Art Jam : Issue 33 by CULTURAL ACTIVITIES CLUB NTU

Windows 8 with the new Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac Win a copy of Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac Now! Simply submit a short paragraph on what you think about Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac and why you deserve to win to CAC-PUBLICATION@ntu.edu.sg Terms & Conditions: 1. You must be a current student of NTU. 2. Matriculation Card and your Mac must be shown when collecting prize. 3. Prize collection will take place in NTU. 4. Should you possess a non-portable Mac, you can give us the serial number of your Mac for verification. 5. Deadline for submission is 31st July.

t might be unthinkable for some, but there are many reasons why an OS X user might want to run Windows on the same system. Chiefly, it is because some programs, such as Quicken and Internet Explorer, do not have Mac versions. Otherwise, some OS X users might find that they need to run specific Windows software. As desktop virtualization software, Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac allows Mac users to run both OS X and Windows simultaneously on the same system. This means you can run Windows applications right alongside your Mac apps, and even share files, music, videos and even bookmarks. In this month’s How-To, we show you how to setup Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac and Windows 8 on your Mac and highlight some of the key features of Parallel’s latest desktop virtualization software.

Key Features Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac aims to blend the best features of OS X Mountain Lion and Windows 8. Apart from being able to copy and paste text and files from one OS to the other, here are some of the key new features of Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac. Notification Centre Notification Centre for Mountain Lion provides an overview of alerts from applications, allowing users to quickly see updates from their email client and even Facebook and Twitter. Notification Centre will work with Parallels by displaying alerts from Windows applications in the Notification Centre too. Dictation The clever thing about Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac is that it can take Mountain Lion’s best features and make it work seamlessly on Windows 8. One of the Mountain Lion’s newest features is Dictation. Dictation, as its name suggests, takes your voice input and translates it into text. With Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac, Dictation will work with any Windows application that accepts text. This means it will work with Windows versions of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and even Outlook as well.

Full-screen Apps Windows 8 is radically different from its predecessors and it features what Microsoft calls Modern-style apps. These apps are developed around a new design language and works best in full-screen mode. Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac fully supports these new Modern-style apps and has figured a clever workaround to let these apps run in full-screen mode by launching these apps and then placing them in their own Mission Control desktop. This way, the apps will run in fullscreen mode much like how native OS X apps do. Launchpad Support Launchpad is a feature that was first introduced in Mountain Lion. It is a full-screen graphical interface applications launcher that lets users quickly find the application that they want to launch. With Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac, Windows applications can also be added to Launchpad so users who are familiar with the application launcher can quickly search for and launch their Windows applications too. Pricing Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac is available at SGD99 at all Apple Premium Resellers stores in Singapore. It is available for students at SGD69.

ArtJam is a premier publication presented to you by NTU Cultural Activities Club (NTUCAC).

Editor’s Note

Editor-In-Chief Joel Lim Chief Editor Koh Hui Fang

Dear readers, Brace yourselves as we treat you to a wide variety of exciting content on an unprecedented scale. In this issue, ArtJam gets wildly ambitious and covers events not just in NTU but all over Singapore. After 8 fruitful years of running, which has been made possible by the efforts of countless people, we introduce to you the current team who has contributed to this magazine. Don’t just browse, but read thoroughly, and you will find special discounted prices for certain events you should not miss out. Stay tuned as ArtJam continues to bring you the hottest events in Singapore with exclusive interviews and much more. Cheers!

Joel

Joel Lim Editor-in-Chief

Managing Editors Joan Kwek Jin Chuqing Editors Jeryn Lau Yeo Tan Cheng Writers Akriti Vij Ali Qasim Regina Giam Sriporna Mukherjee Tan Yu Jia Ng Kai Xin Chief Art Director Daniel Tan Chief Photographer Derrick Say Photographers Adarsh Kanodia Akshay Raman Chen Chun Yang Li Xiang Lucas Tay Ma LingJie Pham Quynh Anh Mun Yong Jian Printer Xpress Print Pte Ltd Tel: 6880 2881

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The team Editor-In

-Chief

Chief Editor

ie. Martial Concert junk Risk enthusiast. arts ve ha t no es do taker. Still el Jo . ense a driving lic ing ng ha en se is always his face a smile on e he has us ca probably be his sleeve. something up lling on tro m Catch hi dsername. twitter at @wha

Managing

Editors

Constantly labelled as funny and weird by her friends. Can’t sing and dance to save her own life. Accidentally goes crazy and says the darnedest things sometimes. Loathes being the centre of people’s attention. Enjoys watching people break out into smiles and peals of laughter. Eyes widen at the sight of Lego, Nano Bricks, Little Green Men, vinyl figures and dinosaurs but lacks the moolah to collect ‘em all.

Living example of the transformative power of parttime jobs. Serial hob byist who’s always adding to her long list of things to do. Has decided to blow her firs t fulltime paycheck on a turn table for her eleven vinyl records -- nothing better than hearing them crackle and skip in one’s old age. Currently cra ving for tactile contact with petals and wondering if there’s a job opening somewhere. .

correct. ...Tuning...Okay, sique. Elle...oops ce got on d an s Elle adore la mu am ex during the final nd mi r Never he g. in gin sin gs Sin she was er from the song e and ag gu lan e the correct answ on lely ssing herself in so pre ex mind s th wi joy d En fie y. tis sa every da change her accent ’ minds ers oth ing secretly hopes to ist tw novels as well as rld twisting films and upset about this wo hts. Occasionally ug tho zy er. with her cra sw an r e always finds he but no worries, sh

Chief photographer Derrick has joined artjam as a photographer since 2010. He started photography with interest in portr aits but exposure to gigs/concert phot ography spurred him to excel in this genr e of photography, and has never looked back since. The opportunity to cover a concert and meeting singers/stars is an ama zing experience. If one has a passion for gig photography, and works well with a camera, this is a great role to be in artjam.

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Chief art

director

Just a philosophical guy who loves to change the colours of the world. Daniel is a master of the arts and design when armed with a tool cal led Photoshop. You know who to call when you need your mac painted!

Editors Laid-back and optimistic person who finds joy in dancing. Is in Dancesport Academy and works part time at a quaint cafe practising cute latte art. Reading and travelling around the world are her goals in life, and never says no to good food. She enjoys both English and Mandarin, comfortable speaking and writing in both languages. In the midst of learning Spanish too. Current aim is to be a translator or news broadcaster someday.

A Jay Chou fanatic and also one who strongly believes that living to eat is much more important than eating to live. With such a busy schedule, Tan Cheng’s newfound hobby lies in bed ridding herself on weekends.

Writers

A student from Ba ghdad, Iraq, who is now in his seco of classical music nd PhD year at EE . His favorite instru E, NTU. An appre ment is the piano of Beethoven, Ch ciator and he mostly pla opin and Liszt’s mu ys it for fun. Big lov sic. Comes from especially his paren er a family that appre ts, who were pre ciates classical mu viously violinists at Iraq. Joined piano sic, the National Symp classes since 14 hony Orchestra of and received coac Later, for some hing for about tw reasons, he’s co o and a half years ntinued on his ow contribute in almos . n till today, though int t any related activ ermittently. Would ities in NTU Piano Ensemble. life to throw Creative and crazy, waiting for s joy in the Find way. it’s surprises along the e, music, Danc her. nd arou s thing of smallest forget her e mak can chocolate and cheese she while , tions emo of mes extre ng Havi herself. e coffe a with tion spec cherishes the self intro leave you can she ow, wind ng lashi rainby the she can talk amazed with all the random things s travelling Love day. the of hour any at about s life and bring she le, and meeting new peop . goes she r reve whe s smile spreads

Yu Jia- An avid reader who likes to daydream and immerse himself in a mountain of books and an immense ocean of imagination. Has an interest in languages and hopes to master ten languages in his lifetime. Looks quiet from afar but can be talkative when approached. Prefers to challenge the limits of his creativity rather than to accept the limits and constraints of reality. Always finding new ways to do things and pushing boundaries.

Carries a tiny notebook everywhere- (“after all, an idea not penned down is an idea lost.”) -loses that notebook somewhere by the end of the day. Survives on music, loves to sing, and worships the stage. Dreams of owning an antique typewriter and gramophone. When not preoccupied with being crazy or exploring something new, she talks- A LOT. But that’s not hard to escape, just get the foodie something to munch on. And there goes all her attention.

Photopraphers

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CONTENTS Special Feature 8

One Fighting Championship

CAC Events 12 16

Member Club Feature A Night of Talent: Impresario 2013 We might have just witnessed the birth of yet another star.

Retrospection: Joint Dance Concert 2013

Alumni Feature 22

White and Red: Interview With Vanessa Ann Vanderstraaten “…and I thought, why not just give it a go, so I made a deal with my parents: let’s give it, maybe three to five years, and if I haven’t made a name for myself, if I haven’t made any sort of impact, then ok lah, then I will teach lah, but that’s the backup plan I hope I will never have to use.”

Dance & Theatre 24

Delving Into the Noir: Le Noir

Coppelia – The Girl with the Enamel Eyes

The Importance of Being Earnest featuring Chua Enlai, who played Gwendolyn Fairfax: “The relationship between the audience and comedy is so strong and a lot of the times, they cannot exist without the other!”

30 6

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Concerts 30

A Special Night With Demi Lovato

A YouTube Sensation: Tiffany Alvord

Music Makes Me Feel Alive Julia Stone @ Mosiac Music Festival Singapore “One of my favourite things to do is to walk through a city or wherever I am, listening to a record that I love and somehow the music makes everything more real than normal life.”

An Exclusive Interview with Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons And a magical evening with Norah Jones, Live in Singapore

Gigs 41

This Time, On His Own: David Choi “To me (music) it’s like a… Just like a part of me, it’s part of my life. It’s always going to be a part of me whether I do it for a living or not.”

Jason Chen Showcase Live in Singapore “(Writing a sad time of my life into a song) doesn’t make me feel better recovery-wise. It just makes me feel like, okay, at least I got a song out of it. It’s like a silver lining.”

Classical Concerts 46

Time Travel With Melvyn Tan

Romantic Masterpieces with Steinway Artist Kenneth Hamilton

Visual Arts 52

The Art of the Brick

Do Not Miss… 54

Event Listings

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ONE Fighting Championship By Joel Lim ONE Fighting Championship™, Asia’s largest Mixed Martial Arts organization, wowed the soldout crowd in attendance at Singapore Indoor Stadium with ONE FC: KINGS & CHAMPIONS. Fans were treated to a night of unforgettable action as ONE FC’s best battled inside the famed ONE FC cage. A few of weeks ago, the NTU Cultural Activities Club Publications Committee held a contest in conjunction with the ONE Fighting Championship - Kings and Champions. With 5 pairs of tickets to be won, we received a huge response from you readers and we’d like to say thank you! We’ve heard you and we will definitely bring more opportunities for you to attend hot events all around Singapore! Prior to this event, a friend of mine asked me a poignant question: is it still relevant to consider martial arts as an art in today’s society, or is it more of a sport than anything else?

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To be honest, it sure is thought-provoking how time and society has altered the scope and definition of martial art. Being a martial arts enthusiast (but ironically not an expert), I had enrolled myself in a couple of fight gyms back in my teenage years with ambitions of becoming a fighter. To be feared in the ring and famous on the screen is perhaps every teenage guy’s dream. Undoubtedly, I ended up amongst many other commoners who would be happy enough just to survive one to two training sessions daily. It is a common scene to see people in the gyms talking about their favorite fighters, foreseeing themselves to be amongst them someday. Most of us dream about living their lives, but most of us fail to see what they have gone through.

So what happens behind the walls of these fighters? Find out what and how they go through each day of their lives. On screen, it is only a matter of minutes (sometimes seconds) before a winner is determined. On the surface, what you see is a bout between two guys. However, on the other side, unbeknownst to many, are the thousands of hours these fighters endure in mental and physical torture in order to maintain their body shape and keep it in fighting standards. In the ring, every move the fighter makes is calculated. Every step is deliberate with an attempt to get the better position. It is close to impossible for all these to happen simultaneously without years of fruitful diligent practice and knowledge of the art.

“

Martial arts help me to grow as a person, learning cultures, traditions and discipline from different areas and then inculcating them to my students. And I feel good helping a bigger community.

I kid you not. Let’s start with the basics - Earning the body of a fighter (those abs and biceps). It may seem easy. Many people have been swayed by the idea that one can easily obtain such a figure in ‘6 weeks’, online. Try googling that! This happens so often that we often discount the full story. The amount of punishment one has to go through to keep in shape is definitely a huge sacrifice one has to make in order to keep weight and keep fit. You can’t simply eat off the menu and expect yourself to end up with a toned body alongside keeping your optimal fighting capabilities. It takes a whole lot of mental strength to keep away the ‘bad’ food, not just for a month, but for as long as you decide to stick to this career. Another fact - being in a caged fight is not a comparison to who has placed more time in training or who has the better luck that day. It is about the discipline and

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If there is one person I could fight, it would be me from a few years back. That’s what I always think about. It’ll be interesting to see if I can fight myself from two years ago, see how much I’ve improved. - Eddie Ng, BJJ Champion dedication you’ve placed in your trainings that builds not just your physicals, but your character and spirit. The competition is most definitely not just about winning. At times, we fall, and from there, we climb. It is about improving yourself daily. What mainly earmarks the difference between a plodder and a true martial artist is the inherent motivation that drives the individual to constantly improve himself and beat who he was yesterday. Understanding the arts requires one to embrace the culture of the art. It is common to see professional fighters going to the origins to learn and adapt to the cultures just to understand the basics of the art. Most people who choose the alternative route often find themselves lacking in many areas, exposing themselves to a weakness they cannot afford. Also, apart from just the diet and discipline, there lies the risk. There is always a chance of severe injuries in such an activity. You could end up with broken bones or perhaps a major illness such as Parkinson’s syndrome. It then breaks down to the simple notion. Why would one ever submit to such pain and torment? Is it money? Or fame?

