Vocal Recital: It's Raining Baritones!!! - 25 March 2018 (Sun)

What can be better than a a rainy season of men? How about a rainy season of baritones!?! On 25 March, your very own Steven Ang, along with fellow baritones Kan Chuan, Alvin Koh and Xiao Chunyuan, will present a mixed programme of music made specially for the uniqueness of the baritone voice. Check out Peatix for more information and tickets!

itsrainingbaritones.peatix.com

Adult Musical Theatre Workshops by Sing'Theatre

Sing'Theatre is offering two unique musical theatre workshops for working adults who want to explore their artistic side. Whether you are a hobbyist, budding or working professional looking to refine your abilities, these workshops promise to help you bring your abilities to the next level. In addition, students will get to perform in a theatrical showcase too! Check out these links below for more information:

Showstoppers Musical Theatre Ensemble (auditions required):
https://singtheatre.com/product/the-showstoppers-2018

The Ultimate Musical Theatre Masterclass:
https://singtheatre.com/product/ultimate-musical-theatre-masterclass

Interview - Broadway star Stephanie Reese - 13 and 14 Dec 2017

Hawk Liu has a dialogue with Broadway/West End star Stenphanie Reese ahead of her appearance in Sean Ghazi's upcoming concert on 13 and 14 December 2017. Find out how a college job led her into a full time career on the Great White Way!

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The Mad Scene: Hi, Stephanie, welcome to Singapore! We can't wait to hear your lovely voice in the intimate Esplanade Recital Studio! I read in your bio that you performed in a solo concert in Carnegie Hall. How did you come about the opportunity?

Stephanie Reese: Yes it was amazing! I was asked by a producer if I would be interested in doing a concert there and of course I said yes! From there she worked with the Hall to produce it and it was a dream come true.

The Mad Scene: We would like to know about your early training in singing and performance. Do tell us your journey.

Stephanie Reese: I started off studying classical music even though I had a deep love for musical theater and pop music. My voice always had a classical tone to it but through training I was able to cross over into other genres too.

I studied privately (voice) and then I went to Indiana University for opera performance and realized fairly soon that I missed acting and I missed musical theater and transferred into Cincinnati Conservatory for musical theater. It was an exclusive and extremely competitive programme and I really thrived once I was there, so much so that I ended up landing a job in Miss Saigon where I got to play Kim while I was still in school. I left school early thinking I would come back to do the show but that job led to another and another and so I still haven't finished my formal education. But to me, the best education has been working in the field and learning from the mentors in the business I have met along the way. I still take classes though. I think it's important to always grow and learn and challenge yourself. It makes me a better teacher too, which I like to do for private coachings when I go to different cities.

The Mad Scene: You had a one-woman show, The Journey. Tell us about that journey too...and maybe where we can catch sneak clips of it anywhere?
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Stephanie Reese: The journey was an amazing experience and project to create. It was the journey of my life and career and the challenges that came with it told through two characters - me and my voice. Sounds strange but the character of the voice was something I spoke to throughout the show signified by a single spot light on the stage that I would speak to throughout. It's a story of friendship and love between these two characters and the relationship between the singer and her voice. A metaphor for how our art or our talent is something that we have a relationship with outside ourselves that needs to be nurtured and loved and respected but ultimately (and the realization that happens in my show) is that the journey is the relationship you have with your own self to find self love and acceptance. 

There are no clips posted but I hope to soon!

The Mad Scene: Thank you for your time, Stephanie, and I hope to meet you in person at the concert soon!

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Excited to see Stephanie live in Singapore? Check out the Events Page for tickets!

Read our writeup of An Evening with Sean Ghazi here:
http://the-mad-scene.blogspot.com/2017/12/an-evening-with-sean-ghazi-13-and-14.html

'An Evening with Sean Ghazi' - 13 and 14 Dec 2017

Sean Ghazi, last seen in Singapore as George in Wild Rice's La Cage aux Folle opposite Ivan Heng's Albin, returns to Singapore in an evening of Broadway musical and movie theme songs.

Joining him is Stephanie Reese, a West End actress who became good friends with Sean when they performed in The King and I at the London Palladium. Concert is 13 and 14 December at the Esplanade Recital Studio. Check out the Events Page for tickets!

SLO's 'Aida' Roadshow at Raffles City - 8-10, 29 and 30 Dec 2017

Find out more about the Singapore Lyric Opera's production of Aida in June 2018 at their Raffles City roadshow this and next weekend! You will get to buy tickets at early-bird discounted prices, take pictures from their photo-wall, win limited edition tote bags and event tickets! Plus you wil lget to find out more about the coming Aida production: its history and what we can expect to see. Go check it out and get your tickets at SISTIC!

Singapore Lyric Opera on the GO!

Raffles City Shopping Centre

8 to 10 Dec (Fri to Sun); 10am to 10pm

29 and 30 Dec (Fri and Sat); 10 am to 10pm

Interview: Teng Xiang-Ting and Leslie Tay - 16 Dec 2017

If you are in the mood for festive music, vocal recital Sure on this Shining Night is surely your cup of tea. Singaporean opera stars Teng Xiang-Ting, Alvin Tan and Leslie Tay join pianist Pauline Lee to present a Christmas-themed concert, with a programme consisting of spirituals, sacred classics and a hilarious newly composed piece by local composer Lee Jin-Jun and writer Aaron Lee.

We had a chat with Teng Xiang-Ting and Leslie Tay to discuss what we can look forward to, as well as their respective musical journeys. Read on to find out what we discussed!

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'That's Me' Vocal Recital by Martin Ng and Michelle Chow - 17 Dec 2017

After chalking up more operatic successes locally and abroad, Martin Ng returns to the recital stage in a collaboration with soprano Michelle Chow entitled That's Me. This being his 4th recital in Singapore, we ask him what is different this time and what highlights can we come to expect. Check out our chat below!

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The Mad Scene: How’s concert preparations coming along?

Martin Ng: Quite ok, thank you! We’re busy rehearsing every Sundays.

The Mad Scene: What are you singing for us for this concert?

Martin Ng: Its quite an exciting programme that I am presenting: I will be singing the Aida/Amonasro duet from Aida and the Santuzza/Alfio duet from Cavalleria Rusticana among them.

The Mad Scene: Ooh! Ambitious stuff!

Martin Ng: Plus you will get to hear me sing a number of Chinese songs as well: 教我如何不想她 (How Can I Not Think About Her?), 多情的土地 (Oh How I Love this Land), 黃河頌 (Ode to the Yellow River) and 那就是我 (That is Me) in a duet arrangement. Lastly, I will also be revisiting Dulcamara’s entrance aria and presenting two art songs by Tosti.