Keeping Teochew Opera Alive: An Interview with Tan Wei Tian, Wendy Lee and Teo Meng Hock of Nam Hwa Opera

This June, Nam Hwa Opera continues their 2018 season with two one night only shows at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre – Teochew Opera film classics《告亲夫》Prosecuting the Husband and《刘明珠》Lady Liu Ming Zhu. Whether you’re a Chinese Opera diehard fan or completely new to the scene, don’t miss this chance to relive the glory days of the past and catch this traditional art form performed by one of Singapore’s leading … Continue reading Keeping Teochew Opera Alive: An Interview with Tan Wei Tian, Wendy Lee and Teo Meng Hock of Nam Hwa Opera

Preview: 《告亲夫》Prosecuting the Husband and《刘明珠》Lady Liu Ming Zhu by Nam Hwa Opera

With its humble beginnings as an amateur music and drama association by a group of Teochew opera enthusiasts, Nam Hwa Opera has braved the test of time to reach its 55th anniversary this year! Having given over 130 public performances, the opera troupe continues to enrich local arts and culture by keeping this art form well and alive even today. This June, the troupe will … Continue reading Preview: 《告亲夫》Prosecuting the Husband and《刘明珠》Lady Liu Ming Zhu by Nam Hwa Opera

Review: Leonard Bernstein’s Mass by Orchestra of the Music Makers

The Esplanade Concert Hall becomes a joyous megachurch for one night only. The Orchestra of the Music Makers takes its name from Arthur O’Shaughnessy’s poem Ode, inspired to remain movers and shakers as they dream, cultivate and create music each year. Celebrating both Bernstein’s centennial as well as the Orchestra of Music Makers’ 10th anniversary, last Saturday saw the Singapore premiere of Leonard Bernstein’s musical epic Mass. Combining multiple genres of music … Continue reading Review: Leonard Bernstein’s Mass by Orchestra of the Music Makers

Bernstein’s Mass: An Interview with Conductor Joshua Kangming Tan and Director Edith Podesta

As the Orchestra of the Music Makers commemorates their 10th anniversary in 2018, there’s no better way to celebrate than with a massive performance uniting some of the most diverse genres of music with composer Leonard Bernstein’s Mass. Best known for composing West Side Story, Bernstein’s Mass brings together Broadway, jazz, Western art music, epic chorus, orchestral works and more in this ambitious undertaking, and in its Singaporean premiere, … Continue reading Bernstein’s Mass: An Interview with Conductor Joshua Kangming Tan and Director Edith Podesta

Review: OFF STAGE by Emergency Stairs

All the world’s a stage, and the theatre industry especially so.  Is an actor ever really just an actor, or does their work go far beyond their prescribed ‘role’? For Emergency Stairs’ training and experimental arm Emergency Shelter’s first production, led by artistic director Liu Xiaoyi, OFF STAGE is a challenge to its ensemble of nine actors (Chanel Chan, Chong Woon Yong, Darren Guo, Zachary Ho, WahWah Hung … Continue reading Review: OFF STAGE by Emergency Stairs

Preview: Leonard Bernstein’s Mass by Orchestra of the Music Makers

Is there anything that Edith Podesta cannot do? After dipping her toes into directing opera last year with Hansel and Gretel, the critically acclaimed theatremaker will once again be teaming up with the Orchestra of Music Makers this June to present the Southeast Asian premiere of Leonard Bernstein’s Mass. First composed in 1971 at the behest of Jacqueline Kennedy for the inauguration of the John F. … Continue reading Preview: Leonard Bernstein’s Mass by Orchestra of the Music Makers

Preview: OFFSTAGE by Emergency Stairs

Following their production of new work Einstein in the Carpark at the Huayi festival earlier this year, experimental theatre company Emergency Stairs welcomes audiences into their home in an industrial estate in Mattar as they present OFFSTAGE. Staged by members of Emergency Stairs’ training arm, Emergency Shelter, OFFSTAGE is an all new work that examines the various roles behind the scenes of every theatre production. From the creative team of … Continue reading Preview: OFFSTAGE by Emergency Stairs

Review: La Voix Humaine by Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Heartbreak expresses itself through dropped calls and missed connections.  Irrevocably changing the way humans live and communicate, the phone has simultaneously enabled and limited the way in which we interact with one another over the years, due to our increasing reliance on it for human connection. It’s no wonder then that it continues to be the subject of art and music, from Adele’s “Hello” to Francis … Continue reading Review: La Voix Humaine by Singapore Symphony Orchestra

SIFA 2018: An Enemy of the People by Schaubühne Berlin (Preview)

An Enemy of the People is perhaps one of Henrik Ibsen’s most recognizable plays, following the tale of Dr Stockmann, a man who discovers that the drinking water in his spa town has been contaminated by industrial waste. A classic story of one against the mob, Stockmann finds himself under fire for attempting to reveal the inconvenient truth, and put the town’s  and the persecution he faces … Continue reading SIFA 2018: An Enemy of the People by Schaubühne Berlin (Preview)

Preview: La Voix Humaine by Singapore Symphony Orchestra

This May, the Victoria Concert Hall is proud to present the Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s new production of Francis Poulenc’s one act solo opera La Voix Humaine. Based off the play of the same name by Jean Cocteau, this production will be taking on a uniquely theatrical direction, from W!ld Rice artistic director Ivan Heng, and featuring visuals by Brian Gothong Tan. La Voix Humaine takes place in the … Continue reading Preview: La Voix Humaine by Singapore Symphony Orchestra