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Many people would cringe at the idea of risking their health and lifestyle for an average pay. It would take a whole lot more than just money to motivate one in pursuing a career in this area. However, despite there being many cons to such a career, some people still hold on to martial arts as an ambition, something they’ve aspired all their life. I never really quite comprehend why some would place their lives at such high stakes despite knowing the odds. To get a deeper understanding, I grasp the chance to talk to my former trainer, Eddie Ng, during the weigh-ins the day before the fight.

------------------------------------------------------It is going to be your first time fighting after a year. What do you feel about it? It’s not going to make a difference because in the past I use to fight with long breaks in between. Back in the UK, if you look it was quite difficult to get a fight. I used to fight one time and I’ll have to wait for over a year before my next fight so I’m quite used to it. If I’m someone who fought every 3 months then maybe that’ll be a problem. It’s all about consistency.

I heard you train approximately 3 – 4 hours daily. Is that sufficient? Yes. You can train all year round with those hours. It’s not a problem. Martial art is about improving yourself. Seeing how people worry about over training, or doing too much sometimes bothers me a little because that’s something you control and you should know what’s best for your body. When you don’t have a fight, you can turn the intensity down and you focus more on learning. When you have a fight, you can dial the intensity up make it more towards competition training. That’s when you make the training session more difficult. All these can be adjusted with time. How have practicing martial arts change you as a person? Martial art has changed my life quite a lot. If I didn’t compete I won’t know what I’ll be doing. I can’t sing. I can’t dance. I can’t sit behind the computer for 9 hours a day so... you know. Martial arts help me to grow as a person, learning cultures, traditions and discipline from different areas and then inculcating them to my students. I’m helping a bigger community and it makes you feel good about it. So do you plan to stick to martial arts your entire life? Yeah. If I don’t compete once I am done physically, I’ll still stay involved in martial arts. I’ll probably teach. Martial art helps me to go places not just physically, but spiritually, and that’s something most jobs can’t provide. Do you have any dreams of fighting anyone, for example, your idol? If there is one person I could fight, which would never ever happen, it would be me, from a few years back. That’s what I always think about. Like how is it like to fight myself from two years ago. Everyday when I train, it feels like I get destroyed continuously because my teammates are champions, so it doesn’t feel like I improve. But in fact I do improve and it’ll be interesting to see if I can fight myself two years ago, see what the

difference is, if I’ve improved. And that’s what I always think about. Any wise words for aspiring fighters like you? If you pursue martial arts as a hobby, that’s good, but don’t pursue martial arts as a career. Don’t look to be a professional fighter. Don’t possess the mindset of thinking that you want to be a professional fighter when you mature. Have fun first when you train and if your passion grows further and you develop more of a talent, then that’s all right. But don’t set out to decide to be a professional fighter. Have fun training first and see where life takes you. ------------------------------------------------------ONE Fighting Championship has given people all around the world a chance to prove themselves worthy of being a top martial arts practitioner. ONE FC Kings and Champions saw Eddie Ng winning the fight via submission on his opponent Arnaud Lepont in round 2. Do not miss what ONE Fighting Championship has to offer in future.

Do not miss : ONE Fighting Championship™ returns to Indonesia on Friday, 13 September, with a fight card headlined by the highly anticipated ONE FC Flyweight World Championship title bout which will be contested by Japanese veterans Shinichi Kojima and Yasuhiro Urushitani. Fans from around the world can witness the action online via live streaming at www.onefc.livesport.tv.

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Chinese Orchestra <南大云音Transient Reminiscences 2013>

n the evening of 23rd February 2013, the Nanyang Technological University Chinese Orchestra (NTUCO) marked its 30th anniversary with a delightful touch to its annual concert, Transient Reminiscences. In addition to the classical Chinese orchestral pieces, the concert repertoire introduced western music such as Libertango and Por Una Cabez, as well as the famous Korean folk song Arirang. The 2-hours long concert felt like a journey around the world, in which the orchestra brought the audience through China, Korea, Spain and Argentina before landing back in our homeland, Singapore. For the first time in the history of NTUCO, the orchestra did live music accompaniment to local film-maker Royston Tan’s short film “Little Note” which was shown during the concert. It was an significant milestone for the orchestra as coordination between film dialogues and the orchestral music must be precisely timed to provide the best experience for the audience. The orchestra then ended the memorable and exciting trip with the song Reverie at the Statue of Sir Stamford Raffles. Apart from the interesting repertoire, the orchestra also boasted students from the National Taipei College of Business (國立臺北商業技術學院) Chinese orchestra and their musical instructor, who were invited to Singapore for a musical exchange programme. To sum it all up, it was an amazing experience to embark on this wonderful journey with the established orchestra which has just turned three decades old.

Member Club

Feature

String Orchestra <Prism ’13>

n 5th March 2013, NTU String Orchestra performed the second of its annual concert series titled Prism at the Esplanade. Alongside alumni, soloists and guest players, Prism 2013 featured sublime works by Mendelssohn and Mozart, two music prodigies who had left indelible marks on the history of music. The instant the performance began, one could feel a timeless beauty leap into being when the melodic violin and viola worked seamlessly together with the sonorous cello and double bass. The resulting music was layers of melodies that unwound the daily tensions of the audience and brought the Classical era back to our focus amidst the popularity of pop culture. With skillful shifts between vivacious melodies such as Mendelssohn String Symphony Symphony No. 1 to soothing and elegant pieces such as Mozart Piano Concerto No. 21 Movement 1, the performers entertained the audience with one enchanting masterpiece after another as the music resounded throughout the entire recital studio. The highly complex and impressive piece, Mendelssohn Octet Op. 20 Movement 1, was skillfully performed on 8 different instruments. After the concert ended, the pleasant music not only echoed through the Recital Studio, but also in the audience’s mind. A success and a well-spent evening, Prism 2013 was a testament that music transcends all barriers, including time itself.

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Choir <Catemus 2013: Belonging>

n 15th March 2013, the NTU Choir held its annual concert entitled Cantemus (Latin for ‘let us sing’) in the Singapore Conference Hall. The concert was split into two parts. The first part consisted of traditional choir performances where the audience was regaled with songs covering diverse themes ranging from Man’s relationship with Nature, such as Ilay Gandangan, Kasar Mie la Gaji to songs with a story such as Mouse Madrigal. Guest Performers for the segment included the NTU Choir Alumni and Beatty Secondary School Choir. The dazzling performance was a testament to music being a universal language that bridges all ages and connects everyone regardless of distance. The second part of the event took the form of a musical entitled Belonging, which examined Man’s perennial yearning and search for a sense of belonging. As the story progressed, soloist

singers, coupled with the rest of the NTU Choir providing background harmonization, complemented the actors to produce an enriching, sobering and even enlightening work. Popular songs like How to Save a Life by The Fray and Trouble by Coldplay were performed, to the delight of lovers of English pop songs. With the conclusion of Belonging, the NTU Choir has once again shown that a natural musical instrument can be judiciously used to bring the human voice to rarefied musical heights. The concert ended off with a sweet surprise when Eugene, the ex-chairman for NTU Choir, proposed to his girlfriend of 6 years with success as the Choir sang to the sweet melody of love.

ebruary and March 2013 marked two of the most exciting months for the academic year as 7 member clubs of the Nanyang Technological University Cultural Activities Club (NTUCAC) held various events around the country, bringing the joy of appreciating arts into the heartbeat of the nation!

Dragon and Lion Dance Troupe <9th NTU Institutional Lion Dance Competition 2013>

he 9th Institutional Lion Dance Competition 2013 was held by the NTU Dragon & Lion Dance Troupe (NTUDL) on 16th March 2013 at The Cathay. The Competition started with the Primary School Category, where the young students showcased their competition items. Despite their lack of experience, the youthful participants remain unfazed by the intense public scrutiny and performed their routines with strict discipline and near perfection. Kudos to Telok Kurau Primary School B Team, who was crowned the champion of the category! The Guest-of-Honour of the Competition was President of Singapore Wushu Dragon and Lion Dance Federation, Mr Liang Eng Hwa, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Holland-Bukit Timah GRC. He spoke about his appreciation towards the passionate youngsters in learning and practicing the lion dance. At noon, the intensity of the contest increased with lions climbing up to as high as 4 tier setups! Yuan Ching Secondary School B Team and Yuan Ching Secondary School Alumni Team emerged top in the Secondary and Open Category respectively, proving the stronghold of the school and its Alumni in the traditional dance. All the participating teams put up a good fight, drawing gasps and cheers from the 400-strong audience. The Competition was witnessed by an unexpected audience. Neil Humphreys, a British humour columnist and author, along with his fellow crew happened to pass by The Cathay and showed great interest after watching the performances. They filmed it and the event was broadcasted on Channel NewsAsia in the programme “Return to a Sexy Island”.

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Harmonica Band <VIVACE XIII>

nder the baton of the current resident conductor, Mr. Tang Yuen Wai, Singapore renowned and distinguished harmonica band instructor and musician, NTU Harmonica Band celebrates its 27th anniversary this year with a splendid performance at the School Of The Arts (SOTA) Concert Hall on the 23rd of March.

The versatility of the ensemble was evident through the performances, which ranged from vocal favourites such as My Heart Will Go On from “Titanic” and Colours of the Wind from “Pocahontas”, to renowned instrumental pieces Kiss The Rain and Can Can. Despite their differing pitches, the chromatic, tenor, chord and bass harmonica complemented each other to bring out the bright tone of the instruments to the audience. Alas, all good things need to come to an end and the concert is no exception. The ensemble bid farewell to the audience through the bittersweet piece - Butterfly Lovers Concerto (梁祝). Just as the story of the music goes, the ensemble and the audience parts with much sadness. On an optimistic note, we look forward to the next Vivace concert to reunite with the ensemble and spend a wonderful evening together again, just as the protagonists of the story does.

Member Club

Feature

Guitar Ensemble <Nocturne 2013: As I walk through Life>

s we grow up, we often ponder about our lives and wish we can go back in time to those moment we reminisce about the most. Our wishes were granted in a magical journey on the 24th March 2014 in Nocturne 2013 by the Guitar Ensemble. The concert was split into the 4 phases of life: Childhood, Youth, Midlife, and Twilight. In Childhood, the concert started with lively performances such as Spring (Movement 1, Allegro) by Antonio Vivaldi, followed by the familiar theme song from the popular cartoon Doraemon. The Ensemble then brought us through the phase of Youth, where the Beginner Group was given an opportunity to perform a piece, a medley of Heart and Soul and Fly Me to the Moon. It is indeed amazing to know that they had no knowledge in the instrument prior to joining the club, but yet they were able to pick up the basics within a year and eventually put up a performance on stage. We were then whisked into Midlife and Twilight phases, where we saw the endless possibilities that lay ahead in our lives. Under the baton of the resident conductor Mr Thomas Liauw, the Ensemble showcased two special collaborations in the concert. A violinist, Yang Wenjing, played alongside the ensemble for the piece Meditation by Massenet whereas a flutist, Gao Liuqing, performed in the piece The Swan by Saint Camille Saint-Saëns. These performances added an interesting twist to the classic hits that we are familiar with. On top of that, the Ensemble also featured vocals for the songs 那些年 and Hotel California, which was familiar to the audience. The NTU Guitar Ensemble was no time-turner, but our lives and memories unfolded right before our eyes and the experience was as good as real. Looking forward to Nocturne 2014!

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Piano Ensemble <Eleganza 2013: Mélange de Musique>

n an intimate setting at Lee Foundation Theatre on 23rd March 2013, the members from NTU Piano Ensemble (NTUPE) performed for the annual Eleganza concert. The pieces were mainly in duets and performers sat opposite each other and exchanged occasional nods across adjoined Steinway grand pianos. As the duos composed themselves for the performance, members of the audience seemed to hold their breath until the first note was played. The rapid succession of notes that follow brought the audience through a broad mixture of Classical pieces

from well-known compositions such as Venus from The Planets by Gustav Holst and Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy, to technically challenging songs such as Suite No.1 Op.5 (1st Movement) by Sergei Rachmaninoff. The concert concluded with an outstanding piece from Brahms – Sonata in F minor for Two Pianos (1st Movement. Indeed, the “Mélange de Musique” (French for “mixture of music”) was well-concocted and left the audience satisfied with the richness of the repertoire. As the curtain falls and the stage clears, the audience was left to savour the memories of the concert. We can’t wait to see what Eleganza 2014 will bring us!

The annual concert season for NTUCAC wrapped up with great success. We would like to congratulate all performers on the wonderful performances and the audience for their support. Fret not, for we have concerts coming up before the next academic year starts!

