The Mad Scene turns 15 today! So happy to be part of Singapore's burgeoning artistic community. What started out as an outlet for three opera fanatics to discuss our favourite recordings soon became one of Singapore's most read independent e-zines, which then became a production company and record label. Thank you for sticking it through with us and showing us your continued support.
Coming up next is one of our biggest productions to date - our very own take on Handel's classic opera Giulio Cesare in Egitto, or Julius Caesar in Egypt for our English speakers. It has truly been a big project to undertake, and we are so grateful to have assembled such a wonderful team onstage and off to give you the most complete musical and theatrical experience. I hope that you will join myself, Steven Ang, Tatiana Konovalova, Ashley Chua, Hawk Liu, Chieko Trevatt, Hugo Van Bever and Francesca Lee on 9 and 10 September at Goodman Arts Centre.
As a special thank you for your support, please use promo code 'Julius' for a special 10% discount, with further discounts available for senior citizens, NSFs, students and children. Check out our exciting promos below, and see you at the theatre on 9 and 10 September!
Tickets for Julius Caesar in Egypt are available at SISTIC. Find a special promo code for discounts at the end of the article! (Julius Caesar in Egypt [G] (sistic.com.sg)
FRANCIS WONG
Hong Konger baritone Francis Wong is always a pleasure to perform with - He is always a warm and friendly presence with a lovely lyric baritone voice and dramatic instincts to match. Having performed in numerous roles on stages around the world, we were fortunate enough to have him in our concerts A Musical Sanctuary (2019) and Cycles (2023).
Franics is very excited to be making a role debut with us in Julius Caesar in Egypt, coming soon on 9 and 10 September. Here we have a quick chat to get to know him better.
What I like about my role (musically and dramatically)?
This is one of the only true villains of this Opera. I have never played this type of roles before, so I really welcome the challenge. I am also a lover of baroque music so being able to perform Handel's work is a dream come true for me.
What is your horoscope star sign, and what does it say about you?
I am a Gemini. They say it's very witty and full of energy and ideas, they aren't wrong!
Tell us something that we would not otherwise know about you?
Prior to becoming an opera singer, I studied to become a professional interpreter, and worked as one briefly.
What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
Everyone knows I love traveling passionately. In my free time, I love to learn how to cook different exotic dishes. For relaxation, I play the harp.
Lastly, tell us why we should watch Julius Caesar in Egypt on 9 and 10 September?
It's a rare opportunity for Singapore audiences to get to enjoy the essence of this wonderful opera in a shorter form, with dialogues in English and arias in Italian (but with English subtitles). I have also been helping with the wardrobes for everyone, so be pleasantly surprised! This "small" production packs a big punch! See u all there.
STEVEN ANG
Getting to present Handel's epic opera Julius Caesar in Egypt has always been a dream of mine, so it is extra heartening that I am able to gather such an amazing team to help me deliver my vision of this opera to a Singaporean audience.
This isn't, however, my first voyage to Egypt in the world of operatic stages, as I have played the Pharoah in the Singapore Lyric Opera's production of Aida. I look forward to visiting this beautiful ancient world again, this time as one of the most well-known people of this era of all time.
What I like about my role (musically
and dramatically)?
The fact that this character is a
real-life person who's entire adult life has been one adventure to
another, even at the time of death, and is such a legend that every
generation has it's own tribute to him. I love that the story is
based on real-life events even though some dramatic liberties were
taken for dramatic exposition.
I have always been a geek for
historical works, which is a big reason why I'm an opera singer and
classical musician. Besides works of master composers like Handel and
Verdi, I have also dipped my toes in performing the works of
Shakespeare. The timelessness of pieces is what attracts me the most
and I'm thrilled at the opportunity to put my own stamp on them at
this point in time.
What is your horoscope star sign,
and what does it say about you?
My horoscope is Pisces, the water sign. ILike my star sign I am known for being easygoing while being on the intoverted side at the same time.
In addition, I love being in water, so regular trips to the neighbourhood swimming
pool or water parks like Sentosa Adventure Cove and Wild Wild Wet is
how I destress after a long week.
Tell us something that we
would not otherwise know about you?
I have been growing as an Italia-phile
since Covid. My experience with Italian prior to lockdown has mostly
been song lyrics, but since then I have developed a love for learning to speak the language, as well as understanding the various
regional and popular cultures better, outside of opera and classical
vocal music. Drag Race Italia, the Italian spin-off of RuPaul's Drag
Race, is awesome!
What do you like to do when you’re not at
work?
People say that when you make your passion your work,
you won't work another day in your life. But the opposite is also
true, in that if you make your hobby your job, you won't have hobbies
anymore! Haha....
So after a long day of teaching and
rehearsal, what I really like to do is simply to lie down on my
queen-sized bed and watch an endless stream of YouTube videos!
Otherwise, I love to just hang out with
my partner, have dinner with friends and support them when they
perform. Life in Singapore is so fast-paced that it's hard to
maintain friendships, so it's important to put in the time when I
can.
Lastly, tell us why we should watch
Julius Caesar in Egypt on 9 and 10 September?
We have asembled a great international
cast and crew this time. Everything that you loved about our first
production of Macbeth last year will be dialed up many times more, including
more elaborate costumes, performers, lighting and so on. English
subtitles will also be provided.
