25th Singapore International Piano Festival: Jeremy Denk (Review)

  Jeremy Denk guides lost audiences home in a series of three works by master composers Mozart, Beethoven and Bach.  American pianist Jeremy Denk is an intelligent man. The winner of a MacArthur ‘Genius’ Fellowship, Denk is a frequent contributor to publications such as The New Yorker and The Guardian. A contemporary of other acclaimed musicians such as Joshua Bell and Steven Isserlis, Denk’s intellect is … Continue reading 25th Singapore International Piano Festival: Jeremy Denk (Review)

Esplanade’s Next Stage: Singtel Donates S$10m to Fund Esplanade’s New Waterfront Theatre

Last Saturday, in conjunction with the Esplanade’s inaugural Gala evening in its fifteen years of existence, local telcomm company Singtel has announced its decision to donate S$10 million towards Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay’s development of its new mid-sized, waterfront theatre. Prior to the gala, Ms Yvonne Tham, CEO-Designate at The Esplanade Co Ltd, addressed members of the media and expressed her gratitude towards Singtel … Continue reading Esplanade’s Next Stage: Singtel Donates S$10m to Fund Esplanade’s New Waterfront Theatre

“What is Essential is Invisible to the Eye”: Going Behind The Story of The Little Prince at the Philatelic Museum

I first read The Little Prince when I received the English translation as a gift for my 10th birthday. Since the first time I prised open its covers to discover the deceptively simple, yet rich story within its pages, I’ve fallen in love with its quirky characters and unforgettable story of an extraterrestrial monarch’s travels through space, a story of courage, hope, and love. Often in the … Continue reading “What is Essential is Invisible to the Eye”: Going Behind The Story of The Little Prince at the Philatelic Museum

Review: Citizen Dog by The Finger Players

The spirits are at play in both reality and fiction in this new work tackling issues of land ownership and the foibles of human desire. Pu Songling’s monstrous 18th century collection of over 400 supernatural stories Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (Liaozhai Zhiyi) has remained fascinating over the years, with its quirky supernatural characters from failed scholars to alluring fox spirits interwoven with a strong satirical edge. … Continue reading Review: Citizen Dog by The Finger Players

Preview: Rainforest Fringe Festival 2018

KUCHING, SARAWAK – After a successful inaugural edition in 2017, Sarawak’s Rainforest Fringe Festival (RFF) returns this July for a second outing, here to promote and showcase the very best of Sarawakian art, craft, music, theatre, fashion, food, film, photography, and culture! Taking place from 6th – 15th July across various venues in Kuching, this year’s festival kicks off with SARAWAK: An Indigenous Journey, a new homegrown production … Continue reading Preview: Rainforest Fringe Festival 2018

25th Singapore International Piano Festival: Seong-Jin Cho (Review)

The Korean boy genius and Chopin/Debussy expert opens the 25th Singapore International Piano Festival. Maintaining a festival for 25 years is no mean feat, signifying how far the Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s Singapore International Piano Festival (SIPF) has come all this time. Delivering the opening address, SIPF artistic director Lionel Choi expressed how much the festival has grown, with the sheer amount of pianists and achievements … Continue reading 25th Singapore International Piano Festival: Seong-Jin Cho (Review)

Preview: Highlights of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra 2018/19 Season

The SCO returns home at last to the Singapore Conference Hall for their 2018/19 season. While awaiting the completion of renovations at the Singapore Conference Hall, the over eighty member Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) have led a sprawling nomadic life for the better part of their 2017/18 season, with a programme that spanned various venues across Singapore, ranging from UOB Plaza to Gardens by the … Continue reading Preview: Highlights of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra 2018/19 Season

Preview: Sing.Lang Concert (Sing.浪 2018) at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre Cultural Extravaganza

  The 2018 Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre Cultural Extravaganza wraps up this weekend after three weeks of festivities with a special two night concert featuring some of Singapore’s hottest stars singing the best of Singapore Chinese songs! The finale concert will feature a host of local superstars, including Sing! China finalists Joanna Dong and Olinda Cho, Singapore’s first Mandopop export Maggie Teng, and even the unexpected Benjamin Kheng of … Continue reading Preview: Sing.Lang Concert (Sing.浪 2018) at Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre Cultural Extravaganza

Storyfest 2018: A Treasury of Transformative Tales

When I think of stories, one of the first things I immediately associate them with is Ovid’s Metamorphoses. Besides being a collection of stories of the Greek gods and goddesses, I also think about the title itself, and how the act of storytelling is one that allows for metamorphosis. Deceptively simple, storytelling requires the storyteller to weave and transform their words, their body, their voice … Continue reading Storyfest 2018: A Treasury of Transformative Tales

Singapore International Piano Festival: An Interview with Pianist Seong-Jin Cho

Presented by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the 25th Singapore International Piano Festival begins this week, where several acclaimed pianists will be making their Singapore debuts, from the likes of the legendary Argentinian pianist Martha Argerich to Vietnamese-Canadian pianist Dang Thai Son. Opening the festival this year on 7th June is young South Korean prodigy Seong-Jin Cho. Born in 1994, he became the youngest-ever winner of Japan’s … Continue reading Singapore International Piano Festival: An Interview with Pianist Seong-Jin Cho