Do Not Miss: Symphonic Band Satoshi Concert @ Esplanade Concer Hall on 4th July MJ Hip Hop Dancetitude Concert @ Republic Polytechnic The Republic Cultural Centre Theatre on 16th & 17th August Contemporary Dance - The Chrysalis Production @ Nanyang Auditorium on 1st September One-way ticket Destination: Somewhere Time: Sometime For One Pax Only

Priceless Compiled & Edited by Yeo Tan Cheng

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Talent

By Ng Kai Xin & Regina Giam

After four months of hard work, sweat and dedication, the finalists of the CAC Impresario 2013 finally took the grand stage. The final of the annual nationwide talent search, which started since 1992, was held at Nanyang Auditorium on 17th March 2013. The hosts, UFM100.3 deejays Liang Quan and Xin Ying, entertained the audience with their jokes and kept the show running smoothly throughout the night. The contest was divided into four main categories: Vocal Group, Original Composition, Vocal Solo and Dance, each with five finalists. Instructors from the Lee Wei Song School of Music and the director of Composers and Authors Society of Singapore (COMPASS) were invited as guest judges. Lee Wei Song, one of the most prolific music producers in Asia who has produced music for artistes like Stefanie Sun and JJ Lin, was present as a judge too. Their scores and the audiences’ votes, which contributed to a small percentage of the overall score, determined the eventual winners. Local dance group The Basic Fives got the beat moving with the first performance of the night. Their impressive hard popping and locking energized the audience and ignited a sense of anticipation and excitement. With the double-edged responsibility of setting the tone for the night, the first contestants of the

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night were the duo PockPork from the vocal group category. Without any signs of nerves, they set the bar high with a heartrending performance that impressed the judges. The names of the five vocal groups (PockPork, The Simple Souls, Medicine, Twenty Centimetres, Crushed Cookies) all have their own unique meaning: for instance, the name Twenty Centimetres refers to the height difference between the duo. Each group’s song choice reflected their individuality and artistry. The Simple Souls and Medicine created their own mash-ups, combining parts from different songs into a final product that flows seamlessly. The main component that the judges were looking for was the group’s overall teamwork and harmony. All groups showed great teamwork, but it was the perfect harmonising of the 2 male groups, PockPork and Crushed Cookies, that stood them apart from the rest. Their heart-warming renditions of Chinese songs moved the judges’ hearts, even prompting one of them to comment that the winning group, Crushed Cookies, gave him “goose pimples”. The original composition category was next and each group presented unique songs. Every song had its own motif which set them apart from each other. The first original composition, 木头人跟踪记, was not only unique and quirky, it was also presented in

a visual performance that highlighted the rhythm and atmosphere of the song. The second composition brought the atmosphere in the auditorium to a climax, when one of the composers of “Night is Ours” performed the disco-style song to a hypedup audience. Although his singing was not among the best, his incredible stage presence made his performance one of the most memorable that night. It was no wonder that the audience started swaying along to the beat, and that he was eventually awarded the top prize for the category. Even though the song “Night is Ours” was the highlight of the original composition category, the other groups also presented relatable songs that pricked the audience’s and judges’ hearts. 枫之恋, a ballad about first loves, contained lyrics that the judges identified strongly with and caused them to reminisce about their first loves. Another entry, 一个人的快乐, demonstrated originality in its celebration of

Guest Judge: Established Music Producer, 李伟菘

singlehood in a time when many Mandarin songs are about love. The original composition category was one of the most enjoyable categories of the event, allowing future composers to showcase their works and cultivating hope for the future of Singapore’s music industry. The opening contestant of the solo performance category, Fu Fangwei, set a high benchmark with his performance. His voice projection was superb, leading the judges to comment that he was the first participant that night who made full use of the acoustics of the auditorium to his advantage. He chose a song that was difficult to sing, but he did well with it, dazzling the audience and judges by hitting all the high notes and filling the auditorium with his voice. The next contestant, Eric Lim Ming Wei, also did well in his performance. The judges, however, criticised his outfit choice, pointing out that clothing is an important part of managing a singer’s impression in the audience’s eyes. The third contestant, Elizabeth Low Kar Wai, had a unique voice, which aided her in capturing the judges’ attention. Unfortunately, her use of the microphone was subpar, causing the music to drown out her voice at parts of the song. Many of the contestants were visibly nervous, which affected their stage performances. See Kai Zheng suffered from his choice of song, which the judges perceived as unsuitable for his voice. This was a pity,

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as the audience’s screams proved that he would have done much better if he had chosen a more upbeat pop song. In all, the solo performance category was an eye-opener for both the contestants and future hopefuls in the audience, as there were many a lesson to be learnt from both the participants’ strengths and weaknesses. The last segment of the night was the highly anticipated dance competition. Loud cheers erupted as the emcees introduced the dance category, and the excitement was infectious and palpable. First to perform was the all-girl group, PantheRawr. Wearing kitten-ear headbands, they put on a sexy, powerful and dynamic performance. Though they could have been much tighter with their moves, the group kept the crowd roaring and wanting more. The next group did not disappoint either, putting on a performance that was epitomised by their group’s name – Creepy Funkers. Their choreography and music choice was just as creepy as it was impressive. But what impressed the judges most was that the group used both their bodies and facial expressions to dance and convey a sense of creepiness that gave us all chills. The talent, creativity and dedication of the groups were evident in their choreography, their use of props, and their attention to their costumes. The Korean idol group wannabes, Café Boys Love Jane, had the crowd on their feet with their fluid performance and seamless onstage costume changes, as they danced to popular Korean pop songs. Each subsequent performance raised the bar higher and the atmosphere in the auditorium was electrifying. STN, which stands for Sexy TofuNinja, incorporated several slick gymnastic moves in their choreography, and were runners-up for the category. The deserving winners were the group E-Merged Crew, who brought the house down with their very tight and well-coordinated krumping moves. Their energy and enthusiasm, which is what the E in their group name stands for, were expressed through

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their powerful and synchronised performance. They capped off a brilliant night which was not just an array of promising young talent, but also a display of all their effort and hard work. Before the announcement of the results, there were guest performances by Impresario alumni and now established musicians – Jack and Rai, and Kelly Poon. Their performances were effortless and polished, and showed how far they have come since they first started out. As they shared their experiences and gave advice to the aspiring artistes, it was clear that although they took a path less travelled by becoming singers, their journey has been a tough but very fulfilling and rewarding one. It is their passion and love for music that drives them to constantly hone their skills. As the night came to a close, the results were announced. The audience cheered loudly for each performer, as they had all through the night. Every competition has to have a winner, but what is more important is the experience that the participants have gained from it. Each of them is proof that Singapore does have its very own talent, and we might have just witnessed the birth of yet another star.

Retrospection Joint Dance Concert 2013 By Koh Hui Fang

“Is this the place?” I asked my friend, who was also unsure if this boxy grey building with a Chinese restaurant on the ground level was indeed Kallang Theatre. So we went to the side of the building where the restaurant’s signboard standee, the kind I will always associate with tze char stalls of my childhood days, stood to find out. It was indeed. We entered the building with mixed feelings. As we took careful steps up the spiraling staircase lined with red carpet, nostalgia for an era we had never lived through washed over us, wave after wave. Even while waiting for entry at the foyer, we still could not stop marveling how it did not feel like we were in modern-day Singapore. How fitting that an event with retrospection as its theme should be held at this building, we thought. Built in the 1970s as a cinema, it had stood witness to the ups and downs of the local arts scene since its conversion into a performing arts venue in 1986. On this meaningful note, we began our journey back in time with NTU CAC Joint Dance Concert (JDC) 2013. Piquing the audience’s interest with equal doses of humour and suspense, Back in Time, the opening item, literally put the spotlight on a mysterious briefcase in a police-and-thief narrative set to classic James Bond music. After much entertaining commotion, the content of the briefcase was revealed: a leather-bound book which opened the portal to the past as different chapters.

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Our first destination was the 1970s period when people, in search of a better life, took great pains to travel to Singapore. The piece, presented by Chinese Dance, portrayed the hardships and emotional turmoil these people experienced in trying to eke out a living, in a visually stunning way. Two long swathes of blue cloths represented the stormy seas they traversed to reach Singapore while screen projections of archival photographs of the riverside evoked the historical atmosphere. Elements such as martial arts moves and the inclusion of ritualistic worship moves communicated values such as resilience and attachment to one’s origins, while the lilting quality of the flute added to the generally sorrowful mood of the piece. Then, deriving inspiration from the Chicago musical, Contemp{minated}’s All That Jazz! mixes classic Broadway and contemporary jazz elements for a modern take on 1920s Chicago. The piece was sensual yet lighthearted with the dancers, mostly female and dressed in a palette of black and gold, flipping their hair and dancing with chairs as props. Next up was Keep That Funk Alive by Soul Funky Pop & Lock, who were dressed smartly with vests and ties in jewel tones and accessorized heavily with thickframe spectacles, and even a big gold bow tie on one’s head. One cannot help but admire their unity in clapping to the music and coordinating dance moves. As opposed to Soul Funky’s presentation of unity, Time Machine, by DSA, told the stories of couples who fell out, only to reminisce about a time when they were better together. The male dancers looked suave while the female dancers wore elaborate fringed dresses embellished with sequins, and there were much hand gestures and hip-grinding. NTU Breakers took a different trajectory in time from the Old School to the New School. An illusory threedimensional space with graffiti walls was created and the dancers pitted their gravity-defying skills against one another.

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In contrast to the tense mood of the previous piece, MJ Hip Hop injected fun into their piece about the 80s, 90s and the mid millennia, with a skit of a DJ playing songs for the dancers who glided across the dance floor of a club. Wearing costumes which included flouncy skirts, scarfs, and headbands, the dancers of Kinetics followed up with You Are The One That I Want, a lindy hop recreation of two 1950s-style songs. The dramatic transition from the sugary atmosphere of a lazy Sunday afternoon to energetic partner dances with a rock-and-roll edge was a visual treat for the audience. The theme of chemistry between lovers was continued in Dejar Ir by Salsa En Sync through Bachata, a highly sensual dance from the Dominican Republic. The dancers’ costumes of silver sequins and towering black heels added a touch of mystique and glamour to the performance. Next up was guest performers Groovyz, Chaoyang School’s hip hop group. Clad in fire engine-red pullovers, their performance of Maroon 5’s songs, complete with imitating the lead singer, was a crowdpleaser. Looking androgynous and wearing bowler hats and white gloves, the dancers of Kinetics followed with a tap-dance rendition of Billie Jean, including a moonwalk. As they tapped their feet to the music, it occurred to me that they were dancers making music at the same time. DSA was next with Tcherere Tche Tche, a dance composed to an upbeat and catchy song. The chorus of the song was projected onto the screen to comic effect, and the dancers’ teal costumes were intriguing with the sleeves looking like the tail of a peacock. The mood changed drastically with MJ Hip Hop’s Missing You, a piece about dealing with the loss of a loved one. The muted colour palette of grey cardigans,

beige pants and white sneakers complemented the bleakness of the piece. Exploring emotions like devastation and wistful regret, the story of a girl with a terminal illness was played out to Goo Goo Dolls’ Iris, a song with lyrics like “Yeah you bleed just to know you’re alive.” Next was All Aboard the SOUL FUNKY Train! by Soul Funky, who were dressed in 1970s clothes like widelegged pants. They created a mood of revelry with their dances which emphasized the contrast between the stiffness, such as mannequin-like or robotic movements, and the lively freedom of the movement of limbs.

message was delivered in a light-hearted way as the dancers, dressed in pinks and greys, led us through various situations in everyday life. The closing ceremony at the end, with the dancers thanking their instructors and the JDC Organising Committee going on stage, gave the audience an idea of the dynamics of these groups and how they have grown closer from their involvement in JDC. Stepping out of the theatre, I realised that the sky had turned completely dark in the few hours we spent watching the fruits of the dancers’ labour. How quickly time passes! It’s time to look forward again; tomorrow will be another day.

Like Soul Funky, Salsa En Sync was also interested in the liberating quality of dancing in their piece Urban Fantasy. True to its name, the dance was about a group of corporate executives letting down their hair at night and living out their fantasies of being passionate and free. The cyclical nature of the piece, with the dancers resuming their impenetrable busy exteriors in the daytime, is interesting and thoughtprovoking. Chinese Dance took us out of the urban jungle of the previous piece deep into the snowy mountains of Tibet in their piece Magical Tibet. Wearing traditional Tibetan costumes with furry hats, bead ornaments and red boots, they frolicked in the wild as if drunk with joy. [With. Without] by Contemp{minated} was next with its intense exploration of the nature of relationships. A spooky red spotlight looms over depictions of violence in abusive relationships; the dancers seemed as if they were possessed by inner demons, such as when a male dancer lifted up a female dancer, only to throw her onto the ground. The struggles between couples also seemed like choreographed martial arts moves, though the static was also showcased in the poignant image of a couple hugging in the middle of the stage. The mood took a 180-degree turn with Riding the Wave by guest performers B-tensify from Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s Korean Cultural Club. They exuded sweet youthfulness as they danced to a medley of greatest hits from 2009 to present. The fact that they sang along while dancing shows their dedication to the Korean culture. Showing no less dedication were the JDC Fusion dancers who rounded up the evening with Fusion – End of the Road, which invites the audience to reflect on the more important things in life. This sobering

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White and Red Interview With

Vanessa Ann Vanderstraaten By Koh Hui Fang

onths before her current appearance on TV as the host of local reality singing competition The Final 1, ArtJam had the pleasure of interviewing Vanessa Vanderstraaten about her preparation for ABCD: Four Plays, a performance staged in April by Vertical Submarine of TheatreWorks, at 72-13, Mohamed Sultan Road. The interview was conducted in this very place – a warehouse-converted space with tall ceilings and a bare white palette. As we recall her, sitting on a fireengine red sofa and looking radiant with minimal makeup, we thought the environment was a fitting visual metaphor (she studied English Literature at NTU, by the way) for her: an understated elegance that belies her burning passion for the performing arts. Besides digging up quirky trivia about her (she wrote on Harry Potter for her final-year thesis), we also find out what motivates her to take on a myriad of roles and constantly push her limits as a performer. Firstly, can you briefly describe your roles in ABCD? We have four different plays, so I play multiple characters. I am the narrator for two of it, one is by Marguerite Duras and one is by Roberto Arlt. I also play a character called Irene in the Cortazar piece. She is a very passive character. And in the narration there is a line, “Maybe this is why we have settled into a convenient marriage between brother

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and sister.” In that piece, it is surreal, almost, because almost nothing happens except their house gets taken over, and we don’t know what it is taken over by, so that is left up to the audience’s imagination. What is it about this play that appealed to you, and made you decide to be involved in it? I’ve always really enjoyed theatre. And you just keep a look-out, I guess, for auditions. So when I saw TheatreWorks and Vertical Submarine were having an audition, I thought I’d just give it a go, and see what happens. When I understood what it was about, the plays and everything: Argentinean and French literary writers, it was even better, because being a literature student, it never goes away. Once a lit student, always a lit student. You enjoy words, you enjoy texts. So I really do enjoy the fact that it is not so much a play by a playwright but it is written by an author, of short novellas and short stories.

