Maestro Choo Hoey

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

MAESTRO CHOO HOEY 18 April 2019

Esplanade Concert Hall

Performing Home of the SSO Choo Hoey, conductor He Ziyu, violin

18 Apr 19, Thu

MAESTRO CHOO HOEY Singapore Symphony Orchestra Choo Hoey, conductor IGOR STRAVINSKY

Song of the Nightingale 19’

WOLFGANG AMADEUS Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K.218 26’ MOZART 1. Allegro 2. Andante cantabile 3. Rondeau: Andante grazioso – Allegro ma non troppo

He Ziyu, violin

Intermission 20’

BÉLA BARTÓK

Suite No. 1 for Orchestra, Op. 3 35’

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Allegro vivace Poco adagio Presto Moderato Molto vivace

Post-concert autograph signing with Choo Hoey in the stalls foyer.

Concert duration: 1 hr 55 mins Go green. Digital programme booklets are available on www.sso.org.sg.

Scan the QR code in the foyer to view a copy.

S ing a p or e S y mp hon y Or c he s t r a Since its founding in 1979, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) has been Singapore’s flagship orchestra, touching lives through classical music and providing the heartbeat of the cultural scene in the cosmopolitan city-state.

In addition to its subscription series concerts, the orchestra is well-loved for its outdoor and community appearances, and its significant role educating the young people of Singapore. The SSO has also earned an international reputation for its orchestral virtuosity, having garnered sterling reviews for its overseas tours and many successful recordings.

The SSO makes its performing home at the 1,800-seat state-of-the-art Esplanade Concert Hall. More intimate works and all

outreach and community performances take place at the 673-seat Victoria Concert Hall, the home of the SSO. The orchestra performs 100 concerts a year, and its versatile repertoire spans all-time favourites and orchestral masterpieces to exciting cutting-edge premieres. Bridging the musical traditions of East and West, Singaporean and Asian musicians and composers are regularly showcased in the concert season. This has been a core of the SSO’s programming philosophy from the very beginning under Choo Hoey, who was Music Director from 1979 to 1996.

Under the Music Directorship of Lan Shui from 1997 to January 2019, the SSO has performed in Europe, Asia and the United States. In May 2016 the SSO was invited to

perform at the Dresden Music Festival and the Prague Spring International Music Festival.

This successful five‑city tour of Germany and Prague also included the SSO’s return to the Berlin Philharmonie after six years. In 2014 the SSO’s debut at the 120th BBC Proms in London received critical acclaim in the major UK newspapers The Guardian and Telegraph.

The SSO has also performed in China on multiple occasions.

Notable SSO releases under BIS include a Rachmaninoff series, a “Seascapes” album, two Debussy discs “La Mer” and “Jeux”, and the first-ever cycle of Tcherepnin’s piano concertos and symphonies. The SSO has also collaborated with such great artists as Lorin Maazel, Charles Dutoit, Gennady

Rozhdestvensky, Neeme Järvi, Gustavo Dudamel, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Diana Damrau, Martha Argerich, Lang Lang, Yo-Yo Ma, Janine Jansen, Leonidas Kavakos and Gil Shaham.

The SSO is part of the Singapore Symphony Group, which also manages the Singapore Symphony Choruses, and the Singapore National Youth Orchestra.

The mission of the Group is to create memorable shared experiences with music. Through the SSO and its affiliated performing groups, we spread the love for music, nurture talent and enrich Singapore’s diverse communities.

Choo Hoey conductor Choo Hoey has been associated with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra since its foundation in 1979. He graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 1955 with the Manns Memorial and Ernest Read prizes for conducting and then went on to further studies at the Conservatoire Royale de Musique in Brussels. His debut performances with Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale initiated a successful career as visiting conductor throughout Europe and South America.

In 1968, he became Principal Conductor of the Greek National Opera, where his repertoire included not only the standard classics, but also works by Debussy, Bartók, Berg and Stravinsky. He was frequent guest conductor of the four major symphony orchestras of Greece with which he gave numerous world premieres of contemporary Greek works.

In 1979 he was invited to become the founding Music Director and Resident Conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, with which he developed an extensive repertoire ranging from the early baroque to contemporary masterpieces.

He led the orchestra on four successful European tours. In July 1996, he was appointed Conductor Emeritus.

