Name: CITY ARISING by JONATHAN SHIN (World Premiere Performance) @singaporesymphony
Uploaded: 2026-09-20T08:17:00-05:00
Duration: 8 min 17 s
Description: CITY ARISING by JONATHAN SHIN (World Premiere Performance)

CITY ARISING by JONATHAN SHIN (World Premiere Performance)

Singapore Symphony 2026-09-20 | CITY ARISING by JONATHAN SHIN (World Premiere Performance)

SSO Mothers Day Concert 2024

Singapore Symphony 2024-05-08 | It’s a very special Mother’s Day Concert this year with our Music Director Hans Graf himself conducting the Singapore Symphony Orchestra! Expect an enchanting selection of classical delights and picturesque scenes from the great operas, amidst the open-air greenery of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. Join us and make it an unforgettably musical Mother’s Day for the moms in your life!

Don't miss the pre-show performance happening from 5.35pm by Symphony 924's Young Talent, Mapletree-TENG Scholar and Zhong Ruan musician, Li Zhixin will perform Camel Bells Along the Silk Road 丝路驼铃 by Ning Yong. This segment will be hosted by hosted by Khim Oei and Amanda Zhu.

FEATURING
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Hans Graf, Music Director
Featuring:
Jade Tan, mezzo-soprano
Tseng Chieh-An, violin
Samuel Phua, saxophone

PROGRAMME
BIZET March of the Toreadors
BIZET Habanera
BIZET Aragonaise
BIZET Seguidilla
BIZET Petite mari, petite femme
MASSENET Méditation
SAINT-SAËNS The Swan
BIZET Prélude from L'Arlésienne Suite No. 1
MILHAUD Brazileira
FAURÉ Sicilienne
RAVEL Pavane pour une infante défunte
GOUNOD Waltz from Faust

Duration: approximately 1 hour

Singapore Symphony 2024/25 Season

Singapore Symphony 2024-04-29 | Spanning July 2024 to June 2025, the Singapore Symphony and Hans Graf presents a full season of concerts for every taste. Whether you're a music aficionado, a first-timer or looking for something for the family, we have something for everyone.

Highlights: Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Carmina Burana (with the Melbourne Symphony), Mahler's Resurrection Symphony; concertos by Beethoven, Brahms, Kabalevsky, Mendelssohn, Ravel, Sibelius; Schubert's Eighth finished, Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream with choir and narrator, Shchedrin's Carmen Suite; with great artists such as Maxim Vengerov, Hélène Grimaud, Daniil Trifonov, Behzod Abduraimov, Chloe Chua, James Ehnes, Akiko Suwanai, Sayaka Shoji, Benny Tseng, Vasily Petrenko, Stephen Layton, Okko Kamu and Kahchun Wong.

Find out more about our 2024/25 Season at sso.org.sg.

Soloist things youd never expect - Behind-The-Scenes

Singapore Symphony 2024-04-27 | The solo singers of our Kozłowski Requiem concert (and recording) "warm up" before their performance. This was a year ago on 7 April 2023, backstage at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore. The Kozłowski Requiem is about to receive its Asian premiere during this occasion.

On 19 April 2024, our recording of this long-forgotten work is released internationally on @Pentatonemusic . We hope you'll give it a listen!
pentatonemusic.com/product/kozlowski-requiem

The full video of the performance is available here for our channel members, and also on medici.tv.

Featuring: Olga Peretyatko (soprano), Olesya Petrova (mezzo-soprano), Boris Stepanov (tenor) and Christoph Seidl (bass).

Polish-born composer Józef Kozłowski (1759-1831) is a contemporary of Mozart and Beethoven. His Requiem was premiered in 1798, and later expanded in form and instrumentation in 1825. Referencing copies of the original score (which has not been published in any form), Singapore Symphony Music Director Hans Graf has produced a new edition based on this more intimate 1798 version.

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Our 2024/25 Season | Announcing 29 Apr

Singapore Symphony 2024-04-27 | Stay tuned to our channels for the announcement. 29 Apr at 3.30pm (Singapore Time).

Our 2024/25 Season | Announcing 29 Apr

Singapore Symphony 2024-04-25 | The Singapore Symphony's 2024/25 Season - full details announced on 29 April.

www.sso.org.sg

AMERIC GOH After the Opera

Singapore Symphony 2024-04-12 | “Many times, we are in a situation whereby all we can do is either observe in solitary or partake in synchrony. Whether it is a natural phenomenon or the outlook of the societal mass, we question and most often, attribute it to the Zeitgeist. Tempting to pass a value judgement, we savour the process—the experiencing. Leave it as a fantasy. Take the time machine—an act or a scene? Is it satirical or an honest opinion? Eventually, we come full circle to understand ourselves deeper.”

Singapore Symphony Chorus
Singapore Symphony Youth Choir
Eudenice Palaruan, Choral Director

Recorded live at the Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore on 27 May 2023.

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About the composer:
Americ Goh (b. 1982) began studying music composition at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore. He received instructions from John Sharpley, Goh Toh Chai, Jennifer Tham and Leong Yoon Pin. He furthered his studies under Gerd Kühr, Pierluigi Billone, and Peter Ablinger at the University of Music and Performing Arts Graz, where he received his M.A. In addition to composing, Americ also received instructions in choral conducting from Johannes Prinz and Franz Jochum, and correpetition from Wolfgang Bozic. He sang with various choirs such as the Singapore Youth Choir Ensemble Singers and the Kantorei of the Grazer Dom. He received vocal training from Gerd Kenda and Eva Barta-Bartfai. Americ is a humble recipient of the National Arts Council Arts Bursary (Overseas) Singapore and the Musikförderungspreis, Graz. He has returned to NAFA as a lecturer at the School of Music. With an affinity to the voice, Americ works closely with singers and choirs. His primary focus in composition is on experimentation without neglecting tradition and craft, striving for balance, meaning and communication. His works are often reflections on social issues and an introspection on spirituality.

DARIUS LIM Lux

Singapore Symphony 2024-04-11 | Lux was commissioned by the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir in 2019. Singaporean composer Darius Lim (b. 1986) was inspired by a trip to South Africa, and this piece is his meditation on light and the ways it can uncover beauty and hope. Harmonies shift and reveal colours like light refracting through glass. The piece ends in a brilliant statement, “Dona nobis pacem” - “grant us peace”. (Wong Yong En)

Singapore Symphony Children's Choir
Wong Lai Foon, Choirmaster
Dale Huang, piano

Recorded live at the Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore on 23 May 2023

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RAVEL Nicolette from Trois Chansons

Singapore Symphony 2024-04-09 | French composer Maurice Ravel’s (1875–1937) Trois chansons (“Three songs”) were written in response to World War I. Ravel deeply wished to serve his country, and wrote the songs as he waited to be drafted into the army. The texts were written by the composer himself, and are filled with dark humour and allegory. The first song tells the fairytale-like story of a girl Nicolette, who resists the temptations of a wolf and a handsome page, only to fall for an ugly old man offering her money. The music recalls 16th-century French chansons, which feature abrupt mood and character changes. (Wong Yong En)

Singapore Symphony Youth Choir
Wong Lai Foon, Choirmaster/conductor

Recorded live at the Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore on 27 May 2023.

Nicolette, à la vesprée,
S'allait promener au pré,
Cueillir la pâquerette,
La jonquille et le muguet,
Toute sautillante, toute guillerette,
Lorgnant ci, là de tous les côtés.

Rencontra vieux loup grognant,
Tout hérissé, l'œil brillant;
Hé là! ma Nicolette,
Viens tu pas chez Mère Grand?
A perte d'haleine, s'enfuit Nicolette,
Laissant là cornette et socques blancs.

Rencontra page joli,
Chausses bleues et pourpoint gris,
"Hé là! ma Nicolette,
Veux tu pas d'un doux ami?
Sage, s'en retourna, très lentement,
Le cœur bien marri.

Rencontra seigneur chenu,
Tors, laid, puant et ventru.
"Hé là! ma Nicolette,
Veux tu pas tous ces écus?
Vite fut en ses bras, bonne Nicolette,
Jamais au pré n'est plus revenue.