“

…and I thought, why not just give it a go, so I made a deal with my parents: let’s give it, maybe three to five years, and if I haven’t made a name for myself, if I haven’t made any sort of impact, then ok lah, then I will teach lah, but that’s the backup plan I hope I will never have to use.

What are some of the challenges you have faced in preparing for this play? Well, maybe because I don’t have that much experience in theatre, I haven’t been formally trained, but it is a bit more challenging in that we have to find the moments on stage to interact with each other and to not distract from the narration but add to it. You don’t want to be just a puppet so I guess that’s one of the challenges. Can you tell us more about yourself? I am very passionate about theatre, I love drama and I love acting. I also love cats, I have two cats at home and I love them. I was just talking to my director about Smurf’s Village, it’s a lot of fun to play. I got into acting because once I graduated from NTU I was involved in a play, just the month after, called Grimm Tales, because I was with Singapore Repertory Theatre’s (SRT) Young Company. And our graduation piece was just that July that I graduated.

so I made a deal with my parents: let’s give it, maybe three to five years, and if I haven’t made a name for myself, if I haven’t made any sort of impact, then ok lah, then I will teach lah, but that’s the backup plan I hope I will never have to use. But yah, I guess that’s how I stumbled into acting. Also, Michael Corbidge taught me in a module for drama performance in NIE. He was the previous instructor for Young Company and now he’s working for Royal Shakespeare Company. Are there any comments you would like to make? Do come and check ABCD out. It’s a cerebral piece but I think it is also quite accessible. It can seem quite daunting to some people, “oh it’s so avant-garde, I don’t think I’d want to watch that,” but the themes of these plays are very universal and accessible once you break it down, and you read the synopsis lah. Also, check out Get Social, on xinmsn. I’m in it. And Sex.Violence.FamilyValues, I’m in it too.

After I did it I was kind of lost, because you go for rehearsals for a play every day, and it’s so tiring, and you can’t really get a job because of your rehearsal schedule and everything. And I just thought to myself, I quite like this, and I thought, why not just give it a go,

Photo by Kong Chong Yew, courtesy of TheatreWorks

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Delving into the By Sriporna Mukherjee

Noir

â&#x20AC;&#x153;This beautiful show combines a visual spectacle via its unique set and lighting design, and performance dynamics via the amazing production.â&#x20AC;? - Mr. Milan Rokic, Executive Vice President and Managing Director - BASE Entertainment Asia The land of chateaux and castles, the paradise of romance, the abundance of beauty and culture, the warmth and zest of the people; the country of France offers one a plethora of reasons to appreciate every miniscule that it has to offer. French culture is known to have the perfect blend of sophistication, taste, passion and life. Thus, I firmly believe that losing on an opportunity to experience a cirque style entertainment show based on a French theme would definitely be unwise. The fact that the performance was based on a dark and seductive theme added to the sense of excitement and anticipation. As a result, I was eagerly looking forward to the evening at the Sands Theatre with the French contortionists and comedians. Rising beyond my expectations, LE NOIR presented an extraordinary experience with an element of surprise by exploring the darker side of not only the acts on stage but every audience member as well. The cynical attitudes of the performers brilliantly enveloped their sexual motivations in every act. The show was perfectly paced and left the audience wanting more. The show began with the lead comedian performing various entertaining acts. Apart from playing his

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role as a talented comedian, his involvement of the audience members kept the audience captivated. The stage set-up and the alignment of the seats assisted the comedian in connecting with his audience. After performing a few tricks and leaving the audience thinking, the comedian left, marking the beginning of the performance. Huge white drapes formed into the shape of a cylinder stood at the centre of the stage. The movement of the performers surrounded by the white curtains, the brilliant blue, green and yellow lights and the dark seductive music elevated the sense of mystery. However, just a few minutes into the act, a technical fault occurred, causing a sudden ebb in the mood. I personally felt the atmosphere set up by the combination of the lights, the drapes and the curtains was slightly dampened due to the fault. However, the production team was agile and efficient enough to resume the show in about five minutes. The show restarted with the performers entering from a back door set up amongst the audience. The grace and elegance with which they walked through the audience left each one of us mesmerised. The talented acrobats performed various stunts with huge circular rings. The firm physique and the strength

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The original concept behind Le Noir was to take the very best of the best cirque performers in the world and rather than create a production in a huge auditorium or arena, produce an intimate style show where the audience is literally inches from the action on stage.” – Producer Simon Painter with which the male acrobats executed the acts was awe-inspiring. A noticeable thing about each of the performances was the presence of two or three more characters apart from the one or two main performers. I was impressed by the way these characters were strategically placed to add to the element of seduction and cajolery without shifting the focus from the actual performance. One of the acts that specially caught my attention was the one where the performers were playing around with something that gave the impression of a firefly. With their exquisite twirls, elegant postures and perfect extensions, the acrobats kept passing on, what seemed like a minute speck of light, to each other. I always knew French women and their alluring charisma were inseparable and that evening reiterated to me as to why these women are known to be the masters of the art of seduction. The female performers in their seductive costumes stole the show. One of their acts involved two of the female acrobats performing on a thin plank supported from the ceiling. The finesse with which the two performers synchronised their moves and stunts took my breath away. Each movement demanded tremendous amount of balance and flexibility and they effortlessly executed these movements with alluring agility. Although in between the act one of the girls fell down from the plank due to misbalance, the alertness with which one of the fellow performers helped her get back onto the plank was commendable. Their expertise as performers left me unsure whether it was actually a glitch or was it meant to be that way. Every act was unique and tantalising in its own way. The transformation from elegance and beauty

to passionate steamy movements from one act to another highlighted the theme of the performance. Every muscle of the acrobats oozed expression with a hidden element of naughty intimacy. LE NOIR was definitely one of the most impactful theatrical experiences I have had till date. Despite the theme being dark and risqué, the show kept the entertainment factor alive throughout. The smart use of props and effects from among and above the audience enabled the performers to trap the audience in their magically knit web. The evening wrapped up leaving me in an exhilarated state of amazement and with the hope that there would be a sudden emergence of someone from amongst the numerous seats or from behind that mysterious back door, just to keep the show going!

Win a pair of tickets to STOMP on 22nd June! Simply tell us why deserve to win this pair of tickets at CAC-PUBLICATION@ntu.edu.sg! Anyone can be a winner of this pair of tickets so what are you waiting for? Submit your entries now!

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Coppélia The Girl with the Enamel Eyes

By Joel Lim

Coppélia is a light-hearted ballet based on the book by Charles Nuitter, after E.T.A. Hoffman’s “Der Sandmann” which tells the humorous tale of love and mistaken identity. Prologue Communication has always been a vital element of human civilization. Existing often by written text or verbal conversations, it is easy to miss out the other ways to connect with people around us. Let me give you an example. Picture a common fairytale such as The Three Little Pigs. Now try to narrate the story without writing or speaking. You would not believe just how fascinating it is to watch a story be told in the absence of words. I have been to a couple of dance performances before, often leaving with a vague sense of dissatisfaction. Maybe it was the imperfect coordination, or perhaps the lack of grace. It was my first time watching the Singapore Dance Theatre in action and to be honest, I did not have high expectations as it was my first time attending one of their works. However after having watched the performance, I’m taking it all back. Indeed, their reputation precedes them. This story revolves mainly around four characters, Swanilda, Franz, Coppelia, and Dr. Coppelius. With emotions ranging from happiness to jealousy and excitement to consternation, the audience was

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treated to a play that arouses all aspects of their emotional intimacy. What The first scene starts off in the square of a small town village in Galicia. A charming young man, Franz, tries to woo Swanilda, a pretty girl in the same town. However, he got distracted by the sight of Coppelia, the ‘daughter’ of the village toy-maker Dr. Coppelius. Swanilda gets upset and rejected Franz despite throwing himself at her. However, Swanilda eventually fell for his charm again and forgave him. The next scene took place in Dr. Coppelius’ claustrophobic workshop. Together with her friends, Swanilda tiptoed and rummaged through the workshop. She discovered that Coppelia was actually just a beautiful doll and not a real person. At the same time, Dr. Coppelius returned back to his workshop, chasing out Swanilda’s friends. Swanilda hid in Coppelia’s room and dressed up as Coppelia, hoping to not get identified. Just then, Franz climbed through a window in Dr. Coppelius’s workshop, only to get caught and tricked by Dr. Coppelius into drinking a potion that made him fall asleep. Dr. Coppelius

then stole Franz ‘essence of life’ and tried to bring Coppelia(the doll) to life. With this ‘essence of life’, Dr. Coppelius brought out Coppelia (who was now Swanilda), and worked his potion on her. Swanilda pretended to be Coppelia in attempt to save Franz. Upon waking Franz up, both of them made their hasty exit from the workshop. The last scene is an allegory in that shows the wedding celebration of both Franz and Swanilda. Dr. Coppelius interrupted the festival and related the scene to the crowd. Dr. Coppelius was then offered compensation and in return, he gave his forgiveness and blessing to the newly wedded couple.

“This charming classical gem of a ballet was first performed by us in 1995 and has made a lasting home in our performance repertoire ever since.” – Artistic Director Janek Schergen.

The Feel I particularly enjoyed the dances performed by Swanilda and Franz. Despite the other dancers having quite minor roles, I was very pleased with the connection between the two leading roles. Such chemistry is often hard to come by and I was enthralled by their ability to exhibit such skills so naturally. They maintained a high level of exuberance and professionalism in their dance with such finesse that I could feel the play literally come to live with the constant upbeats. Transitions were smooth and gave a fine tune to the emphasis on expressions, narrating the story the way it should be told. Swanilda’s grace is not one you can easily find in small ballet companies. With such a mix of flamboyance and intimacy, despondency and melancholy all being displayed in one performance, it feels like an entire new universe of feelings being explored. The role played by Franz is just as impressive. It is amazing how he effortlessly coordinates with Swanilda to perform the well-executed pas de deux and her pirouettes. His merry dance was well matched with Swanilda, exposing a broad range of carefree joy, while creating a sweet jocular ambience from the couple’s young love. The Opinion Evidently, the Singapore Dance Theatre has created and shaped numerous talents all around the world. The practically flawless techniques coupled with smooth choreography and a cozy stage setting will definitely make a night like this well-etched in one’s memory. If you are seeking a soothing delight on an ordinary night, you should start looking for upcoming performances by the Singapore Dance Theatre.

Do Not Miss: Stay tuned with ArtJam as we bring you an exclusive interview with Kwok Min Yi, an exceptional dancer for the Singapore Dance Theatre. Ballet Under the Stars returns this July at Fort Canning Park with two weekends of exquisite dancing! To enjoy a 20% discount off standard priced tickets for Ballet Under the Stars, call 63380611 or email ticketing@singaporedancetheatre.com to purchase your discounted tickets with the code “BUTS2013

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The Importance of

Being Earnest T

he Importance of Being Earnest is a farcical comedy by Oscar Wilde and is one of his greatest theatrical masterpieces. It was W!ld Rice’s second take on the play with minimal changes, along with an advisory message about its all-male cast. The only take of the comedy I had watched was the 1986 version on YouTube and this all-male cast, in contrast, intrigued me. Shortly after I took my seat in the theatre, we were treated to a small classical music performance by the quartet which included a personal favourite, Air from Suite in D by Bach. The actors went round to offer cucumber sandwiches to the audience. From where I sat, I caught Hossan Leong’s smile which made me anticipate the production more. I thought it was a really sweet gesture for them to have a prologue as it reduced the boredom of waiting for those who turned up early. The only gripe I have would probably be that the lights were so blinding that my eyes felt pretty strained after the production ended. Nevertheless, I enjoyed W!ld Rice’s take on it. What I liked about the set was its minimalism. There were triangular pillars which rotated when the acts

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Review By Joan Kwek / Interview By Koh Hui Fang

changed while the checkerboard pattern on the floor gave an impression of an optical illusion. I remember turning to my companion and asking if my eyes were playing tricks on me or were the squares on the floor not squares. It wasn’t my eyes. I took some time to register that some men in suits are “Lady” and “Miss”. I thought the direction to not cross-dress was what made it different from the other plays. Lady Bracknell (played by Ivan Heng) brought some colour on stage and caught my attention. Dressed in a flashy red tuxedo, Ivan Heng stood out from the rest who were generally dressed in black and white. I found Act 2 rather exciting; Cecily (played by Gavin Yap) and Gwendolyn (played by Chua Enlai) were fighting over Ernest, who isn’t even a real entity in the first place. It was like a catfight from the past, just that they were gentlemen trying to have a very ladylike catfight. It also complements the part which both Algernon (played by Brendon Fernandez) and John (played by Daniel York) were in conflict with each other over Algernon’s use of Ernest’s identity to escape social obligations and to get cozy with Cecily. Those

spitfire exchanges never missed a beat and it was indeed fascinating to watch. It was hilarious to see Cecily and Gwendolyn’s insistence to marry only a man whose name is Earnest. To add on to that is the animated silliness of the two men who were willing to be rechristened Ernest just so they could marry their fair ladies. Throughout the entire production, I felt that Ivan Heng’s impeccable timing and curt actions were laudable. His portrayal of Lady Bracknell was immaculate and his actions induced much laughter from the audience. The presence of the quartet supported the transitions between acts as they acted as fillers while the set was being prepared for the next act. I enjoyed the effervescent bickering between the characters and though they spoke at quite a fast pace, every single word was enunciated clearly. They delivered poetic lines in an effortless manner. Though this play was written more than a hundred years ago, the issues that it explores are somewhat still relevant in our modern day society. Is marriage for business like a restrictive social duty or for pleasure?