For his contribution to music in Singapore, Choo Hoey was awarded the Cultural Medallion (1979), the Public Service Star (1982), and made an Honorary Doctor of Letters of the National University of Singapore in 1989. In 1997 he was awarded a Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres by the Government of France.

Choo Hoey has been guest conductor with over sixty orchestras including the London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Orchestre de la Société du Conservatoire de Paris, Suisse Romande, Zurich Tonhalle, Danish State Radio Orchestra, Oslo Philharmonic, Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra, Orquesta Nacionale de Buenos Aires (Argentina), Orquesta de Instituto Extension Musical in Santiago (Chile), China Philharmonic Orchestra in Beijing, Tokyo City Philharmonic and Hong Kong Philharmonic, amongst others.

Choo Hoey now resides in Europe.

He Ziyu violin The outstanding young violinist He Ziyu is one of the youngest soloists to make his debut at the Musikverein with the Vienna Philharmonic under Adam Fischer in 2017, aged just 18. He has also performed with the Mariinsky Orchestra and Valery Gergiev, RAI Orchestra Turin, the Salzburg Chamber Soloists and China Philharmonic. The 18-19 season sees him debut with Orchestra della Toscana, Zagreb Philharmonic, Singapore Symphony and the Wiener Kammerochester with whom he will play Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante with Joji Hattori. He also gives recitals at the Konzerthaus Wien as part of their ‘Great Talents’ series, and is a member of Altenberg Trio Wien.

In 2016, Ziyu won both the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg and the Yehudi Menuhin Competition, and was the Eurovision Young Musician of the Year in 2014.

He Ziyu began playing the violin in his native China at the age of five. Aged just 10, he was invited by Paul Roczek to study with him in Salzburg at the University Mozarteum where Ziyu continues his Masters studies with Benjamin Schmid.

As a broad-based grantmaking organisation, Tote Board works closely with stakeholders and partners, to support broad and diverse worthy projects in the sectors of Arts, Community Development, Education, Health, Social Service and Sports. Through these projects, Tote Board helps to uplift the community by giving hope to vulnerable groups and improving the lives of all in Singapore.

Tote Board’s goal is to help build a flourishing society in Singapore. We want to inspire positive change and contribute towards building an inclusive, resilient and vibrant community, while fostering a caring and compassionate nation.

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PRESENTS

SINGAPORE SYMPHONY ORCHEST RA

SSO MU S ICIAN S joshua tan Associate Conductor andrew litton Principal Guest Conductor Choo Hoey Conductor Emeritus Lan Shui Conductor Laureate Eudenice Palaruan Choral Director WONG LAI FOON Choirmaster

FIRST VIOLIN Igor Yuzefovich1 Concertmaster, The GK Goh Chair Lynnette Seah2 Co-Concertmaster Kong Zhao Hui* Associate Concertmaster Chan Yoong-Han Fixed Chair Cao Can* Chen Da Wei Duan Yu Ling Foo Say Ming Gu Wen Li Jin Li Cindy Lee Lim Shue Churn^ Karen Tan William Tan Wei Zhe Yew Shan^ SECOND VIOLIN Michael Loh Associate Principal Hai-Won Kwok Fixed Chair Nikolai Koval* Lee Shi Mei^ Yoko Mano^

Chikako Sasaki* Margit Saur Ikuko Schiøler^ Shao Tao Tao Edward Tan^ Wu Man Yun* Xu Jue Yi* Ye Lin* Yeo Teow Meng Yin Shu Zhan* Zhang Si Jing* Zhao Tian* VIOLA Zhang Manchin Principal Guan Qi Associate Principal Gu Bing Jie* Fixed Chair Marietta Ku Luo Biao Julia Park Shui Bing Tan Wee-Hsin Janice Tsai Wang Dandan Yang Shi Li Yeo Jan Wea^ CELLO Ng Pei-Sian Principal Yu Jing Associate Principal Guo Hao Fixed Chair Chan Wei Shing Lin Juan^ Song Woon Teng Wang Yan Wang Zihao* Wu Dai Dai Zhao Yu Er DOUBLE BASS Yang Zheng Yi Associate Principal Karen Yeo Fixed Chair Olga Alexandrova Raffael Bietenhader^ Ma Li Ming^ Jacek Mirucki Guennadi Mouzyka Wang Xu

FLUTE Jin Ta Principal Evgueni Brokmiller Associate Principal Roberto Alvarez Miao Shanshan

