Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto Extravaganza Stephen Hough: “No. 2”
Fri, 3 Jul 09
6.30pm – 7.00pm
library@esplanade

Postcards from Spain
Fri, 31 Jul 09
6.30pm – 7.00pm
library@esplanade

Speaker: Mona Lim, music consultant, educator and composer

This July, embark on an exhilarating journey with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s Pre-Concert Talks as we bring you two exciting Fridays of musical discoveries. Join Ms Mona Lim as she brings music to life with captivating tales of distinguished composers and their selected works.

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SSO Pre-Concert Talks

Want to know interesting facts about the music and composers to be performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra?

Join our speakers one hour prior to selected concerts as they pour their passion and energy into bringing music alive for the novice and the experienced music lover alike.

Our talks are informal, informative and interactive. Get the most out of your concert-going experience by attending the concert after each pre-concert talk!

Admission to all Pre-Concert Talks is free.

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For ticketing and other information, please visit the SSO website.

Fri, 24 Apr 09
6.30pm – 7.00pm
King and Emperor
Dr Rebecca Kan, Senior Lecturer (Music), Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
library@esplanade

Thanks to its bold melodies and heroic spirit, Beethoven’s fifth and last piano concerto “Emperor” remains one of his most popular compositions. What is it about this work that makes it legendary? Join Dr Rebecca Kan as she brings new insights into one of the great concertos in the repertory.

Thurs, 22 Jan 09
6.30pm – 7.00pm
Beethoven Festival: Eroica
Open Stage, library@esplanade

Guest Speaker: Leng Sher Lyn, Music Educator

Written out of admiration for Napoleon, Beethoven’s heroic symphony, Eroica, marks the beginning of his career’s second phase – a phase in which his music was greatly influenced by his deafness.

Find out more from Leng Sher Lyn as she brings you on a discovery journey of the composer and his masterpiece.

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SSO Pre-Concert Talks

Want to know interesting facts about the music and composers to be performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra?

Join our speakers one hour prior to selected concerts as they pour their passion and energy into bringing music alive for the novice and the experienced music lover alike.

Our talks are informal, informative and interactive. Get the most out of your concert-going experience by attending the concert after each pre-concert talk!

Admission to all Pre-Concert Talks is free.

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For ticketing and other information on SSO’s performance of Beethoven Festival: Eroica, please visit the SSO website.

Sunday, 4 Jan 2009
4.00 - 5.00pm
DA CAPO by NUSPE
Open Stage, library@esplanade

The NUS Piano Ensemble is one of the leading classical piano interest groups in Singapore, dedicated to nurturing young pianists into performers.

Over its history of nearly two decades, it has developed a reputation for putting up shows of consistently high standards, and featuring unique repertoire.

For DA CAPO 2009, NUSPE has chosen to highlight three composers of different nationalities, each possessing very different styles: Edward Grieg, the Norwegian composer, writes with a distinctively ethnic flavor; the German composer Johannes Brahms is known for his boldness in harmonies and expression; Philip Lane, of English descent, produces music which is light-hearted and relaxing.

Both solo and duet playing will be featured – a testimony to the talents of individual performers, as well as the groups’ special interest in ensemble playing.

Repertoire:

• Grieg: Sonata in E Minor, Op. 7

• Grieg: Norwegian Dance No. 1

• Grieg: Norwegian Dance No. 2

• Brahms: Intermezzo in A

• Lane: Bandinages, II

• Lane: Bandinages, III & IV

Friday, 12 Dec 2008
7.00 - 7.30pm
Jason Carter & His Harp Guitar
Open Stage, library@esplanade

Come listen to Jason Carter as he makes music with his unique instrument: the Harp Guitar.

Jason Carter has toured in more than 70 countries and recorded 14 CDs. He has received Music Awards from the Crown Prince of Bahrain and the Government of North Korea for ‘Building Bridges Through Music’. Jason tours mostly as a solo guitarist but also collaborates with musicians from Asia and the Middle East on a regular basis.

