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)

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)

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

Taking Back Chinatown: An Interview with Koh Hui Ling and Jean Tay of Drama Box’s Chinatown Crossings

We’re at Drama Box’s home on Trengganu Street in Chinatown, interviewing Drama Box artistic director Koh Hui Ling and writer Jean Tay, when Hui Ling suddenly recalls: “We were talking to the uncles and aunties living in the area, and a common thing we heard from them was how so many of them said ‘Chinatown doesn’t belong to us anymore; it belongs to the tourists.’” … Continue reading Taking Back Chinatown: An Interview with Koh Hui Ling and Jean Tay of Drama Box’s Chinatown Crossings

Preview: Komedi Raya – An Interview with Mo Sidik

This Hari Raya, get ready as we welcome the first ever Malay standup comedy show in Singapore! Presented by DMR Productions, Indonesian comedian Mo Sidik and Kuala Lumpur based JD Raja Lawak will be in town this June to tickle your funny bone and bring laughter during this celebratory season. The larger than life Mo Sidik is one of Indonesia’s foremost comedians, being the first … Continue reading Preview: Komedi Raya – An Interview with Mo Sidik

An Interview with the Cast and Creatives of My Grandfather’s Road

“Eh, you think this one your grandfather’s road ah?” Is a common retort to careless drivers or pedestrians acting as if they own the roads. But in the case of Neo Kim Seng, it can be taken quite literally if you ever find him walking down Neo Pee Teck Lane, named after his grandfather. First presented in 2015 as an English-language monologue, a photo exhibition … Continue reading An Interview with the Cast and Creatives of My Grandfather’s Road

Macao Arts Festival 2018: An Interview with Choreographer Cheng Tsung-lung (Cloud Gate 2)

Closing off the 29th edition of the annual Macao Arts Festival is Taiwanese dance company Cloud Gate 2 with their performance 13 Tongues. First commissioned for the Taiwan International Festival of Arts in 2016, the work is inspired by the 1960s performer “Thirteen Tongues”, a street artist from Taipei’s oldest district. As an artist known for portraying multiple roles as he performed characters of all ages and genders, 13 … Continue reading Macao Arts Festival 2018: An Interview with Choreographer Cheng Tsung-lung (Cloud Gate 2)

And Suddenly I Disappear: An Interview with Director Phillip Zarrilli and Writer Kaite O’Reilly

For years, Singaporeans have considered disability arts on a different scale from regular performing arts, often relegating it to the point of charity or pity, and considering its performers ‘second class citizens’. This May, though, UK-based veteran theatremakers Phillip Zarrilli and Kaite O’Reilly will be showing Singapore and the world what deaf and disabled arts is really all about with their new production And Suddenly I Disappear: … Continue reading And Suddenly I Disappear: An Interview with Director Phillip Zarrilli and Writer Kaite O’Reilly

Pangdemonium’s Dragonflies: An Interview with Cast Members Adrian Pang, Elizabeth Morse and Jamil Schulze

In a little over a week, Pangdemonium returns with their second production of the year, following the incredible production of The Father in March. This time, they’ll be restaging their multiple Life! Theatre Award Winning original production Dragonflies by Stephanie Street. First staged at the 2017 Singapore International Festival of the Arts, Dragonflies follows the story of Singaporean man Leslie, as he finds himself forcefully evicted from his adopted home in the … Continue reading Pangdemonium’s Dragonflies: An Interview with Cast Members Adrian Pang, Elizabeth Morse and Jamil Schulze

EUFF 2018: A Meeting with Paavo Westerberg, Director of The Violin Player (Finland)

It’s not everyday one gets invited to Finnish Ambassador Paula Parviainen’s own residence for lunch. Arriving at the brightly lit apartment in the afternoon, we were impressed by the gorgeous view and aptly decorated walls with paintings by Finnish artists. During lunch itself, plates bearing Moomin characters were even used, very appropriate, considering how they’re some of the most popular and recognisable characters originating from Finland. … Continue reading EUFF 2018: A Meeting with Paavo Westerberg, Director of The Violin Player (Finland)