Singapore, 15 September 2015 (Tuesday) – After 2014’s successful China concert tour, Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) continues to share the uniqueness of SCO’s Nanyang music with the world.
SCO, as an arts ambassador of Singapore, will perform a two-night concert in Hong Kong on 17 and 18 October 2015, organized by the Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department. Conducted by Music Director Tsung Yeh, the best of Nanyang repertoire will be showcased to the Hong Kong audiences on 18 October at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre in the concert titled Essence of Nanyang. With the resounding success following the world premiere of the silent film concert in 2014’s Huayi Festival organized by Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, Ruan Lingyu’s The Goddess, will be performed in Hong Kong on 17 October at the Tsuen Wan Town Hall Auditorium. SCO’s concerts in Hong Kong are sponsored by Sino Group.
Singapore audiences will get to enjoy these two performances at the SCO Concert Hall. Essence of Nanyang concert, conducted by Music Director Tsung Yeh, featuring renowned tenor Warren Mok, well-known Chinese soprano Wu Bi Xia and SCO concertmaster Li Bao Shun, will be held on 2 October, while Ruan Lingyu’s The Goddesssilent film concert will be held on 3 October.
Essence of Nanyang Concert
Composer Zhao Dong Sheng’s arrangement of Guangdong music’s Thunder Storm and Drought will kickstart the concert. As this concert aims to share the beauty and uniqueness of Nanyang music, it will feature local composer Eric Watson, who was the 1st prize winner of Singapore International Competition for Chinese Orchestral Composition (SICCOC) 2006, with his composed piece Mahjong Khakis, and Malaysian composer Simon Kong Su Leong’s award winning piece Izpirazione II – Rambutan which won the 2nd Prize in SICCOC 2006.
Concertmaster Li Bao Shun will perform the huqin rendition of acclaimed Chinese composer Tan Dun’s Fire Ritual.
Composer Liu Yuan’s Symphonic Poem – Marco Polo & Princess Blue will be the highlight of the concert. Originally composed for the opening festival for Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay, it was world premiered by SCO at Esplanade’s opening festival in 2002. This symphonic poem illustrates the love story between Italian explorer Marco Polo and Mongolian Princess Blue. Marco Polo, under the order of the Mongolian King, was to escort the princess to Persia for her marriage. During the treacherous journey to their destination, they encountered a shipwreck and were washed ashore in Singapore. As time passes, they gradually developed feelings for each other on this beautiful island. Audience will experience the touching rendition of this love story by renowned tenor Warren Mok and soprano Wu Bi Xia as they illustrate this bittersweet romance with lyrics by Wang Yi Yan. SYC Ensemble Singers will be featured as the choir group for Essence of Nanyang concert in Singapore, while Opera Hong Kong Chorus and Opera Hong Kong Children Chorus will be the choir groups for Hong Kong’s concert.
Concert details of Essence of Nanyang concert:
Date: 2 October 2015 (Friday)
Time: 8pm
Venue: SCO Concert Hall
Ticket prices: $70, $60, $45/$30*, $30/$20* (exclude SISTIC fee)
Tickets from SISTIC
*Concession prices
Conductor: Tsung Yeh Tenor: Warren Mok Soprano: Wu Bi Xia Huqin: Li Bao Shun
Ruan Lingyu’s The Goddess – A Silent Film Concert
“The standing ovation that greeted this production should be sufficient inducement for more classic movies to be screened with orchestral accompaniment. “
~ Dr Chang Tou Liang, The Straits Times, February 2014
Born in Shanghai, Ruan Lingyu was a world renowned actress during the silent film era. Although she passed away at a young age of 24, she has participated in the production of at least 30 movies during her 8 years of acting career in which The Goddess is one of her most representative works.
Directed by Wu Yonggang, this deeply-moving film revolves around a single mum who went through numerous tribulations to bring up her son. Due to the harsh environment that they live in, she resorted to become a prostitute in order to earn a living and send him to school. Nevertheless, her son faced with discriminated in school and was eventually expelled. In a twist of fate, she met with a tyrant who constantly extorted money from her. During a tussle with the tyrant one day, she accidentally killed him and was sentenced to 12 years of imprisonment. Ruan Lingyu will delicately portray the emotions and inner struggles of the mother with her exceptional acting skills.
Ruan Lingyu’s The Goddess – A Silent Film Concert was a co-production between Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay and SCO with music accompaniment composed by local composer Law Wai Lun and Hong Kong composer Lincoln Lo. It was first presented in Huayi Festival 2014 and received high acclaim. With Ruan Lingyu’s realistic portrayal of her character and the beautiful orchestration by SCO, be immersed in world of The Goddess.
Concert details of Ruan Lingyu’s The Goddess – A Silent Film Concert:
Date: 3 October 2015 (Saturday)
Time: 8pm
Venue: SCO Concert Hall
Ticket prices: $70, $60, $45/$30*, $30/$20* (exclude SISTIC fee)
Tickets from SISTIC
*Concession prices
Ticket bundle for 2 Oct & 3 Oct’s concert: 20% discount
Conductor: Tsung Yeh Singapore Chinese Orchestra at 2014’s Huayi Festival
Hong Kong concert details:
Ruan Lingyu’s The Goddess – A Silent Film Concert
Date: 17 October 2015 (Saturday)
Time: 8pm
Venue: Tseun Wan Town Hall Auditorium
Ticket prices: HK$360， HK$280， HK$220， HK$160
Visit Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department website for purchase of tickets:
http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/program_940.html
Essence of Nanyang
Date: 18 October 2015 (Sunday)
Time: 8pm
Venue: Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Concert Hall
Ticket prices: HK$450， HK$360， HK$280， HK$200
Visit Hong Kong Leisure and Cultural Services Department website for purchase of tickets:
http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/CulturalService/Programme/en/music/program_830.html
Please contact media officers for more information, photographs and interviews.
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