SPOT :48, Our Gift to the Life Changers. Teachers. - 23 June 2017

Singapore Pocket Opera Theatre presents a tribute concert to the teachers in our lives. Bring a teacher (of any subject) to the concert and receive a discount for your efforts. SMS space [48 discount] to 98680243 to receive your discount code.

Serenading you for the night are:
Sopranos Charmaine Tan, Evelyn Ang and Felicia Teo
Tenors Jeremy Koh, Alan Lau and Kee Loi-Seng
Baritone Alvin Tan
Pianist Vincent Chen

Here is your chance to be your teacher's favourite pet. Check out the Events Page for details!

MBS's Sister Act - Interviews with Cast and Creative Team - Running till 28 May 2017

Hawk and I (Steven Ang) spent a fun afternoon interviewing the cast and creative team of the sequins and gospel extravaganza that is Sister Act, now running till 28 May.

First up, Sophie Kim from South Korea share with us what the musical theatre scene in South Korea is like, and how she made it from there to the glittery lights of Broadway.

Next, North Carolinian Brandon Godfrey tells us how one gets to become the go-to actor for bad guys. Through lots of weight lifting in the gym!

Associate Director Steven Beckler and Janet Rothermel share with us the excitement of opening their Asian tour here in Singapore, and how one gets to be in a Whoopi Goldberg musical adaptation!

Lastly, musical director Christopher Babbage share with us the intricacies of performing with a disco band and a large cast from around the world.

These interviews and more can also be found on Hawk's website at http://hawkliuh.wixsite.com/singing/interviews-2017.

As usual, we have exclusive production pictures on our Facebook Group.

Sister Act at MBS runs till 28 May 2017. Ticketing information available on the Event Page!

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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