Hoang Van Hoc Kartik Alan Jairamin^

PICCOLO Roberto Alvarez Assistant Principal

TRUMPET Jon Paul Dante Principal David Smith Associate Principal Lau Wen Rong Sergey Tyuteykin

OBOE

TROMBONE

Rachel Walker Principal Pan Yun Associate Principal Carolyn Hollier Elaine Yeo

Allen Meek Principal Damian Patti Associate Principal Samuel Armstrong

COR ANGLAIS

Wang Wei Assistant Principal

Elaine Yeo Associate Principal CLARINET Ma Yue Principal Li Xin Associate Principal Liu Yoko Tang Xiao Ping

BASS TROMBONE

TUBA Teng Siang Hong^ TIMPANI Christian Schiøler Principal Jonathan Fox Associate Principal

BASS CLARINET

PERCUSSION

Tang Xiao Ping Assistant Principal

Jonathan Fox Principal Mark Suter Associate Principal Joachim Lim^ Lim Meng Keh Zhu Zheng Yi

BASSOON Wang Xiaoke Principal Liu Chang Associate Principal Christoph Wichert Zhao Ying Xue CONTRABASSOON Zhao Ying Xue Assistant Principal HORN Han Chang Chou Principal Gao Jian Associate Principal Jamie Hersch Associate Principal Marc-Antoine Robillard Associate Principal

HARP Gulnara Mashurova Principal Huang Yu Hsin^ PIANO Shane Thio^ CELESTE Aya Sakou^

*With deep appreciation to the Rin Collection for their generous loan of string instruments.

Igor Yuzefovich plays an instrument generously loaned by Mr & Mrs G K Goh Lynnette Seah performs on a J.B. Guadagnini of Milan, c. 1750, donated by the National Arts Council, Singapore, with the support of Far East Organization and Lee Foundation. ^Musician on temporary contract Musicians listed alphabetically by family name rotate their seats on a per programme basis.

1 2

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HEART F E LT THANK S TO S S O CORPORATE PATRON S AND SPON S OR S We would like to express our deepest appreciation to the following companies and organisations that support our mission to create memorable shared experiences with music.

Major Corporate Patrons Temasek Foundation Nurtures CLG Ltd Far East Organization Santa Lucia Asset Management Pte Ltd Interchem Pte Ltd John Swire & Sons (S.E. Asia) Pte Ltd Aquilus Pte Ltd Lee Foundation, Singapore G K Goh Holdings Ltd NSL Ltd Major Corporate Sponsors Conrad Centennial Singapore SMRT Corporation Singapore Airlines Ltd Singapore Press Holdings Ltd

J oin our p r e s t ig iou s l is t of c or p or at e pat r on s a nd sp on s or s Support Singapore’s national orchestra and form a special relationship with one of the country’s most celebrated arts groups. By committing to growing the arts through the SSO, you can increase your organisation’s visibility and reach an influential and growing audience. Corporate donors may also enjoy attractive tax benefits.

For more information on donations and sponsorships, please write to director_development@sso.org.sg

A S ta nding Ovat ion to o ur Donor s a nd Sp on s or s PATRON SPONSOR

Tote Board Group (Tote Board, Singapore Pools & Singapore Turf Club) $500,000 AND ABOVE

Temasek Foundation Nurtures CLG Limited Mr & Mrs Goh Yew Lin $100,000 and above

Christopher Ho & Rosy Ho Butterfield Trust $50,000 and above

Far East Organization John Swire & Sons (S.E. Asia) Pte Ltd Lee Foundation Singapore Singapore Press Holdings Ltd Aquilus Pte Ltd G K Goh Holdings Limited Santa Lucia Asset Management Pte Ltd Anonymous

Thank you for attending Maestro Choo Hoey

Next week, you can hear another - and arguably even more popular - lyrical violin concerto, the E minor classic from Mendelssohn. Also in the programme is his evocative Hebrides Overture and Scottish Symphony.

FAMILIAR FAVOURITES: MENDELSSOHN VIOLIN CONCERTO ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL 27 APR 2019 Stefan Jackiw, violin Josep Pons, conductor

Stravinsky's name is closely associated with 20th century music, his Rite of Spring (written before The Song of the Nightingale) a byword for his fame. Hear this astonishing orchestral score alongside the Asian premiere of the massive Threshold percussion concerto led by SSO Principal Timpanist Christian Schiøler.

