Singapore, 3 June 2014 (Tuesday) – At the invitation of the Shanghai Spring International Music Festival, Jiangsu Performing Arts Group and Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre to celebrate China-Singapore Suzhou Industrial Park’s 20th anniversary, the Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) went on a successful concert tour in China from 17 – 24 May 2014 to Shanghai, Nanjing and Suzhou with positive acclaim. The 82-member SCO debuted in these three cities with a showcase of SCO’s unique programme of cross-musical influence, and dazzled the Chinese audience with its unique brand of Chinese orchestra music with its own commissioned Nanyang pieces, to showcase the rich cultural diversity of Singapore and Southeast Asia. SCO also performed with kun opera artistes, renowned soloists and compositions from the three places to stay relevant and rooted in the three places. The orchestra has achieved an average house of above 90% for the concert tour.
SCO Board Chairman, Mr Patrick Lee said “We are proud to have the opportunity to bring SCO’s unique programme to the cities of Shanghai, Nanjing and Suzhou, and to receive rave reviews and confirmation of SCO’s progress in artistic excellence through these concerts.”
SCO made its first stop at the Sennheiser Shanghai Concert Hall on May 17 to debut at the prestigious Shanghai Spring International Music Festival. Titled “The Fusion of East and West”, this sold out concert of 1,100 audience was well-attended by the Consulate-General of the Republic of Singapore in Shanghai, representatives from the Shanghai Music Conservatory, sponsors and delegates of the music festival.
On 20 May, SCO performed at the Nanjing Zijin Theatre to 882 audience. The Guest-of-Honour for the evening was Minister of State, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Mr Teo Ser Luck, and he was accompanied by the provincial leaders of Nanjing, sponsors as well as representatives from the Jiangsu Performing Arts Troupe.
In Suzhou, SCO staged two concerts at the Suzhou Culture and Arts Center Grand Theatre. On 23 May, Minister of State, Prime Minister’s Office and Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth, Mr Sam Tan, was the Guest-of-Honour to the sold out concert and he was accompanied by Consul General Ong Siew Gay, and government officials from the Suzhou Industrial Park.
24 May’s concert was a specially choreographed children’s concert for the Chinese audience. Titled “A Music Weather Conversation” at the Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre Grand Theatre, the concert was hosted by renowned bilingual television host in Suzhou, Xin Wenrong.
The Fusion of East and West (17 May 2014, Sennheiser Shanghai Concert Hall)
Qin Li-Wei performing “Passage” Montage: Three Movements for Jazz Piano and
Chinese Orchestra
Jinling Rings Tunes from the Lion City (20 May 2014, Nanjing Zijin Theatre)
Han Lei with SCO in “The Silk Road Fantasia Suite”
The Legend of the Merlion (23 May 2014, Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre Grand Theatre)
Shen Fengying and Yu Jiulin performing SCO at the Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre
“Broken Dream” Grand Theatre
Singapore Chinese Orchestra Children’s Concert: A Music Weather Conversation (24 May 2014, Suzhou Culture and Arts Centre Grand Theatre)
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