We will let Chua Enlai have the last say. How do you think you have developed as an actor so far? Oh dear! I really don’t know! Hahaha. I don’t get a report card like I used to in school. Every project has its own set of challenges. Some of them require an actor to learn how to play a harmonica, speak a different language or sing and dance in a different style. In some ways, you become a jack-of-all-trades! The Noose, for example, requires us to speak in a broad spectrum of accents. These skills may not necessarily come naturally to all of us. Observation is a huge part of being an actor. I have to learn many of these skills from scratch but I guess that is the privilege of being an actor. Do you prefer comedic characters or more serious roles? Why? I have had the opportunity to play many roles, each of them unique in their own ways. I have to say that comedy is very, very difficult. Not to knock dramatic roles but the relationship between the audience and comedy is so strong and a lot of the times, they cannot exist without the other! Many serious plays maintain a fourth wall and I find comfort in that world. But to bring tears, whether they are laughing or sad, is extremely challenging. It’s more important to me to have a good role that is well written, rather than the genre itself.

Gwendolen Fairfax! It is an exciting role. She has some amazingly funny lines! It is always fun to play someone rich, vain, ravishing and yet, so flawed! Behind the facade (which she so earnestly keeps up) there is such schizophrenia! The contrasts are all played out so quickly; it’s like a pendulum that swings back and forth at a smart pace. Hearing the laughter from the audience after her many punchlines is damn “shiok”! What is one thing you have learned from working on The Importance of Being Earnest, back in 2009 or now? English is a very difficult language! To speak the language of over a hundred years old and to find the meaning, the nuances, and to play the action was a huge challenge to most of us. The text requires such clarity, in such an affected manner, that it made me think that maybe, I can’t speak English at all! Hahaha! If you could choose to act as a character from any play, what would it be and why? I want to play Iron Man in Iron Man the Musical! Hahahahaha!

How do you feel about playing the character Gwendolen Fairfax again? I am very honoured to return to the stage as

Image Courtesy of WILD RICE Ltd

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r ce

A Special Night

with

Demi Lovato By Joan Kwek

Pop sensation Demi Lovato travelled a long way from home for a one-night engagement with her fans at Hard Rock Hotel â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Resort World Sentosa. Find out how the X-Factor judge garners such a huge fan base below! I remember stepping into The Coliseum on the 18th of March to a very enthused crowd. The crowd consisted of teens, some with their parents, and young working adults. The fans, who call themselves Lovatics, were already hyped up for the concert; some were even singing even before the concert started. As 8pm drew closer, chants for Demi got louder as everyone eagerly anticipated the concert. Some girl beside me had already sat down on the floor because the wait got a little long and it was quite stifling. The concert started an hour late. The initial hype died down. I thought her tardiness would annoy her fans but once she stepped on stage with her band, the crowd instantly got onto their feet and screamed their hearts out. Starting the concert with Unbroken and Here We Go Again, I could feel the oomph she brought to the audience. It was overwhelming. She revealed that it was her first time in Singapore and thanked her fans for their support. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Forget was very well received by the audience. She then continued with Love Like A Star which

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flaunted her strong vocals. While making small talk with the audience, Demi’s greetings were reciprocated with loud screams from the Lovatics. She disclosed that her favourite things about live shows were that she could sing her favourite songs (country music) which led to her cover of Miranda Lambert’s The House That Built Me. The atmosphere mellowed a little. Demi dedicated Fix A Heart to those who were going through hard times and there were girls who huddled together while swaying to the music. She got a little emotional and revealed that when she was younger, no one told her “I’ve been through it, I can make out of it.” She was bullied, resorting to cutting and substance abuse. She encouraged her fans that they would come out of it stronger no matter what they are facing right now. Listening to Skyscraper live tugged at my heart a little more than listening to its audio track. It was filled with emotions and together with the screams of the Lovatics, it was a completely different feeling. I felt that this was the climax of the entire concert as everyone sang their hearts out like a well-rehearsed choir.

Demi’s cover of Chris Brown’s Turn Up The Music got the audience hyped up again and it was followed by Heart Attack from her new album. The night ended with an encore of Give Your Heart A Break where Demi and her band went all out to complete the song. Her versatile vocals brought the audience through ballads, pop and country music. She tried to interact with the audience and even reminded them to stay safe and hydrated throughout the concert. I felt slightly out of place having been surrounded by young Lovatics at the concert but I guess I can understand how they like Demi Lovato because they can relate to the songs that she sings and draw strength from them. The concert ended in an hour but judging from the attendees’ expressions, I’m sure they enjoyed every single moment of it.

“My music is my message and my platform.” - Demi Lovato Do not miss: Be the first outside Japan to catch Drum TAO – Rising Phoenix from 2 – 4 August and experience the explosive Taiko drumming performance! Also, the weird and wonderful family comes to devilishly delightful life in THE ADDAMS FAMILY. This magnificently macabre new musical comedy is “a visually satisfying, rib-tickling, lunatic musical that will entertain you to death!” says Toronto Post City. Come meet the family from 9 – 28 July at the Festive Grand™ Theatre, Resorts World® Sentosa! More information can be found at www.Vizpro.sg

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Tiffany Alvord A YouTube Sensation W

ith two albums under her belt and her sophomore album “My Heart Is” debuting at #1 in the singer-songwriter genre on iTunes, Tiffany Alvord’s star continues to soar.

You may have yet to hear her name, but California-born Tiffany Alvord has more than 1.4 million subscribers on Youtube with a total of over 300 million views on her videos. This being her second time performing in Singapore, I was excited to see how much this young talent has grown since her first time here last May.

“

With her gracious, magnetic stage presence and her girlish charm, Tiffany’s live performances showcase the best of her vocal prowess and upbeat songwriting.

by Joel Lim

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Judging from her fans at the venue, I’d say that her fan base in Singapore consists mainly of female teenagers from different ethnicities and most of them are clearly crazy in love with Tiffany. I guess it was more than just her voice that draws fans from all over the world. The charm from her alluring and dazzling smile would easily take your breath away. While the Singapore Conference Hall may not exactly be the best place to hold a concert of such a nature, her saccharine vocals pretty much made up for that.

She ended her concert with a cover of ‘Glad You Came’. Her rendition of the song was stylistic and different, creating an impressive moment for the audience to remember. What made most of the audience chuckle the most was the speed at which her fans took off from their seats the moment the concert ended, just to be the first in line to attend the meet & greet session. I look forward to Tiffany’s return to Singapore perhaps in a year or two and I’m sure she’ll just keep getting better and better.

She opened the concert with “So Alive”, one of her songs from her previous album ‘My Heart Is’. The crowd became visibly hyped up upon her presence but it didn’t seem to last for long, probably due to the venue’s layout. It would have been if it was a free-standing concert but the venue was for all seats. Consequently, most of the audience chose to lilt and clap to the rhythm instead. Tiffany was quick to respond with a cover of the song ‘Hurt Me Tomorrow’, unleashing fervor in the crowd. It was as if the audiences had all along been waiting for a cue to get all high and wild altogether. Her cover of this pop-rock song was brilliant and revealed her broad talent when she delivered a semi-rap during the chorus. Nevertheless, I did wish she had made full use of her band instead of letting them idle on stage whilst she performed her songs on a minus one track. Perhaps the best part of the performance was when she did her popular Taylor Swift song covers, ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’ and ‘Both of Us’. There were other amazing song covers such as Train’s ‘Hey Soul Sister’ that I personally felt was better than the original. Transcending musical denominations that most artistes often stick to, Tiffany gave the audience an enjoyable night of different genres. Her performance showed how easy it was for her to navigate through songs of various genres without any hiccups, something that is indeed very unique in singers these days. I particularly liked how she explains the meanings of each song, as if there was an untold message she hopes someone would receive. You could hear the audience screaming “I love you Tiffany” on numerous occasions in attempts to spice up the ambience alongside giving her confidence in pursuing her dreams of being a singer and lover. Tiffany introduced some of her self-composed songs such as ‘My Heart Is’ to inject a fun upbeat in the audience, alongside exploring the intricate feelings of teenage romance in today’s society. Personally, I felt that her choice of songs reveals her perspective on relationships, giving us a first-hand account of the complications in relationships people often face.

Stay tuned with Tiffany Alvord as she continues soaring to greater heights. Y: http://www.youtube.com/user/TiffanyAlvord F: https://www.facebook.com/TiffanyAlvord T: https://twitter.com/TiffanyAlvord

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Music Makes Me Feel Alive

Julia Stone

@ Mosaic Music Festival Singapore by Tan Yu Jia

he annual Mosaic Music Festival ended on 17th March with the Julia Stone Concert in the Esplanade Concert Hall. Originally part of the Australian folk-blues group Angus and Julia Stone, Julia has started out on a soloist career and this event was her first concert in Singapore. An amazing singer with a dazzling voice, Julia Stone showed she can carve out an amazing path for herself, even without her brother Angus. Between acoustic and electronic guitars, Julia performed not only songs she once sang in a duo with Angus but also pieces she composed herself. The songs included ‘By the Horns’ and ‘Memory Machine’ and each performance received an overwhelming applause from the audience. In addition, the way she carried herself on stage and her graceful dance to the music easily contributed to the ambience and lends strength to her potential as a soloist. It is certainly amazing that a singer who has described herself as fragile can exude such an aura of self-confidence and sincere expression through music. Her voice, often described as fragile yet alluring has touched the hearts of her fans and she continues to reach new musical heights as a soloist. Backing her voice was a band of extraordinary professionals who provided incredible background music that complemented Julia’s singing seamlessly. All in all, the Julia Stone Concert was truly a magnificent end to the Mosaic Music Festival 2013 and it makes one hope that next year’s concert would be able to come up with an equally impressive finale.

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ArtJam grasped the chance sit down with Stone for a short chat before the concert. Here’s what she has to say. How do you actually communicate to the audience and ensure they connect with you on a deeper level? I don’t know. To be honest, I don’t think about it like that. I am not on stage thinking that I am connecting with the audience. I just feel that when I am singing, I am feeling something that is important to me or means something to me. Sometimes, it makes me feel fragile and sometimes strong, sometimes miserable or happy. Do you get musicians?

your

inspiration

from

other

Yes, I get inspiration not necessarily just for writing music but inspiration for being alive. I mean, one of my favourite things to do is to walk through a city or wherever I am, listening to a record that I love and somehow the music makes everything more real than normal life. But that isn’t the only thing that inspires me. You take the headphones off and it all becomes normal again. I think this is really exciting as it makes me feel alive. It makes me want to sing about the experience of being alive. How does performing outside of Australia change your musical style or your interaction with the audience? It’s a hard thing to quantify. I think travelling in general is good for growing. Maybe expanding your mind, the way that you think the world is. I feel like I used to think that I knew what was happening because we grew up in a certain culture and community. Travelling as much as we did, I realised that I didn’t know anything and that everybody has different perspectives in life and different cultures. Nothing is truly wrong or right, good or bad, it’s just the way it is. You recognise that everyone is so unique and struggling with the same thing as humans desire to love and be loved. It

doesn’t matter where you are. Everyone is feeling the desire to connect. Was there anyone in particular who had an impact on your musical style? I guess my mum and dad in their own way. Mum is really naturally musical, and she is really beautiful and effortless in her style and the way she moves. I remember me just watching her and watching the way she would just glide around the house. She is always singing and I think as a child watching that, seeing the way she expresses herself with her voice made me want to do the same thing. I mean, kids want to be like their parents as they think they are amazing. I think watching my dad and her together, they seemed most happy when they were playing music or singing. So in my brain, as a little kid, I realised making music makes people happy and so I grew up thinking like this. Naturally, I knew at some point I was going to make music because this made sense to me as a kid that music makes you happy. My parents never made careers out of making music but they were so happy. When they had friends over, they just brought out their guitars and everyone would gather, playing music and I would just watch their faces. Everyone’s got life problems, marriage problems. Life is a struggle. As soon as the music starts, everything is gone and everyone is just here making sound and that’s a wonderful thing. Do you have anything you wish to say to your fans in Singapore? That’s a good thing to end on. I guess, it’s just to do whatever that makes you happy. Do Not Miss: Esplanade will return with another amazing set of Mosaic Music Festival next year. Meanwhile, do not miss Yfest (21 – 23 Jun 2013) and another epic year of music mayhem, Baybeats (28 – 30 Jun 2013). More information can be found in our events calendar!

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Interview

Cory Chisel & the Wandering Sons

ne of the most enlightening experiences in my life was to interview Cory Chisel and Adriel Harris- the duo that currently constitutes “Cory Chisel and the Wandering Sons”. There’s nothing more uplifting than to witness genuine passion, talent and intensity, along with humility and wisdom that is untouched by today’s glossy word of fame. In this interview, the artists talk about touring with Norah Jones, open up about the deeper angle of what is significant to them as musicians, and provide a new-found insight into their notions. It is undeniable that Cory’s views reflect depth well beyond his years, while Adriel radiates innocence and positivity.

Akriti: The first question will be the obvious one- Why music ? You, (referring to Cory), started singing in the Church as a child. But how did you get together to produce music as a band? Cory: Well, we met at the funeral of a very good friend. We didn’t know each other prior, and were playing in different bands. I saw her band play, and it was one of those great moments that you wait for your whole life. I felt like this was a person I need to know and play with. Adriel: It was a somber setting. His band’s performance transformed the entire ambience into a joyous one- with everyone singing and clapping. Making music that can create such an impact was exactly what I wanted to do ever since I was a kidbut I didn’t know how I could possibly become a part of their boy-band. But then we got to play some harmonies together, and our voices blended pretty well. That’s when he asked me if I could play the piano, and I said that I was very good, even though I did not how to play it at all ! So I had about a week to prepare for our first show together ! Cory : And she was indeed good.. Adriel: It’s probably the best way to learn when you are forced to learn !

