Young violin prodigies given a chance to shine in Vivaldi’s iconic concerto.

Going beyond showcasing the capability of small ensemble orchestras, re:Sound Collective has embarked on a mission to take music even further, such as introducing new audiences to more classical music. In their latest performance, the collective has taken yet another step – bringing young musicians to the fore by providing them a platform to perform in front of a live audience, in the prestigious Victoria Concert Hall.

That is the basis behind Prodigious – The Trout & Four Seasons, which played last week. The performance opened with Schubert’s Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667, affectionately known as the Trout Quintet, due to its fourth movement being a set of variations on Schubert’s earlier Lied “Die Forelle” (“The Trout”). This first performance acts as a showcase of re:sound’s own musical prowess, with Edward Tan (violin), Martin Peh (viola), Lin Juan (cello), Julian Li (double bass) and Berlin-based pianist Shaun Choo.

Running with the theme of nature and its beauty, The Trout comprises five movements that reflect and evoke countryside walks, parties and celebrations in the outdoors amidst greenery and water bodies. While it begins simple, the movements go from pleasant to more enthusiastic and energetic, upbeat and frenetic, as a herald of life springing into being. Seated in a circle, all four string players work well in tandem, looking at each other before the start of each movement for the cue to begin, and when it does, they are perfectly in sync.

This is a work that allows for a large range of expressions, taking us on a journey reminiscent of a jaunty walk, amazed by the sights we are blessed with along the way. Pianist Shaun Choo is a highlight of the performance, striking the keys with vivid expression, his entire body moving along with the melody and clearly enjoying the process and playing, especially in the many flourishes present. To that end, The Trout Quintent ends up a very playful rendition of the sheet music, at times teasing an ending before returning to a familiar refrain from earlier movements, or like a tenacious trout leaping out of the water, showcasing exactly what re:sound collective is capable of.

In the second half of the evening, the collective presented Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. Possibly one of the most well-known classical music pieces out there, each violin concerti gives expression to one of the four seasons through the year, taking us through a year of the seasonal cycle of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Across each concerti, a young soloist is given the chance to take the spotlight, as led by violinist Yang Shuxiang. The collective prepares by standing in a circle, wherein each soloist takes their place in the centre, where all our attention is focused on them for each concerto.

Starting with Spring, twelve-year old Yuto Lim took the stage. Dressed in a navy suit, the young violinist looked professional, as he shook the hand of Shuxiang, before taking his place in the centre of the circle. In the Spring, Vivaldi’s composition is lively, almost a direct segue from The Trout as we imagine a gentle breeze while petals burst forth from buds in a floral shower. While rushed at times, Yuto is utterly focused on his playing, ensuring that every note is played accurately and correctly, aiming for perfection in conveying the spritely, sprightly joy of spring.

Moving on to Summer, and we’re introduced to Sophia Fang, the only female violinist among the four, who comes onstage in an elegant champagne dress. Summer is often seen as a more oppressive season, the coming of storms and searing heat, and of the four, remains one of the most technically complicated concertos. At the young age of eleven, Sophia puts all her concentration into this piece, and the results are impressive with how her bow moves so quickly, not only accurate but allowing her violin to sing, lilting and evocative, almost melting from the heat.

Autumn features fifteen year-old Jacob Chang, coming onstage in a black jacket and a mustard inner shirt to reflect the fall spirit. There’s a quiet, confident air to him that feels refreshing, and as he plays, he conveys the celebration of autumnal harvests and hunts, and celebration as villagers prepare for a long winter ahead. In many ways, his personality seems to suit this season, cool and calm but very aware of his own abilities, as he takes control of the piece, trusting the journey he’s taking us on, while the rest of the ensemble follows.

Finally, we end off with eleven year old Mark Chia, wearing a vest and bright blue inner shirt combo, to reflect the icy cold of Winter. Perhaps the most serious of the four concertos, there is an element of treachery and harshness to this piece that Mark plays with seasoned ease – of the four violinists, he seems to enjoy the experience of being onstage and almost bursting with joy as he feels every note, clear as day on his face as he rapidly plays, representing the chilly winds of winter coming in fast and blustery – and we enjoy it alongside him.

After each of their performances, leader Shuxiang allows the soloists a moment to smile and bow to the audience, each of them relieved to have achieved a job well done, before moving to give them a warm embrace. In conveying the power and beauty of nature, it is clear that re:sound collective has achieved their goal of expanding the scope of their company further still, bringing in such a diverse audience base into the concert hall, from students to older music lovers, here to witness the arrival of these new talents on the scene. As they take their final bows, all the stress seems to dissipate, and these young prodigies should be very proud of themselves for a job well done, in front of so many audience members who have clearly enjoyed their evening with re:sound collective.

Prodigious – The Trout & Four Seasons plays on 20th March 2024 at the Victoria Concert Hall. Tickets available frpm SISTIC