SSO Bravissimo! July 2017

BRAVISSIMO! THE QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE SINGAPORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

JUL 2017 VOL.18 / NO.3 MCI (P) 113/05/2017

MASAAKI SUZUKI

Mozartian magnificence with Japanese Maestro INTERVIEWS WITH ANDREW LITTON & WONG KAH CHUN A NEW SEASON BEGINS NEW MOTIFS, NEW MOVEMENTS MAKOTO OZONE JAZZY JOLLY NIGHT

CONTENTS

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SSO News

CroSSwOrd

Spotlight: Andrew Litton & Wong Kah Chun

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SSO News

Patrons and Partners

Symphony Society: CafĂŠ Society

16 Backstage

Editors Cindy Lim, Leon Chia Writers Peggy Kek, Myrtle Lee, Hong Shu Hui, Cheryl Pek On the cover Masaaki Suzuki conducts the SSO BraviSSimO! is published by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

Printed by Naili Print Media Pte Ltd. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher.

SSO NEWS 03

MASAAKI SUZUKI MOZART WITH A JAPANESE TOUCH On April 28, famed Japanese conductor Masaaki Suzuki, founder of the Bach Collegium Japan, returned to conduct the SSO in an allMozart programme at the Esplanade Concert Hall, opening the night with the graceful G minor Symphony No. 40. The vocal soloists and the combined choir of the Singapore Symphony Chorus and the Philharmonic Chamber Choir commanded rapt attention with their awe-inspiring voices in the Requiem.

MAKOTO OZONE JAZZY JOLLY NIGHT Japanese Jazz pianist Makoto Ozone was back in Singapore on April 8 to perform Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major and George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Together with the SSO led by Associate Conductor Joshua Tan, Ozone gave a sprightly performance of Ravel’s energetic and enthralling piece, interspersed with moments of tenderness and lyricism.

The signature clarinet wail that opens Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue marked another wave of jazzy inspiration from Ozone, who subsequently closed the concert with two of his own compositions as encores. The concert also featured The Nutcracker Suite arranged by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn as well as Jeff Tyzik’s Symphonic Swing arrangement.

SSO NEWS

MESSIAEN TURANGALÎLA SYMPHONY

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Last performed by the SSO in 1994 under Choo Hoey, 20th century French composer Olivier Messiaen’s signature work, the Turangalîla Symphony sounded in the Esplanade Concert Hall on April 1. Floating on the siren song of the unique electronic instrument, the Ondes Martenot (played by Cynthia Millar), the symphony bewitched audiences throughout its 75-minute span. Guest pianist Andreas Haefliger and the SSO under Lan Shui provided an introduction prior to the performance – the appreciative final applause proving the triumph of Turangalîla’s universal message of love.

TAN DUN FAREWELL MY CONCUBINE On April 20, an enthusiastic audience got a chance to participate in a performance as eminent Chinese composer Tan Dun enabled our mobile phones with recordings of birdsong to augment the orchestra in his tone poem Passacaglia: Secret of Wind and Birds. Equally enthralling was the rendition of his Concerto for Piano and Peking Opera Soprano: Farewell My Concubine, featuring Xiao Di. Her evocative and dramatic vocals lit up the stage under the baton of Tan Dun, who also conducted the SSO in Bartók’s The Miraculous Mandarin and Dance Suite.

SSO NEWS

SSO 2016/17 SEASON CLOSE SWANSONG FOR A VETERAN

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The SSO’s 2016/17 season closed spectacularly at Victoria Concert Hall on May 19 and 20, with Frank Peter Zimmermann taking on Beethoven’s beloved Violin Concerto under the direction of Music Director Lan Shui. The concerts also saw the swansong of Zhang Jin Min, SSO’s Principal Bassoon for 30 years. Sharing the limelight with long-time friends Han Chang Chou on the French horn and Ma Yue on the clarinet, the trio presented Crusell’s rarely heard triple-wind Sinfonia Concertante.

(Bottom right) SSO Chairman Goh Yew Lin and Lan Shui present outgoing Principal Bassoon Zhang Jin Min with a bottle of wine

SSO NEWS 06

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY! CLASSICS IN THE PARK The orchestra held its annual Mother’s Day Concert amongst the lush greenery of the Singapore Botanic Gardens on May 14. The serene and elegant tunes of Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Massenet filled the evening air as Associate Conductor Jason Lai read out messages of appreciation from the audience dedicated to their mothers, along with gifts of flowers from us.

