Singapore, 21 December 2023 (Thursday) – Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) welcomes in the Year of dragon in January 2024 with two concerts, namely the “Enchanting Sceneries: Xu Zhijun and SCO” and our annual flagship Chinese New Year concert – “Rhapsodies of Spring 2024”. The “Enchanting Sceneries: Xu Zhijun and SCO” concert marks SCO’s first collaboration with the Xinjiang traditional folk instrument Tanbur. It will also be the first time for Professor Xu Zhijun to perform on the same stage with SCO after more than ten years.
SCO presents “Enchanting Sceneries: Xu Zhijun and SCO” concert on 13 January 2024, 7.30pm
Professor Xu Zhijun will use his “enchanting” baton to bring the audience on a tour of the vast land of China. Many classics such as Tune of Peking Opera, Gada Meilin Symphonic Poem, Symphonic Poem – Hymm of Mount Li, Beautiful Jiangnan and Capriccio of River Dabo will be presented during the concert. Xu Zhijun is a distinguished Professor and a supervisor to doctoral candidates at the China Conservatory of Music, as well as the Dean of the Chinese Music Department at the conservatory. He is also the Principal Conductor and Chairperson of the Chinese Orchestra set up by China Conservatory of Music. As a renowned conductor active in the contemporary music circle, Xu has collaborated extensively with numerous orchestras and opera houses both within China and beyond, leading musicians to perform at some of the best musical halls around Europe, Asia, the US, and Africa.
The SCO will commence the concert with Tune of Peking Opera, a piece arranged by renown composer Gu Guanren. Thereafter, SCO will present Symphonic Poem – Hymm of Mount Li, composed by Rao Yuyan; Gada Meilin Symphonic Poem, composed by Xin Huguang, Arranged by Liu Wenjin; Beautiful Jiangnan, arranged by Qu Chunquan and Impressions of Loulan, a pipa and tanbur concerto performed by Pipa Principal Yu Jia and Tanbur musician Marhaba Nurmamat.
Composed by young composer Wang Yunfei in 2015, Impressions of Loulan is written for the pipa, tanbur, and orchestra, as a commission by the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, is a piece written to bring together the pipa, tanbur, and orchestra in a multi-layered collaboration. The composer cleverly chose the two instruments with the most canny connection to the Silk Road, namely the pipa and tanbur, with which he takes us on an exploration of the Western Region of China. By following the musical trail, we come to Loulan, the treasure trove of the West, where we take a retrospective look at its history, one of a forgotten civilization and lost splendour. The piece reawakens our dormant memories of the ancient city of Loulan and brings to life its bustling scenes; before our eyes emerges a dense network of river channels, clear water and luxuriant greens, and crowded clusters of buildings. Through the rich musical language, the composer pays tribute to this glorious piece of Chinese culture and human civilization.
The final piece of the night is Capriccio of River Dabo is composed by He Xuntian. This piece won the first prize in the China Folk Music Competition in 1983. It is divided into two movements being played continuously. The first movement: In the golden evening of dusk, strains of enchanting music and the light footsteps of the dancers by the riverside fill the air. The second movement: A musical portrait of the deep night, where under the shadows of trees and around a bonfire, the Dabo people rejoice in songs and dances.
One of the highlights include: for the final piece, the SCO also invited the Vocal Associates Festival Choruses to sing in the form of humming, which may better reflect the broad and endless feeling of the Dabo River, creating a visual and auditory feast for the audience. A concert not to be missed! Grab your tickets from SISTIC now! The concert duration is 1 hour 30 minutes, there will be an autograph session after the concert.
SCO Presents Rhapsodies of Spring 2024 concert on 26 & 27 January 2024, 7.30pm
SCO welcomes in the Year of dragon with our annual flagship Chinese New Year concert - Rhapsodies of Spring 2024. Sheng musician Kevin Cheng will charm the crowd with his rendition of Sheng Concerto, while Drum Feng and Taman Jurong CC Juboon Dragon & Lion Dance Troupe are invited to be part of the festivities. SCO will also be collaborating with Mediacorp CAPITAL 958 DJs Yeow Seng Yong and Goh Weiying, hyping up the mood for this festive season! Conducted by SCO Principal Conductor Quek Ling Kiong, Rhapsodies of Spring 2024 concert will be held on 26 and 27 January 2023 (Friday & Saturday), 7:30pm, at SCO Concert Hall.
Hosted by CAPITAL 958 DJs Yeow Seng Yong and Goh Weiying, the Rhapsodies of Spring 2024 concert is proudly presented by Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) and Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre (SCCC). A surprise awaits all as this also marks the first collaboration with Drum Feng and Taman Jurong CC Juboon Dragon & Lion Dance Troupe, and together, they will present Dragon Dance, composed by Xu Changjun. Sheng musician Kevin Cheng will charm the crowd with his rendition of Sheng Concerto titled Spring at the Seaside, composed by Lo Leung-Fai. This dragon-ful concert is not to be missed!
Mr Quek Ling Kiong shared, “As we usher in the Year of dragon, the Rhapsodies of Spring 2024 concert will feature a wonderful performance of dragon dance. There are surprises in it, don’t miss it! Other than the all-time favourites like Spring Festival Overture, SCO also hopes to capture the spirit of the dragon with pieces such as Dragon, a classic that will be presented with a fresh new take, and Spring Returns SG, which will be infused with new musical elements. Sheng musician Kevin Cheng will serenade the crowd with his rendition of Sheng Concerto titled Spring at the Seaside, composed by Lo Leung-Fai. The energetic and vibrant Drum Feng and Taman Jurong CC Juboon Dragon & Lion Dance Troupe will bring the energy to the next level! A not-to-be missed, fun and uniquely Singapore Chinese New Year concert to be enjoyed with family and friends!”