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Akriti: One’s natural musical instinct surely goes beyond limited skill-sets or genres. But it’s surprising how you transcended to folk rock. Cory: I love choral music, but it’s really hard to write ! There’s surely an enchanting simplicity in acoustic music. I love Johny Cash, and Bob Dylan. It feels real. Our music is focused on stories, and sometimes, simplicity turns out to be a better way to turn it around. Akriti: As a fairly recent band, how does it feel to have come all the way from Wisconsin to Singapore and to be touring around the world? Cory: Really lucky ! We’ve come a long way from writing songs in the bedroom, to having cocktails and lunch in Singapore. The highest point was one of the first times when I got on an airplane, realizing that I had a ticket, and knowing that it was paid for, because I wrote some songs. When your dream is to travel, to eat in different places, have wine, and when you realize that you are doing it all out of something that you initially thought would be liked only by a couple of people. The first time we placed our boots down in Asia was two days ago. We grew up watching talk shows on TV, and suddenly watching yourself on one is quite surreal.

Akriti: You sound quite satisfied with life.. Cory: Absolutely. People always ask us what we want to achieve. It seems like a weird statement, but to that, my answer would be- more of the same. (Laughs) Akriti : Like an old believer.. (Old believer is the title of their latest album) Cory: Yes, that’s why we coined the phrase. I think that if you don’t have a philosophy about how you’re going to approach your life, you’re going to spend much time confused or looking for one. Gratefulness is my choice. I would want to help to take the beautiful parts of life forward in whatever ways I can. Does that make sense? (Laughing)

contrast is necessary in life. And we use it a lot, come on, look at me and Adriel ! Akriti: So what do you like the best about Singapore ? Adriel and Cory (together) : The food Is so good ! We’ve had chicken rice thrice already ! Akriti: That’s great ! And now your concert is just day after ! All set ? Cory: We’re excited. It’s our last show in this tour with Norah, and hence, it’s really special.

Akriti : Indeed it does ! It’s a heartening line of thought. This spirit can be sensed in your work as well. Cory: That’s true. Even in all the music that I love, such as blues- I feel that it’s eventually about joy. If you can write a song about tragedy, about death, you’ve taken hold of what could be beautiful about that moment, and created something other than the despair that was there. No matter how dark the subject is, we try to illuminate it in the most beautiful way. Akriti: This reminds me of the lyrics of one of your songs- “My Mama didn’t raise me to be no Christian , everyone’s aim to get just high ! (Adriel laughs) Cory: You know, you’re one of the only few people who’ve understood that song and that’s a good thing. The song’s not an attack on Christinaity, as many may think. Akriti: However its interpretation along those lines may not be very surprising- though highly contrasting to your own background ! Cory: It was meant to overcome the bounds of terminology. My parents did not raise me to be a Christian. What that means is that they wanted me to be connected to everyone equally and understand the saneness of humanity. That song pisses so many people off (Adriel laughs) and yes, it was intended to be provocative, so there’s nothing to be surprised about. We’ve had to talk about this one line more than any other. Akriti: And psychedelic covers, like Fixing A Holeagain a major contrast- intentional or incidental ? Cory: Intentional, absolutely. I’ve always admired an artist who can encompass a very whole experience-

Akriti: So we’re going to see Hickory Wind for sureyour most popular live collaboration with Norah ? And how was it to work with her ? Cory: Of course, Hickory Wind, yes. And she’s a master ! You just try to hold your own with such a good singer around ! And her band’s amazing- off stage, and of course, in our little temple that we call the stage. It’s a quite a high to be up there with friends. Akriti: Talking of friends, do you miss your former band mates ? Cory: We bring people in and out, because of the many things that they bring to the band. It’s like cooking a meal- I love the experimental art of keeping the music new and fresh. That’s why we are the “wandering sons”. Akriti: But I do hope that this wandering doesn’t get bitter ! Cory: We’ve been lucky in that regard, and that’s probably because we’re open about the fact that we want our members to be free to go in and out, have their own records, and do what they feel is right. Any artist, at the end of the day, is an independent entity. Akriti: A very mature approach indeed. Anyway, coming back to your upcoming concert, what are your expectations from Singapore ?

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Thailand too ! We have a stopover at Shanghai, but doesn’t seem like we would be able to go around, as we don’t have our visa yet. Akriti : You’re celebrities ! Cory: Hope that helps, we’ll try to look all important wherever we go ! (Laughs) Akriti: To conclude, would you like to give out any message to the music enthusiasts in Singapore ?

Cory: None, for I have never performed here before. If our interviews here are any indication, I expect an intellectual and thoughtful component- and that makes for a great concert. Akriti: Any highlights ? Cory: Well there’s one song that Adriel and I get to sing together on one microphone, and then getting together with Norah and her band like a family ! Akriti: I’m already looking forward ! One can never get enough of music! But does it ever get monotonous ? Cory: The radio shows do, sometimes. But live performances, never ! Because the energy that one walks into is always new, and one has to look for ways to connect. Adriel: Ah, even when I was a kid, my parents were in the Gospel choir, and I desperately wanted to be a part of it ! We used to sing together on all occasionsmusic was central to our entire Church. Cory: I was a first tenor, I used to sing quite high before my voice cracked up- I was pretty bummed out. Akriti: Did you ever sing in a Church again ? Cory: Yes I have. In fact, in my hometown, I actually rent a big Church for a performance every year. It’s one of my favorite places to sing. Akriti: That’s amazing ! Id love to witness that myself but until I get the chance, I’ll have to make do with youtube videos ! Being a fan, I can’t help but ask.. Any future plans to unveil ? Cory: Yes, we’ll soon be working on our next album, and Adriel has a record of her own coming up ! Akriti: I’m sure you guys have a long way to go ! Adriel: Yes, a long way- and that includes going to India too- it’s on my bucket list ! And yes, China and

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Cory: Just keep listening to music with its roots lying in beauty and soul. There’s only so much time to listen to limited types of music, but continue to explore the plentiful and rich music all around- specially some brilliant records from the 60s to 80s. Akriti: Indeed, old school never gets old.

Come Away With Me…

By Akriti Vij

he excitement in the air was evident from the energetic crowd milling around the Star Theatre, in anticipation of the Norah Jones concert. As I entered the grand concert theatre, I couldn’t conceal my excitement – after all, I would be witnessing Norah Jones live for the first time. I was also curious about the opening act by Cory Chisel and Adriel Harris- who call themselves “Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons”. Cory made an impressive entrance with just one opening sentence, “We’re the show you didn’t know you were going to see!”. Indeed, the audience was surprised, as the duo is not as famous as Norah is, and many were hearing them for the first time. But this surprise soon turned into appreciation for the simple piano, acoustic guitar, heartfelt vocals and harmonization. They presented songs such as ‘Don’t Leave Me’, ‘Never Meant to Love You’, and ‘Getting By’, which was, by-far the most touching out of all of them. Soon, Adriel shifted to vocals for one of the songs, and surprised the listeners with her unconventionally textured, yet soothing voice. The only drawback in the performance was that the music got monotonous after a few numbers. However all complaints were taken back when Cory and Adriel came forward to share the same

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offering to the Danger Mouse and Daniele Luppi collaborative album ‘Rome’. While I was having a delightful time, as a long-time fan, I couldn’t help but wait for one of her old acoustic megahits. I wondered if the rest of the audience shared my sentiments. This question was soon answered in the affirmative, as the excitement escalated to a new level altogether when Norah took hold of the acoustic guitar and commenced with ‘Lonestar’, followed by a set of songs on the piano, including ‘Cold Cold Heart’. One of my personal favorites was ‘Sinking Soon’, with intriguingly clashing piano chords, and powerful vocals with some striking notes. ‘Miriam’ was another Little Broken Hearts highlight in which the group gave a borderline epic rendition of the dark tale of unfaithfulness. Norah, with her touching piano work, brought to life the quiet intensity that drives the track. Soon, Cory and Adriel joined her back on stage, and they together presented the song that could reasonably be tagged as the signature element of all their concerts during the tour – “Hickory Wind”.

microphone and delivered a passion laced rendition of ‘In the Deep End’. They ended their act with a country and rock-and roll inspired number, with the crowd clapping and cheering along. Finally the most anticipated moment had arrived. I was at the edge of my seat as Norah and her band walked in. They opened with ‘Little Broken Hearts’, the title song of her fifth album by the same name. This was followed by a string of songs, mostly from ‘Little Broken Hearts’. The talented supporting band managed to create a completely fresh feel and sound for these popular songs, while preserving their basic essence. ‘Take it Back’ proved to be a powerful song as it escalated from vocals and piano to heavy drums, base and a supporting piano with it. Following this, Norah picked up the electric guitar for ‘All a Dream’. Then she went into “Black,” her groovy, rhythm beat

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Finally, at a time when it was least expected, Norah broke into one of her most iconic pieces, ‘Don’t Know Why’. This was a riveting moment for all of her core fans, who, just like me, had been saving their energy for this gem of a song. This was succeeded by a performance of ‘Sunrise’, which was just as bright as the title, and an eventual close with ‘Creepin’ in’, which reflected the distinct sound and soul of the Wild West America of the cowboys. After a grand ending, and blackout, some thought that the show was over and started to leave, while most were sure that there was more to it still. Indeed, their wish was granted as soon, Norah and her band were back on stage. She did not disappoint during the encore, rolling out acoustic versions of monster hits, including “Come Away With Me.” The reaction of the audience affirmed that the magic of her 2002 break through music still encompasses. Throughout the concert, Norah’s captivating stage presence and the support of the talented band mesmerized the audience. All in all, they succeeded in putting up an entertaining and well-rounded concert, leaving the audience craving for more. Personally, I can’t wait to attend my next Norah Jones concert. Photo Credit : Getty Images AsiaPac

This Time, On His Own

David Choi Live In Singapore 2013 By Joan Kwek

David Choi held his gig at Hard Rock Café on the 6th of March. The floor was already quite full when I got there so I had to be contented with the area I got near the back of the crowd. I wished I had a beer crate to stand on just so I could get a glimpse of the stage. Sigh, welcome to the life of the vertically challenged. I watched the entire gig on the flat-screen TV and someone’s iPad instead since he had held it up to record (thank you Mr iPad!). If I have to sum up David’s gig in one word, it would be AMAZING. David sounds really good on audio but he is even better live. Performing with a full band, David’s performance that night really captivated me. I was thrilled to be listening to David Choi, the self-proclaimed hopeless romantic, live. The night started with the light-heart This and That is Life. It was followed by Can’t Take This Away. I immediately knew that the night was only going to get better. David then told the story behind his song Lucky Guy, which was peppered with laughter, ooh’s and ahh’s from the audience and rather apt background music by the keyboardist: “There was this girl I really liked. This happened years ago. We were hanging out for quite a bit. A good couple of weeks and I really liked her a lot, she was really cool, she’s like my ideal girl and we got along really well. She made me feel very special. She made me

“It sounds cliché but I’d have to say music chose me. I never wanted to be a performer. That was never my dream. It just kind of pulled me in that direction.” - David Choi feel like… you know… I was really special. She was a really great girl and in a few weeks, I tried to kiss her. Yeah…Big move, big move. So I walked her to her door two weeks later… You know guys, you meet a girl and you hang out and you feel amazing and feel like maybe someday I can marry this girl. I don’t know if any of you guys think like that but I did and, I thought she really liked me. So I walked her to her door two weeks later and I was going for a kiss (pause) and then she turned her face and I hit her cheek and I’m like okay… Goodnight. Then I went home and I cried. Haha .This song was kinda inspired by that situation and I thought that she was an awesome girl. She’s an awesome girl.” David then picked up his ukulele to play Thinking of You which was written after he went to Hawaii but he changed the context to Bali since most of his audience hasn’t been to Hawaii. It was only his second time playing the song live. The night ended with By My Side which had the audience singing in unison like a coordinated choir. Screams of encore were entertained with a few more songs, dedicating You and Me to his ex. It was just his voice and the guitar without the band. The entire mood softened a little and it trailed with Roller Coaster. There was a request for Won’t Even Start but David claimed that he would be too emotional. He made up for it by singing What A Wonderful World. It is his favourite song and coincidentally one of my favourites too. I used to only listen to Louis Armstrong’s take on it because it was the best but I could just listen to David’s version of it too; they elicit different feelings.

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is amazing. I had chicken rice today and yesterday. Today is chicken rice at Bishan, that was the best one I’ve ever had. Are there other genres of music that you would like to try out like rapping or anything else? Rapping? I use to be a rapper but I can’t rap. Only when I’m delirious, I can. You grew up not really liking to practice music. Do you like practicing music now?

Stay tuned with ArtJam as we bring you another close up with David Choi and many more artists in YouTube FanFest 2013 & Music Matters Live Listen to David Choi’s music at http://www.youtube.com/user/davidchoimusic Follow him at https://twitter.com/davidchoimusic Keep yourself updated at http://davidchoimusic.com

David tried his best to interact with the audience between songs and I thought it was really engaging and it made the entire performance more personal. I personally adored his wit and comicality which one can’t really see much in his videos. Don’t be fooled by David’s smiles, or more accurately the lack thereof, because he sure has a sense of humour. I found myself laughing occasionally as he cracked jokes. He is quick to reply to his fans’ screams of “David I love you!” The keyboardist’s timely interjections with appropriate chords sometimes sent the audience into squeals of laughter. It was one of the best gigs that I have ever attended and I had a really pleasant time. His fans sure enjoyed his performances judging from the applause and cheers they gave after each song. This was a really intimate show and I would definitely be there for David’s next gig. -----------------------------------------------------------We met with David after he explored Singapore and had his chicken rice fix. Here is what he has to say. How is this trip different from the previous time you were here in 2011? A: This time I came by myself with no management or anything, no hosts. So I’m staying at a friend’s house right now yeah, I booked a show on my own. So how has Singapore been so far? Singapore’s been awesome! Every year I come I make new friends, it’s more enjoyable. Yeah, the food

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Sometimes I hate it. The way I can describe it as… To me it’s like a… Just like a part of me, it’s part of my life. It’s always going to be a part of me whether I do it for a living or not. With that, sometimes I don’t wanna sing. Sometimes I don’t like it. Sometimes it makes me sad to listen to music. Sometimes I hate it. Sometimes I like it. It’s just a part of my DNA. You never really smiled in your videos in the past, why the change now? (i.e. smiling in videos now) I smile all the time! I didn’t smile because people were saying like David, why don’t you smile? And I realized that my natural face is pretty sad. So I was like, fine, you know what, I’ll smile. Eventually, there were photos of me online, smiling and I was like “Oh my gosh, it’s leaked.” Now I have to smile so…

Do you direct your own MV’s? Do you have a say in it if it is produced by others?

