Music Review: Shostakovich with Leonidas Kavakos & Hannu Lintu by Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Under Hannu Lintu, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra delivers a gripping, emotionally-charged Shostakovich marathon alongside violinist Leonidas Kavakos. There was something revealing in a remark shared in conversation with Hannu Lintu beforehand, where he stated that the soloist, above all, must remain central. It is a simple philosophy, but one that shaped the entire evening. What emerged was not just a display of orchestral discipline, but … Continue reading Music Review: Shostakovich with Leonidas Kavakos & Hannu Lintu by Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Concert Review: Traversing 《“樂”无界》by Ding Yi Music Company

Ding Yi opens their 2026/27 season with a bold, celebratory selection of works that shows off the chamber ensemble’s capabilities and global vision. Opening its 2026/27 season, Traversing by Ding Yi Music Company makes an ambitious artistic claim: that a Chinese chamber ensemble can be not only rooted in tradition, but also be expansive, borderless, and globally resonant. Under the direction of maestro Tsung Yeh, … Continue reading Concert Review: Traversing 《“樂”无界》by Ding Yi Music Company

Music: A new chapter for Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s 2026/27 season with Hannu Lintu as Music Director

The Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s 2026/27 season signals a turning point. With Finnish conductor Hannu Lintu stepping in as Quantedge Music Director, the orchestra enters what its leadership describes as a period of discovery, recalibration and ambition. For Lintu, the decision to come to Singapore was not incidental, but deeply tied to a moment of transition in his own career. These kinds of engagements depend on … Continue reading Music: A new chapter for Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s 2026/27 season with Hannu Lintu as Music Director

Pesta Raya 2026: An Interview with Dr. Norzizi Zulkifli on adapting Macbeth for Randai and traditional arts in Malaysia

When Dr Norzizi speaks about randai, she does not describe it as an artefact or a genre. She describes the art form as something breathing, precarious, but alive. “Without ASWARA,” she says plainly of the National Academy of Arts, Cultural and Heritage of Malaysia, “randai is a dying traditional art form. It exists, but it is also not there. If you come to Kuala Lumpur … Continue reading Pesta Raya 2026: An Interview with Dr. Norzizi Zulkifli on adapting Macbeth for Randai and traditional arts in Malaysia

Preview: [title of show] (2026) by Sing’theatre

This April, theatre audiences in Singapore can look forward to Sing’theatre’s production of [title of show], a witty, fast-paced, Tony-nominated musical that turns the creative process itself into the main event. Equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, the show follows two writers racing against the clock to create a brand-new musical… about writing a musical. At first glance, it’s a clever meta-comedy. But beneath the sharp … Continue reading Preview: [title of show] (2026) by Sing’theatre

Culture Cartel 2027 goes bigger, louder, and more ‘Wicked’ than ever with The Wicked Wallop collaboration

In Singapore, street culture has never stayed stilll and come January 2027, it’s about to hit a whole new gear. After years of building a loyal following across fashion, art, music and subcultures, Culture Cartel 2027 is returning with its boldest vision yet. Taking over Sands Expo and Convention Centre and the Bayfront Event Space from 15 to 17 January 2027, the event will span … Continue reading Culture Cartel 2027 goes bigger, louder, and more ‘Wicked’ than ever with The Wicked Wallop collaboration

Preview: vOilah! France Singapore Festival 2026 returns with a feast for the senses celebrating French culture in Singapore

If you’ve ever dreamed of strolling through a Parisian market, losing yourself in a Louvre-worthy exhibition, or catching avant-garde theatre straight from Europe, and this season, you won’t need a plane ticket. From 25 April to 20 June, the annual vOilah! France Singapore Festival 2026 returns with its most expansive line-up yet, transforming Singapore into a vibrant playground of French culture, creativity and collaboration. vOilah! … Continue reading Preview: vOilah! France Singapore Festival 2026 returns with a feast for the senses celebrating French culture in Singapore

Concert Review: Shanghai Symphony Orchestra In Concert

A historic Singapore debut by the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra blends culinary-inspired modernism, Romantic virtuosity, and symphonic grandeur into an evening of vivid contrasts and sustained musical dialogue. There was a palpable sense of anticipation at the Esplanade Concert Hall as audiences gathered for the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra’s first-ever performance in Singapore. As the final stop of its 2026 Asia-Pacific tour, the evening carried a quiet … Continue reading Concert Review: Shanghai Symphony Orchestra In Concert

★★★★★ Theatre Review: Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular by Base Entertainment Asia

Spectacle meets soul in epic, transcendent reimagining of the musical theatre classic. Few musicals possess the cultural and emotional magnitude of Les Misérables. From its origins on the West End and Broadway to its global tours and cinematic adaptation, the work of Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, drawn from Victor Hugo’s monumental novel, has endured as a defining pillar of musical theatre. In its 40th … Continue reading ★★★★★ Theatre Review: Les Misérables The Arena Spectacular by Base Entertainment Asia

★★★★☆ Theatre Review: Tall Tales – Bananas and Ang Ku Kueh 谈谈: 香蕉与红龟粿 by The Finger Players X Shakespeare’s Wild Sisters Group

A multiplicity of riotous stories exuberantly told, even if they don’t quite add up. Tall Tales: Bananas & Ang Ku Kuehs holds a delectable premise: a Singapore–Taiwan puppet theatre collaboration drawing on the storytelling spirit of The Decameron, where tales of love, jealousy, greed and mischief multiply across cultures and generations. Directed by Oliver Chong of The Finger Players and Wang Chia-Ming of Shakespeare’s Wild … Continue reading ★★★★☆ Theatre Review: Tall Tales – Bananas and Ang Ku Kueh 谈谈: 香蕉与红龟粿 by The Finger Players X Shakespeare’s Wild Sisters Group