Singapore, 4 June 2015 (Thursday) – Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) kickstarts the SG50 season with a gala concert to celebrate Singapore’s golden jubilee. Titled Towards the Future — SCO Celebrates SG50, this concert will be held on 3 July 2015 (Friday), 7.30pm at the Esplanade Concert Hall. Talented local artistes including veteran Singapore actor Lim Kay Tong, vocalist Robert Fernando, vocal band MICappella, award-winning pianist Serene Koh will perform with SCO. Music Director Tsung Yeh will conduct this concert.
SCO will illustrate the journey of our nation’s 50 years of independence through five parts in this concert. The prelude will feature the first prize winning composition from 2011’s Singapore International Competition for Chinese Orchestral Composition, A Stroll in the Lion City by Xie Xiang Ming, which depicts Singapore’s multi-cultural heritage and diverse facets of life.
The second part, which illustrates the early establishment of Singapore, will feature Law Wai Lun’s music depiction of Hong San See and Phoon Yew Tien’s rearranged Reminisce Those Years – to recollect the challenging days of building our nation. Hong San See (also known as “Temple on the Phoenix Hill”, currently located at Mohamed Sultan Road) is an important cultural holding, and won the Asia-Pacific Conservation Award in 2010 bestowed by UNESCO. The music of Hong San Seereflects the situation of the Min Nan people (one of the Singapore’s early Chinese settlers), who have received the torch from generations past and continue to write their magnificent histories into the future of Singapore.
The third part is a tribute to Singapore’s founding father Lee Kuan Yew, where SCO expresses its highest respect to our founding prime minister. Composer Eric Watson’s newly commissioned composition – An Independent Note – will carry an excerpt of Lee Kuan Yew’s speech during Singapore’s Independence Day, which will be narrated by Lim Kay Tong.
The fourth part, which illustrates the development of Singapore, will be performed by first prize winner of the National Violin and Piano Competition 2013 (Senior category)’s Serene Koh, who will play piano concerto Singapore Capriccio. Local vocal band MICappella will serenade with a selection of local songs such as Xi Shu Chang Liu (Liang Wern Fook), Moonlight in the City (Chen Jiaming) and Here We go (MICappella). Robert Fernando will sing a rousing medley of National Day theme songs which include the most heart-warming Home.
The finale Ode to Singapore, a newly commissioned symphonic cantata by Law Wai Lun, will be a presentation to describe the multicultural vibrancy Singapore today. Accompanied by the Vocal Consort chorus, this composition expresses the affection of the people to our nation. This concert is SCO’s musical gift to Singapore, for another marvelous 50 years ahead!
Conductor: Tsung Yeh Narrator: Lim Kay Tong Vocal: Robert Fernando Piano: Serene Koh
Vocal band: MICappella Choir: Vocal Consort
Concert details:
Towards the Future – SCO Celebrates SG50
Date: 3 July 2015 (Friday)
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall
Ticket Prices: $78, $68, $48/$19*, $38/$14* (exclude SISTIC fee)
Tickets from SISTIC
*Concession prices
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