Hong Kong 2019/20: The Good Person of Szechwan – The Musical by Hong Kong Repertory Theatre (Preview)

HONG KONG – Adapted from German master dramatist Bertolt Brecht’s play The Good Person of Szechwan, Hong Kong Repertory Theatre (HKrep) presents a musical that exposes both the good and evil of humanity, prompting the audience to ponder hard choices between morality and reality. When this adaptation premiered in 2003, it garnered six Hong Kong Drama Awards, including Best Overall Performance, Best Original Music and … Continue reading Hong Kong 2019/20: The Good Person of Szechwan – The Musical by Hong Kong Repertory Theatre (Preview)

Preview: Singapore Lyric Opera’s Gala Concert 2019 – The Winning Divas

The most promising operatic voices in the region return to perform on the Singapore Lyric Opera (SLO) stage this November, as the three winning sopranos from the SLO-ASEAN Vocal Competition in 2018 unite for The Winning Divas – the SLO Gala Concert 2019! The three divas are namely, Dao Thi To Loan (Vietnam), Stefanie Quintin (the Philippines) and Singapore’s very own Evangeline Ng. Having beat out talent … Continue reading Preview: Singapore Lyric Opera’s Gala Concert 2019 – The Winning Divas

Preview: The Three Feathers by L’arietta

This November, L’arietta Productions is back with an all new show, as they present the Asian premiere of Lori Laitman’s The Three Feathers. A chamber opera aimed at younger audience members, join Princess Dora as she ventures into the magical world to save her father’s kingdom as the show plays at Aliwal Arts Centre.  Based on a tale by the Brothers Grimm, the opera follows … Continue reading Preview: The Three Feathers by L’arietta

Hong Kong 2019: The Big Meal by Hong Kong Repertory Theatre (Preview)

HONG KONG – In a restaurant, touching moments play out scene after scene. Whether it is lovers enjoying a candlelight dinner, or family members joining together at the table, every meal is a meaningful occasion filled with wide-ranging emotions, accompanied by laughter and tears both bitter and sweet. Over the course of The Big Meal, eight actors play a total of 26 characters having 54 … Continue reading Hong Kong 2019: The Big Meal by Hong Kong Repertory Theatre (Preview)

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

Preview: Nam Hwa Blazes 《万紫千红》“Teochew Opera Classics Excerpts” by Nam Hwa Opera

Nam Hwa Opera’s quarterly FREE outreach series Nam Hwa Blazes is back this September for a very special edition. Playing at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre on Friday, 27th September 2019, the upcoming edition of Nam Hwa Blazes will be presented by veteran Teochew opera actors, who will perform 3 opera performances surrounding the bitterness, hardships and happiness in love. In Reunion at the tower《楼台会》, legendary lovers Liang Shanbo and Zhu … Continue reading Preview: Nam Hwa Blazes 《万紫千红》“Teochew Opera Classics Excerpts” by Nam Hwa Opera

The Mad Chinaman: In Conversation with Dick Lee On His Life, His Music, and His Continued Relevance

Perhaps more than anyone else, Dick Lee is the foremost pioneer and pillar of the Singapore music scene. And of all people, he’s certainly an icon. Best known for composing everyone’s favourite National Day Parade song ‘Home’, Dick has had an illustrious career with over 20 albums to his name. Even now, in his 60s, Dick certainly isn’t resting on his laurels, and is still … Continue reading The Mad Chinaman: In Conversation with Dick Lee On His Life, His Music, and His Continued Relevance

Preview: Dick Lee’s The Mad Chinaman 30th Anniversary Concert

Following last year’s SingaPOPera concert celebrating the musicals of Dick Lee, the Mad Chinaman returns to the Esplanade Concert Hall this September for a one-night only concert! The Mad Chinaman 30th Anniversary concert will naturally, feature Dick Lee himself, alongside the Braddell Heights Symphony Orchestra. Under the baton of Music Director Adrian Tan, this special pop-classical crossover celebrates the 1989 release of Dick’s seminal work, The Mad Chinaman, often considered … Continue reading Preview: Dick Lee’s The Mad Chinaman 30th Anniversary Concert

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

Nam Hwa Opera’s quarterly FREE outreach series Nam Hwa Blazes is back this September for a very special edition. Taking place at the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre this Saturday, they’ll be presenting “Drums, Tunes, Children and Rhyme”,  with 4 music pieces by Nam Hwa Opera’s Teochew Music Ensemble, along with 6 songs by Nam Hwa’s Pharyngeal Singing student, all taught by renowned Chinese musician Wu Kun,. This edition of Nam … Continue reading Preview: Nam Hwa Blazes 《万紫千红》(September 2019) by Nam Hwa Opera

Review: Dwarf by The Opera People

Zemlinsky’s opera receives a high school twist that exposes society’s ugly prejudices. A 1922 Austrian opera may seem like it has little to do with Singapore in 2019, but with The Opera People’s Dwarf, there may be more similarities than meets the eye. While the original Der Zwerg closely followed its Wildean source material The Infantata’s Birthday, where a Spanish Infantata (princess) receives a dwarf for her birthday, only … Continue reading Review: Dwarf by The Opera People