Ding Yi Music Company’s SG60 tribute pays tribute to the Singapore River, with Sharon Au at the fore.

A quiet, gentle river, yet her lifeblood runs deep and wide. That is the portrayal of the Singapore River in Ding Yi Music Company’s The River Remembers, an SG60-themed concert focusing on the river’s history and significance. From the very first notes, the concert traces a reflective journey through time, memory, and identity, expressed through the evocative language of Chinese chamber music, and flows with the same enduring vitality as the Singapore River itself.

The production opens with the erhu, its tender, sentimental tones immediately evoking the river’s whispers of history. We are invited to journey with veteran actress Sharon Au, whose portrayal of the Mother River carries an elegance and timelessness that commands attention. She glides through the space with ballet-like precision, her flowing dress acting almost as a secondary wave behind her, providing a visual and kinetic reflection of the river’s own undulating form.

Musically, the performance is lush and multidimensional. The strings, featuring the cello and double bass in particular, provide a warm, grounding oomph, while wind instruments like the sheng, horn, and dizi echo across the imagined banks, painting a vivid landscape of Singapore’s waters. Moments of lyrical calm give way to turbulent passages, mirroring the trials, uncertainties, and triumphs of both river and people.

The choreography by Cai Shiji, combined with dancers from Dance Ensemble Singapore, brings the narrative to life. When a young boy enters, learning to navigate the challenges of his world, the music swells in layers, evoking growth, resilience, and the passing of generations. Through these interactions, Ding Yi subtly underscores the interplay between tradition and modernity, between collective memory and personal journey.

The visual design is equally striking. Smart use of curtains and lighting mirrors the river’s changing moods, while Sharon’s costumes, particularly the veil-like dress that ripples as she moves, transform her into a goddess of water, a symbol of nurturing yet unyielding strength. Even in moments of subtlety, her expressions and gestures communicate depth and emotion without uttering a word, embodying the river’s adaptability and timelessness.

The narrative unfolds through decades: the optimism of 1965, the hardships of 1985, and the reflections of 1998. Each period is carefully delineated through music, movement, and staging. Scenes of sacrifice, resilience, and celebration remind us of the collective spirit carried forward by Singaporeans, while the young man’s sketches of the river serve as a poignant reminder not to forget our roots.

Under the musical direction and baton of Dedric Wong De Li, the orchestra navigates the complex score with sensitivity and precision. The finale, a resplendent celebration with the Singapore flag illuminated across the stage, culminates in a stirring rendition of Sunny Island. It is a moment that captures both pride and hope, leaving audiences contemplating the future while honouring the past.

The River Remembers harnesses Ding Yi’s penchant for making their concerts more than just music, and taking audiences on an immersive, poetic voyage through Singapore’s history and spirit, through lyrical storytelling and theatrical performance. Ding Yi Music Company demonstrates once again their willingness to explore new horizons, delivering a production that is both technically masterful and emotionally resonant. Sharon Au’s aura, the orchestra’s finesse, and the ensemble’s choreography converge to create a performance that is as moving as it is memorable, a testament to the enduring power of music, memory, and the Mother River herself.

Photo Credit: Ding Yi Music Company

The River Remembers plays on 16th August 2025 at the Drama Centre Theatre. More information available here