by Air Supply. Here's more information including a trailer video:

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The supernatural power of love will take Singapore by storm this year as the Broadway and West End musical Ghost The Musical, adapted from the Academy Award-winning film, opens at the MasterCard Theatres, Marina Bay Sands on 20 October 2015 for a limited season. Tickets are now on sale.