He has played with people such as Michael Manring, Phil Keaggy, Nigel Kennedy, Clannad, and has been featured on compilation albums with Barbara Streisand, Art Garfunkel, Anoushka Shankar, Diana Krall, Zakir Hussain, Sheila Chandra, The Bill Evans Trio, John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Joe Satriani, Steve Morse, Allan Holdsworth, John Scofield, Jeff Beck, Larry Coryell, Hariprasad Chaurasia and Trilok Gurtu.

Jason is also working on TV music for the Discovery Channel, the SciFi Channel, a UN Documentary and a feature film in New Zealand.

You can find out more about Jason and watch videos of his performances at http://www.jasoncarter.net/

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On 10 November 2008, British guitarist Jason Carter was appointed a Peace Ambassador of Café Diplo, a humanitarian organisation dedicated to spreading the message of peace through the arts. Jason will work closely with Café Diplo in planning peace tours around the world.

For more info on Café Diplo, visit www.cafediplo.org or write to Jonathan at jon@cafediplo.org

Sat, 29 Nov 2008
6.30pm - 7.00pm
Ode to Leningrad
Open Stage, library@esplanade

Speaker: Natalia Kumkova, Soprano

Russian soprano Natalia Kumkova tells the story of the 900-day Siege of Leningrad during World War Two, and how it became the inspiration for one of Shostakovich’s most memorable masterworks.

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SSO Pre-Concert Talks

Want to know interesting facts about the music and composers to be performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra? Join our speakers one hour prior to selected concerts as they pour their passion and energy into bringing music alive for the novice and the experienced music lover alike.

Our talks are informal, informative and interactive. Get the most out of your concert-going experience by attending the concert after each pre-concert talk!

Admission to all Pre-Concert Talks is free.

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Ode to Leningrad

Sponsored by Conrad Centennial Singapore

Sat, 29 Nov 08
7:30pm, Esplanade Concert Hall

Featuring:

Gunther Herbig conductor
Marc-André Hamelin piano

Repertoire/ Programme:
MENDELSSOHN - Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25
SHOSTAKOVICH - Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 60 ‘Leningrad’

Concert Duration (inclusive of 20 min intermission): Approx. 2 hrs 10 min

Synopsis:
The brilliance, energy, and warmth of Mendelssohn’s First Piano Concerto reveal the extraordinary gifts of a composer in the fine flush of maturity – at the age of only twenty-two. One of his most massive creations, Shostakovich’s Seventh Symphony was dedicated to the city of Leningrad and was, in its time, a musical symbol of resistance to and condemnation of the Nazi regime.

This concert is not available for birthday voucher redemption.

For ticketing and other information, please visit the SSO website, here.

Saturday, 29 Nov 2008
3.00 - 4.00pm
Ruan ( 阮 ) Performance by Nicolai Seetoh
Open stage, library@esplanade

《和令狐仆射小饮听阮咸》

掩抑复凄清，非琴不是筝。
还弹乐府曲，别占阮家名。
古调何人识 ? 初闻满座惊，
落盘珠沥沥，摇佩玉琤琤，
似劝杯中物，如含竹林情。
时移音律改，岂是昔日声。

                               — 白居易

Nic is a professional liuqin performer with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra. Join him in this special performance at library@esplanade, where he plays the ancient Chinese instrument, Ruan ( 阮 ). He will perform some traditional ruan works comprising of solos and duets. Don’t miss this chance to catch an ancient art brought to life again!

You can find out more about the instrument over here.

Repertoire (in Mandarin)

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Sat, 22 Nov 2008
4.00 - 5.00pm
Music Bites with NJC’s Piano Ensemble
Open Stage, library@esplanade

Showcase Repertoire

• Rachmaninoff’s Slava

• Bach’s Toccata in F major, from his Organ Works

• Debussy’s Petite Suite Movements 3 and 4

• 2 Slavonic Dances by Dvorak

• A Fugue by Schubert

• The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba

• William Tell

NJC Piano Ensemble

The National Junior College Piano Ensemble was formed in the year 2006. Two years after its birth, the ensemble has grown and progressed methodically under the patient guidance, unconditional sacrifice and capable leadership of their much beloved coach, Mr Seow Aik Keong.