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Cover painting: František Kupka

KENNETH TAY Can there be any day but this

Singapore Symphony 2024-04-08 | “This composition is my reflection on taking in a special moment in a garden, sometimes wishing for time to slow down for that juncture to be enjoyed for just that bit longer. In the poem, the narrator meets his beloved, decorating her path with flowers and boughs. He compares her beauty with that of the rising sun, and emphasises that the only day that matters is the present day spent together. Though the flowers wither away, his heart remains true.” - Kenneth Tay

Kenneth Tay's "Can there by any day but this" is an SSO Commission.

I got me flowers to straw thy way;
I got me boughs off many a tree:
But thou wast up by break of day,
And brought’st thy sweets along with thee.

The Sunne arising in the East,
Though he give light, & th’ East perfume;
If they should offer to contest
With thy arising, they presume.

Can there be any day but this,
Though many sunnes to shine endeavour?
We count three hundred, but we misse:
There is but one, and that one ever.

Kenneth Tay (b. 1992) is a Singaporean composer currently completing his PhD in Composition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow. He began his music training at age 7 as a pianist, but found the experience somewhat lonely and was later drawn to the joys of choral singing. "Can There Be Any Day But This?" is his take on George Herbert’s (1591–1633) poem, Easter. (Wong Yong En)

Singapore Symphony Chorus
Singapore Symphony Youth Choir
Wong Lai Foon, Choirmaster

Recorded live at the Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore on 27 May 2023.

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Cover photo: Elin Tabitha/Unsplash

Coming up: the Singapore Symphony Choruses in Tre Voci

Singapore Symphony 2024-04-05 | Coming up soon on our YouTube, more than 12 videos* from "Tre Voci", featuring the our choirs, the Singapore Symphony Choruses.

Performed and filmed in May 2023, this playlist will comprise works from both the classics of Brahms, Ravel and Poulenc, as well as compositions by Singaporean composers Americ Goh, Darius Lim and Kenneth Tay.

Stay tuned! We'll do up a playlist for your convenience.

*A selection of videos will be free for viewing, while others will be exclusive to our channel members.
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BEETHOVEN Violin Concerto | He Ziyu

Singapore Symphony 2024-03-29 | Franz Clement was a violinist, conductor of the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, and a friend of Beethoven. The young Clement had given Beethoven useful advice when the latter was writing his opera Fidelio, and Beethoven returned the favour with a violin concerto in 1806. So far so good, but Beethoven was slow and finished the solo part so late that Clement had to sight read part of the performance.

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN
Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 (1806)
I. Allegro ma non troppo 0:00
II. Larghetto 26:23
III. Rondo. Allegro 25:28
Applause 45:58

The first movement Allegro ma non troppo opens with four timpani strokes, almost like a jazz drummer’s "a one two three four", which turn out to be the rhythmic basis of the whole movement as it gets reinterpreted and recast throughout. The soloist’s entrance is preceded by a long orchestra introduction some three minutes long – this was considered rather too avant garde by the early audiences, as it summarises the entire thematic content – perhaps they thought it gave too much away too early?

The Larghetto which follows has muted strings introduce the principal idea, which simplicity is then developed and ornamented by the soloist. Similarly, the orchestra gives the second theme, which the violin expands and comments upon like a series of variations. Both themes are revisited and the movement ends with a serene coda.

The catchy rondo bubbles over with energy and liveliness. A brief minor-key episode of great beauty features the bassoon in a moment that is unfortunately not repeated. A general merry folk-dance mood permeates the entire movement, with horns adding pastoral punctuation. Meanwhile the violin negotiates the most difficult writing in the entire concerto – Beethoven has saved the best for last. The concerto thins out at the end playfully but closes suddenly with a pair of hammered orchestral chords in which we see a younger and jollier Beethoven to contrast with the usual image of the surly, serious composer. (Edward C. Yong)

He Ziyu, violin @ziyuhe6979
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Hans Graf, Music Director

Recorded on 21 Jan 2022 at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore. The reduced orchestra size and use of masks is mandated by official rules in force during the pandemic.

Presto! Chloe and Ziyu in Mozarts Sinfonia Concertante

Singapore Symphony 2024-03-09 | Singaporean violinist Chloe Chua, Artist-In-Residence of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and Austria-based He Ziyu - both former winners at the Menuhin Competition - perform the presto finale of Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante.

The complete video is available exclusively for our YouTube channel members. Join us today for just $2 a month. youtube.com/channel/UCREEzq_Crwhf09fQ-sf6Ntw/join

Chloe Chua, violin/Artist-In-Residence ⁠@ChloeChuaviolinist
He Ziyu, viola ⁠@ziyuhe6979
Hans Graf, Music Director
Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Recorded live at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore, on 27 July 2023.

SCHUMANN Spring Symphony (1st Movement)

Singapore Symphony 2024-03-07 | Schumann's Spring Symphony had its premiere in Leipzig under the leadership of Mendelssohn, and it was warmly welcomed by the musical cognoscenti, who gave it the nickname of “Spring” and its literary association with an Adolf Böttger poem (Frühlingsgedicht, “Spring Poem”). Schumann had indeed originally included subtitles for each of its movements, but removed them before publication, though he would go on to speak of its spring-like spirit and of the music coming alive.

In the early part of the Romantic period, the orchestra was still undergoing various stages of post-Beethovenian expansion, and Schumann’s contribution was to demand a much larger set of timpani retunings, involving a third drum — the first major orchestral work to require more than two. An opening fanfare demonstrates an extended brass section too, with four horns and three trombones, though this moves quickly into an upbeat Allegro molto vivace that is lively and forward-looking. (Thomas Ang)

Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Ludovic Morlot, conductor

Recorded live on 25 Nov 2022 at the Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore

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[From the Archives] STRAUSS An Alpine Symphony | Lan Shui

Singapore Symphony 2024-02-28 | On the occasion of our Conductor Laureate's return on 1 March 2024 since he stepped down as Music Director in 2019, we present this nostalgic archive performance of Strauss's An Alpine Symphony from 2012. Joining the SSO on stage are students from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. Lan Shui was the Singapore Symphony's Music Director from 1997 to 2019.

Richard Strauss’s colossal Alpine Symphony is one of the most remarkable works ever created to depict nature in sound. The dates of composition (1911-15) indicate that it closely followed Der Rosenkavalier and Le Bourgeois gentilhomme, but one looks in vain for the lightness of touch and chamber music qualities of these works. Reverting to the enormous resources required for compositions like Symphonia Domestica, Salome and Elektra, Strauss calls for an orchestra of over 130 musicians. Every aspect of the ascent and descent of an Alpine peak, covering a time span of twenty-four hours, is portrayed.

RICHARD STRAUSS An Alpine Symphony, Op. 64
0:00 Applause
0:20 Night
3:27 Sunrise
4:50 The Ascent
7:07 Entry into the wood
12:37 Wandering by the brook
13:20 At the waterfall
13:34 Apparition
14:21 Flowering meadows
15:20 On the Alpine pasture
17:48 Lost in the thickets and undergrowth
19:18 On the glacier
20:30 Dangerous moments
22:12 On the summit
27:18 Vision
30:26 Mists rise
30:46 The sun gradually becomes obscured
32:03 Elegy
34:13 Calm before the storm
37:20 Thunder and tempest, descent
41:11 Sunset
44:20 Quiet settles / Epilogue
51:20 Night
54:30 Applause

This richly descriptive piece of programme music, nearly an hour in length, shows Strauss at the peak of his orchestrative powers. Its dazzling orchestral colours, phenomenal feats of virtuosity, and the sheer fun of it all for audiences and musicians alike have ensured the Alpine Symphony a secure place in the orchestral repertory. (Robert Markow)

Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Lan Shui, conductor

Recorded live at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore, on 10 Feb 2012.

