the mad scene

Here is a feature interview published in April, of Rebecca Chellappah by Timeout Magazine’s classical music writer Derek Lim. Yeah the discussion about Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen may be old news, but since she will be singing Mahler again in July I thought it’ll be interesting to bring your attention to it. Enjoy!

http://www.timeoutsingapore.com/music/feature/rebecca-chellappah-profile

An expat does not quite enjoy his experience attending performances at our erm… “Opera House”. Please send me a note if you actually get his point.

http://www.angryangmo.com/2009/03/18/problems-watch-opera-singapore/

 

This article from Opera News tracks the progress of China through the eyes of two generations of Western-based singers: Metropolitan Opera house bass Tian Hao Jiang and 2007 Cardiff Singer of the World winner, bass-baritone Shenyang. Its interesting for so many reasons, not least for featuring two Asians who have made it through the international opera scene (and not by playing a suicidal geisha), their first person perspectives of a country making it through tumultuous times, and the love and kindness of Renee Fleming:

http://www.operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2010/5/Features/Face_to_Face.html

 

How an 18 year old conductor formed the first post-war Iraqi youth orchestra and got the international musical community to chip in. A truly inspirational story to start the week with.

 

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article7043809.ece

 

Derek Lim recently interviewed Maestro Lim Yau for Timeout magazine, on the SSC’s 30th anniversary performance of the Verdi Requiem. The online wersion is published a month after the print version but better late than never I guess:

http://www.timeoutsingapore.com/music/feature/requiem-for-his-dream

OperaNews this month carries a feature by Jennifer Melickon the Hanoi Opera House. She offers comments on the New York Philharmonic’s tour there (which had also stopped by Singapore), its place in contemporary Vietnamese culture, the Vietnamese opera scene (or lack thereof) and, as expected from a first-time visitor, the never-ending buzz of motorcycles.

http://operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2010/5/Features/Reclaiming_Identity.html

Rolando Villazon gave a very passionate interview on BBC Radio recently, defending his recent health crisis, appearing on Popstar to Opera Star, taking on big roles and singing Handel. He also discusses his Verdi Requiem CD that was reviewed on this blog recently. The interview is about 55 minutes long and is available on live stream via the BBC website till 7 May 2010.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00s6rzb

Alessandro Corbelli, star of our recently reviewed Gianni Schicchi and the Dessay/Florez vehicle of ROH’s La fille du Regiment, shares his thoughts withh MusicalCriticism.com:

http://www.musicalcriticism.com/interviews/corbelli-1207.shtml

A search for “Pianomania Singapore” on Google yielded the following results (notice what is in first position):

Sorry Tou Liang I really really REALLY didn’t mean it!

Above are the results of my “What opera singer would you be?” quiz. Apparently my personality is most akin to that of Beverly Sills. Maybe its because we both want to sing Norma despite having voices not quite suited for it. Find out who your inner diva by clicking on this link.

My thanks to reader Randeorpheus for the tip-off. Got any interesting and related titbits? Please send them to themadscene@gmail.com, thanks!