Preview: Dvorak’s Rusalka by New Opera Singapore

“Tell him, silvery moon, that I am embracing him. For at least momentarily let him recall of dreaming of me.” – Rusalka Composed by Antonín Dvořák with its first performance in the Prague National Theatre (1901), Rusalka has become a beloved Czech opera and one of Dvořák’s best works. Rusalka tells the story of how the water nymph Rusalka turns to a witch to help … Continue reading Preview: Dvorak’s Rusalka by New Opera Singapore

Preview: Vincenzo Bellini’s La Sonnambula by The Opera People

The Opera People celebrate their 5th anniversary, 2023 season with a new production of Vincenzo Bellini’s La Sonnambula, the first ever opera by the 19th century early romantic master ever performed in Singapore. This production is directed by Edith Podesta and will be performed on 1 & 3 September at the Wild Rice Ngee Ann Kongsi Theatre. The star ensemble cast features some of Singapore’s … Continue reading Preview: Vincenzo Bellini’s La Sonnambula by The Opera People

★★★☆☆ Review: The Butterfly Lovers by Wild Rice and Victorian Opera

The classic Chinese tragedy of love that never quite takes flight. Category Score (out of 10) Direction (Ivan Heng) 6 Libretto (Joel Tan) 6 Composition (Richard Mills) 6 Performance (Cathy-Di Zhang, Austin Haynes, Haotian Qi, Michael Dimovski, Adrian Poon, Zachary Dominguez, Cindy Honanta, Zoe Hong Yee Huay, Alice Cahya Putri, David Tao Chen Ming, Jonathan Charles Tay, Teng Xiang Ting) 7 Live Music (Conducted by … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: The Butterfly Lovers by Wild Rice and Victorian Opera

Preview: Kwa Geok Choo by Toy Factory Productions

Everyone knows her as the wife of Lee Kuan Yew and mother of Lee Hsien Loong. But what do we know about Kwa Geok Choo? This monologue follows her from girlhood and early romance to life as political wife and mother; and top conveyancing lawyer and main breadwinner of the Lee Family. It explores how it might have felt to be, as Lee Kuan Yew … Continue reading Preview: Kwa Geok Choo by Toy Factory Productions

Music Is: Inaugural YOC International Youth Opera Festival 2022 launched by New Opera Singapore’s youth wing – ‘Youth Opera Comique’

Celebrating the inaugural International Youth Opera Festival is a 3-day event from 2-4 June 2022! Opening with a concert by New Opera Singapore’s ‘Youth Opera Comique (YOC)’, these singers aged 14 and above will introduce audiences to the wonderful world of Opera and art songs. Alongside a Masterclass and vocal-related workshops held throughout the Festival, the culmination of the Festival features contestants and judges from … Continue reading Music Is: Inaugural YOC International Youth Opera Festival 2022 launched by New Opera Singapore’s youth wing – ‘Youth Opera Comique’

Preview: Tracing Origins by Christopher Choo, Philip Chan and May Choong

In a fit of fury, a mistress is murdered Under the moon and stars, a man pursues a rare talent To show his loyalty, a general sacrifices himself  These scenes tell the story of the laosheng’s artistry Song Jiang Kills Yan Xijiao is startling and suspenseful; Xiao He Pursues Han Xin is full of earnest vigour; and General Yang’s Sacrifice is tragic in its desolation. These … Continue reading Preview: Tracing Origins by Christopher Choo, Philip Chan and May Choong

Preview: The Crab Flower Club by Toy Factory Productions

For the first time since premiering as part of the 2009 Singapore Arts Festival, Goh Boon Teck’s The Crab Flower Club finally receives a restaging, more than a decade on. Performed for the first time in Mandarin in Singapore, the drama-opera set in the late Qing dynasty follows five daughters from the respectable Wu household, as they reunite on the eve of their father’s 60th … Continue reading Preview: The Crab Flower Club by Toy Factory Productions

★★★☆☆ Review: No Tenors Allowed v2.0 by Lirica Arts

Vocal excellence on display, even without a tenor. Opera and vocal performances have been hit hard over the pandemic. It was a welcome return for the art form then, as we gathered at Victoria Concert Hall on a Sunday afternoon, the atmosphere buzzing as we awaited the debut of new company Lirica Arts with the cheekily-titled No Tenors Allowed. Inspired by the eponymous concert series … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: No Tenors Allowed v2.0 by Lirica Arts

Preview: No Tenors Allowed v2.0 by Lirica Arts

Presented by Lirica Arts, join No Tenors Allowed as Singaporean opera singers Soprano Teng Xiang Ting and Baritone Martin Ng perform a vocal duel of operatic duets selected from the grand operatic repertory, staged in an intimate theatrical setting by Tang Xinxin, to express love, kinship, friendship etc, without the need …for a tenor. The operatic tenor voice is usually associated as the romantic interest … Continue reading Preview: No Tenors Allowed v2.0 by Lirica Arts

★★★☆☆ Review: In Our Manner of Speaking – ReClaimed Lands by The Opera People

Migration and movement explored through song. Following their previous live performance, one of the last to take place in a venue before circuit breaker measures in 2020, The Opera People returned to Wild Rice’s theatre studio for their annual iteration of In Our Manner of Speaking. Combining poetry read by Joel Tan), art songs, classical tunes and contemporary numbers, the performance present commentary on the … Continue reading ★★★☆☆ Review: In Our Manner of Speaking – ReClaimed Lands by The Opera People