Singapore, 28 April 2016 (Thursday) – Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO)’s Homecoming series of concerts feature established Singaporean musicians who return to perform with SCO. The first Homecoming concert started in 2015 as part of SG50 initiative by SCO to bring back Singaporean musicians. This year, Homecoming IIcelebrates SCO’s 20th anniversary celebrations and will feature Singaporean string quartet T’ang Quartet and pianist Melvyn Tan on 4 June 2016 (Saturday), 7.30pm at Esplanade Concert Hall, under the baton of SCO Music Director Tsung Yeh.
T’ang Quartet was set up in 1992 and consists of members Ng Yu-Ying (first violin), Ang Chek Meng ( second violin), Lionel Tan (viola) and Leslie Tan (cello). Well-known for their innovative approach to music by pushing the boundaries of classical music, they have continued to evolve and delight audiences with their unique approach to music.
T’ang Quartet will showcase their virtuosity with their performance of Zhu Lin’s world premiere piece, Pastorale in Five Episodes in collaboration with SCO’s wind and percussion ensemble. This refreshing piece reflects the beautiful scenery and strong bonds of friendship between the people in the countryside. T’ang Quartet will also perform the world premiere piece by Gao Wei Jie, Fantastic Landscape of Rainforest – Reflections on Points and Lines with SCO’s plucked strings and percussion ensemble. This piece creates a dreamscape of the rainforest through its portrayal of the lush greenery and its vitality from the diverse animals found there.
Renowned pianist Melvyn Tan will debut with SCO in this concert. Melvyn Tan had gained international reputation in the 1980s with pioneering performances on the piano. He has performed at many leading concert halls including London’s Wigmore Hall and New York’s Lincoln Center. Furthermore, he has performed with numerous prestigious ensembles, such as the London and Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestras. Melvyn Tan was the artist-in-residence at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music from 2012 to 2015. In this concert, he will perform Piano Concerto in G Major by French composer Maurice Ravel and adapted for Chinese orchestra by Law Wai Lun. This piano concerto was composed in 1931 and reflects Maurice Ravel’s preference of the mode scale, creative harmony language and dance music rhythm in his composition. Jazz elements were also incorporated into this piece to create a unique music effect.
Audience can enjoy the world premiere of the Chinese Orchestra version of Garden Veils, composed by Associate Professor Ho Chee Kong and adapted by local composer Phang Kok Jun. John Sharpley’s Stirrings will be another world premiere piece in this concert. Stirrings has a special significance as it is both a tribute to the glorious rainforests of Southeast Asia and an encouragement to people to pursue more than a materialistic life. The composer felt the rainforest is the most encompassing force of nature in Southeast Asia and there are six scenes reflected in this composition to bring the audience on a journey to experience the various perspectives of a rainforest – Monsoon Storm, Sunrise through the Trees, Song of the Rainforest, Fire, Dance of Oneness, Rice Wine and Canopy Dreams.
Conductor: Tsung Yeh Piano: Melvyn Tan Ensemble: T’ang Quartet
Concert details:
Homecoming II
Date: 4 June 2016 (Saturday)
Time: 7.30pm
Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall
Ticket prices (before SISTIC fees): $70, $60, $45/$30*, $30/$20*
Tickets from SISTIC
*Concession prices
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