The ensemble has been actively performing for concerts both intra-school and inter-school. Since its debut in 2007, our members have never failed to bring surprises to the audience during our annual concert Pianoworks.

We have also clinched the 2nd place in Vivace’06, 3rd place in Vivace’07 and the Bronze prize at Vivace’08, an annual inter-JC piano competition.

Some of our members also participated in the Singapore Music Teachers’ Association Festival and clinched the Platinum and Silver awards.

One of the inter-school concerts which took place in 2007 is the NeVeR concert. It is a major collaborative effort put together by NJC, VJC and RJC piano ensemble.

2008年11月9日，星期日
下午3时至5时
闽南特色戏曲高甲戏
滨海湾艺术中心表演艺术图书馆

高甲戏是福建著名地方戏曲剧种之一，流行于福建南部、台湾及东南亚闽籍华人旅居地，历史悠久。

该剧种以“丑、旦”表演特长；丑角模仿木偶戏或舞狮的动作特征，非常生动风趣。唱腔或粗犷刚健、或细腻委婉、或轻快活泼，风格各异。配合琵琶、大鼓和其他传统乐器，以闽语泉腔演唱，能适合各种角色。

有兴趣欲多了解有关高甲戏的历史来源、行当、表演特色和精彩的剧目，欢迎您在11月9日星期日下午3时，前来滨海艺术中心图书馆，聆听来自厦门市金莲升高甲剧团的副团长陈炳聪先生和副团长、中国一级演员吴晶晶小姐的现身说法。

Read the rest of this entry »

Theatre Forum Discussion:
A potential 3-million consumer base attracting only an audience of 3,000.

What has happened to the Mandarin Theatre scene in Singapore?

Date: 8 November 2008 (Saturday)
Time: 5.00pm to 6.30pm
Venue: library@esplanade
In Mandarin

Brief Introduction

Singapore has a total population size of 4.58 million, with the Chinese having a 78% majority at 3.57million. However, the predicament facing the present Mandarin Theatre scene in Singapore is that audience numbers are small, generally attracting only 3,000 audiences per production.

What are the factors that have contributed to the lack of audience numbers in local Mandarin theatre productions? Is it the education system or language policy? Or is there really no interest and demand for Mandarin plays at all? How can Mandarin theatre groups attract audiences into the theatres and nurture a new generation of theatre-going audience?

Through this forum discussion, veterans of Singapore’s Mandarin theatre scene will discuss the reasons behind the stagnating audience numbers for Mandarin theatre productions. They will also talk about the likely future trends for the local Mandarin theatre scene and how they envision its development.

*Confirmed speakers for the talk include: Kok Heng Leun (郭庆亮)、Quay Sy Ren (柯思仁)、Chew Boon Leong (周文龙)、Han Laoda （韩劳达）

Moderator: Ng How Wee （黄浩威）

For more information on the talk, please call 6342 4272, or email info@mandarin.org.sg

Organised by: Drama Box
Supported by: Promote Mandarin Council; National Library Board

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剧场研讨会:
三百万人口只有三千名观众,
华语剧场发生了什么事?

日期: 11月8日2008年 (星期六)
时间: 5.00pm to 6.30pm
地点: 滨海艺术中心图书馆

简介

新加坡总人口达458万人数，其中78%是华族。拥有357万人的市场，但只有3,000位观众。本地华语剧场发生了什么事？

是教育制度、语言政策的后果？还是新加坡华人真的对华语及中文剧场失去了兴趣？华语剧场要如何吸引及培养新的观众群?

几位本地华语剧场知名的工作者将通过他们的自身经历，和观众一起探讨现今华语剧场的处境. 他们也将讨论未来有可能的发展趋势.

有兴趣参加讲座者，请拨电：6342 4272，或电邮至 info@mandarin.org.sg 查询详情。

由戏剧盒主办.

支持机构: 推广华语理事会; 国家图书馆