Preview: Bizet’s Carmen by Singapore Lyric Opera

You can’t keep a good opera down, and this August, Singapore Lyric Opera (SLO) brings back classic work Bizet’s Carmen for the fourth time, directed by SLO Artistic Director Nancy Yuen. Previously performed in 1998, 2002 and 2011, Carmen tells the story of the intriguing world of smugglers, cigarette factory workers, soldiers and most importantly, the bold, gorgeous, fiery and free-spirited titular Romani woman at the … Continue reading Preview: Bizet’s Carmen by Singapore Lyric Opera

Dwarf: An Interview with The Opera People Founders Jonathan and David Charles Tay, and Shridar Mani

The world as we know it can be a cruel place, where the slightest of differences can provoke discrimination and prejudice. With The Opera People’s latest production, they’re set to tackle this head-on, with a new version of Alexander von Zemlinsky’s Der Zwerg (The Dwarf), in its Southeast Asian premiere. In speaking to the founders of The Opera People, namely Jonathan Charles Tay, David Charles Tay and … Continue reading Dwarf: An Interview with The Opera People Founders Jonathan and David Charles Tay, and Shridar Mani

Preview: Dwarf by The Opera People

After their debut production of Love and Duty in 2018, The Opera People, in collaboration with The Musician’s Initiative (formerly The Young Musicians’ Foundation Orchestra) returns to the Esplanade Annexe Studio to present Dwarf – Alexander Zemlinsky’s Der Zwerg in its Southeast Asian premiere. Inspired by Oscar Wilde’s short story The Infanta’s Birthday, the original Der Zwerg revolves around a dwarf, who is presented as a gift to the … Continue reading Preview: Dwarf by The Opera People

Review: Fantasy Island Cruise by L’arietta Productions

An operatic holiday from L’arietta. In the grand scheme of modern opera, L’arietta Productions has time and again proven that the art form doesn’t have to be a stuffy affair, presenting accessible, fun operatic works of art onstage for both opera vets and newcomers to enjoy. With Fantasy Island Cruise, the company presents a double bill of light-hearted works, namely Joseph Horowitz’s Gentleman’s Island and Gian Carlo … Continue reading Review: Fantasy Island Cruise by L’arietta Productions

Preview: Fantasy Island Cruise by L’arietta Productions

This April, homegrown opera company L’arietta Productions is here to take audiences on a trip aboard the Fantasy Island Cruise! Directed by Richard Tan, with music directed by Aloysius Foong, the company is set to perform an operatic double bill of works at the Arts House Play Den, presenting Joseph Horowitz’s Gentleman’s Island and Gian Carlo Menotti’s chamber opera classic The Telephone. In Gentleman’s Island, two well-bred gentlemen find themselves shipwrecked … Continue reading Preview: Fantasy Island Cruise by L’arietta Productions

Review: In Our Manner of Speaking – The Clara Schumann Project by The Opera People

Celebrating the women of song in a casual setting. Located just off Joo Chiat Place, the campus-like The Yards stands quiet on a Saturday evening, the weather cool in the wake of a storm as we traipse over from a nearby bus-stop. Weaving our way in amidst the buildings to arrive at the third floor of Block 406, we find ourselves in the quaint NJ … Continue reading Review: In Our Manner of Speaking – The Clara Schumann Project by The Opera People

The Opera People’s In Our Manner of Speaking: An Interview with Producer Shridar Mani

International Women’s Day may be over, but that doesn’t mean we stop celebrating women and their achievements throughout the rest of the year. For their first production of 2019, The Opera People are presenting In Our Manner of Speaking: The Clara Schumann Project, in which the team commemorates the eponymous composer’s 200th birthday with a recital all about female composers and female voices, ranging from classical works to jazz, … Continue reading The Opera People’s In Our Manner of Speaking: An Interview with Producer Shridar Mani

Preview: In Our Manner of Speaking – The Clara Schumann Project by The Opera People

After a rousing debut last year with a contemporary version of Mozart’s Il Re Pastore set in a nightclub, The Opera People return once again to bring old operas into the new age with another modern, operatic performance this March. In commemoration of Clara Schumann’s 200th birthday, The Opera People present In Our Manner of Speaking: The Clara Schumann Project, a recital centering on female composers and … Continue reading Preview: In Our Manner of Speaking – The Clara Schumann Project by The Opera People

Preview: The Severing Sword (情断昆吾剑) by Nam Hwa Opera

Nam Hwa Opera rounds off its 55th anniversary celebrations with the world premiere of a brand new Wuxia Teochew Opera! Titled The Severing Sword, the opera will premiere in March 2019, and be directed by Toy Factory artistic direction Goh Boon Teck. Based on a popular wuxia novel by genre master Liang Yu Sheng, The Severing Sword follows a series of unfortunate events set into motion … Continue reading Preview: The Severing Sword (情断昆吾剑) by Nam Hwa Opera

Preview: Nam Hwa Blazes 《万紫千红》(January 2019) by Nam Hwa Opera

Nam Hwa Opera returns next January with the 3rd Anniversary edition of ‘Nam Hwa Blazes’! Presented at the Ci Yuan Community Club at 3pm and 7pm, the quarterly outreach performance presents Nam Hwa’s brightest talents as they’re given a platform to showcase classical Teochew Opera to the public. Best of all – it’s completely free to attend, and even if you can’t make it in person, the 7pm … Continue reading Preview: Nam Hwa Blazes 《万紫千红》(January 2019) by Nam Hwa Opera