About Lan Shui
Lan Shui served as the Music Director of Singapore Symphony Orchestra from 1997 to 2019, where he “turned a good regional orchestra into a world-class ensemble that plays its heart out at every concert” (American Record Guide). Together they made several acclaimed tours to Europe, Asia and the United States and made their BBC Proms debut in 2014. Currently the SSO’s Conductor Laureate, Lan Shui was also Chief Conductor of the Copenhagen Philharmonic from 2007 to 2015, currently serving as the orchestra’s Honorary Conductor. He is presently Principal Guest Conductor of National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra.

As a guest conductor, Shui has worked with many orchestras worldwide. In the United States he has appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco, Baltimore and Detroit Symphony Orchestras. In Europe he has conducted the orchestras of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, hr-Sinfonieorchester, Danish National Symphony, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, Gothenburg Symphony, Orchestre National de France and Royal Swedish Orchestra.

Since 1998 Shui has recorded over 40 albums with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra for BIS, including the first-ever complete cycle of Tcherepnin’s symphonies plus complete orchestral works of Rachmaninoff and Debussy. He also recorded Beethoven’s complete symphonies with the Copenhagen Philharmonic. His albums have received Grammy nominations twice.

Lan Shui is the recipient of international awards from the Beijing Arts Festival, New York Tcherepnin Society, the 37th Besançon Conductors’ Competition in France and Boston University (Distinguished Alumni Award), as well as the Cultural Medallion, Singapore’s highest accolade in the arts, and the Bintang Bakti Masyarakat (Public Service Star, or BBM), both awarded by the Singapore government.

Good Night from Janáčeks On the Overgrown Path, Book 1

Singapore Symphony 2024-02-28 | Singaporean pianist Churen Li performs the meditative seventh movement, "Good Night!" (Dobrou noc!) from Leoš Janáček's cycle of piano pieces, "On the Overgrown Path" (Po zarostlém chodníčku).

This was her encore after her performance of the Grieg Piano Concerto at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore, on 16 July 2022.

Check out Churen's YouTube channel at @Chuchuchuren

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The Magic Flute Overture

Singapore Symphony 2024-02-22 | For most of his career, Mozart had been associated with Italian opera—whether opera seria on lofty mythological themes or light, entertaining opera buffa for the imperial court—and these had been cash cows for him. Now he had neither funding nor texts. To the rescue came Emanuel Schikaneder, a friend of Mozart’s from the Freemasonic circles in Vienna. Schikaneder was an actor, singer, playwright, and impresario, and had been running the Theater auf der Wieden which specialised in German singspiel, or operas with spoken dialogue. The singspiel genre was popular but lowbrow—Schikaneder’s first hit production was entitled “The Stupid Gardener from the Mountain”, and a sub-genre he specialised in was Zauberoper (“Magic opera”), essentially musicals with fairy-tale plots and plenty of special effects.

Mozart had a cheeky, sometimes vulgar sense of humour, so the idea of writing for a new, broader audience and a new income stream must have appealed. Thus Schikenader commissioned from him The Magic Flute, with its varied cast of characters: a pair of bird-human lovers, real human lovers, an evil Moor, an Egyptian high priest, an evil Queen of the Night, ghostly armoured men, trios of cherubic boys and wraith-like women, enchanted animals, as well as magical bells and flutes.
Imagine a modern audience watching a stage production that was equal parts The Lord of the Rings, Jurassic Park, and The Sound of Music, and one gets an idea of the impact it must have had.

The Magic Flute premiered 30th September 1791 and ran several times a week with Mozart directing from the fortepiano until his health no longer allowed it. As he lay dying late at night on 4th December that year, he had the consolation of knowing that he had pulled off the greatest operatic success of his career, and that at that very moment all levels of Viennese society from nobles to tradesmen and families were being entertained by his music. (Edward C. Yong)

Singapore Symphony Orchestra,
Hans Graf, Music Director

Recorded live on 27 July 2023 at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore

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Coming soon - Mozarts Sinfonia Concertante with Chloe Chua and He Ziyu

Singapore Symphony 2024-02-06 | Our 2023 performance of Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for Violin and Viola, conducted by Hans Graf and starring SSO Artist-In-Residence Chloe Chua @ChloeChuaviolinist and guest violist He Ziyu @ziyuhe6979 (also an accomplished violinist), will be coming up soon. Both young musicians are winners of the Menuhin Competition (2018 and 2016 respectively) and both have recorded performances and albums with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Their recording of Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante will also be included in the Mozart Violin Concerto cycle featuring Chloe and Hans Graf.

The full video will be released first as an exclusive for our YouTube channel members. Includes Chloe's first ever concert encore.

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Behind-the-scenes: the Singapore Symphonys 45th anniversary video

Singapore Symphony 2024-01-17 | Behind the scenes with the team behind our anniversary video this year, from the Singapore Symphony Orchestra: Guan Qi (Associate Principal Viola), Sam Armstrong (trombone), Mario Choo (percussion), Xu Jueyi (violin), Wu Dai Dai (cello), and Kenneth Kwok (CEO, Singapore Symphony Group)

Not forgetting the wonderful support and creative prowess of Playpunk. Thank you, Clive, Joel and Sean and co.!

The music in our video is Pasat Merdu, by Singaporean composer Felix Phang. "Pasat Merdu" is an SSO Commission first premiered at our National Day Concert 2023, to much acclaim.

Thank you for watching!

Agnus Dei - Kozłowski’s Requiem

Singapore Symphony 2024-01-12 | In April 2023, the Singapore Symphony presented the Asian premiere of Józef Kozłowski’s Requiem. This was subsequently recorded for release. The new edition edited by Singapore Symphony Music Director Hans Graf realises the intimate character of the original 1798 version. Composed just 7 years after Mozart’s famous Requiem, the work is rooted in Viennese Classicism, yet also adumbrates nineteenth-century developments, with a subtle Slavonic tinge. This revival is a gem to anyone interested in music from the early Romantic era.

Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Singapore Symphony Chorus
Singapore Symphony Youth Choir
Hans Graf, Music Director
Eudenice Palaruan, Choral Director
Wong Lai Foon, Choirmaster

The full concert video can be watched on the Singapore Symphony's YouTube members' channel. Join us to access this and more exclusive content. youtube.com/channel/UCREEzq_Crwhf09fQ-sf6Ntw/join

The recording will be released as an album on Pentatone Records in April 2024.

The Singapore Symphony - 45 Years of Music-Making

Singapore Symphony 2024-01-11 | It's been 45 years since the Singapore Symphony was founded, back in 1979. We're still pretty young by orchestral standards! But since those early days, we've come a long way, in a nation less than 60 years old. The Singapore Symphony thanks everyone for your support in the concert hall as well as online - we couldn't have made it this far without you. We have a whole year of music (and videos) prepared for you this 2024, and many more in the years to come!

Video concept & production: Playpunk

Starring, from the Singapore Symphony Orchestra: Guan Qi (Associate Principal Viola), Sam Armstrong (trombone), Mario Choo (percussion), Xu Jueyi (violin), Wu Dai Dai (cello), and Kenneth Kwok (CEO, Singapore Symphony Group)

Music: Pasat Merdu by Felix Phang

Chloe last night! She turns 17 today, 7 Jan - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! 🥳 🎂@ChloeChuaviolinist

Singapore Symphony 2024-01-07 | Chloe at her final curtain call last night at the Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore. Chloe turns 17 today, 7 Jan - so from all of us at the Singapore Symphony family: HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! 🥳🎂

Coming soon - Schumann Symphony No. 1 Spring

Singapore Symphony 2024-01-05 | Schumann's First Symphony had its premiere in Leipzig under the leadership of Mendelssohn, and it was warmly welcomed by the musical cognoscenti, who gave it the nickname of “Spring” and its literary association with an Adolf Böttger poem (Frühlingsgedicht, “Spring Poem”).

This excerpt precedes the exclusive release of the performance for our channel members on 8 Jan 2024.

Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Ludovic Morlot, conductor

Recorded live at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore, on 26 Nov 2022.
Audio & video production: msm-productions (Singapore)

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Handels Messiah - Excerpts

Singapore Symphony 2023-12-24 | EXCERPTS FROM MESSIAH (1741)
by George Frideric Handel

Sinfonia 0:00
Chorus: For Unto Us A Child Is Born 3:55
Pastorale 8:16
Hallelujah Chorus 11:44

Handel’s Messiah is arguably the most popular vocal/choral work from the Baroque era, a beloved masterpiece, a staple of the concert hall and Christmas time. Drawing from his experience as a composer of Italian opera, Handel brought the form of the oratorio to new heights. While many of his oratorios dealt with sacred subjects, the genre is more theatre than church music, meant as artistic entertainment for the concert hall. Vocal soloists and choirs are accompanied by orchestra – just like an opera – but the action is not intended to be staged. Uniquely, Handel’s oratorios were written and sung in English, which has certainly contributed to its lasting appeal today. His wonderful writing for chorus is a testament to his ingenuity with the English language, with music by turns luscious and magnificent.

Written in 24 days in 1741, Messiah was first performed at a fundraising concert in Dublin on 13 April 1742, to an audience of 700 – the largest audience then ever assembled for a musical performance in Ireland.

Singapore Symphony Chorus
Singapore Symphony Youth Choir
Singapore Symphony Children's Choir
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Rodolfo Barráez, Associate Conductor

Recorded on 15 Dec 2022 at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore at the SSO Christmas Fundraising Concert 2022.

For Unto Us A Child Is Born
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Hallelujah Chorus
Hallelujah! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. The Kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord, and of His Christ; and He shall reign forever and ever. King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Hallelujah!

A Night of Carols + ENCORE

Singapore Symphony 2023-12-23 | A NIGHT OF CAROLS (2022)
by Tan Yuting

Written by young Singaporean composer, Tan Yuting, A Night of Carols is a medley of carols expressing the hope, peace, love, and joy of Christmas. Featuring favourites such as O Holy Night, Angels We Have Heard On High, Silent Night, Deck the Halls, and Joy to the World, this medley depicts the night-time nativity scene and the joyous festivities of the Christmas season.

0:00 A Night of Carols
14:42 Applause
19:45 Encore: Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah

Singapore Symphony Chorus
Singapore Symphony Youth Choir
Singapore Symphony Children's Choir
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Rodolfo Barráez, Associate Conductor

Recorded on 15 Dec 2022 at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore at the SSO Christmas Fundraising Concert 2022.

Singaporean composer Tan Yuting (b. 1993) writes music which explores the interaction of different sounds to form unique harmonies and textures. Her music has been recognised with awards including First Prize in the Macht Orchestral Composition Competition (2018), First Prize in the Virginia Carty DeLillo Composition Competition (2018), and Third Prize in the Prix d’Été Competition (2017) at the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, and has been performed in Singapore, USA, UK, Thailand, New Zealand, and Italy.

Past collaborations include performances by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, American Composers Orchestra, Peabody Symphony Orchestra, Megalopolis Saxophone Orchestra, National Sawdust Ensemble, Tacet(i) Ensemble, Aspen Contemporary Ensemble, Ensemble Dal Niente, The Opera People, K⼝U, Quince Ensemble, Empyrean Ensemble, ~Nois, Alarm Will Sound, Now Hear This, Unassisted Fold, and Ensemble Soundinitiative. Recent commissions include four set pieces for the National Piano and Violin Competition 2021 in Singapore and a piece for the Megalopolis Saxophone Orchestra as their Composer-in-Residence.

Yuting also enjoys working with artists from other fields and creating music in collaboration with other art forms. In 2019, she performed her original live score for the USA premiere screening of Chinese film pioneer Zhu Shouju’s 1925 film “Stormy Night” (Fengyu zhi ye). Yuting is currently pursuing a PhD in Music Composition at the University of Chicago on a full fellowship from the Division of the Humanities.

The Winter Largo (solo organ)

Singapore Symphony 2023-12-22 | No survey of Baroque music for the Christmas season is complete without mentioning the ravishing Largo from Winter in Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Vivaldi’s vivid painting of the harsh winter is here tempered – one imagines sitting in front of a warm fireplace with the logs crackling, perhaps nursing a soothing mug of hot mulled wine, while the raindrops fall gently outside. Did Vivaldi ever imagine his music would still be played nearly three hundred years after? Probably not, but we are certainly glad it is. This version for solo organ is arranged by organist Jonathan Scott.

Koh Jia Hwei, organ

Recorded on 15 Dec 2022 at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore at the SSO Christmas Fundraising Concert 2022.

Singapores NPVC 2023 - A Coda

Singapore Symphony 2023-12-20 | Hear the thoughts of some of the winners and adjudicators at our recently concluded National Piano & Violin Competition 2023 in Singapore.

Correction: Yoojun Curtis Lee is the 2nd Prize Winner for the Violin Junior category, and not 3rd prize as indicated in the video. We will republish the video as soon as we have this corrected. Thank you for your understanding and our sincere apologies for the error!

The biennial National Piano & Violin Competition (NPVC) is Singapore's oldest and most prestigious music competition. The competition is open to young pianists and violinists aged 25 years and below. The NPVC is organised by the Singapore Symphony Group.

https://www.sso.org.sg/whats-on/npvc

Cover photo: Chris P. Lim / Chrisppics+

MOZART Flute & Harp Concerto - Rondeau

Singapore Symphony 2023-12-18 | Mozart's Concerto for Flute & Harp is the most famous example of this divine combination, a sublime work of pure melodic bliss, in ways that can only come from his hand.

Flutist Jin Ta and harpist Gulnara Mashurova, both Principal players of the Singapore Symphony, performed and recorded the concerto on 25 Nov 2022 at the Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore.

The full performance with an encore is available to our channel members. Join us as a YouTube channel member today for just S$2 a month.
youtube.com/channel/UCREEzq_Crwhf09fQ-sf6Ntw/join

Jin Ta, flute
Gulnara Mashurova, harp
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Ludovic Morlot, conductor
Audio & Video: msm productions (Singapore)
Cover Photo: Alvin Ho

Prize Winners Concert & Prize Presentation Ceremony | National Piano & Violin Competition 2023

Singapore Symphony 2023-12-04 | A warm welcome to the 2023 National Piano & Violin Competition.

The National Piano & Violin Competition is Singapore's premier classical music competition. In its 14th edition, the biennial competition celebrates music excellence and serves as a platform to identify music talent, as well as to develop and nurture young musicians by providing them with the opportunity to showcase their performing skills and musicality before international adjudicators.

Participants will compete in four categories: Artist, Senior, Intermediate and Junior.

Organised by Singapore Symphony Group and supported by Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and National Arts Council Singapore.

Stay tuned as the results of this competition round will be announced after the livestream on www.sso.org.sg/npvc.

The competition programme can be viewed on www.sso.org.sg/npvc.

Violin Artist Finals | National Piano & Violin Competition 2023

Singapore Symphony 2023-12-03 | A warm welcome to the 2023 National Piano & Violin Competition.

The National Piano & Violin Competition is Singapore's premier classical music competition. In its 14th edition, the biennial competition celebrates music excellence and serves as a platform to identify music talent, as well as to develop and nurture young musicians by providing them with the opportunity to showcase their performing skills and musicality before international adjudicators.

Participants will compete in four categories: Artist, Senior, Intermediate and Junior.

0:15:19 - No. 2, Datsiuk Leonid
Repertoire:
SIBELIUS Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
0:16:00 - I. Allegro moderato
0:32:56 - II. Adagio di molto
0:41:36 - III. Allegro, ma non tanto

0:52:15 - No. 4, Zou Zhang
Repertoire:
TCHAIKOVSKY Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35
0:53:16 - I. Allegro moderato
1:12:48 - II. Canzonetta. Andante
1:18:58 - III. Finale - Allegro vivacissimo

1:47:48 - No. 7, Zou Meng
Repertoire:
SIBELIUS Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
1:48:36 - I. Allegro moderato
2:05:58 - II. Adagio di molto
2:14:57 - III. Allegrom ma non tanto

Organised by Singapore Symphony Group and supported by Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and National Arts Council Singapore.

Stay tuned as the results of this competition round will be announced after the livestream on www.sso.org.sg/npvc.