SCO will commence the concert with popular and evergreen Lunar New Year tunes such as Spring Festival Overture, composed by Li Huanzhi, adapted by Sim Boon Yew, and Celebrating the New Year, rearranged by Law Wai Lun. For many years, the former has been the opening number and crowd favourite. Composed by Yao Min, rearranged by Dayn Ng Chee Yao, Spring Returns SG is an example of classics with a twist, bringing a spectacular soundscape of tunes!
In conjunction with the year of Dragon, the SCO will be performing Dragon Leaps to the East, composed by Liu Changyuan, and also the Singapore premiere of Dragon, recomposed by Law Wai Lun. Drum Feng kicks off their first collaboration with SCO and will be taking the stage with a rousing drum performance to festive beats with Rise Of Feng, composed by Glen Ng, Rearranged by SCO sheng musician Kevin Cheng. Last but not least, Drum Feng and Taman Jurong Community Club Juboon Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe jointly presents Dragon Dance, to round up Rhapsodies of Spring 2024 concert with a blast! A concert not to be missed! Grab your tickets from SISTIC now! The concert duration is 1 hour 30 minutes.
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SISTIC Link: https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/spring0124
Tickets (Excludes Booking Fee)
Live concert - $80, $60, $40, $20
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SCO Chinese New Year outreach concerts – bringing festive tunes to the community, nearer to you
- SCO Goes to Queenstown Community Centre
Date & Time: 6 January 2023, 6pm – 7pm
Location: Queenstown CC MPH, Level 1
FREE Admission
Embrace new beginnings with Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO)! Under the baton of Associate Conductor Moses Gay, SCO will weave a tapestry of melodies at the Queenstown Community Centre, spreading a new and refreshing cheer to the community. SCO will present a series of familiar tunes such as Full Moon Blossoms, TV Themes Suite, Spring on the Xiang River, Spring, The Ceilidh and etc. Join SCO for an enchanting evening that transcends the ordinary and kickstart a year filled with hope and inspiration in 2024!
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Annex A
Programme list for Enchanting Sceneries: Xu Zhijun and SCO concert
- 《京调》|| 顾冠仁编曲
Tune of Peking Opera || Arranged by Gu Guanren
- 《音诗–骊山吟》|| 饶余燕作曲
Symphonic Poem – Hymm of Mount Li || Composed by Rao Yuyan
- 《嘎达梅林》|| 辛沪光作曲、刘文金编曲
Gada Meilin Symphonic Poem || Composed by Xin Huguang, Arranged by Liu Wenjin
| 中场休息 Intermission |
- 《江南好》|| 瞿春泉编曲
Beautiful Jiangnan || Arranged by Qu Chunquan
- 《楼兰意象》|| 王云飞作曲
Impressions of Loulan || Composed by Wang Yunfei
- 琵琶:俞嘉 Pipa: Yu Jia
- 弹拨尔:买尔哈巴•努尔买买提 Tanbur: Marhaba Nurmamat
- 《达勃河随想曲》|| 何训田作曲
Capriccio of River Dabo || Composed by He Xuntian
- 合唱团:声乐联盟合唱团 Choir: Vocal Associates Festival Choruses
- 合唱指挥:许爱敏 Chorus Mistress: Khor Ai Ming
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Programme list for Rhapsodies of Spring 2024
1.《春节序曲》|| 李焕之作曲、沈文友移植
Spring Festival Overture || Composed by Li Huanzhi, Adapted by Sim Boon Yew
- 笙协奏曲
《春之海滨》|| 卢亮辉作曲
Spring at the Seaside || Composed by Lo Leung-Fai
- 笙：郑浩筠 Sheng: Kevin Cheng
3.《龙》|| 罗伟伦作曲 (新加坡首演 Singapore Premiere)
Dragon || Composed by Law Wai Lun
4.《龙跃东方》|| 刘长远作曲
Dragon Leaps to the East || Composed by Liu Changyuan
--- Intermission (15:00) ---
- 打击乐与管乐
《新：时代》|| 黄伟杰作曲、郑浩筠改编
Rise Of Feng || Composed by Glen Ng, Rearranged by Kevin Cheng
- 打击乐：FENG 鼓Percussion: Drum Feng
6.《春回SG》|| 姚敏作曲、黄志耀改编
Spring Returns SG || Composed by Yao Min, Rearranged by Dayn Ng Chee Yao
7.《贺新年》|| 罗伟伦改编
Celebrating the New Year || Rearranged by Law Wai Lun
- 《龙舞》|| 徐昌俊作曲
Dragon Dance || Composed by Xu Changjun
- 打击乐 Percussion：FENG 鼓Drum Feng
- 舞龙：达曼裕廊民众俱乐部裕文龙狮团Dragon Dance: Taman Jurong Community Club Juboon Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe
About Singapore Chinese Orchestra
Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) is Singapore’s only professional Chinese orchestra. Inaugurated in 1997, the orchestra made up of more than 80 musicians took on the twin role of preserving traditional arts and culture and establishing new frontiers through the incorporation of Nanyang music elements in its repertoire. SCO has impressed a broadening audience with its blockbuster presentations and is fast establishing itself among its counterparts around the world. Known for its high-performance standards and versatility, the SCO is recognized through invitations to perform at numerous prestigious events locally and internationally. In line with its vision to be a world-renowned people’s orchestra, SCO continues to inspire, educate and communicate through its music.
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