The free concert concluded with an encore in the form of the Mandarin evergreen classic The Moon Represents My Heart.

The Singapore Symphony Orchestra is excited to announce that its managing company, Singapore Symphonia Company Limited has been rebranded as the Singapore Symphony Group (SSG). Says SSG Chairman Goh Yew Lin, “The scope of the Company has grown over the years to cover a range of classical music offerings beyond the SSO. Given that all the business units still have a close link to the SSO, it was only natural that an identifiable name like the Singapore Symphony Group emerged as the right name for the Company.” Befittingly, a brand new logo design and mobile-ready website have also been rolled out in conjunction with the announcement of the 2017/18 season. In addition, the management team of the SSG will also be relocating to a new office space at Bencoolen Street later in 2017.

Test yourself in our new CroSSwOrd! Your clue: SSO 2017/18 season.

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CroSSwOrd DOWN: 1. Composer daydreaming in winter

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2. Andrew Litton’s first concert as principal guest conductor 8 __ 2017 3 4

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3. This composer will conduct his own composition this season 5. Clarinet soloist 6. President’s Young Performers solo instrument 8. Young Leeds Piano Competition winner, playing Beethoven

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11. Sponsor in the air CROSS: 4. Gabrieli, Handel, Biber, Vivaldi and Peter Hansen 6. Piano concerto and string quartet with same nickname 7. Discovering not Brahms, not Berlioz, but him 9. Lan Shui conducts his four symphonies

Answers on the back page.

10. Berlin Philharmonic Concertmaster will play his concerto

SSO NEWS

A NEW SEASON BEGINS NEW MOTIFS, NEW MOVEMENTS

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SPOTLIGHT 08

ANDREW LITTON THE GREATEST JOB THERE IS Singapore is not new to Andrew Litton, our newly appointed Principal Guest Conductor. He has not only had a taste of conducting the SSO, but also the food of our little island. “You only have to take one look at me to realize that food is very important to me!” he exclaims. He makes it a point to make local friends quickly, he adds, as musicians always know where to get the best food. Xiao long bao, chilli crab, cereal prawns, satay – Andrew recalls some of dishes he hopes to taste again offstage this coming September, “but the key is to score an invite to the home of Lynnette Seah, co-concertmaster of the SSO. Besides her violin talents, this lady can cook!”

Andrew’s passion for the SSO is palpable. “The one mysterious and often elusive ingredient of a conductor’s relationship with an orchestra is the chemistry, and from the very first time I conducted the SSO, I could feel the positive energy between us. Being appointed to this position confirms my feelings!

Spending four weeks a year with this superb ensemble is a dream come true.”

We can’t wait to hear what he has in store for us. “I pride myself in having a very large repertoire, and having 100% Russian roots gives me a certain caché in Russian repertoire. Having said that, I look forward to presenting some of the best music America has produced as well as learning and presenting Asian music, an area that I have not yet begun to explore.

Some of the most rewarding musical experiences I have had in my 12 years as Music Director of the Bergen Philharmonic in Norway was the exposure to Nordic music. I conducted many premieres and we toured with many new pieces that spotlighted Norwegian cultural excellence. At the end of the day though, my favorite composers for Symphony Orchestra include Mahler, R. Strauss, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich – I like music that takes us on a journey, reaches all of our emotions, has colors and levels of expression that can change our lives!”

And indeed, his decision to become a conductor, made when he was age 10, has changed his life. “How many people are lucky enough to have gotten to live their dream for almost five decades? The power of music to change lives, to unite people, to soothe and heal – these are things which help to keep you humble and inspired. There is never a moment when I take my responsibility for granted, and I similarly expect the same from an orchestra. We potentially have the greatest job there is.”

Andrew Litton performs with the SSO on 8 Sep and 10 Nov 2017.

Leon Chia

I have performed both the Beethoven and Tchaikovsky several times, but never together in one programme. For my full subscription debut in Singapore this August, I am elated that we are playing both works in the same evening.