The competition programme can be viewed on www.sso.org.sg/npvc.

Piano Artist Finals | National Piano & Violin Competition 2023

Singapore Symphony 2023-12-03 | A warm welcome to the 2023 National Piano & Violin Competition.

The National Piano & Violin Competition is Singapore's premier classical music competition. In its 14th edition, the biennial competition celebrates music excellence and serves as a platform to identify music talent, as well as to develop and nurture young musicians by providing them with the opportunity to showcase their performing skills and musicality before international adjudicators.

Participants will compete in four categories: Artist, Senior, Intermediate and Junior.

0:16:07 - No. 3, Long Jing Xuan
Repertoire:
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
0:17:26 - I. Allegro moderato
0:43:40 - III. Rondo - Vivace

0:57:26 - No. 4, Lee Ann
Repertoire:
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
0:58:24 - I. Allegro con brio
1:15:53 - II. Largo

1:53:25 - No. 8, Joshua Lau Jin Quan
Repertoire:
BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 19
1:53:58 - I. Allegro con brio
2:08:41- II. Adagio

Organised by Singapore Symphony Group and supported by Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and National Arts Council Singapore.

Stay tuned as the results of this competition round will be announced after the livestream on www.sso.org.sg/npvc.

The competition programme can be viewed on www.sso.org.sg/npvc.

Violin Senior Finals | National Piano & Violin Competition 2023

Violin Intermediate Finals | National Piano & Violin Competition 2023

Singapore Symphony 2023-12-01 | A warm welcome to the 2023 National Piano & Violin Competition.

The National Piano & Violin Competition is Singapore's premier classical music competition. In its 14th edition, the biennial competition celebrates music excellence and serves as a platform to identify music talent, as well as to develop and nurture young musicians by providing them with the opportunity to showcase their performing skills and musicality before international adjudicators.

Participants will compete in four categories: Artist, Senior, Intermediate and Junior.

0:14:58 - No. 3, Lim Yongren Yuto
Repertoire:
J.S. BACH - Fuga from Violin Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001
MOZART - Allegro aperto from Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K. 219
PROKOFIEV - Animato, ma non allegro from 5 Mélodies, Op. 35
SAINT-SAËNS - Introduction & Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28

0:44:40 - No. 4, Low Peng Yang
Repertoire:
MOZART - Allegro aperto from Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K. 219
BARBER - Allegro from Violin Concerto, Op. 14
TCHAIKOVSKY - Allegro vivacissimo from Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 35

1:16:07 - No. 8, Kaleb Toh Yi Chao
Repertoire:
MOZART - Allegro from Violin Concerto No. 4 in D major, K. 218
HUBAY - Carmen Fantaisie Brillante, Op. 3, No. 3
PROKOFIEV - 5 Mélodies, Op. 35, I. Andante, II. Lento, ma non troppo, III. Animato, ma non allegro
WIENIAWSKI - La Vélocité from L’Ecole moderne, Op. 10, No. 2

Organised by Singapore Symphony Group and supported by Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and National Arts Council Singapore.

Stay tuned as the results of this competition round will be announced after the livestream on www.sso.org.sg/npvc.

The competition programme can be viewed on www.sso.org.sg/npvc.

Pachelbels Canon

Singapore Symphony 2023-12-01 | Pachelbel’s Canon is a work that needs no introduction. During his life, Johann Pachelbel (1653–1706) was a well-known German composer for organ and keyboard, writing church choral and chamber music. A canon is a type of composition whereby a melody is repeated by a different voice or instrument in the group after a certain delay, giving rise to layers of the same tune heard at different times. Pachelbel demonstrated this to beautiful effect.

Pachelbel's Canon was almost entirely unknown until it was recorded by Jean-François Paillard’s chamber orchestra in 1968, and has remained popular ever since, making appearances in pop culture and media, and of course, weddings. The arrangement performed in this video by Singapore-based Romanian composer-cellist Khachatur Khachatryan is based on this classic recording.

Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Rodolfo Barráez, Associate Conductor

Recorded live on 15 Dec 2022 at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore, during the Singapore Symphony Orchestra's Christmas Fundraising Concert.

Violin Junior Finals | National Piano & Violin Competition 2023

Singapore Symphony 2023-11-30 | A warm welcome to the 2023 National Piano & Violin Competition.

The National Piano & Violin Competition is Singapore's premier classical music competition. In its 14th edition, the biennial competition celebrates music excellence and serves as a platform to identify music talent, as well as to develop and nurture young musicians by providing them with the opportunity to showcase their performing skills and musicality before international adjudicators.

Participants will compete in four categories: Artist, Senior, Intermediate and Junior.

0:15:07 - No. 8, Cathy Chen Xi
Repertoire:
VIVALDI - Allegro non molto from Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor, RV 315, “Summer”
MOZART - Allegro from Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major, K. 216,
LALO - Allegro non troppo from Symphonie espagnole, Op. 21

0:39:52 - No. 10, Chua Suen Ern
Repertoire:
MOZART - Allegro moderato from Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major, K. 211
SARASATE - Zigeunerweisen, Op. 20
PROKOFIEV - Allegro con brio from Violin Sonata No. 2, Op. 94a

1:06:06 - No. 11, Wu Yueer Angela
Repertoire:
TELEMANN - Fantasia No. 10 in D major, TWV 40 23 from 12 Fantasias for Violin
DE FALLA - Danse Espagnole from La vida breve (arr. Fritz Kreisler)
MOZART - Allegro con spirito from Violin Sonata No. 18 in G major, K. 301
SARASATE - Introduction et Tarentelle, Op. 43

1:26:16 - No. 15, Yoojun Curtis Lee
Repertoire:
MOZART - Allegro from Violin Concerto No. 3 in G major, K. 216
PROKOFIEV - Scherzo from Violin Concerto No. 1, Op. 19
WIENIAWSKI - Polonaise de Concert No. 1 in D major, Op. 4

Organised by Singapore Symphony Group and supported by Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and National Arts Council Singapore.

Stay tuned as the results of this competition round will be announced after the livestream on www.sso.org.sg/npvc.

The competition programme can be viewed on www.sso.org.sg/npvc.

Piano Senior Finals | National Piano & Violin Competition 2023

Singapore Symphony 2023-11-30 | A warm welcome to the 2023 National Piano & Violin Competition.

The National Piano & Violin Competition is Singapore's premier classical music competition. In its 14th edition, the biennial competition celebrates music excellence and serves as a platform to identify music talent, as well as to develop and nurture young musicians by providing them with the opportunity to showcase their performing skills and musicality before international adjudicators.

Participants will compete in four categories: Artist, Senior, Intermediate and Junior.

0:15:20 - No. 4, Chen Guangyuan
Repertoire:
PROKOFIEV - Andante - Allegro from Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major, Op. 26
SCRIABIN - Valse, Op. 38

0:33:30 - No. 5, Goh Kai Cheng
Repertoire:
MENDELSSOHN - Capriccio Brillant in B minor, Op. 22
KABALEVSKY - Rondo in A minor, Op. 59

1:07:46 - No. 7, Kayden Yap Shi Jie
Repertoire:
MOZART - Allegro maestoso from Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major, K. 467
CARL VINE - First movement (I) from Piano Sonata No. 1

1:30:36 - No. 9, Adrian Tang
Repertoire:
PROKOFIEV Allegro brioso - Animato from Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-flat major, Op. 10
LISZT Transcendental Etude No. 4 in D mino

Organised by Singapore Symphony Group and supported by Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and National Arts Council Singapore.

Stay tuned as the results of this competition round will be announced after the livestream on www.sso.org.sg/npvc.

The competition programme can be viewed on www.sso.org.sg/npvc.

Piano Intermediate Finals | National Piano & Violin Competition 2023

Singapore Symphony 2023-11-29 | A warm welcome to the 2023 National Piano & Violin Competition.

The National Piano & Violin Competition is Singapore's premier classical music competition. In its 14th edition, the biennial competition celebrates music excellence and serves as a platform to identify music talent, as well as to develop and nurture young musicians by providing them with the opportunity to showcase their performing skills and musicality before international adjudicators.

Participants will compete in four categories: Artist, Senior, Intermediate and Junior.

0:16:14 - No. 6, Asher Seow
Repertoire:
J.S BACH - French Suite No. 5 in G major, BWV 816, I. Allemande, II. Courante, III. Sarabande, IV. Gavotte, VII. Gigue
MOZART - Allegro from Piano Sonata No. 13 in B-flat major, K. 333
SCHUMANN - Abegg Variations, Op. 1
CHOPIN - Ballade No. 3 in A-flat major, Op. 47

0:45:00 - No. 13, Ma Chun Yin Phyllis
Repertoire:
J.S. BACH - English Suite No. 2 in A minor, BWV 807, I. Prelude, IV. Sarabande, VII. Gigue
MOZART - Allegro maestoso from Piano Sonata No. 8 in A minor, K. 310
GLINKA - The Lark (arr. Mili Balakirev)
RAVEL - Alborada del gracioso
PROKOFIEV - Toccata in D minor, Op. 11

1:16:44 - No. 16, Fang Yanli Edward
Repertoire:
J.S. BACH - Courante from French Suite No. 5 in G major, BWV 816
J.S. BACH - Prelude and Fugue No. 15 in G major, BWV 884 from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2
MOZART - Rondo in D major, K. 485
CHOPIN - Etude No. 4 in C-sharp minor from Op. 10
TCHAIKOVSKY - Dumka in C minor, Op. 59
MOSZKOWSKI - Caprice espagnol, Op. 37

2:03:48 - No. 17, Luther Ong Boon Khang
Repertoire:
HAYDN - Allegro from Sonata in C major, Hob. XVI:50
RAVEL - Alborada del gracioso
J.S. BACH - Prelude and Fugue No. 7 in E-flat major, BWV 852 from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1
CHOPIN - Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52

2:34:00 - No. 19, Ethan Xuan Lei Peleg
Repertoire:
J.S. BACH - Partita No. 1 in B-flat major, BWV 825, I. Prelude, VII. Gigue
J.S. BACH - Prelude and Fugue No. 16 in G minor, BWV 861 from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1
MOZART - Allegro from Piano Sonata No. 3 in B-flat major, K. 281
CHOPIN - Variations brillantes, Op. 12
SHOSTAKOVICH - Nos. 19, 20, 21, 22 and 24 from 24 Preludes, Op. 34

Organised by Singapore Symphony Group and supported by Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and National Arts Council Singapore.

Stay tuned as the results of this competition round will be announced after the livestream on www.sso.org.sg/npvc.

The competition programme can be viewed on www.sso.org.sg/npvc.

Piano Junior Finals | National Piano & Violin Competition 2023

Singapore Symphony 2023-11-28 | A warm welcome to the 2023 National Piano & Violin Competition.

The National Piano & Violin Competition is Singapore's premier classical music competition. In its 14th edition, the biennial competition celebrates music excellence and serves as a platform to identify music talent, as well as to develop and nurture young musicians by providing them with the opportunity to showcase their performing skills and musicality before international adjudicators.

Participants will compete in four categories: Artist, Senior, Intermediate and Junior.

Programme

0:15:39 - No. 4, Zhu Feiyang Jasmine
Repertoire:
J.S BACH - Sinfonia from Partita No.2 in C minor, BWV 826
MOZART - Allegro from Piano Sonata No. 13 in B-flat major, K. 333
DEBUSSY - Prelude from Pour le piano
GLINKA - The Lark (arr. Mili Balakirev)

0:39:19 - No. 5, Newman Tong Kaihan
Repertoire:
J.S BACH - Partita No. 1 in B-flat major, BWV 825, I. Prelude, II. Allemande, VII. Gigue
HAYDN - Allegro moderato from Sonata in F major, Hob. XVI: 23
LISZT - Gnomenreigen from 2 Études de Concert
TCHAIKOVSKY - Dumka in C minor, Op. 59

1:01:42 - No. 10, Alexander Christian Tiemroth
Repertoire:
J.S BACH - Prelude from English Suite No. 3 in G minor, BWV 808
HAYDN - Allegro moderato from Sonata in F major, Hob. XVI: 23
FAURÉ - Barcarolle No. 1 in A minor, Op. 26
ISAAK BERKOVICH - Variations on a Theme by Paganini

1:35:44 - No. 18, Theodore Penn Hur
Repertoire:
J.S BACH - Prelude and Fugue No. 2 in C minor, BWV 847 from The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 1
MOZART - Piano Sonata No. 16 in C major, K. 545, I. Allegro, III. Rondo-Alegretto
JOHN FIELD - Nocturne No. 5 in B-flat major, H. 37
MUTSUO SHISHIDO - Toccata from Piano Sonata No. 2

1:51:42 - No. 19, Foo Ming En
Repertoire:
J.S BACH - Allegro from Italian Concerto in F major, BWV 971
HAYDN - Allegro from Sonata in C major, Hob. XVI:50
ISAAK BERKOVICH - Variations on a Theme by Paganini
KABALEVSKY - Presto from Sonatina, Op. 13, No. 1

Organised by Singapore Symphony Group and supported by Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth and National Arts Council Singapore.

Stay tuned as the results of this competition round will be announced after the livestream on www.sso.org.sg/npvc.

The competition programme can be viewed on www.sso.org.sg/npvc.

Dies Irae - Kozłowski’s Requiem

Singapore Symphony 2023-11-27 | The Dies iræ from Kozłowski’s Requiem throbs in classic requiem fashion, yet is strikingly different from the famous counterpart from Mozart’s Requiem.

In April 2023, the Singapore Symphony presented the Asian premiere of Józef Kozłowski’s Requiem. This was subsequently recorded for release. The new edition edited by Singapore Symphony Music Director Hans Graf realises the intimate character of the original 1798 version. Composed just 7 years after Mozart’s famous Requiem, the work is rooted in Viennese Classicism, yet also adumbrates nineteenth-century developments, with a subtle Slavonic tinge. This revival is a gem to anyone interested in music from the early Romantic era.

Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Singapore Symphony Chorus
Singapore Symphony Youth Choir
Hans Graf, Music Director
Eudenice Palaruan, Choral Director
Wong Lai Foon, Choirmaster

The full concert video can be watched on the Singapore Symphony's YouTube members' channel. Join us to access this and more exclusive content. youtube.com/channel/UCREEzq_Crwhf09fQ-sf6Ntw/join

The recording will be released as an album on Pentatone Records in April 2024.

The Amadeus Theme - Mozarts Symphony No. 25

Singapore Symphony 2023-11-22 | Homework by teenagers, especially when writing exercises after a model, tends to be rather uninspired and academic. Mozart’s Symphony No. 25 in G minor, K. 183, written in 1773 when he was 17 and a keen student of Haydn’s symphonies, was modelled after Haydn’s G minor symphony – both employ four horns rather than the usual two. Using pairs of horns in B-flat and G meant a wider range of chromatic notes otherwise unavailable, and four horns give a thicker texture to the dark key. However, K. 183 is anything but a dry and compose-by-rote composition.

The first movement is marked Allegro con brio, and what vigour it is – a splendid fiery falling diminished seventh sets a scene of jagged dramatic tension, a sturm und drang earworm at its best. Listeners may recognise its use in the opening scene of the Miloš Forman film "Amadeus". Violins provide a syncopated rain of fire, while the driving bassline takes on a melodic function like
tidal waves pushing things forward rather than just harmonic accompaniment.

Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Hans Graf, Music Director

Recorded on 7 April 2022 at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore.
Video and Audio: msm productions (Singapore)

Watch the full performance as a channel member. Join us
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Cover: Mozart Playing the Violin, painting by Jean Louis Ernest Meissonier (1815-1891).

Chloe plays a Butterfly Lovers excerpt at Symphony 924 #classicalmusic

Singapore Symphony 2023-11-06 | Chloe plays the beautiful main theme from the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto, at her interview with our official radio station Symphony 924. Recorded on 1 Nov 2023. @ChloeChuaviolinist

The full clip will be shared by Symphony 924 on their Facebook and Instagram channels on Monday! We'll get back with a link when they do.

Chloe performs the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto by Chen Gang & He Zhanhao at the Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore on 10 & 11 Nov. Tickets are largely sold out but we just heard that some returns are expected.

Join us as a YouTube channel member:
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The Kozłowski Requiem - coming soon

Singapore Symphony 2023-11-01 | The hour-long Requiem by Polish-Russian composer Józef Kozłowski (1757 – 1831), a largely forgotten work, has been revived in Asia by the efforts of the Singapore Symphony. A new edition by Singapore Symphony Music Director Hans Graf was performed and recorded in April 2023. This excerpt precedes the exclusive release of the performance for our channel members on 4 Nov, and the album slated for Q2, 2024.

Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Singapore Symphony Chorus
Singapore Symphony Youth Choir
Hans Graf, Music Director
Eudenice Palaruan, Choral Director
Wong Lai Foon, Choirmaster
Olga Peretyatko, soprano
Olesya Petrova, mezzo-soprano
Boris Stepanov, tenor
Christoph Seidl, bass

Recorded live at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore, on 7 Apr 2023.
Audio & video production: msm-productions (Singapore)

Join us as a YouTube channel member
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Chloe Chua plays finale from Bruch

Singapore Symphony 2023-10-31 | 16-year old Singaporean violinist Chloe Chua performs the finale of Bruch's Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, where she has been Artist-In-Residence for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.

"I don’t believe I have ever come across someone this young holding so much promise. Not only is she an incredibly gifted violinist, she is already a true musician." - conductor Lawrence Renes

The full performance and more are available to our channel members. Join us: youtube.com/channel/UCREEzq_Crwhf09fQ-sf6Ntw/join

Chloe Chua, violin @ChloeChuaviolinist
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Lawrence Renes, conductor

This concert was recorded live at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore, on 3 Mar 2023.
Audio & video production: msm-productions (Singapore)

MOZART Overture to Lucio Silla

Singapore Symphony 2023-10-18 | One of the tragedies of famous composers with prolific outputs is that large portions of their output, no matter how brilliant, end up being neglected. Not many of us can claim to be familiar with all of Haydn’s 123 baryton trios, Vivaldi’s 39 bassoon concerti, Massenet’s 34 operas, Palestrina’s 105 masses, Telemann’s 45 settings of the Passion, or Schubert’s 600-plus lieder. Mozart’s own contredanses, cassations, and marches have suffered the same fate.

An example is his 1772 opera Lucio Silla, K.135, composed when he was 16, and premiered in Milan to full houses over nearly 30 performances. The plot concerns a relatively obscure love triangle set in the later days of the Roman Republic. Unfortunately, like the other operas of Mozart’s earlier period, the vocal parts were written to suit the abilities and tessiture of specific singers, making modern casting for them difficult, and so are rarely performed. Lesser-known works are less likely to sell tickets, so producers stick to more famous operas, resulting in a vicious cycle.

The overture is the best-known part of the opera, due to its inclusion as concert filler material, and is in the old Italian overture form of fast-slow-fast, almost a miniature symphony. It begins with a formal D major Molto allegro opening, with brass fanfares setting us firmly in the military setting of Ancient Rome, before leading us into a playful A major second theme. An elegant Andante section follows, before a whirling returns us to a 6/8 Molto allegro that opens the opera.

Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Joshua Tan, conductor

Recorded live at the Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore, on 1 Apr 2021. The reduced orchestra, masks and distanced seating were required by rules in force during the pandemic.

Join our channel to access exclusive content
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Heres a second clip of Chloes Bruch!

Singapore Symphony 2023-10-06 | If you still haven't joined our YouTube membership after watching Chloe's previous clip, we hope this one will convince you. :)

For only SGD2 (approx USD1.4) a month, you can watch the full video of Chloe Chua's performance of the Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, this Saturday 7 Oct.

We have many more videos to share to come, old and new, including the Mahler 5 that formed the second half of the Bruch concert. We are also planning to share exclusive, behind-the-scenes photos, stories and other material you will not see anywhere else.

Exclusively for Singapore Symphony YouTube members. Join us youtube.com/channel/UCREEzq_Crwhf09fQ-sf6Ntw/join

Coming Soon: Chloe Chua plays Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1

Singapore Symphony 2023-10-04 | We've launched our YouTube Membership. For only SGD2 (approx USD1.4) a month, you can watch the exclusive video of Chloe Chua's performance of the Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, this Saturday 7 Oct - and we have much more to come.

Singapore Symphony Youtube Members can now watch a selection of videos from our SSOLOUNGE collection. We have many more videos to share to come, old and new, including the Mahler 5 that formed the second half of the Bruch concert. We are also planning to share exclusive, behind-the-scenes photos, stories and other material you will not see anywhere else.

Exclusively for Singapore Symphony YouTube members. Join us youtube.com/channel/UCREEzq_Crwhf09fQ-sf6Ntw/join

Mahler 5 - the opening trumpet solo

Singapore Symphony 2023-10-04 | Heads up, we've launched our YouTube Membership. For only SGD2 (approx USD1.4) a month, you can watch the exclusive full 75-minute video of our performance of Mahler's Fifth Symphony (filmed in March 2023) on Monday 9 Oct - and we have much more to come.

This clip features our Associate Principal Trumpet, David Smith leading the opening of the symphony, conducted by Lawrence Renes.

Singapore Symphony Youtube Members can also watch a selection of videos from our SSOLOUNGE collection. We have many more videos to share to come, old and new, including Singaporean violin star Chloe Chua's performance of the Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 that preceded this Mahler 5. We are also planning to share exclusive, behind-the-scenes photos, stories and other material you will not see anywhere else.

Exclusively for Singapore Symphony YouTube members. Join us youtube.com/channel/UCREEzq_Crwhf09fQ-sf6Ntw/join

Majulah Singapura - National Anthem of Singapore

Singapore Symphony 2023-09-25 | The National Anthem of Singapore, Majulah Singapura, in the classic arrangement for orchestra and chorus by pioneer Singapore composer Phoon Yew Tien (b. 1952). This performance is the finale of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra's National Day Concert 2023. Recorded live at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore, 13 Aug 2023 at the Temasek Foundation SSO National Day Concert.

The National Anthem of Singapore was composed by Zubir Said in 1958 and the official lyrics are in Malay. This video contains captions in Singapore's four official languages, English, Malay, Mandarin Chinese and Tamil.

Singapore Symphony Chorus
Singapore Symphony Youth Choir
Singapore Symphony Children's Choir
Eudenice Palaruan, Choral Director
Wong Lai Foon, Choirmaster
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Members of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra
Tianhui Ng, conductor
Lily Goh, Deaf Artist-Performer

Join us as a member for exclusive videos and content: youtube.com/singaporesymphony/join

Photo by Albert Vincent Wu on Unsplash

The Road Ahead, for orchestra and chorus

Singapore Symphony 2023-09-21 | The Road Ahead was written for the 2021 National Day celebrations by Evan Low and Lin Ying, its rousing and vitalizing lyrics capturing the indomitability of a country re-emerging from the Covid-19 pandemic. My arrangement thus aims to recreate all the brightness, warmth, and upbeat energy of the original song, where moments of warm intimacy rub shoulders with that of grandeur and brilliance. (Elliot Teo)

Composed by Linying and Evan Low
Arranged by Elliot Teo and Wong Lai Foon for the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Choruses. First performed and recorded live on 13 Aug 2023 at the Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore.