The music that Handel composed
encapsulates every range of expression, both in human emotions and
musicality. This is a sweeping musical epic with political intrigue
and romance coupled moments of comedy. You would not want to miss it!
Full cast trailers
Tickets for Julius Caesar in Egypt (9 and 10 September) are now on sale at SISTIC. Use the promo code 'Julius' for 10% off. Discounts are also available for NSFs, senior citizens and students!
We sit down for a couple of quick chats with pianist Francesca Lee and mezzo-soprano Chieko Trevatt, to discuss their participation in The Mad Scene's production of Julius Caesar in Egypt on 9 and 10 September 2023. English subtititles will be provided. Read on for an exclusive promo code!
More than a decade on the professional stage, Francesca enjoys immersing herself in vocal repertoires and loves working with soloists and choirs alike, having performed at major art venues in Singapore, Hong Kong and Germany. Never restricting herself to any particular musical genre, she has been involved in various Singapore Lyric Opera productions as well as in jazz and musical gigs such as for the annual "L'apéritif à la française" (2012) and "Pink Beats", a charity concert for the Breast Cancer Foundation in Singapore.
Francesca has played for numerous projects by The Mad Scene, including Macbeth in April last year and Cycles in July this year. Here we have a quick chat to get to know her better.
What I like about my role?
I play the role of the one-person
orchestra and provide musical accompaniment for our cast from the
ivories.
I love taking on the challenge of
having to mimic the sound of a baroque orchestra on a modern-day
piano in order to not only transport our cast and audience to a Roman
tale in Egypt, but also to bring to life the musical style and
aesthetics of the era the composer Handel lived in.
What is your horoscope star sign, and
what does it say about you?
I am a Scorpio and I wonder if I do
live up to our notorious reputation! (laughs)
Tell us something that we would not
otherwise know about you?
I have a huge love for cats and
puffins.
What do you like to do when you’re
not at work?
I indulge in my many hobbies, which
include reading fiction and poetry, traveling, watching films, and I
geek out on architecture and Mesopotamian history.
Lastly, tell us why we should watch
Julius Caesar in Egypt on 9 and 10 September?
Caesar and Cleopatra are two
historical figures who made their way into famous literary works and
popular media across the centuries. I first came to know of them
through Shakespeare’s plays rather than the history books!
Come check out Handel’s operatic
take of the story between the Roman general and the young Egyptian
queen!
Chieko Trevatt
Japanese mezzo-soprano Chieko has lived for more than 20 years as a Permanent Resident of
Singapore, where her music journey began 10 years ago. After performing for a few years with the Singapore Lyric Opera adult chorus, she was accepted into the SLO Leow Siak Fah Artists Programme. She has performed the roles of Marcelina, Donna Elvira and Dorabella in their semi-staged opera productions, and has sung in numerous concerts.
We are thrilled to have an artist of Chieko's calibre with us.
What I like about my role?
My role, Cornelia is a widow of a Roman General.
One of the things I love about this role is the beautiful and
poignant music that accompanies it. The music is very calming and
adds a lot to the emotional depth of the character.
What
is your horoscope star sign, and what does it say about you?
My
star sign is Leo. Leo loves to be on stage. However, I see quite a
bit of Cancer in myself as my birthday is nearly in between Cancer
and Leo.
Tell us something that we would not otherwise know
about you?
I listened to Hard Rock music when I was a teenager.
What do you like to do when you’re not at work?
I love
green and I use lots of green plants for Japanese flower-arrangement,
Sogetsu Ikebana.
Lastly, tell us why we should watch Julius
Caesar in Egypt on 9 and 10 September?
The story of Giulio Cesare is
incredibly dramatic and our performance is full of energy. You won't
want to miss it.
Full cast trailers
Tickets for Julius Caesar in Egypt (9 and 10 September) are now on sale at SISTIC. Use the promo code 'Julius' for 10% off. Discounts are also available for NSFs, senior citizens and students!
Super proud to announce The Mad Scene's upcoming production of Handel's Julius Caesar in Egypt, featuring an international All-Star cast, including Steven Ang (Singapore), Tatiana Konovalova (Russia), Francis Wong (Hong Kong), Chieko Trevatt (Japan/UK), Ashley Chua (Singapore) and Hugo Van Bever (Belgium). Directed by Hawk Liu with musical accompaniment by Francesca Lee. Get your tickets at SISTIC via the link below!
We at The Mad Scene are proud to present two exciting concerts with a diverse group of young and experienced talents. Both concerts are at Goodman Arts Centre, 7.30pm. We hope you will check them out.
Click to enlarge
29 June 2023 (Thursday, Hari Raya Haji) - A Musical Buffet
A musical variety show featuring students and friends of Steven Ang. Click on the link below for the line-up of performers and programme!
Next up, an evening of Song Cycles and Operatic Set Pieces, featuring soloists from Singapore, Hong Kong and Russia. The stars of the evening are Steven Ang, Francis Wong, Lowell Tan, Tatiana Konovalova and Fion Toh, accompanied by Francesca Lee. Check out the link below for full programme which includes arias by the Queen of the Night!
