Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances
Sun, 17 Mar 2024
Esplanade Concert Hall
Another extraordinary performance proudly presented by SNYO
www.snyo.org.sg/audition Managed by Recognised by SINGAPORE NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA A NATIONAL PROJECT OF EXCELLENCE SNYO.SG SNYO 2024 AUDITIONS
Photo by Bryan van der Beek
Sun, 17 Mar 2024
Esplanade Concert Hall
Rachmaninoff Symphonic Dances
Singapore National Youth Orchestra
Joshua Tan Principal Conductor
Claudia Toh clarinet
MAURICE RAVEL
Alborada del gracioso 8 mins
AARON COPLAND
Clarinet Concerto 18 mins
Intermission 20 mins
SERGEI RACHMANINOFF
Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 35 mins
Concert duration: approximately 1 hr 45 mins (including a 20 mins intermission)
Singapore National Youth Orchestra
The Singapore National Youth Orchestra showcases the extraordinary capability of our youth. It inspires them towards artistic excellence, nurtures them to reach beyond their potential and develops them through rigorous training within a vibrant, supportive, and diverse environment. Established formally in 1980, the Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO) has welcomed generations of youths into the transformative world of orchestral music, performing locally and representing Singapore on prestigious international stages.
The SNYO family consists of a main orchestra and a junior orchestra, with over 180 members aged 10 to 21 from more than 60 schools across Singapore, guided by professional musicians in rehearsals, sectionals, and masterclasses. Recognised by the Ministry of Education as a National Project of Excellence, members of the SNYO have their participation in the orchestra recognised as a Co-Curricular Activity.
Joshua Tan was appointed as the Principal Conductor of the SNYO in 2018, and Seow Yibin has held the position of Associate Conductor since 2022.
Over the years, the SNYO has performed in concert venues and music festivals across Australia, Austria, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. Other musical endeavours include collaborations with the Singapore Ballet, TwoSetViolin and side-by-side concerts with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
The SNYO is part of the Singapore Symphony Group, which also manages the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Singapore Symphony Choruses, as well as the VCHpresents chamber music series, the Singapore International Piano Festival, and the biennial National Piano & Violin Competition.
2
Joshua Tan
Principal Conductor
2nd Prize winner of the 2008 Dimitri Mitropoulos International Competition, Singaporean conductor Joshua Kangming Tan’s rise to prominence on the international scene has been marked by successful debuts in Carnegie Hall, Philharmonie Berlin, Mariinsky Hall and Bunkamura.
A graduate of The Juilliard School and the Eastman School of Music (High Distinction), he is an awardee of numerous scholarships and awards, such as the Young Artist Award, Singapore (2011), Bruno Walter Memorial Foundation Award, NAC-Shell Scholarship, and the SSO/MOE Scholarship.
Joshua has conducted orchestras all around the world. These orchestras include the Mariinsky Theater Orchestra, Beethoven Bonn Orchestra, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Urals Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, Tokyo Metropolitan Orchestra, Sapporo Symphony Orchestra, Okayama Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Taipei Symphony Orchestra, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Evergreen Symphony Orchestra, Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, China Philharmonic Orchestra, Juilliard Orchestra amongst others. He has studied with various eminent conductors—James DePreist, Charles Dutoit, David Zinman and Kurt Masur—and worked with many others, such as Michael Tilson Thomas, Ingo Metzmacher and George Manahan.
