OMG! Come 10 October 2009, the divine Angela Gheorghiu will finally grace us with her presence in her long-awaited debut in Singapore! Together with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra, she will sing not one, not two, but SIX whole numbers for us, including excerpts from her classic roles in Traviata and Boheme!
Substituting for Roberto Alagna Jonas Kaufmann will be Romanian tenor Marius Manea, who will be singing many duets with the Gheorgster. Check out the program on the Sun Festival website for more details and other Sun Festival events.
Well you know I had just finished 2 weeks of reservice and simply couldn’t take the time off or the boss will just kill me. So what’s your excuse? Too kiasee to make the trip up north? Scared of swine flu or rioting? Nevermind, here are some highlights to make you green with envy, courtesy of Bangkok Opera Artistic Director Somtow Sucharitkul :
Entry of Thaïs:
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The role does seem like a good fit for Nancy, bringing out that silvery, floating quality that we have come to love and expect from her, even if exposes her shaky middle register a little. Here’s the death scene:
San Diego-based blogger (and Mad Scene reader) Smorg has written a rather though-provoking article, drawing comparisons of the unexpected death of Michael Jackson to that of Maria Callas, who also created waves with her own unexpected and alleged drug-fueled passing back in 1977. Check it out on her blog Smorgzone at http://smorgzone.blogspot.com/2009/06/4th-week-of-june-2009.html.
I just discovered this Canadian TV series on YouTube called Bathroom Divas, a sort of America’s Next Top Model type of competition for amateur opera singers: finalists selected from auditions go through 6 episodes worth of “opera boot camp”, with one contestant eliminated each week. Last one standing will get to sing an aria with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and have it broadcasted on TV of course.
Unfortunately the producers Ovation TV have only uploaded a short clip of each episode, enough to get internet surfers excited but decidedly unsatisfactory for those of us who can’t tune in. If anyone can show me how I can find/download full episodes I’ll be ever so grateful.
Meanwhile, here’s a clip of the first episode, which shows us the selection process as well as clips from potential participants:
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Here is the winner’s performance from Season 2; a few rough edges for sure, but such commitment… The sobbing young lady is her daughter, who joined the competition together with Mommy dearest:
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Lastly, guest coach and opera sista Measha Brueggergosman gives the Season 2 finalists some advice on erm… how to pick the right performance outfit:
What happens when fine classical artists like Diana Damrau, Domingo and Lang Lang take on a rock classic:
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Next, opera’s Next Big Thing Measha Brueggergosman performs a piece by John Cage accompanied by the YouTube Symphony Orchestra, a supposedly more ‘classical’ piece but something tells me its never going to be as popular as The Four last Songs:
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To be fair to the artiste, here’s Maesha again in something more conventional: performing D’Oreste, d’Ajace from Mozart’s Idomeneo:
The Chinese-based Singapore Choral Association is presenting their 2nd annual Young Soloists Concert on 18 July 2009. I will be among the 22 participants chosen through auditions to take part. A good thing too, since the “young” part of my life is approaching expiry soon.
Seriously though, I’m rather looking forward to sharing the stage with these young fellas, selected through auditions and recommendations by some of Singapore’s best teachers. Most of the participants are from the local conservatories including NAFA, LaSelle and the newly established Singapore Raffles Music College. On the program is a mix of Chinese and Western classical favourites. Having sat through the auditions, I’m really quite impressed by what my soon-to-be colleagues have to offer: fresh voices, interesting repertoire and enthusiastic stage presence. As one of the few without conservatory training, I only hope that I have what it takes to keep up!
Last year’s event was held at my beloved Lee Foundation Theatre at NAFA with its lovely acoustics. This year’s event however, as an acknowledgment to the credit crunch, will be held at the Nanyang Girls’ High School situated along Bukit Timah Road. Despite the far-flung location, I’ve been told its an excellent hall, with great accoustics and designed by the architect wife of the late President Ong Teng Cheong (you can view images of the concert hall on the Nanyang Girls’ website at http://www.nygh.moe.edu.sg/facilities/auditorium.shtml), so that’s something to look forward to as well. Check out their location and bus services at http://www.streetdirectory.com/asia_travel/travel/travel_id_6031/travel_site_35549, you can catch direct bus 171 from Scotts Road (Orchard) and Newton.
So please attend and check out some of Singapore’s finest voices at the Young Soloists Concert by the Singapore Choral Association. For tickets and inquiries, please email themadscene@gmail.com or call 9180-9453. Cya there!
Just finished reading this interesting interview with conductor Chan Tze Law, on the state of musical arts in Singapore. Maestro Chan is the Music Director of the Art Festival’s Singapore Festival Orchestra and Associate Director of Singapore’s Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. You can find the interview here:
