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Straits Times
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Arts Picks: SCO's celebration of Lim Tze Peng, ACM's music weekend, street art at Tang Contemporary
Quek Ling Kiong, principal conductor of the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, will conduct Symphony Of Ink. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CHINESE ORCHESTRA Symphony Of Ink The Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) is paying tribute to artist Lim Tze Peng, who died in February aged 103. Symphony Of Ink comprises four chapters, each of which delves into Lim's life, works and legacy. Simon Kong Su Leong's Izpirazione II and Sulwyn Lok's The Cry Of Solo River in the first chapter, for example, reflect the South-east Asian strand in his works, while in the second chapter, Eric Watson's The Ceilidh explores his family ties and his love for his wife. Chapter 3 juxtaposes his works against musical pieces, including Liong Kit Yeng's Kreta Ayer and Law Wai Lun's River Of Life. The conclusion features two world premieres – Wang Chenwei's Symphony Of Ink and Luo Maishuo's Spirit Of Ink. These works will seek to translate Lim's painting aesthetic into music. This concert is the second of the SCO's Cultural Titan series, a collaboration with the Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre which celebrates Cultural Medallion recipients. Where: Singapore Conference Hall, 7 Shenton Way MRT: Shenton Way When: June 7, 7.30pm Admission: $20 to $80 Info: Crossing Cultures At ACM: Listening Pleasures Indie band Space Walk will perform at the Asian Civilisations Museum. PHOTO: SPACE WALK The Asian Civilisations Museum is organising a series of cross-cultural music exchanges for the weekend of June 13 to 15. What is different about this programme is the opportunity to listen to music inside the galleries. The inspiration is the museum's revamped Scholars Gallery featuring the qin, a traditional Chinese instrument. The weekend will kick off on June 13 with a Secret Gig somewhere in the museum building. If you prefer to know what you are getting into, Eight Tones Music will perform in the Scholars Gallery on June 14 and 15. More adventurous music fans should look out for indie band Space Walk's reinterpretation of classic Nusantara tunes on June 14. Carnatic singer Sushma Soma – fresh off her Singapore International Festival of Arts gig at Stray Gods – will perform her original music influenced by her Carnatic training on June 15. Singer Sushma Soma will perform her music at the Asian Civilisations Museum. PHOTO: NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL Admission fees to the museum apply for the indoor shows. Alternatively, there are also a couple of Japanese city-pop-themed gigs at the ACM Green, so pack a picnic basket and chill out to the free music. Where: Asian Civilisations Museum, 1 Empress Place MRT: Raffles Place When: June 13 to 15, various times Admission: Free and ticketed Info: Nothing Is Minor: Visual Records Of Feeling, Repetition, And Restlessness Thai artist Benzilla's kawaii character Loook frolics through flower-strewn landscapes. PHOTO: BENZILLA Pop and street art fans will enjoy Tang Contemporary Art's new show. It pairs Thai artist Benzilla with Spanish artist Imon Boy. Both artists are influenced, quite evidently, by Japanese pop culture and American street art. Benzilla's kawaii character Loook , an alien with three eyes, frolics through flower-strewn landscapes that recall Japanese artist Takashi Murakami' s graphic florals, although with a more restrained palette . Imon Boy is Spain's own Banksy, who has remained studiously anonymous while making a name for himself as a mural artist. His pieces are more meditative and nostalgic, harking back to simpler times in works such as I Miss My Pre-Internet Brain and It's Still 9 O'Clock. It's Still 9 O'Clock by Spanish artist Imon Boy, who has remained anonymous while building a reputation as a mural artist. PHOTO: IMON BOY Both artists' works exude an almost defiantly, playfully childish vibe despite the very long and rather pretentious show title. Where: Tang Contemporary Art, 06-01/02 Delfi Orchard, 402 Orchard Road MRT: Orchard When: June 5 to July 12 (Tuesdays to Saturdays), 11am to 7pm; closed on public holidays Admission: Free Info: Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Arts Picks: SCO concert A Bug's Life, chamber music from 1812 to 1851, Nahre Sol piano recital
Singaporean maestro Darrell Ang collaborates with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra for a concert themed on insects. PHOTO: SINGAPORE CHINESE ORCHESTRA A Bug's Life The Singapore Chinese Orchestra (SCO) will present A Bug's Life, a nature-inspired concert conducted by internationally acclaimed Singaporean maestro Darrell Ang. A h ighlight of the concert is the world premiere of Ang's original composition, A Bug's Life – Paraphrase On A Theme by Alexander Scriabin, giving audiences a fresh and imaginative music experience. The show will also feature a new interpretation of Butterfly Lovers by South Korean Cho Hang-oh, principal cellist of the Sichuan Symphony Orchestra. This marks the first time the SCO is performing the cello version of the beloved Chinese classic, composed by Chen Gang and He Zhanhao, and the first time in more than five years that the orchestra is revisiting the piec e. Audiences can also look forward to The Insect World by Doming Lam, who is revered as the father of Hong Kong modern music. The piece will be presented for the first time and captures the vibrant, intricate life of insects. A Bug's Life is the second instalment of the SCO's nature-themed concert series helmed by Ang, following Songs Of Ancient Birds, which premiered in April . Speaking about the intention behind the concert series, Ang, who also serves as the SCO's principal guest conductor, said: 'In order for us to continue living our lives, we need to realise that caring for nature and letting it thrive is key to humanity's future happiness. I hope my nature series with the SCO will inspire listeners to think more about their relationship with nature.' Where: SCO Concert Hall, 7 Shenton Way MRT: Shenton Way/Tanjong Pagar When: May 10, 7.30pm Admission: $20 to $80 from Sistic (go to or call 6348-5555) Info: An 1825 Hopscotch concert Chamber Music and Arts Singapore (CMAS) presents An 1825 Hopscotch, exploring the rich musical evolution from the Classical to Romantic eras. The programme features three violin and piano sonatas composed between 1812 and 1851, and will be performed by internationally acclaimed Scottish pianist Alasdair Beatson and Singaporean concert violinist and founder of CMAS Tang Tee Khoon. The concert offers a window into the artistic shifts that defined a golden era of chamber music and will take listeners on a sonic journey through the lyricism of Felix Mendelssohn, the dramatic flair of Robert Schumann and the clarity of Ludwig van Beethoven. It reflects on how each composer left a distinct imprint on the genre, transforming chamber music into a more personal and poetic form of expression. The event is part of CMAS' lead-up to its fifth anniversary celebrations, which will culminate in November with a major concert series titled 1825. The year-long programme aims to deepen Singaporean audiences' connection to classical chamber music, as CMAS continues its multi-year journey through key works from 1812 to 1828, including those by Beethoven and Franz Schubert. Where: Esplanade Recital Studio, Theatres on the Bay, 1 Esplanade Drive MRT: City Hall/Esplanade When: May 10, 8pm Admission: $42 to $102 Info: Nahre Sol piano recital Nahre Sol, an American pianist and compose r known for pushing the boundaries of piano music, will bring her distinct blend of classical innovation to the stage in an upcoming recital. Sol, who has close to 800,000 subscribers on YouTube, will perform pieces popular on her channel, such as Autumn Leaves Variations, along with her inventive postludes on famous classical melodies. A classically trained pianist with degrees from The Juilliard School and The Glenn Gould School, Sol's eclectic style fuses improvisation, avant-garde elements, Western classical forms, jazz and minimalism. She has performed at prestigious venues, including The Kennedy Centre in Washington in the United States, and Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg, Germany. Beyond the concert hall, Sol has built a global following through her YouTube channel, where she breaks down the styles of classical composers, explores music theory and produces original documentaries. Her creative reach extends to video game music, film soundtracks and collaborations with major artistes, including contributing to The Boss Baby 2 (2021) alongside German composer Hans Zimm er. Where: Victoria Concert Hall, 11 Empress Place MRT: Raffles Place When: May 6, 7.30pm Admission: $68 to $168 from Sistic Info: Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