RHYTHMS, RITES AND RENEWALS ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL 3 MAY 2019 Christian Schiøler, timpani Maraca2, percussion Pascal Rophé, conductor

We welcome another esteemed veteran conductor, Maestro Masaaki Suzuki, who will conduct Beethoven's choral masterpiece, the Missa Solemnis, in May.

Fans of the violin - take note of this chamber recital at the VCH, featuring the string musicians of the SSO. The programme of melancholy Schubert and melodic Dvořák is perfectly suited for this venue.

SSO GALA: MISSA SOLEMNIS · MASAAKI SUZUKI ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL 10 MAY 2019

DEATH AND THE MAIDEN VICTORIA CONCERT HALL 17 MAY 2019

Masaaki Suzuki, conductor Rachel Nicholls, soprano Marianne Beate Kielland, mezzo-soprano James Gilchrist, tenor Christian Immler, baritone Singapore Symphony Chorus Eudenice Palaruan, choral director

Chan Yoong-Han, violin Chen Da Wei, violin Nikolai Koval, violin Zhang Si Jing, violin Guan Qi, viola Gu Bing Jie, viola Ng Pei-Sian, cello Wang Zihao, cello Yang Zheng Yi, double bass

$20,000 and above BinjaiTree Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi-Martin & Christopher Martin European Union Delegation to Singapore Kingsmen Group Kris Foundation Maisy Koh & Dr Beh Swan Gin Dr André Klein Dr Julie Lo Leong Wai Leng Christina Ong

Paige Parker & Jim Rogers Prima Limited Stephen Riady Group of Foundations Andreas & Doris Sohmen-Pao Tan Chin Tuan Foundation United Overseas Bank Ltd Grace Yeh & Family Dr Thomas & Mrs Mary Zuellig Anonymous

$10,000 and above AONIA Strategic Events At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy Pte Ltd Odile & Douglas Benjamin Boardroom Limited Lito & Kim Camacho CellResearch Corporation Pte Ltd Prof Cham Tao Soon Prof Chan Heng Chee Cara & Tamara Chang Chip Eng Seng Corporation Ltd Choo Chiau Beng DBS Bank Ltd Fraser Property Dr Geh Min Sam Goi, Tee Yih Jia Group Amy & Kevin Gould Hong Leong Foundation Judy Hunt Interchem Pte Ltd

JCCI Singapore Foundation Ltd Lee Li-Ming LGT Bank Singapore Ltd Liew Wei Li Kai S. Nargolwala Nicholas A. Nash & Phalgun Raju Nomura Asset Management Singapore Ltd One North Capital Pte Ltd Raffles Medical Group Ltd Saga Tree Capital Advisors Pte Ltd SC Global (Singapore) Pte Ltd Dr Gralf Sieghold Irene Tedja Total Trading Asia Pte Ltd Van Cleef & Arpels Geoffrey & Ai Ai Wong Peter CY Wong Yong Ying-I Anonymous (7)

$5,000 and above Prof Arnoud De Meyer Chang Hwee Nee Chng Hak-Peng Lionel Choi Warren Fernandez Goh Sze Wei Heinrich Grafe Steven & Liwen Holmes Institut Français Singapour Vinod & Melissa Kumar Lee Kok Keong

Lin Diaan-Yi Eddy Ooi Robin Ian Rawlings Chandra Mohan Rethnam Dr June & Peter Sheren Tang See Chim Manju & Arudra Vangal David Harris Zemans Anonymous

$1,000 and above Aznan Bin Abu Bakar Ang Sze Peng, Brenda Taehyon Anh Cees & Raife Armstrong Prof Kanti Bajpai Marcie Ann Ball Lawrence & Celeste Basapa John & Eliza Bittleston Philippe Capdouze Darren Yong & Connie Chaird Cham Gee Len Chan Ah Khim Chan Wai Leong Vivian Chandran Cynthia Chee Christopher Chen Ying-ru Chen-Keong Dr Faith Chia Evelyn Rachel Chin Pamela Chong Belinda Chua Sally Chy Arthur Davis John S Davison Mark Dembitz Enhao Reuben Ong Karen Fawcett Elizabeth Fong Christopher & Bernice Franck Christopher John Fussner Eugenia Gajardo Gan Chee Yen Patricia Gaw Vivien Goh Jerry Gwee Mark Edward Hansen Heart Partner Clinic Guy J P Hentsch Dr Dang Vu & Ms Oanh Nguyen Chua Guek Hoon Florian Hoppe Mr & Mrs Simon Ip Peggy Kek Khoo Boon Hui Khor Cheng Kian Jenny Kim-O'Connor Belinda Koh Yuh Ling Dr Koh Chee Kang & Ms Chang Ting Lee Lorinne Kon Takashi & Saori Kousaka Krisnawati Kwan Meng Hui Robert Langstraat Mr & Mrs Paterson Lau Dr Lee Shu Yen Tina Lee Lee Suan Yew Dr Norman Lee This list is for donations from 1 Feb 2018 to 31 Jan 2019.