Known as a versatile conductor, Joshua is at home with symphonic, operatic and ballet works. His substantial repertoire for opera includes La Traviata, Rigoletto, Der Fliegende Holländer, Lohengrin, Carmen, Don Giovanni, Madama Butterfly, Così fan tutte, Turandot, among others. He has also served as cover conductor for Christoph Eschenbach and Lorin Maazel. He is also equally adept with music for ballet, film and multimedia. For the latter, his extensive work include Disney’s Fantasia and Pixar, all of BBC’s Blue Planet Series, West Side Story, Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, James Bond and more. The Singapore premiere of Bernstein’s Mass, conducted by Joshua, was voted the best classical concert of the year 2018 by The Straits Times. For an unprecedented second year, his performance of the opera Don Pasquale was also voted the best classical concert of the year 2019 by The Straits Times
Joshua is presently Principal Conductor of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra and Director of the Asia Virtuosi. He has served successful stints as Associate Conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Resident Conductor of the National Center for the Performing Arts (China) Orchestra, and as Principal Conductor of the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra. Highlights of this season include debuts with the Melbourne, New Zealand and Manila Symphony Orchestras, Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Taipei Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestre National de Bretagne, a new opera premiere in Hong Kong, return engagements to Hong Kong Philharmonic, Evergreen Symphony, the operas Das Rheingold, Die Fledermaus, Pagliacci and Cavalleria Rusticana, and with the Singapore Ballet, The Nutcracker and Cinderella
3
Claudia Toh
clarinet
Claudia Toh started learning the clarinet at the age of 13 in her secondary school band. Her passion for music led her to audition for the Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO) in 2019. She has since performed for numerous concerts in orchestral and chamber music settings as principal and bass clarinet.
As a member of the SNYO, she performed side-by-side with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in the concert SSO Gala: Ray Chen Plays Sibelius in 2022. In 2023, she participated in the Taiwan National Symphony Youth Orchestra Summer Camp as a nominee from SNYO. Most recently, she was selected as the winner of the SNYO Concerto Competition 2024.
An active ensemble musician, Claudia has participated in various music festivals including the Wind Bands Association of Singapore Youth Band Festival 2021, and has also appeared with the Orchestra of the Music Makers, nWinds and Raffles Winds.
Claudia currently studies clarinet under Mr Vincent Goh. Outside of classical music, she plays the keyboard in a band, exploring a wide range of genres from indie pop to rock to jazz. A first-year law undergraduate, Claudia hopes to continue developing as a musician and is grateful for all the opportunities and support throughout her musical journey.
4
Singapore National Youth Orchestra
Joshua Tan PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR
Seow Yibin ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR
Peter Stark PRINCIPAL GUEST CONDUCTOR
Lim Meng Keh PERCUSSION TUTOR
FIRST VIOLIN
Ethan Chong CONCERTMASTER - RAVEL, COPLAND
Keith Ong CONCERTMASTER - RACHMANINOFF
Chloe Chee
Jacob Cheng
Maximus Chia
Kayli Choo
Hannah Chung
Galen Gay
Khloe Gui
Regan Ho
Aidan Kwek
Donghun Lee
Ng Zu Ni
Samuel Soekarno
Yeo See Kang
Janelle Yuen
SECOND VIOLIN
Goh Shi Eun PRINCIPAL - RAVEL, COPLAND
Tina Gao PRINCIPAL - RACHMANINOFF
Celestia Choo
Fu Yu
Colette Goh
Ethan Gu
Keila Kwa
Lim Jing Rui
Raeanne Song
Jesper Tai
Raphael Teng
Tong Xinran
Liam Young
VIOLA
Wang Qian Hui PRINCIPAL - RAVEL
Lareina Lim PRINCIPAL - COPLAND
Ethan Ong PRINCIPAL - RACHMANINOFF
Elliott Chan
Skyler Goh
Kuah Ying Ching
Jayden Kwan
Elvis Ng
Suah Zen Rong
Calista Tan
CELLO
Dayna Ong PRINCIPAL - RAVEL
Timothy Chua PRINCIPAL - COPLAND, RACHMANINOFF
Evan Khoo
Zachary Lau
Lloyd Loh
Stanley Ngai
