Singapore, 23 July 2012 (Monday) – The Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) will present its 2012/13 season opening gala concert A Law Wai Lun’s Concert: The Glorious Lion City on 17 & 18 August 2012 (Friday & Saturday), 8pm at the Singapore Chinese Orchestra Concert Hall. This concert will feature works by SCO’s newly appointed composer-in-residence Law Wai Lun. SCO will also share the stage with Indonesian Padnecwara Dance Group, local singer Robert Fernando, local artiste Guo Liang, Capital Radio 95.8FM DJ Xu Bing, SPH Chinese Choir and SOKA Chorus. This concert will be conducted by SCO Music Director Tsung Yeh.
Law Wai Lun’s Intermezzo will kickstart the concert. Incorporating the style of fantasia with a dance performance by the Indonesian Padnecwara Dance Group, as well as Nanyang music elements, Law Wai Lun’s Prince Sang Nila Utama and Singa will narrate the legendary tale of the prince’s encounter and founding of the island. This piece is inspired by the legend of the founding of Singapura by Prince Sang Nila Utama, vividly depicts the charismatic lion, the advancement of the majestic fleet led by Sang Nila Utama, the Prince’s hunting scene and the eventual establishment of the “Empire of Singapura”. The dance and orchestra version of Prince Sang Nila Utama and Singa will be premiered in this concert.
In celebration of Singapore’s 47th birthday, renowned local singer Robert Fernado will sing the National Day Parade Song Medley accompanied by the SCO. This rearrangement by Law Wai Lun includes the favourite NDP theme songs that every Singaporean would be able to singalong such as We Are Singapore, One United People and Home. Local artiste Guo Liang and Capital Radio 95.8FM DJ Xu Bing will perform with the SPH Chinese Choir and SOKA Chorus in the finale The Celestial Web. The Celestial Web is a modern poem of 117 verses specially written by Tan Swie Hian for the 2003 Singapore Arts Festival. The poem took reference from the Avatamsaka Sutra, which expounds the noble philosophical insights of the interconnectiveness of sentient and non-sentient beings and the universal love that should be shared among all. This work is performed in the form of a symphonic orchestration of recitation and orchestra amidst the supplementing poems and themes that illustrate the distinctive characteristics of each section in the piece. The overture begins with a trill from the strings in crescendo with rising notes to depict the boundless gigantic web, following a dialogue between the high flute and the low melodic solo of the cello that seemingly depicts a conversation between Heaven and Earth.
Graduated from Beijing’s Central Conservatory of Music in 1967, Law Wai Lun first became a full-time composer at the Central Newsreel and Documentary Film Studio in Beijing, and was later appointed a lecturer at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. He has composed many western, Chinese orchestra and choir compositions, many of his compositions can be found in movies and television production. Music scores of commemorative movies of the late Chinese leaders, Mao Ze-dong and Zhou En-lai were written by Law Wai Lun. He has also produced the background music of the commemorative movie of the eminent Chinese writer, Lu Xun. He was nominated for the Most Outstanding Young Music Composer for Chinese Movie in 1980. His masterpieces include The Plum Blossom Story, Prince Sang Nila Utama and Singa, The Celestial Web, Admiral of the Seven Seas and the Elegance of Nanyin.
Concert Details
A Law Wai Lun’s Concert: The Glorious Lion City
Date: 17 & 18 August 2012 (Friday & Saturday)
Time: 8pm
Venue: SCO Concert Hall
Ticket Prices: $95, $75, $55, $35/$19*, $25/$14*
Tickets from SISTIC
*Concession prices
Open Rehearsal (Free Admission)*
Date: 16 August 2012 (Thursday)
Time: 7pm – 8.30pm
Venue: SCO Concert Hall
*Exclusive to Friends of SCO and concert ticket holders
Pre-concert Talk (Free Admission)
Date: 18 August 2012 (Saturday)
Time: 6pm
Venue: Singapore Conference Hall, Exhibition Hall.
Please contact Media Officers for more information, photographs and interviews.
Media Contacts
Pang Ze Shuen
Executive (Marketing Communications)
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
DID: 6557 4037 / 8404 1944
Toi Liang Shing
Executive (Marketing Communications)
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
DID: 6557 4020 / 9620 8280
Koh Mui Leng
Assistant Manager (Marketing Communications)
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
DID: 6557 4047 / 9833 0556