Lek Lee Yong Leong Keng Hong Adam & Brittany Levinson Alvin Liew Lim Swee Lin Mavis Lim Geck Chin Lim Hong Eng Janet Candice Ling Tony & Serene Liok Stuart Liventals Low Boon Hon Benjamin Ma Andre Maniam Vanessa Martin Gillian Metzger Oscar Mico Million Lighting Co Pte Ltd Kathleen Moroney Pauline Chan & Jean Nasr Dr Agnes Ng Hunter Nield Zack Ong Kong Hong Monique Ong Herve Pauze Timothy Pitrelli Vihari Poddar Quek Boon Hui Robert Khan & Co Pte Ltd Bernard Jean Sabrier Arend Schumacher Winifred Dente degli Scrovegni Seah & Siak See Tho Kai Yin Caroline Seow Retno Setyaningsih Serene Tan & Carol Shieh Naoyoshi Nick Shimoda Siah Geok Wah Susan Sim Lee Koon Taizo Son Stanley Lim Leong Thian Ron & Janet Stride Dr Tan Chin Nam Ivan Tan Meng Cheng Tan Kok Kiong Gordon H.L. Tan Tan Kok Huan Tan Yee Deng Giles Tan Ming Yee Daniel Tando Teo Ee Peng Eddie Teo Fatima Terrill Alicia Thian Jamie Thomas Kennie Ting Guru Vishwanath Zhang Weihua

Iwona Wiktorowska Kris & Elizabeth Wiluan Yip Teem Wing Eric Wong Wicky Wong Wong Liang Keen Wong Nang Jang Wu Guowei Valerie Wu Peichan Satoru Yano Dr Yeo Ning Hong Yong Seow Kin Anonymous (19)

a chamber weekend with musicians of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra

17 MAY 7.30pm

Death and the Maiden

18 MAY 7.30pm

Temptation of the Saintly Pot

19 MAY 4pm

Brass Ensemble of the SSO

featuring strings of the SSO

featuring woodwinds of the SSO

SSO.ORG.SG/CHAMBER

2019 B e ne f i t dinne r donor s Our heartfelt thanks go to everyone who gave through the 2019 Benefit Dinner.

PRESENTING SPONSOR Butterfield Trust

$150,000 AND ABOVE Christopher & Rosy Ho

$100,000 Tote Board

$50,000 Aquilus Pte Ltd G K Goh Holdings Mr Hsin Yeh & Family

$20,000 to $35,000 Far East Organization Maisy Koh & Dr Beh Swan Gin Kris Foundation Mr & Mrs Eugene Lai Clarinda & Christopher Martin

Paige Parker & Jim Rogers Stephen Riady’s Group of Foundations United Overseas Bank Ltd Dr Thomas Zuellig & Mrs Mary Zuellig

$10,000 Odile & Douglas Benjamin Lito & Kim Camacho Choo Chiau Beng Judy Hunt Liew Wei Li

Marina Bay Sands One North Capital Pte Ltd Sinfonia Ristorante Andreas & Doris Sohmen-Pao

Total Pte Ltd V3 Group Djafar Widjaja Geoffrey & Ai Ai Wong Anonymous

Special thanks to Goh Yew Lin, FICOFI, Lim Ming San, Conrad Centennial Singapore, Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore, Valrhona Far East (Singapore Office), Chef Massimo Pasquarelli, Chef Vincent Bourdin

This list is accurate as of 27 March 2019.

We would like to express our sincere appreciation to donors whose names were inadvertently left out at print time.