Has your relationship with music changed over the years? How so?

No, Wong Fu does it actually. Usually, 99 percent, I’d say I like it. I’m not very good at that sort of stuff. Stories for music videos, I usually let the music video people do their job and I trust them. I only work with people that I trust. I trust their video direction.

I hate it. No I’m kidding. It’s just different now. It’s a way of life. More so that something that’s cool. Music has never been cool to me but even more so now, it’s just a part of who I am. I’ll be doing it till the way I die. Whether I’ll be doing it for a living or not, whether people will be listening to it or not.

You have acted in those short films by Wong Fu Productions. Have you ever thought of expanding to take part in other bigger films, like movies? You know, if Wong Fu asks me to do anything, I’ll do it. If they ask me to be in a bikini, I’ll be in a bikini. I’ve already done it. (Check out The Allergy by Wong Fu Productions) Why did you choose music? What exactly made you do your first video? It sounds cliché but I’d have to say music chose me. I never wanted to be a performer. That was never my dream. It just kind of pulled me in that direction. There’re different things in my life that made me do it. That one was just boredom (referring to first video). It was in my bedroom, there was no audience, I don’t feel nervous, and then I put it up on YouTube and people look at it. They’re not looking at me. It’s a different feeling when you’re performing live.

Most of your songs are related to love. Why is that so? Cause I love Love. I’m a hopeless romantic. Do you have anything you want to say to aspiring musicians who strive to be like you? Singaporeans are really talented. They should just keep at it and do their best and go on YouTube. If you want to make music as a living, you got to be smart about it. You got to work hard, music is not easy. Music is easy for some people but if you want to make a living out of it, it’s very difficult. Try your best, don’t ever give up, because once you give up, it’s done. You have to keep going. There’re a lot of resources out there, everything is online, and people have done it. Hopefully you’ll be successful.

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The gig started with a mash-up of Nelly’s Just A Dream and Maroon 5’s Payphone. Next up was a cover of Back At One which was first released by Bryan McKnight in 1999. I still have fond memories of that song as it was frequently on the radio when I was much younger. I found myself singing along and cheering together with the others when he sang in falsetto. It was near perfect. Jason then sang his original AutoTune which was included in his second album due to be released three weeks later. It was an interesting piece because I used to associate Auto-Tune with people who don’t sing as well. By Joan Kwek

rom picking up a guitar at 17 to ask a girl out for prom to being an established musician, Jason Chen has come a long way. He has released two albums after debuting on YouTube in 2009, having given up his day job as an accountant to focus on making music. I first chanced upon Jason Chen while browsing through YouTube three years ago. I was quite skeptical about his video at first since the description was “sorry I suck at guitar” but I am more than glad that I clicked on it; his raw cover of Coldplay’s Viva la Vida earned my click on the subscribe button. When I arrived at Cuscaden Road, I could see a long queue snaking up the stairs of Hard Rock Café. The sun was scorching but that didn’t cripple the spirit of the attendees. I was very thankful to be granted priority entry and a secured spot near the stage. The afternoon started with emcee Vincent Liang from Radio 100.3. His presence brought on interaction between Jason and the audience. After a short introduction, Jason stepped onto stage with just a guitarist. I had expected a full band but it was just one guitarist, just the way I like it.

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Apart from covering English songs, Jason does covers of Chinese songs as well. He covered David Tao’s 普通朋友 (Ordinary Friends) and Lee Hom’s 你不知道的事 (Things You Never Knew) which was very well received by his fans. He sustained a note for 15 seconds which elicited roars from his fans. Man, he sure has some strong lungs! The originals that I enjoyed the most were Best Friend and Hide And Seek. The latter required the audience to join in at “I’m searching for you” which sounded just like a well-coordinated congregation singing. It was a song about having someone out there for everyone and how it is difficult to find your own significant other half. I also adored the interjection of a verse of God Must Have Spent A Little More Time on You in Best Friend. The gig ended with Thank You from his new album, Never For Nothing. I reveled in every single moment of the gig as I could fully appreciate the adaptability of Jason’s vocals which was very pleasing to the ear as well. I walked out of Hard Rock Café still thinking about the gig. It was Jason’s first ever solo showcase in Singapore and he brought us a repertoire of 12 songs (the most he has ever sung on tour). I’m certain that when Jason Chen returns to Singapore again, he would take his performance up another notch and continue to serenade us with his melodious voice.

Jason Chen was in Singapore for the second time and he revealed that his favourite local delights were chicken rice and chilli crab. The weather was a little too humid for his liking but he was nonetheless full of praises for Singapore. ARTJAM caught up with Jason Chen and here are his responses: Which of your songs did you have the most fun recording? I had fun recording all of my collaborations. If I’m working with someone else, then I have a lot of fun doing it. Besides doing covers, you also have originals. Which is your most significant or meaningful It’s not meant to be like for someone you like or you’re original? dating, doesn’t necessarily have to be family. It’s just for everyone. That’s like anyone who has been there I would say Solo Player. It’s not a very popular one for you. Yeah, it’s like I appreciate whoever that has but yeah, I wrote that from start to end in like twenty been there for me and I’ll be there for you too. It’s not minutes and it was just how I was feeling at that time. directly to one demographic. That’s what I feel like is It was a really sad time of my life. It helped me feel special about it. better though, that I could take it and write it into a song. So it was really significant. It makes me feel bet- And you’ve also promised a video on YouTube ter in a sense that I feel like something came out of it. every Wednesday. Does that require a lot of disI’m not just sad but I did something with it. It doesn’t cipline? make me feel better recovery-wise. It just makes me Yes it does. Especially since I’ve been gone for a feel like, okay, at least I got a song out of it. It’s like a month and I’ve still been putting up a video every silver lining. Wednesday, it’s like magic. It’s really tough and kind Where do you draw your inspiration from? of expensive too. Everywhere. There’s no particular source. Sometimes I’m just sleeping and I’ll just think of something. Sometimes I watching a movie or listening to someone else’s song, sometimes I’m just taking a walk. I tend to drift off. Like if I’m walking or in a car and I’m not driving, I would never pay attention to where I’m going. My mind likes daydreaming. It comes to me at random times.

You said that producing music videos are expensive so sometimes you have to compromise on the quality. Has there ever been an instance when you had a great vision in mind but you have to do things differently? How do you work around it?

Yes, all the time. You kinda just make the best of it. There is a middle ground. There is the best bang of So your new song Thank You is about being the buck, you can get the most out of your money. I there for someone whenever that someone just try to make the best of what I can with what I have needs you. Is there any special meaning behind available. it? Jason Chen’s second album, Never For Nothing, is Thank You is meant to be a general thank you song. available on iTunes and jasonchenstore.com.

Do Not Miss: JNation Entertainment presents Jason Chen x Clara C Live in Singapore on 26 July in a one-night only performance at Cuppage Plaza, Nexus Auditorium. Check out http://www.jnationentertainment. com for more info.

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Should we be retrospective in interpreting artworks from composers, or should we form our own understanding? Read on and dig into our writer’s mind and her perspective towards music. -------------------------------------------------------------------

Time Travel With

Melvyn Tan By Jin Chuqing

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e sneaked into the NUS Yong Siew Toh concert hall early in the afternoon. And there he was, Melvyn Tan, casually dressed, rehearsing Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata on a fortepiano. Completely immersed in music, he started singing the fast and furious third movement. In a few hours, he would be taking the audience on a time travel with his recital of music from the Baroque to the 20th century. His time machines: a harpsichord, a fortepiano which was an exact duplicate of the one used by Beethoven, and a Steinway grand piano. These different musical instruments help to bring back the most original taste of the masterpieces across the music history. It was truly a challenge which was beautifully tackled by Melvyn. Melvyn began the concert with three movements from the Suite in A Minor by French Baroque composer JeanPhilippe Rameau, on the harpsichord. The harpsichord is a music instrument widely used during the Renaissance and Baroque period before the fortepiano took its place in the 18th century. When a pianist presses a key on a harpsichord, a short and thin sound is produced by the mechanisms of a plucking string. One might hold some prejudice against it at first for its emotionless sound but all it takes to set aside this prejudice is a right piece of music played by a good pianist. Take Helmet Walcha’s interpretation of the WellTempered Clavier as an example. It creates a tranquil and holy atmosphere that immediately lures me into loving this instrument. Melvyn’s recital of Rameau simply deepened my love. Compared to Bach, Rameau’s Suite in A Minor was lighter. Melvyn easily played it with tender so it came with no surprise when he later said: “Rameau holds a very fond place in my heart.”

The first half of the concert continued with Mozart’s Sonata in B flat major, K 333, on the fortepiano. Mozart composed this sonata in 1783 when there was a major transition from harpsichord to fortepiano. Much of this composition would still fit a harpsichord but it is much more eloquent on the fortepiano. By playing Mozart’s sonata with a beautifully simple touch, Melvyn made this transition obvious in terms of musical expression yet seamless in terms of pleasure. Then it came to the Moonlight Sonata composed by Beethoven. Story has it that Beethoven wrote it when he ran into a poor family on the outskirts of Vienna. He was touched by the family’s passion for music so he decided to play for them. When he saw the moonlight on the piano, inspiration struck so he improvised this sonata. The story added so much into the mystery of this magnificent piece when I was little. Unfortunately, it was later revealed that this story was nothing more than a fairy-tale because by that time, Beethoven was already deaf. I did not expect such an early highlight of the evening. Frankly speaking, I was a little worried if this tiny fortepiano could support the passion and vibrancy of the third movement.

However, ten minutes later, there Iwas, completely spellbound by the possibilities of fortepiano, and even more by Melvyn’s technique. The first two movements were not mysterious at all, which was a pleasant surprise to me. The tempo was calm and steady; notes, rounded and subtle. Then Melvyn made a huge contrast between the third and the first two movements so the third sounded exceptionally passionate. When he finished with the last note, slightly exhausted, I sat back, breathed, and murmured to myself, “This is how it sounded like in Beethoven’s time”. The grand piano took the stage for the second half of the concert. Melvyn opened with Chopin’s two mazurkas and Scherzo No. 1, followed by Debussy’s Pagodes, Jardins Sous La Pluie and L’Isle Joyeuse. I have always loved Chopin, but this time it was Debussy that caught my ears. Melvyn said that putting up a concert programme was like making up a very nice menu: different people’s tastes must be satisfied while the artist tries to include his secret love. To Melvyn, Debussy definitely belonged to the latter. Although the strength of Chopin and Beethoven was slightly carried over, it was lovely to hear Pagodes. The notes spiraled in the concert hall and brought me back

to a lake in southeast China, the greenery, the gentle water and so on. This connection did not come out of the blue because Pagodes made extensive use of pentatonic scale, which was common in traditional Chinese and Japanese melodies. The audiences were so kept in this spiral that they only remembered to applaud until the echo had dissipated. In the end, in response to the ardent cheers of an encore, Melvyn played Clair de Lune. The evening somehow felt complete for me. People were squeezing out of the concert hall while mothers and their children flooded to the stage to take a look at the duplicate of Beethoven’s piano. One question was lingering in my head: should we be retrospective in interpreting the artworks or should we form our own understanding? Here is how this concert gives an answer: time has its meaning. Yes, technology developed and new musical instruments built, but an era has its own mark imprinted on its art. Had there not been musicians like Melvyn, such original interpretation of Moonlight Sonata would have been lost in mysterious stories. We could never argue that the old is always better than the new and vice versa, but it is important that we remember and create diversity in music history.

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Kenneth Hamilton Romantic Masterpieces with Steinway Artist

By Ali Qasim

Kenneth Hamilton, acclaimed by the Straits Times as a “formidable virtuoso” and a regular at the Esplanade, presents a thrilling programme of Romantic masterpieces for piano, including Liszt’s stupendous arrangement of Wagner’s Tannhäuser Overture, and Chopin’s much-loved second sonata. The 7th of April’s evening is ought to be one of those historic evenings in which a thrilling set of much regarded romantic piano compositions were adeptly rendered by the critically acclaimed Scottish virtuoso and professor of Music, Kenneth Hamilton. The deep and romantic themes of Charles Valentine, Chopin, and Liszt, which resonated through the recital studio at Esplanade, could only be executed by pianists of the highest caliber. Since the studio was almost fully occupied at an early time, I desperately sought for a strategic vantage point where I can spot Professor Hamilton’s four hands, the two and their almostperfect reflection on the piano’s pitch-black fall. Our outstanding feat was a carefully chosen repertoire which was partially prepared to celebrate, for the first time in Singapore, the bicentenary of the other virtuoso, the French Charles Valentine Alkan, who was a close friend to both Chopin and Liszt. His formidable “Concerto for Solo Piano Op.39” marked the beginning of the recital. Next, Chopin’s well known Funeral March “Sonata No.2 in B Minor” followed. Then, Liszt’s arrangement of Wagner’s “Tannhäuser Overture” marked the end of the repertoire.

