Arts, Concert, Esplanade Concert Hall, Music, Preview, Singapore

Preview: The Night Garden by Jo Anne Sukumaran

The Night Garden marks the debut concert of Singaporean-based, Swiss-trained bassoon soloist Jo Anne Sukumaran, celebrating the launch of her solo album of the same name recorded in Montesilvano, Italy in 2018. The Night Garden is set to be an exhilarating journey of discovery leading audienc members through the dusk, emerging into the light, a safe space for the heart and mind. In a chamber setting, a select … Continue reading Preview: The Night Garden by Jo Anne Sukumaran

bakchormeeboyOctober 13, 2019October 19, 2019Leave a comment

Arts, Opera, Preview, Singapore

Preview: Don Pasquale – An Italian Opera with Singlish by The Arts Place

Marking their debut on the local arts scene, new company The Arts Place opens with a quintessentially Singaporean production – their very own local take on traditional Italian opera Don Pasquale…with Singlish! Reimagining the commedia dell’arte in present-day Singapore with an original script, Don Pasquale features fresh dialogue in English and Singlish, and relatable characters modelled after familiar figures in Singaporean society. The plot follows a young couple in … Continue reading Preview: Don Pasquale – An Italian Opera with Singlish by The Arts Place

bakchormeeboyOctober 12, 2019October 19, 2019Leave a comment

Arts, Dance with Me, Review, Singapore

da:ns festival 2019: Acosta Danza (Review)

Gravity defying, intricate choreography marrying the discipline of ballet with the richness of Cuban culture. Almost certainly one of the greatest dancers to have emerged from Cuba, Carlos Acosta is a modern legend in the world of ballet and contemporary dance. The first Cuban principal dancer of London’s Royal Ballet, Acosta’s meteoric rise is nothing short of spectacular, and as the opening show for this year’s … Continue reading da:ns festival 2019: Acosta Danza (Review)

bakchormeeboyOctober 11, 2019October 11, 2019Leave a comment

Arts, Review, Singapore, Theatre, Theatre Companies, Wild Rice

Review: Emily of Emerald Hill by W!ld Rice

A stellar performance from Ivan Heng at W!ld Rice’s new home. In many ways, Stella Kon’s Emily of Emerald Hill should be considered one of W!ld Rice’s most signature productions. Each time the company has staged it (including as their debut production back in the Jubilee Hall in 2000), W!ld Rice artistic director Ivan Heng has risen to the iconic role, one that he may perform in … Continue reading Review: Emily of Emerald Hill by W!ld Rice

bakchormeeboyOctober 10, 2019October 11, 20191 Comment

Arts, Interview, Singapore

Exhibition Extravaganza: An Interview with Benedict Yu, artist behind Are You Home?

Home is where the heart is. But for multidisciplinary artist Benedict Yu, the idea of home itself is a matter of contention, being a Third-Culture Kid born in Singapore but raised in Taichung, Taiwan. This mingling of identities, upbringing and cultures then creates a strange paradox and contradiction in Yu, as he struggles with feeling homesick for his childhood home in Taiwan while feeling an odd … Continue reading Exhibition Extravaganza: An Interview with Benedict Yu, artist behind Are You Home?

bakchormeeboyOctober 10, 2019Leave a comment

Arts, London, Preview, Theatre, travel

In London’s (Off) West End 2019: Tabard Theatre relaunches as Chiswick Playhouse with exciting first season

LONDON – In honour of the area’s illustrious theatrical heritage, the Tabard Theatre is reopening as Chiswick Playhouse. The Tabard brought important and innovative theatre back to Chiswick after a gap of over twenty years following the 1959 closure of the much-loved Chiswick Empire. A popular local venue, Chiswick Playhouse may be a small space but it has big ambitions and promises a fantastic opening season … Continue reading In London’s (Off) West End 2019: Tabard Theatre relaunches as Chiswick Playhouse with exciting first season

bakchormeeboyOctober 10, 2019Leave a comment

Arts, Concert, Music, Preview, Singapore

Preview: VCHpresents – Love and Longing, and French Connections by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Rising star Chinese tenor Long Long will be joining pianist Tengku Irfan for a delightful programme of songs and opera arias on Sunday 10th November. Titled Love and Longing, the chamber concert, which is part of the SSO’s VCHpresents season, features music by Massenet, Fauré, Verdi and Gounod. Long Long is one of the most exciting lyric tenors of his generation. Having graduated from the Shanghai … Continue reading Preview: VCHpresents – Love and Longing, and French Connections by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra

bakchormeeboyOctober 10, 2019October 10, 2019Leave a comment

Arts, London, Preview, Theatre, travel, travelXculture

Arts in the UK: Nevill Holt Opera wins Stirling Prize People’s Vote

LEICESTERSHIRE – The 400-seat theatre at Nevill Holt, home of Nevill Holt Opera, by Witherford Watson Mann Architects, has won the Stirling Prize People’s Vote with an incredible 28.8%. This online poll has been open to the public since July when the Stirling Prize nominations were first announced. The huge achievement of winning the People’s Vote shows how receptive the general public have been to this … Continue reading Arts in the UK: Nevill Holt Opera wins Stirling Prize People’s Vote

bakchormeeboyOctober 9, 2019October 10, 2019Leave a comment

Arts, Preview, Singapore, Theatre

Preview: Project Transit – Echoes of Waterloo by Veshnu Narayanasamy, in collaboration with Wong Chee Meng and Grain Performance & Research Lab

After catching their new production Happy Waiting back in July, Grain Performance & Research Lab are back this October to present a brand new site-specific work by Indian classical dancer Veshnu Narayanasamy and historian Wong Chee Meng, as the team dives deep into the history of Waterloo Street. Playing at Stamford Arts Centre, Project Transit: Echoes of Waterloo sees the team tackle an interdisciplinary work exploring cultural memories centred … Continue reading Preview: Project Transit – Echoes of Waterloo by Veshnu Narayanasamy, in collaboration with Wong Chee Meng and Grain Performance & Research Lab

bakchormeeboyOctober 9, 2019Leave a comment

Arts, KC Arts Centre, Music, musical, Review, Singapore, Theatre

Review: Being Mrs. Gandhi by HuM Theatre

The tragicomic life of the wife of India’s most iconic historical figure. There is perhaps no better time than now to remember India’s most internationally renowned figure – Mohandas Gandhi. Commemorating the 150th year since his birth, HuM Theatre celebrates the anniversary with a play about the Mahatma. Yet, rather unusually, instead of directly portraying Gandhi himself, writer and director Subin Subaiah has chosen to … Continue reading Review: Being Mrs. Gandhi by HuM Theatre