Musically and aesthetically, they create a pair of extreme contrasts. The concert begins with three of the grandest and most dazzling chords possible in the Beethoven, and ends with a horrifying descent into darkness and fatality in the Tchaikovsky. I like this narrative, and approach both pieces as a coherent whole.

WONG KAH CHUN BRINGING ART TO LIFE BraviSSimO spoke to Singaporean conductor Kahchun Wong, whose growing eminence in the international music scene has seen him appointed as a Dudamel Conducting Fellow for the Los Angeles Philharmonic 2016/2017 season, and Chief Conductor of the Nuremberg Symphony Orchestra from 2018.

You have studied under Singapore musician/composers Phoon Yew Thien and Ho Chee Kong. What can you tell us about your journey coming from your forerunners in the Singapore music scene?

I am very fortunate to have been mentored by leading musicians in Singapore. They have inspired me by their exemplary musical standards and strong principles, which have shaped me into the person I am today.

I played the trumpet in my primary school band, and later joined the Singapore National Youth Orchestra. During my NS days, I began studying harmony and counterpoint with Phoon Yew Tien. We spent hours on weekends together, on such topics as music theory, recordings, orchestras, conductors and the local arts scene. He awakened and cultivated my spirit of curiosity, which laid the foundation for everything that would be coming my way.

Enrolling in the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (YSTCM) was a critical step, and I am grateful to Ho Chee Kong, who nurtured in me a sense of scholarship, responsibility and openmindedness in my musical research. But above all, YSTCM gave me the space to develop my own wings, and then encouraged me to extend them fully, in and out of Singapore. I am glad to have received my formative musical training in Singapore, and consider it a duty to give back to the community.

I am incredibly fascinated by the way Beethoven structured his Fifth Piano Concerto - it is not exactly a concerto where solo and tutti passages mainly alternate with each other as was the fashion in its time, nor is it close to a fully Romantic work where the soloist duels against the whole orchestra. I am currently quite convinced to approach it as chamber music, with the woodwind section and the timpanist viewed as integral soloists in a concerto grosso style, interacting intimately with the pianist.

Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony is a work of great genius with not one superfluous moment in his score. The first movement contains an earth-shattering climax in which the world is explosively ruptured. The inner movements seemingly provide relief from the cruel calamity surrounding them – the crippled waltz is followed by a hollowly triumphant march that always excites audiences into helpless but necessary applause.

But when the first notes of the finale interrupt the clapping, it almost feels like a horrifying gasp of pure hysteria. The psychological apex of the final lament never fails to break what is left of my heart. So where might the ultimate climax of the symphony be? Could the answer lie in the silence that follows the final heartbeats of the double bass?

What advice do you have for Singaporean musicians, young and not-so-young, on the idea of working as a musician?

There are many different fields in which one can function as a musician – a Suzuki violin pedagogue, a church choir director, an orchestral conductor, a composer, a voice teacher, a music therapist, and so on. I have two golden rules for myself. First, always do my best and have no regrets. I once made a promise to myself that I would never stand in front of an orchestra unless I was absolutely prepared. And that means simple, honest hard work at the desk or at the library. “Not bad already” is not good enough! Second, stay true to the cause. Whenever I feel exhausted or distracted, I remind myself why I want to perform music. It’s not about fame or fortune - there are other professions which provide better material compensation. As musicians, we are entrusted with the responsibility of bringing great art to life. Of course, a dram of scotch also helps!

Kahchun Wong conducts the SSO on 25 Aug 2017, with pianist Shai Wosner.

Leon Chia

SPOTLIGHT

You’ll be conducting two of the most beloved works in all of western classical music, the Emperor Concerto and the Pathétique Symphony – what is your personal view of these two works?

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SSO NEWS 10

VICTORIA WELCOMES YOU VCH OPEN HOUSE The VCH Open House on May 24 and 25 brought musical fun to over 2,800 participants of all ages! The festivities began with the world-wide premiere of Anna’s Promise, a multi-media production narrating the joy and inspiration in the pursuit of music. Performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and led by Associate Conductor Joshua Tan, the soloist was our Principal Double Bass, Guennadi Mouzyka.