IGOR S TRAVINSK Y (18 8 2–1971) Song of the Nightingale 19’ (Le Chant du Rossignol)

The story centres around the appeal of a mechanical bird versus a real one, and ultimately the power of music to ward off Death. A passage from the Andersen fairy tale describes the opening moments of The Song of the Nightingale: In expectation

World Premiere 6 Dec 1919, Geneva First performed by SSO 20 & 21 Mar 1998

of the arrival of the world-famous nightingale, “the palace was festively adorned. The walls and the flooring, which were of porcelain, gleamed in the rays of thousands of golden lamps. The most glorious flowers, which could ring clearly, had been placed in the passages. …” The Emperor and his courtiers enter solemnly to a ceremonious Chinese march, built on a pentatonic scale. The nightingale,

PROGRAMME NOTES

Stravinsky drafted the libretto in 1908 for his first opera, Le Rossignol (“The Nightingale”), basing it on the fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. He had completed Act I when, in 1909, he received a commission from that impresario-genius of the Ballets Russes, Sergei Diaghilev, to write the ballet Firebird, the work that catapulted the young composer to international fame.

Stravinsky did not return to The Nightingale until 1913, by which time his style had altered considerably. He wrote Acts II and III during 1913–1914, and the work was premiered in May 1914 at the Paris Opéra with Pierre Monteux conducting.

Three years later, Diaghilev suggested that Stravinsky revise the score as a ballet; the composer proposed instead to create a symphonic poem drawn from music of the stylistically homogeneous second and third acts. In this form, the 19-minute score was called Le Chant du Rossignol (“The Song of the Nightingale”) and was first heard in Geneva on 6 December 1919 with Ernest Ansermet conducting the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande.

Instrumentation 2 flutes, 1 doubling on piccolo 2 oboes, 1 doubling on cor anglais 2 clarinets, 1 doubling on E-flat clarinet 2 bassoons 4 horns 3 trumpets 3 trombones tuba timpani cymbals, tam-tam, triangle, snare drum, tambourine, field drum, bass drum with cymbals attached 2 harps piano celeste strings

represented by the solo flute, and later solo violin, is placed on a perch and sings so beautifully that the Emperor and all his court are moved to tears.

A trumpet fanfare announces the arrival of the Emperor of Japan, who brings as a gift a mechanical nightingale, represented by the solo oboe. The offended real bird flies off to his fisherman friend, whose mournful song is played by the trumpet. The Emperor is incensed over the bird’s flight; his wrath is depicted in fierce flourishes by trombones and muted horns.

The music jumps to the scene portraying the Emperor’s fatal illness. Death is imminent, the orchestral colours grey and sombre. The grieving courtiers approach to the strains of a funeral march. But lo!

The spurned nightingale has returned and charmed away Death. The Emperor sits up, greeting his court with a smiling “Bonjour”.

As the curtain slowly descends, we again hear the soliloquy from that philosophical mystic, the fisherman, intoned again by the trumpet: “The night is dispersed by the new sun. Gay birds sing, day has begun.

Listen well, and in their voice, hear that of heaven and rejoice.”

WOL F GANG AMA DEU S MOZ ART (175 6 –1791) Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K.218 26’ Mozart’s talents, over and above musical composition, included proficiency on the piano, organ, violin and viola.

“Proficiency”, however, is hardly the right word. He was indisputably one of the greatest keyboard virtuosos of his day. His violin playing was cultivated by his father Leopold, himself a famous pedagogue who encouraged young Wolfgang with the words, “If you would only play with boldness, spirit and fire, you would be the finest violinist in Europe.”

Wolfgang, at the age of 19, spent most of the year 1775 in the service of Count Colloredo, Archbishop of Salzburg. Here, within the period of eight months, he wrote four of his five authenticated violin concertos (the First Concerto dates from 1773, and two additional spurious ones exist). We are not certain whether they were initially intended for Mozart’s own use as a soloist or for someone else, but Mozart did perform them all at one time or another.

In style, these works grow out of the Italian violin tradition as found in Tartini, Geminiani, Nardini and Boccherini. The music is steeped in the qualities of the style galant – grace, elegance, charm and gentle sentiments. But in the Concerto K.218, Mozart goes beyond the usual

galanterie to produce a more spacious, varied and thematically developed work than one normally encountered in late 18th-century music.