Stacy Tah
Alexa Tan
Ephraim Tan
Shavaun Toh
Narella Widjaja
Yan Yutong
Yang Jingtong
Aidan Yeong
DOUBLE BASS
Li Jiaying PRINCIPAL - RAVEL
Clarice Lim PRINCIPAL - COPLAND
Alexsalma Herbert PRINCIPAL - RACHMANINOFF
Hoo Rei Hon
Lee Yan Yu
Lim Rui Yi
FLUTE
Justin Damhaut PRINCIPAL - RAVEL
Carolynn Choo PRINCIPAL - RACHMANINOFF
Chan Xingwei
Christie Chong
PICCOLO
Carolynn Choo
Justin Damhaut
OBOE
Tok Rei PRINCIPAL - RAVEL
Kayden Yap PRINCIPAL - RACHMANINOFF
Lucas Chan
COR ANGLAIS
Kayden Yap
Tok Rei
5
CLARINET
Qian Wanni PRINCIPAL
Ng Zhi Jian
Amelie Peh
Darren Sim
BASS CLARINET
Low Xin
ALTO SAXOPHONE
Michellina Chan*
BASSOON
Li Ruidan PRINCIPAL
Wang Xintong
CONTRABASSOON
Kee Ruihan*
HORN
Chloe Lau PRINCIPAL - RAVEL
Andrew Lee PRINCIPAL - RACHMANINOFF
Ethan Chng
Joshua Goutama
Keak Jing Yi
Amira Qistina
Caden Rafiuly
TRUMPET
Joshua Tan PRINCIPAL - RAVEL
Tobias Tan PRINCIPAL - RACHMANINOFF
Sara Han
Quentin Heng
TROMBONE
Reema Chatterjee PRINCIPAL
Wang Bo
Calista Lee
BASS TROMBONE
Benjamin Lim
TUBA
Tomoki Natsume*
TIMPANI
Kilian Muliady PRINCIPAL - RAVEL
Isaac Ng PRINCIPAL - RACHMANINOFF
PERCUSSION
Gladys Chew
Amos Choo
Chloe Miranda
Kilian Muliady
Isaac Ng
Vareck Ng
Alon Simons
HARP
Chloe Liow PRINCIPAL - RAVEL
Chloe Lam PRINCIPAL - COPLAND, RACHMANINOFF
PIANO
Nicholas Loh*
Kayden Yap
* Guest musician
6
MAURICE RAVEL (1875–1937)
Alborada del gracioso (1905)
Ravel was one of the great masters of orchestration. He wrote so idiomatically that it is difficult to imagine his orchestral works as having been conceived for any other medium. Yet such is the case with Alborada del gracioso, one of his most brilliant evocations of Spain. Originally a virtuoso work for solo piano, it is more often heard in the concert hall in the composer’s own orchestral transcription. The title is impossible to translate precisely; it implies something along the lines of a court jester singing to his ladylove at dawn, and perhaps dancing a bit as well.
In 1905, Ravel composed a set of five piano pieces collectively entitled Miroirs, of which Alborada is the fourth. Not until 1918 did he find the time to create his orchestral version. The first performance in this form was given on 17 May 1919 in Paris by the Pasdeloup Orchestra under RhenéBaton.
The work is laid out in three connected sections. The brilliantly scored outer parts are characterised by vibrant rhythms set to the simulated strumming of a guitar and the clack of castanets (at first simulated, later actual). Boston Symphony annotator Steven Ledbetter refers to this music as “a glorious racket. As a real ‘dawn song’, the work would be catastrophic; in addition to waking the lovers, it would arouse the entire neighbourhood.” The more meditative central section (beginning with the improvisatory bassoon solo) evokes more the clownish aspect of the work’s title.
Programme note by Robert Markow7
AARON COPLAND (1900–1990)
Clarinet Concerto (1948)
I. Slowly and expressively Cadenza
II. Rather fast
Copland’s clarinet concerto was written firmly in the middle of his “American” period, when he wrote in a very modal style influenced by the simple harmonies of “lowbrow” American folk music. He drew inspiration from Stravinsky and Milhaud, the great eclectic composers of the generation, and that led him to create a very “open” aesthetic, characterised by long periods of diatonic “white-note” harmonies interspersed with angular, chromatic commentary.
The opening of the concerto is a perfect example of this open sound: widely-spaced intervals, all in C major, which at the concerto’s premiere in 1950 would have allowed legendary jazz clarinettist Benny Goodman to exhibit his wonderful lyrical tone and seemingly infinite lung capacity. Copland called it his “bittersweet lyricism” and admitted it originated from deep personal and social issues.
A brilliant cadenza follows this calm, where the clarinet explodes into flurries of arpeggios and very angular changes in pitch. Many of the themes that appear in the second movement are introduced here, and when the orchestra comes back in it does so in the “wrong key”, where the music shifts for much of the rest of the concerto.