Singapore Symphony Chorus
Singapore Symphony Youth Choir
Singapore Symphony Children's Choir
Eudenice Palaruan, Choral Director
Wong Lai Foon, Choirmaster
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Members of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra
Tianhui Ng, conductor
Lily Goh, Deaf Artist-Performer

Lyrics:

One man on an island
One drop in the sea
All it takes to set a wave in motion
Is a single word, an action
A hope that we can be
The change that we've been longing to see
For our home, our land, our family
It's all within our reach

See this island, every grain of sand
Hear this anthem, it's the voices of our friends
Come whatever on the road ahead
We did it before, and we'll do it again

When the moments turn to hours
And the day's last light is gone
Look around us always and remember
There were times we were uncertain
But we just kept walking on
It's always darkest just before the dawn

See this island, every grain of sand
Hear this anthem, it's the voices of our friends
Come whatever on the road ahead
We did it before, and we'll do it again

Our home, the home we share
Where the garden always grows toward the light
Though the road ahead is daunting
I know we're gonna be alright

See this island, every grain of sand
Hear this anthem, it's the voices of our friends
Come whatever on the road ahead
We did it before, and we'll do it again

See this island, every grain of sand
Hear this anthem, it's the voices of our friends
Come whatever on the road ahead
We did it before, and we'll do it again
We did it before, and we'll do it again

Instrumentation: 2 flutes (1 doubling on piccolo), 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, bass trombone, tuba, timpani, vibraphone, glockenspiel, suspended cymbal, cymbals, harp, strings

Day in the Lion City - by Kelly Tang

Singapore Symphony 2023-09-13 | Day in the Lion City is a five-movement suite for orchestra depicting various aspects of our lived experience in Singapore.

0:00 Applause
0:39 I. Daybreak
9:15 II. Traffic
14:42 III. Runways
21:58 IV. Thunderstorm
25:39 V. Holiday

The first movement, Daybreak, is inspired by the coming of dawn as it emerges from the mysterious stillness of night. 

The second movement, Traffic, bristles with the busy congestion we encounter during rush hour on our roads each morning. 

The third movement, Runways, depicts the grace and grandeur with which sleek airliners land and take off at Changi Airport. A strict fugato section leads back to the lyrical theme played by solo trumpet, intertwining with woodwind countermelodies.

The fourth movement, Thunderstorm, is riddled with violent flashes of lightning and unpredictable pounding of thunder experienced during a storm at the Southern coast of Singapore. The storm vanishes as suddenly as it arrives.

The fifth movement Holiday paints a multi-cultural portrait of Singapore as we celebrate our rich and diverse traditions at festive feasts and gatherings. Featured at such gatherings is the tentative steps of toddlers, our next generation, captured by a playful scherzo or “musical joke”. The scherzo returns in the closing bars as the children’s tune “Three Blind Mice”, ending the suite on a jubilant note.

Day in the Lion City is premiered by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and supported by the Cultural Medallion Fund administered by the National Arts Council of Singapore. (Notes by the composer, Kelly Tang)

We thank the following school partners for their artwork featured during the performance:
Mee Toh School
Naval Base Secondary School
Pathlight School
School of the Arts, Singapore
Yusof Ishak Secondary School
Zhenghua Primary School

Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Members of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra
Tianhui Ng, conductor
Lily Goh, Deaf Artist-Performer

Recorded live at the Esplanade Concert Hall, 13 Aug 2023, during the Temasek Foundation SSO National Day Concert.

KELLY TANG (b. 1961)
Kelly Tang’s compositions have been performed by international ensembles such as the Russian National Orchestra, Warsaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensemble Contemporain of Montreal, Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines (UK), and “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. In Singapore, Tang’s works are performed by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Singapore National Youth Orchestra and the T’ang Quartet. His Jazz compositions have been performed by pianist Jeremy Monteiro with Grammy® recipients Ernie Watts (saxophone) and Randy Brecker (trumpet).

Tang’s music has been presented worldwide at Berlin Konzerthaus, Musikverein Golden Hall (Vienna), Sydney Opera House, Suntory Hall (Tokyo), Palais de l'Élysée (Paris), Museum of Musical Instruments (Brussels), The Rodahal (Netherlands), Auditorium di Milano (Italy), St. Paul’s Cathedral (London), and Carnegie Hall (New York). To celebrate Singapore’s 50th anniversary in 2015, Tang’s Concerto in Three Movements was commissioned for a premiere by superstar pianist Lang Lang and the Metropolitan Festival Orchestra.

Tang received the COMPASS Artistic Excellence Award from the Composers’ and Authors’ Society of Singapore. For his contributions in the arts, Tang was conferred the Cultural Medallion in 2011 by the President of Singapore.

Cover photo by John T / Unsplash

Pasat Merdu - by Felix Phang

Singapore Symphony 2023-09-10 | PASAT MERDU* is a theatrical piece that explores the themes of community, love, and multiculturalism in Singapore. The performance opens with a wayang, setting the stage for a community celebration, a celebration that features cultural elements from Chinese, Malay and Indian music, such as the Madhuvanti raga, Tihai, Inang and more. The celebration also includes an interaction section that symbolizes the importance of connection between individuals and communities, as commonly found in folk idioms.

The next section delves into the theme of love and support, highlighting the importance of family, loved ones, and friends during difficult times. The section features Gildon on Pipa, warmly embraced by the orchestra.

The final section celebrates everything around us, our multi-cultural Singapore, with sounds that are uniquely familiar to Singaporeans. The piece aims to evoke nostalgia and a sense of belonging through the sounds of our community. The performance closes with the wayang motif, but the Singapore story is still in the writing.

The message of PASAT MERDU is for Singaporeans to stay close and connected to each other, through life experiences and cultures. PASAT MERDU encourages audiences to embrace the rich cultural diversity of Singapore and celebrate the things that make us unique.

*PASAT MERDU
/ˌ pɑ ˈ sɑt/ – A colloquial Hokkien (Chinese dialect) word that means marketplace, specifically the wet market in Singapore context. Borrowed from the Singapore Mandarin equivalent “ba sha 巴刹”, which in turn borrowed from the Malay term “pasar”.

/ˈmərdu/ – Bahasa Melayu (Malay) for melodious. Derived from Sanskrit. The wet market was where people of all ethnicities would congregate for daily necessities. Amidst a cacophony of languages and the bustle of life, the interaction of cultures allowed Singapore to develop our unique identity, one that is still evolving with the times. We love how the various languages spoken in Singapore have borrowed words from each other. It shows how we have adapted to get along. In this same spirit, we explore musically the richness of our cultures.

All are welcome at Pasat Merdu – a melodious marketplace. (Notes by the composer, Felix Phang)

Pasat Merdu is an SSO Commission and this world premiere was recorded live at the Esplanade Concert Hall, 13 Aug 2023 at the Temasek Foundation SSO National Day Concert.

Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Members of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra @snyosg
The Straits Ensemble @thestraitsensemblesingapore
Tianhui Ng, conductor
Lily Goh, Deaf Artist-Performer

Instrumentation: 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, timpani, suspended cymbal, snare drum, bass drum, glockenspiel, marimba, piano, oud, pipa, tabla (doubling on windchimes, frame drum, pandeiro), rebana (doubling on shaker), upright bass, strings.
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FELIX PHANG (b. 1983)
Singaporean composer/musician Felix Phang grew up playing symphonic band music and discovered jazz at Berklee College of Music.

An independent artist navigating tradition, change and a confluence of cultures, he seeks to make sense of his environment by exploring the cultural musical landscape of Singapore with a suite of music composed around the themes of ‘diversity’ and ‘relationships’ for ensembles comprising of various folk instruments. Inspired by The Silk Road Project, Phang is motivated to share culture through composition, performance and education.

Phang has performed and presented his works at international music festivals and both 2017 & 2019 International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers Symposium clinics facilitated by Grammy winner and nominees, Billy Childs, Bill Frisell and Ron Miles.

Phang currently heads the 150-strong Music & Drama Company (MDC), producing both live and digital content for Singaporeans and high-profile government events. He holds an adjunct position at LASALLE College of the Arts, and mentors young writers in his own time. For leisure and inspiration, Phang indulges in pottery at his compact home studio. (felixphang.com)
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The Straits Ensemble is a musical collective that champions Singapore cultural music
exchanges, influenced by the ever-changing global music landscape and jazz sensibilities. Performing in the Temasek Foundation SSO National Day Concert 2023:
Eugene Ang, piano
Felix Phang, double bass
Gildon Choo, pipa
Azrin Abdullah, oud
Nizarfauzi, rebana
Govin Tan, tabla

Cover photo by Chris P. Lim