Instrumentation 2 oboes 2 horns strings World Premiere c. Oct 1775, Salzburg First performed by SSO 3 & 4 Jul 1981 (Yossi Zivoni, violin)

Suite No. 1 for Orchestra, Op. 3 35’ Regular concertgoers are probably familiar with most of Bartók’s large-scale orchestral works: the Concerto for Orchestra, the two violin concertos, the three piano concertos, the ballet The Miraculous Mandarin, and the one-act, one-hour opera Bluebeard’s Castle. But how many know his two Suites, composed in tandem (Op. 3 and Op. 4) in 1905 – the First in five movements lasting about 35 minutes, and the Second in four movements lasting about 25 minutes? The performance of the First Suite is bound to be a discovery for nearly everyone in the hall tonight.

Bartók wrote the First Suite during his brief stay in Vienna in 1905. He was just 24 and had not yet found his own voice as a composer. He had dallied with Wagner, Richard Strauss, and Debussy, and would shortly begin the field trips that opened his eyes and ears to the peasant music of not only his native Hungary but also of neighbouring lands as well. There are a few hints of the Bartók-to-be, but listeners encountering the First Suite without knowing its composer would be hard-pressed to guess who wrote it. One hint might be the Suite’s overall structure: a five-part symmetrical arrangement consisting of the outer movements of similar character serving as pillars framing a central triptych of fast-slowfast movements or, as is the case here,

PROGRAMME NOTES

The concerto opens with a conventional fanfare motif, but thereafter we encounter Mozart looking in new directions, especially in his handling of the solo part. “Mozart seems to have taken special pleasure in lifting the solo violin out of the orchestral texture and highlighting its activities”, writes Mozart scholar Neal Zaslaw.

“It is undoubtedly the heightening of simultaneous expressivity and virtuosity in this movement that has made it such a perennial favorite with violinists and audiences alike.” The Andante cantabile is a particularly distinguished movement, akin to a great operatic scene. The Rondeau is notable for its frequent changes of tempo, meter and mood.

A gracious, dancelike refrain, announced by the soloist at the outset, returns periodically, interspersed with contrasting and varied episodes. The concerto ends quietly, a surprise to those expecting a flashy finish.

B É L A B ARTÓK (18 81–194 5)

slow-fast-slow. (Bartók later adopted this layout for some of his greatest works in later years.) Further symmetry is found in the first movement alone, whose three easily identifiable themes create the formal outline of ABA-C-ABA. Cyclical return of thematic material is also a key element of the Suite – themes and motifs from one movement recur in others as well.

If the second movement sounds the most “Bartókian” of the five, then the third brings to mind the orchestral brilliance of Richard Strauss. This is a scherzo in all but name, and thus in expected ternary form (ABA – another symmetrical arrangement).

The melancholic clarinet solo that opens the fourth movement is clearly a variant of the Suite’s powerfully energetic opening; in fact the entire movement is built exclusively from first-movement material.

And once again we find a movement symmetrically arranged, this time in a slow-fast-slow-fast-slow pattern. The fiery finale recalls themes from all the previous movements and brings the Suite to a boisterous conclusion.

The Vienna Philharmonic under Ferdinand Löwe played a portion of the First Suite on 29 November 1905. The first complete performance was given in Budapest on 1 March 1909 by the Orchestra of the Academy of Music conducted by Jenö Hubay.

Programme notes by Robert Markow

Instrumentation 3 flutes piccolo 2 oboes cor anglais 2 clarinets E-flat clarinet bass clarinet 3 bassoons contrabassoon 4 horns 3 trumpets 3 trombones tuba timpani bass drum, cymbals, snare drum, triangle, tambourine, glockenspiel 2 harps strings World Premiere (complete work) 1 Mar 1909, Budapest First performed by SSO 31 Oct & 1 Nov 1997

RECOMMENDED LISTENING Mozart: Violin Concertos 3, 4 & 5 Christian Tetzlaff & Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen (Erato/ Warner Classics, 1996)

b oa r d of dir ec tor s & COMMITTE e S board of directors Mr Goh Yew Lin (Chair) Ms Yong Ying-I (Deputy Chair) Mr Ang Chek Meng Mrs Odile Benjamin Mr Chng Hak-Peng Mr Lionel Choi Mr Warren Fernandez Prof Arnoud De Meyer Mr Heinrich Grafe Ms Liew Wei Li Ms Lim Mei Mr Sanjiv Misra Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao Mr Paul Tan Dr Kelly Tang Mr Yee Chen Fah

SSO Council HUMAN RESOURCES Committee Ms Yong Ying-I (Chair) Prof Arnoud De Meyer Mr Yee Chen Fah Dr Kelly Tang Endowment Fund Committee Mr Goh Yew Lin (Chair) Mr David Goh Mr Sanjiv Misra Audit Committee Mr Yee Chen Fah (Chair) Mr Heinrich Grafe Ms Lim Mei