The finale consists of a kind of rondo form, with many influences from Latin and jazz music, nodding to Goodman’s pedigree. Though written specifically for Goodman’s talent, Copland went slightly overboard and Goodman found the initial clarinet part too difficult. After some changes, though, the premiere was a roaring success and Copland’s work earned its place as the first important American clarinet concerto.
8
Programme note by Thomas Ang
SERGEI RACHMANINOFF (1873–1943)
Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 (1940)
I. Non allegro – Lento – Tempo I
II. Andante con moto (Tempo di valse)
III. Lento assai – Allegro vivace
Rachmaninoff, despite spending half of his life in America and dying in Beverly Hills, always considered himself to be “a Russian composer”, though he took pains to disclaim that he did not deliberately make efforts “to be original, or Romantic, or nationalistic, or anything else”. His music, solidly backward-looking in a time when composers were fighting to express the psychological disruptions of the ravages of war, was solidly tonal, probably informed by his own career as one of history’s greatestever pianists, playing the music of the composers that came before him. He resisted the fashions for the music of his younger countrymen, especially Stravinsky and Prokofiev, when writing for himself and for anyone else. However, something of the rhythmic insistence typical of the younger firebrands shows up in this late work by the old master, with the nervous march of the first movement and the twitchy, apocalyptic ending to the third. But if there was one thing Rachmaninoff could not resist, it was in indulging his penchant for the big tune, and the pride of place in this triptych goes to the famous alto saxophone solo: deeply steeped in Russian sentiment, and accompanied by the piano, it is a beautiful moment of chamber music in a busy score.
The second movement is full of Hollywoodian nostalgia, especially in the string writing with closely-spaced strings recalling the Golden Age of cinema. Some of Rachmaninoff’s most sensuous harmony lends glamour to this decadent dance hall, flecked with woodwind arabesques and an extremely unusual viola-section solo. The increasing anxiety going into the final moments of this waltz is surprisingly foreboding. Perhaps a reference to Poe’s Masque of the Red Death? After all, Rachmaninoff knew Poe’s stories, having set a Russian translation in The Bells…
That uneasy sense blooms into open doom, with the mediaeval Dies irae quoted prominently all over the finale. There is dark magic in this music, with augmented chords flitting around ghost-like, and skeletons dancing with the bony sounds of the xylophone and tambourine. In the irregular rhythms and syncopations it is easy to hear Stravinsky, but Rachmaninoff loved the old chant all his life, and accords it the utmost respect in a formal coda that is at once incredibly cleverly composed and full of powerful, terrifying emotion. America of 1943 could have hardly missed the tinges of death in this great composer’s final work. Rachmaninoff himself died two years later, only a month after finally becoming an American citizen.
9
Programme note by Thomas Ang
Schools represented in the Singapore National Youth Orchestra
Anderson Secondary School
Anderson Serangoon Junior College
Ang Mo Kio Secondary School
Anglican High School
Anglo-Chinese Junior College
Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road)
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) (Junior College)
Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) (Secondary)
Anglo-Chinese School (International)
Bukit Panjang Government High School
Bukit Timah Primary School
Catholic High School (Secondary)
CHIJ St. Nicholas Girls’ School (Secondary)
Chung Cheng High School (Main)
Chung Cheng High School (Yishun)
Clementi Town Secondary School
Crescent Girls’ School
Damai Primary School
Dover Court International School
