I don’t usually put up reviews so quickly, but with three concerts and one masterclass to attend this week, I feel that I have to write this now or else the memory of last night’s concert might be blurred and mishmashed with tonight’s. So here’s my thoughts, for Bernard and…
Hiromi: The Trio Project – a review
0Jazz piano trios are one of the most fun groups to play in, because all three instruments (piano, bass, drums) do their own thing and the ranges of the instruments do not overlap. There is therefore no clashing of chords with other instruments (eg. acoustic guitars) or prima donna solo…
Behold the Lamb of God – A Concert Review
0
It was almost a full house in the auditorium of Bartley Christian Church, where many gathered to attend the annual concert of the Hallelujah Oratorio Society. The house lights dimmed, the string ensemble was ready in front, the choir walked onstage, and the stage lights came on. It was Showtime….
A Tale of Two Mahlers..
0
The long awaited week was finally here, with masterclasses, a concert, and a solo performance by musicians from “one of the world’s best orchestras”. After about eleven days and many sell-out concerts in Abu Dhabi, Perth and Sydney, the Berliner Philharmoniker arrived in Singapore for their last two concerts of…
Elijah – A Review
0“You can’t play Rachmaninoff on a harpsichord,” said a cellist-composer friend of mine, explaining why modern instruments are here to stay (and will be a permanent problem for historically-informed enthusiast). True, but Mendelssohn had his own way of doing combining the old and the new. He wrote Elijah, an oratorio,…
Chamber Music Festival (Day 2) – A Review
0“So what are you here for?”, my favourite lecturer asked me as I occupied the seat next to her at the Lee Foundation Theatre in NAFA on Tuesday, 21st April. “Why, the very same reason as you!”, was my reply. The only thing that drew me to the concert was…
DisconTENt – a review
0
A friend of mine once said, “The thing about these amateur same-instrument ensembles, especially guitar ensembles, is this – you can immediately pick out the few good players. Then all the others are simply there to fill the space.” And so I attended this concert, wanting to test the credibility…
A Winter’s Journey…
0
This post is dedicated to Geok Choo, for without whom I wouldn’t have attended this concert; and Jeff, who would probably have liked to attend this concert if he was in Singapore. “Ich werde euch einen Zyklus schauerlicher Lieder vorsingen. Ich bin begierig zu sehen, was ihr dazu sagt. Sie…
Of Bruch and Bernstein…
0This article was submitted in partial fulfillment of the Music Criticism component for my BA(Hons) degree course. I couldn’t post it until now because it had to be marked and graded first. Enjoy (: “The orchestra plays mechanically, using mechanical energy; the conductor just moves his hands, and his movements…
Concert Review: Clouds of Glory by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (Part 1)
0Sat, 25 Aug 07 CLOUDS OF GLORYChoo Hoey conductor Li Chuan Yun violin FELIX MENDELSSOHN BARTHOLDY The Fair Melusina: Overture, op. 32 PETER ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKYViolin Concerto in D major, op. 35 Intermission CLAUDE DEBUSSYNocturnes: Clouds and Festivals IGOR STRAVINSKYThe Firebird: Suite (1919 version)The long-awaited concert had finally arrived, and I…