Nominating and Executive Committee

SNYO Committee

Mr Goh Yew Lin (Chair) Prof Arnoud De Meyer Mr Paul Tan Ms Yong Ying-I

Ms Liew Wei Li (Chair) Mr Ang Chek Meng Ms Vivien Goh Dr Kee Kirk Chin Mrs Valarie Wilson

SSO Musicians’ Committee Mr Chan Wei Shing Mr Jon Paul Dante Mr Jamie Hersch Mr Ng Pei-Sian Mr Mark Suter Mr Christoph Wichert Mr Yeo Teow Meng

Prof Cham Tao Soon (Honorary Chair) Mr Alan Chan (Chair) Mr Choo Chiau Beng Dr Geh Min Mr Goh Geok Khim Mr Khoo Boon Hui Prof Tommy Koh Mr JY Pillay Dr Stephen Riady Ms Priscylla Shaw Dr Gralf Sieghold Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao Dr Tan Chin Nam Ms Tan Choo Leng Mr Tan Soo Nan Mr Wee Ee Cheong SSO LADIES’ LEAGUE Mrs Odile Benjamin (Chair) Mrs Kwan Lui (Deputy Chair) Mrs Celeste Basapa Mrs Maisy Beh Mrs Kim Camacho Mrs Rosy Ho Ms Judy Hunt Prof Annie Koh Dr Julie Lo Mrs Clarinda TjiaDharmadi-Martin Ms Paige Parker Ms Kris Tan Ms Manju Vangal Mrs Grace Yeh

S INGAPORE S YMPHONY GROUP MANAGEMENT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Mr Chng Hak-Peng

ARTISTIC PLANNING

CEO OFFICE

CORPORATE SERVICES

Hans Sørensen (Head)

Ms Shirin Foo Mr Lim Yeow Siang

Ms Lillian Yin (Head)

Programmes (SSO) Ms Kua Li Leng Ms Teo Chew Yen Ms Jodie Chiang Community Outreach Ms Kathleen Tan Ms Vanessa Lee Choral Programmes Ms Regina Lee Ms Whitney Tan Programmes (VCH) Ms Erin Tan ORCHESTRA MANAGEMENT Mr Ernest Khoo (Head) Orchestra Mr Chia Jit Min Ms Tan Wei Tian Concert Operations Ms Kimberly Kwa Ms Chin Rosherna Mr Ramayah Elango Mr Md Fariz bin Samsuri Library Mr Lim Lip Hua Ms Priscilla Neo Ms Wong Yi Wen

Customer Experience Mr Randy Teo Ms Dacia Cheang Ms Nur Shafiqah bte Othman DEVELOPMENT & PARTNERSHIPS Ms Peggy Kek (Head) Corporate Communications Ms Leong Wenshan Ms Haslina Hassan Development Mr Anthony Chng Ms Chelsea Zhao Ms Nikki Chuang MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS Ms Cindy Lim (Head) Mr Chia Han-Leon Ms Myrtle Lee Ms Jana Loh Ms Hong Shu Hui Ms Sherilyn Lim Ms Melissa Tan

Finance, IT & Facilities Mr Rick Ong Mr Alan Ong Ms Goh Hoey Fen Mr Jeffrey Tang Mr Md Zailani bin Md Said Human Resources & Administration Mr Desmen Low Ms Melissa Lee Ms Evelyn Siew Legal Mr Edward Loh SINGAPORE NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA Ms Pang Siu Yuin (Head) Ms Yuen May Leng Mr Tan Yong Qing Ms Tang Ya Yun ABRSM Ms Hay Su-San (Head) Ms Patricia Yee Ms Lai Li-Yng Mr Joong Siow Chong

WWW.PIANOFESTIVAL.COM.SG

SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL PIANO FESTIVAL 30 MAY - 3 JUNE 2019 Victoria Concert Hall

SGPIANOFEST

SA CHEN RONAN OʼHORA KIRILL GERSTEIN INGRID FLITER

Supported by

Official Hotel

Patron Sponsor

Official Radio Station

Official Outdoor Media Partners

Official Airline

Sponsors

LEE FOUNDATION

The Singapore Symphony Orchestra is a charity and not-for-profit organisation. You can support us by donating at www.sso.org.sg/donate.

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