Dulwich College (Singapore)
Dunman High School (Junior College)
Dunman High School (Secondary)
Edgefield Secondary School
Eunoia Junior College
Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary)
Gan Eng Seng School
Hai Sing Catholic School
Hwa Chong Institution (Junior College)
Hwa Chong International School
Jurong Pioneer Junior College
Methodist Girls’ School (Secondary)
Nan Hua High School
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Nanyang Girls’ High School
Nanyang Junior College
Nanyang Primary School
Nanyang Technological University
National Junior College
National Junior College (Secondary)
National University of Singapore
Ngee Ann Secondary School
NUS High School of Mathematics and Science
Pasir Ris Secondary School
Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School (Primary)
Raffles Girls’ Primary School
Raffles Girls’ School (Secondary)
Raffles Institution (Junior College)
Raffles Institution (Secondary)
River Valley High School (Secondary)
School of the Arts, Singapore
Singapore American School
Singapore Chinese Girls’ School
Singapore Management University
Singapore Polytechnic
Springfield Secondary School
St. Gabriel’s Secondary School
St. Joseph’s Institution (Junior College)
St. Joseph’s Institution (Secondary)
St. Joseph’s Institution Junior
St. Margaret’s School (Secondary)
St. Patrick’s School
Tanglin Trust School
Tanjong Katong Girls’ School
Tanjong Katong Secondary School
Tao Nan School
Temasek Junior College
Temasek Junior College (Secondary)
Temasek Polytechnic
Unity Secondary School
Victoria School
10
Singapore Symphony Group Administration
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Kenneth Kwok
DEPUTY CEO, PROGRAMMES & PRODUCTION
Kok Tse Wei
DEPUTY CEO, PATRONS & CORPORATE SERVICES
Jenny Ang
CEO OFFICE
Shirin Foo
Musriah Bte Md Salleh
ARTISTIC PLANNING
Hans Sørensen (Head)
Artistic Administration
Jodie Chiang
Jocelyn Cheng
Michelle Yeo
OPERATIONS
Ernest Khoo (Head)
Library
Lim Lip Hua
Wong Yi Wen
Orchestra Management
Chia Jit Min (Head)
Charis Peck Xin Hui
Kelvin Chua
Production Management
Noraihan Bte Nordin
Nazem Redzuan
Leong Shan Yi
Asyiq Iqmal
Ramayah Elango
Khairi Edzhairee
Khairul Nizam
COMMUNITY IMPACT
Community Engagement
Kua Li Leng (Head)
Whitney Tan
Lynnette Chng
Samantha Lim
Terrence Wong
Choral Programmes
Kua Li Leng (Head)
Regina Lee
Chang Hai Wen
Mimi Syaahira
Singapore National Youth Orchestra
Ramu Thiruyanam (Head)
Tang Ya Yun
Tan Sing Yee
Ridha Ridza
ABRSM
Patricia Yee
Lai Li-Yng
Joong Siow Chong
Freddie Loh
May Looi
William Teo
PATRONS
Development
Chelsea Zhao (Head)
Nikki Chuang
Sarah Wee
Sharmilah Banu
Eunice Salanga
Digital & Marketing Communications
Cindy Lim (Head)
Chia Han-Leon
Calista Lee
Germaine D’Rozario
Myrtle Lee
Hong Shu Hui
Jana Loh
Sherilyn Lim
Elizabeth Low
Corporate Communications
Anderlin Yeo
Elliot Lim
Customer Experience
Randy Teo
Dacia Cheang
Joy Tagore
CORPORATE SERVICES
Finance, IT & Facilities
Rick Ong (Head)
Alan Ong
Goh Hoey Fen
Loh Chin Huat
Md Zailani Bin Md Said
Human Resources & Administration
Valeria Tan (Head)
Janice Yeo
Fionn Tan
Netty Diyanah Bte Osman
Organisation Development
Lillian Yin
11
Acknowledgements
SNYO COMMITTEE
Ms Liew Wei Li (Chair)
Prof Qin Li-Wei
Mr Benjamin Goh
Ms Vivien Goh
Dr Kee Kirk Chin
Mrs Clara Lim-Tan
WITH SUPPORT FROM MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, ARTS EDUCATION BRANCH
Mrs Clara Lim-Tan
Director, Arts Education
Mr Low Ying Ning
Deputy Director, Music & Drama
Ms Chek Yui Hong
Assistant Director, Visual and Performing Arts CCA & Singapore Youth Festival
Mr Gerald Teo Arts Education Officer, Music
THE SINGAPORE NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA WISHES TO THANK
National Arts Council
Tutors of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra
Parents of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra members
Principals of the participating schools
12
OF SINGAPORE SYMPHONY GROUP
RECOGNISED BY
SUPPORTED BY
MEMBER PATRON SPONSOR