Visitors were treated to an exhilarating and educational session by NADI Singapura where they learned the basics of percussion technique on traditional drums. Choral performances by the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir also served to entertained the audience. Throughout the day, there were historical tours and exclusive backstage tours of the VCH where participants got to experience a day in a musician’s life.

The Science of Music exhibition allowed participants to learn how instruments in the orchestra work, besides giving them a hands-on opportunity to play some notes and make their own simple instrument.

SSO NEWS

SINGAPORE SYMPHONY CHILDREN’S CHOIR SSCC @ ISTANA & ANNIVERSARY CONCERT The Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir made its Istana debut with a programme of diverse and rousing choral music on May 1. Despite the warm weather, the 2,000-strong crowd gathered near the stage and under shade, savouring melodies like Over The Rainbow, Acabaca Soda Cracker, Stand By Me and You Raise Me Up. His Excellency, President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Mrs Mary Tan were the special guests for the event.

The SSCC held its 11th Anniversary Concert at the Victoria Concert Hall on 27 May, led by Choirmaster Wong Lai Foon and Associate Choirmaster Darius Lim. The SSCC showcased their vocal finesse and also impressed everyone with their dance moves while singing Echoes of the Lost World. On top of celebrating their anniversary, the choir launched its very first album, And I’ll Sing Once More, which was enthusiastically snapped up by supporters. The occasion also saw the debut of the newest member of the Singapore Symphony family – the brand new Singapore Symphony Youth Choir.

And I’ll Sing Once More is available from iTunes, Amazon, and at the SSO pushcart during concert nights.

For kids who love to sing, join the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir this September! The SSCC Experience will be held on 4 & 5 September, and the SSCC Auditions will fall on 24 September.

Registration has begun, and will close on 28 August and 17 September respectively.

Please visit www.sso.org.sg/sscc for details.

(Bottom Left) Both choirs received a word of congratulations from Guest of Honour Mrs Rosy Ho, who, together with her husband Mr Christopher Ho, are the SSCC’s Principal Champions.

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SSO NEWS 12 06

24TH SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL PIANO FESTIVAL YOUNG TALENTS AND VETERAN MASTERS The Victoria Concert Hall played host to the 24th Singapore International Piano Festival from June 1 - 4. Joseph Moog from Germany opened the festival with a programme of Haydn, Chopin, Debussy and Liszt and returning Canadian pianist Wong Chiyan treated the audience to a night of Mozart, Chopin, Liszt and Busoni, the latter of whom he takes a special interest in. Esteemed Turkish pianist HĂźseyin Sermet took the stage on day 3 of the festival. Encouraging audience participation, Sermet did an improvisation on three notes (F#, A-flat and B-flat) given by the audience as one of his encore pieces. Celebrated virtuoso Stephen Kovacevich closed the festival with Brahms, Schubert, Chopin and Beethoven. The two piano veterans also shared their wealth of knowledge in masterclasses for students from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts and Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music.

Post-recitals, each pianist met eager fans for autographs and photo opportunities, concluding each night with wonderful festivity. In all, over 2,000 attendees graced the 2017 Piano Festival.

What’s in a name?

That which we call a rose…

Want to know why the Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s recording studio is called the Rose Studio?

In 2015, Mrs Rosy Ho and her husband, Christopher, made a generous donation to the SSO for a much-needed recording studio to be set up at the Victoria Concert Hall, Home of the SSO. In recognition of their timely contribution, the SSO named the fully equipped digital studio after Mrs Ho. The couple are longtime supporters of the Singapore Symphony Group, “We believe that classical music is something beautiful that needs to be preserved and want to do our part to keep this for our future generations.”

They also believe in encouraging talented young people and recently made another gift to support the development of the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir. In addition, Mrs Ho has been a volunteer on the SSO Ladies League for over a decade, providing strong support to all its fundraising initiatives.

Mr Christopher Ho & Mrs Rosy Ho

I’m a student and I’ve attended SSO concerts, with the help of Swire. Me too!

The Swire company is another SSO partner who believes in the importance of making classical music accessible to young people.

With the support of Swire this past year, students from all over Singapore – from Angsana Primary School to Zhenghua Secondary School – have been able to catch SSO playing at the Esplanade Concert Hall and learn more about the beauty of classical music.

Annual donations from Swire enable SSO to lower the price of tickets for students so that more schools can afford to organise music expeditions. With these gifts, SSO has also been able to arrange music appreciation talks at the schools to help many of these first-time concert-goers better enjoy their concert experience.

Since January 2013, Swire has made it possible for over 30,000 students in Singapore to attend SSO performances at both the Esplanade and the Victoria Concert Hall.

Peggy Kek Director, Development and Partnerships

PATRONS & PARTNERS

TWO SPECIAL GIFTS FOR YOUNG MUSIC LOVERS

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SYMPHONY SSO NEWS SOCIETY

Guest Artist Mina Kaye performing with the SSO, conducted by Associate Conductor Joshua Tan

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Mr & Mrs Ian Gay and Mr & Mrs Tan Chien Yuen

Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir conducted by Mrs Wong Lai Foon

Douglas & Odile Benjamin with Maestro Lan Shui

SYMPHONY SOCIETY

CAFÉ SOCIETY With “Café Society” as its theme, this year’s Singapore Symphony Orchestra Benefit Dinner took place at the Shangri-La Hotel on April 22. The distinguished occasion was attended by over 400 guests including Professor Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. A generous sum of $1.16 million was raised, an amount which will go towards the nurturing of young talents in Singapore, through supporting groups such as the Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO) and the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir (SSCC). Befittingly, the evening’s entertainment featured the SSCC and Mina Ellen Kaye, the award-winning young Singaporean musical theatre performer. This year, Christopher and Rosy Ho have collectively been given the special donor title of Principal Champion of the SSCC. They have pledged $300,000 to be given over three years, and additionally donated $25,000 towards the recording and production of SSCC’s debut CD.

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Judy Hunt, Maisy Koh, and Celeste Basapa

A SSCC member presenting a bouquet to Mrs Rosy Ho, Principal Champion of the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir.

From left to right, members of the SSO Ladies’ League with guest-of-honour Amb Tommy Koh, SSO Council Member, SSG Chairman Goh Yew Lin and SSG CEO Chng Hak-Peng

BACKSTAGE

ALLEN MEEK

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Born into a non-musical military family in Dayton, Ohio in the USA, Allen Meek’s first experience with classical music was through a music teacher at his primary school. At the age of 8, Allen picked up the violin, but after fiddling with it for a year, he realised it was not his cup of tea. A band demonstration one year later left him torn between the beautiful sound of the clarinet and the simplicity of the trombone. The rest is history given that he is today the SSO’s Principal Trombone.

“I’m also a self-taught pianist, and play it fairly regularly. I’ve always felt I should’ve been a pianist but I never grew up with any pianos!”

Allen enjoys scuba diving and underwater photography

Allen describes the defining moment when he realized his calling in music. He was a competitive skateboarder and lacrosse player before watching the 1984 film Amadeus changed his course for life. He has never considered alternative career paths ever since.

“The freedom of spirit that Mozart had and the serious beauty of the music left a huge impression on me,” he intimates with a sparkle in his eyes.

Allen auditioned for the position of Principal Trombone in December 1997, after learning of the vacancy from his childhood friend Jamie Hersch, currently Associate Principal Horn of the SSO. At the invitation of Lan Shui, Allen joined the orchestra for a trial week of rehearsals and concerts, and followed through with the audition.

From USA to Singapore. Childhood friends Jamie Hersch (Associate Principal Horn) and Allen

Besides his role in the orchestra, Allen is also a committed educator and has been an Artist Faculty of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music since its inception.

Allen’s fervour on the topic of his hobbies is equally evident and infectious. In his free time, Allen enjoys scuba diving and underwater photography, and credits his fellow colleague William Tan (first violin) for introducing him to the exotic hobby. On quieter days, Allen enjoys reading, listening to music, visiting museums and spending time with family and friends.

“I also love to hike and try to find every opportunity to do so. To me, being outdoors is the best antidote to the rigors of everyday life. Plus, I seem to always have energy to burn!”

Cheryl Pek

Enjoying the king of fruits

CroSSwOrd Answers: DOWN: 1. Tchaikovsky 2. September 3. Järvi 5. Kriikku 6. Euphonium 8. Tsybuleva 11. SIA CROSS: 4. Baroque 6. Emperor 7. Bartók 9. Brahms 10. Mendelssohn