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Alkan’s concerto, as a purely piano version with no orchestra, is frankly one of the most nimble-hand demanding and mind-bending works written for the piano, characterized by variety and brilliance, which is quite demanding from both the performer and the listeners. Almost no listener with less than full attention can decipher the mood-swinging expressions and endure the few goose bumps while watching his fingers parading over the ivory keys for 50 minutes, unless fully willing. With such fineness as a virtuoso, he orchestrated the concerto with merely ten fingers, which was what left the audience aghast and motionless at the occasionally exorbitant difficulty it exhibited. With regards to the interpretation, the variety and wit leaves average listeners clueless about the emotional state of the composer. I personally found myself among many expression oddities, leaving some instances incomprehensible for their quick and sudden variations. The first movement “Allegro Assai”, which alone, lasts for about 30 minutes, has a romantic signature that is often felt in works by Chopin and Liszt in the early romantic era during the 1800s. It is adorned with intense and endless charming patterns, which never fail to steal any curious listener’s attention to ultimately sweep him off his feet for its dazzling nature of romanticism and technicality. The second movement “Adagio” was more gently touching and slower paced in general. Yet, it involved witty surprises until the last bar. It was a much-needed soothing intermediary between the mighty and exhausting 1st movement and the other 10 minutes long third movement. Beautiful arpeggios were proficiently worked out in the 3rd movement “Allegretto alla barbaresca”, reflecting a

works and the expressional correlation he stumbles upon while playing early romantic era pieces, which he very generously added up to the program and prestigiously presented with no hesitation. -------------------------------------------------------------

colorful spectrum of various romantic hops featuring relatively less eccentric nature compared to the 1st movement. For those who want to delve into this most misunderstood composer’s extraordinary composition, Marc-Andre Hamelin’s performance is available on Youtube. This piece will not take long till it wins the heart of any romantic piano admirer, though it is rarely performed by professionals. Astounding I tell you! From Alkan’s flamboyant romance and extremism, Hamilton shifted to Frederic Chopin’s romance, skillfully executing his 2nd Sonata in B-flat Minor, which is well known as the “Funeral March”. It consists of four movements; Grave – Doppio movimento, which features a beautiful blustering start from one side, and gentle emotional lyricism from another; Scherzo, which reflects a less agitated romantic nature in general, though occasional belligerence never ceased; Marche funèbre, is actually the most tranquil and sentimentally the saddest, and which was where this sonata got its popular name from; and Finale, features very fast-paced and ceaseless torrents resembling a single solid, yet very vibrant arpeggio, almost till the end. As a familiar composition, the rendition’s perfection was breathtaking, to say the least. Franz Liszt’s arrangement of Wagner’s “Tannhäuser Overture” was the last and just another exotic work whose technical and expressiveness demands are still enormous. The overture was written for an opera whose main issue is the spiritual and profane love, which required a relatively wide musical range to cover the demanded range of expressions. Liszt’s arrangement could very well convey the requirements on the piano since he was known for his paradoxical expressions. The piece is mined with dissimilar expressions for the abovementioned love. The parts related to the profane love were indeed unconventional and amazing, and led the way till the end of the piece. A highly sophisticated and well known piece you can add to your personal library today! Prof. Hamilton then took liberty to lightly walk the audience through his experience in transcribing

ArtJam was honored to interview Prof. Hamilton. Having our questions answered and enlightened by them, we hope that they would bring about the same sensation to you. What inspired you to become a pianist? Initially, it was complete chance. As a child, I began ineptly to play my grandmother’s old piano, and then decided I ought to have lessons to try and do it “properly”. It do remember, however, that Chopin’s op.53 Polonaise was the first inspirational piece that I was really enthusiastic about learning, even if I couldn’t quite play it adequately then! But it soon became my ambition to do so, and eventually, I managed it. Who is your biggest inspiration among the composers today, and which of his works would you recommend piano enthusiasts to indulge in? I play many pieces by my former teacher Ronald Stevenson. He has a tremendous pianistic imagination, and as a result his music is always very satisfying to perform-- especially on a Steinway concert grand, because the sonorities are directly conceived with this instrument in mind. It has to be said that much of his music is technically rather challenging, but if I were to recommend some pieces to start out with, they would be the Fantasy on Britten’s “Peter Grimes” and the Symphonic Elegy for Liszt. I had the privilege of premiering both pieces in Singapore a few years ago. Of course, the most ambitious piece of all is the enormous Passacaglia on DSCH-- but since that lasts well over an hour, it isn’t for the faint-hearted! Why did you choose Singapore for annual recitals and how do you find the audience’s receptivity to your renditions? Frankly, I very much enjoy visiting Singapore--it’s a fascinating place, and almost all of the best of SouthEast Asia is represented here in a safe, clean and very well-organised environment. So, since I’m glad to have any reason to come to Singapore, concerts provide the ideal excuse! And I’m lucky also to have found a really welcoming and inquisitive audience here, especially for more unusual works. It’s probably something to do with the energetic spirit of the country, and its receptivity to new ideas.

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Singapore witnessed Charles-Valentin’s majestic concerto performance for the first time in this concert. Why was this dazzling concerto chosen, given that it could be very difficult to interpret? Well, mostly because it’s a challenge for both pianist and audience, but a worthwhile challenge! In other words, the reward is equal to the difficulty. And of course, this year marks the bicentenary of Alkan’s birth, so it’s exactly the right time to bring the concerto to Singapore. A fitting commemoration, so to speak. You kindly final-touched the recital program by introducing a beautiful addendum, involving some of your transcriptional work. We would love to know whose work you have transcribed and what was enticing to put efforts in transcription. I’ve made quite a few transcriptions over the last few years. I played my arrangement of “Softly awakes my heart” from Saint-Saens “Samson and Delilah” in Singapore at one of my previous Singapore concerts, and perhaps in a future one I’ll play the transcription of the Lute Song from Korngold’s “Die tote Stadt”, or “Au fond du Temple saint” from Bizet’s “The Pearl Fishers”. My criteria for making a transcription are threefold: the piece shouldn’t already exist in a fine arrangement (what’s the point of trying to out-Liszt Liszt?), it should be suited to the piano (most pop music isn’t, because it needs a rhythm section), and it should have a catchy tune! Through your body language, it was obvious that you started speaking more seriously to the piano while executing Chopin’s 2nd piano sonata. It intrigued us why this language, unlike that when Alkan’s magnificence roared the studio? In my view, the secret of a good concert programme is variety, not just in the music itself, but also in the performance approach. It’s possible to some extent to play the Chopin 2nd Sonata as a virtuoso showpiece, but there is little point in adopting that interpretation after such a colossal virtuoso work such as the Alkan, and just before the Wagner/Liszt Tannhäuser Overture on top of that. What’s more, I see Chopin largely as an introspective composer-- apart from in some works such as the 1st Ballade, 3rd Sonata, and a few of the studies. And we also mustn’t forget that the 2nd Sonata grew out of a funeral march-that implies to my mind a more discreet performance style, characterised by pathos rather than brilliance. I’m very glad, actually, that many listeners recognised this. Singapore zealously and very quickly embraced piano music. Where do you see Singapore in this today? Is there a room for talent improvement?

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There are some phenomenally talented young pianists in Singapore-- and I know this directly from giving master-classes here every year-- pianist who can, for example, give an excellent performance of a Liszt Paganini Study at the age of 14, or tackle a complex Hungarian Rhapsody with great gusto, or play the Bach Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue with fine musicality and genuine feeling for style. One can rarely say that there isn’t room for improvement, but it should also be acknowledged that much of the music teaching here is world class. Perhaps there might be room for yearly performance seminars for the very best young pianists in Singapore, in order that they can be inspired and challenged by each other and well as their teachers -- but that idea just occurred to me as I was answering this question! As for my final words, unlike those who are said to have been born to play the piano, I got the impression that Hamilton’s piano profession is an instinct! He very eagerly interacts with the audience with pleasant words and body expressions, and compromises the whole environment and audience to instill a seed of attention and extreme interest. He loves what he does and his love is contagious that any audience would willingly choose to share it. It was a very unique recital with an unforgettable experience, as an attendee. I believe that many among the audience, if not all, cannot express their eagerness to embrace any such future feat by Prof. Hamilton. Stay tuned, it is totally worth it!

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The Art of the Brick

As the name suggests, The Art of the Brick displays 52 LEGO sculptures by a New York brick artist, Nathan Sawaya. If you think the sculptures are ordinary LEGO cars or trucks on the front of the toy box, you are utterly wrong. “I wanted to use those rectangular bricks to create something more…to really use them to create some emotional sculptures…take LEGO out of the toy box and into the contemporary art world.” said Nathan in an interview with ArtScience Museum. The Art of the Brick has been on a world tour since 2007. Named as one of the “12 Must-See Exhibitions” by CNN in 2011, it came to ArtScience Museum last November. It was expected to end in April, but has been extended to 26th May due to its popularity.

By Jin Chuqing

Upon entry, each of us was given a signature yellow hat of a LEGO man and a huge pencil for posing in front of the camera. Though a little bit reluctant on the exterior, I took the picture laughing and realizing that I was about to embark on a journey that would take me back to the childish old days.

Yellow One could not enter the first showroom without noticing the sculpture Yellow which had been on the poster of this exhibition the whole time. According to Nathan, it was also his best-known piece. In this sculpture, the man was trying to tear up the skin on his breast and open up his heart. The idea of mimicking guts flowing out of one’s body with yellow LEGO bricks was brilliant. LEGO bricks convey the idea perfectly while leaving some space for viewers’ imagination. Imagine how different it would be if the guts were depicted with clay or marble.

Swimmer Swimmer portrayed a freestyle swimmer vividly by sculpting only the part of the body that was on the surface. I was most impressed by how the artist had created fluidity out of solid bricks, motion out of stillness and completeness out of fraction. This sculpture, which is composed of 10,980 bricks, shows nothing about human nature or philosophy. But it gives you the tick when you actually feel the moving arms of the swimmer and you realize that it is your imagination that completes this piece. The Rain The Rain was on display in the showroom named “The Artist’s Studio”, so I wasn’t surprised when I saw kids surrounding a little LEGO playground in front the sculpture, hands filled with blue bricks. In Nathan’s interviews, he kept emphasizing that one of the great things of working with LEGO bricks was that people connect with the artworks on a different level. “People can go home after seeing one of my sculptures and get inspired to create themselves.” That was exactly what was going on in this showroom. The Rain was in fact a relief sculpture. By layering LEGO bricks in different kinds of blue, Nathan created the roundedness of the raindrops like oil painting.

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Thinker What brings Thinker to life is the person sitting beside it. On Nathan’s world tour, he always puts a chair next to the sculpture and people cannot resist the temptation to pose and take a picture with it. There were serious grown-ups who posed exactly like the sculpture. And there was this kid who totally ruined the intellectual atmosphere around. And yet, I particularly enjoyed this scene. There was a natural contradiction embedded in LEGO human form sculptures, however with this lovely boy in the picture, creativity, which was the whole point of people going for LEGO exhibition, jumped out at us. “Only the children know what they are looking for.” says The Little Prince. There is a natural originality in children’s attempt to imitate a grown-up’s action.

Ascension Ascension depicted human body striving to reach higher. In the meantime, his tensed arms and legs were pointing down to the ground, suggesting an inevitable downward force. The lighting which created the three shadows at the back clinched the point. The shadows could be the main figure’s comrades in the process of ascension. They could also be his own shadow inside his heart. Multiple interpretations spread in my mind as if a pebble had hit and triggered a trial of waves on a peaceful lake. One thing you would notice in this exhibition was how it became a children’s playground. From the kids building their empires with LEGO bricks in “The Artist’s Studio”, to those cuties posing next to Thinker, the children took over the exhibition and kept explaining to the grown-ups about this world which they were more familiar about. From time to time, you could spot one or two “converted grown-ups” who were playing ridiculous games with the children, as it was the magical power of this exhibition to create such a childish but natural atmosphere. I suppose The Little Prince would be happy to see that.

It’s all about being natural, art or life. When I look back, I realize that the sculptures that have given me the electric feeling are not the ones that use the most bricks. For instance, there was a huge T-Rex skeleton which occupied an entire showroom in this exhibition. It was certainly gorgeous, with its scale and accuracy but it failed to give me the echo. On the contrary, it was the small emotional sculptures that made me think of revisiting this exhibition. Perhaps as much as artistry requires hard work, the creation process should be a natural flow from the artists’ heart after all. If you ever wonder how Nathan makes a living out of building LEGO and how he endures the huge pay cut from a lawyer to an artist, his answer would be “my worst day as an artist is better than

my best day as a lawyer”. Besides, his Swimmer was actually sold for 7,500 dollars. The price of other gigantic sculptures could easily go beyond 10,000 dollars. At the end of the day, it is all natural. You love something and you make the decision that is considered too brave by the people around you, but in your eyes, it is just what is most important. In the end, let’s talk of bricks. In the hands of Nathan Sawaya, they turn into artistic and emotional forms that reflect his state of mind. Once Nathan realized his connection with the bricks, it was natural of him to keep creating using this medium and make the decisions he ought to make. The bricks have become his dream in material form. The question for us is, however, what is our brick?

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Event Listings June 18-23 STOMP ‘13 Eight performers use everything from supermarket trolleys to Zippo lighters, plastic bags to bin lids, and even the kitchen sink to hammer out an explosively feel-good rhythm.

Tue - Fri: 7.30pm / Sat: 2pm & 7.30pm / Sun: 1pm & 5pm Venue: MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands

21-23 Yfest Yfest 2013 puts the spotlight on verve, vigour and creativity! Grab your friends and join us from 21-23 Jun, Fri - Sun to celebrate a weekend of unbridled youthful energy. More information can be found at www.yfest.com

Venue: Esplanade - Theatres On The Bay

22 Rite of Spring: A People’s Stravinsky A People’s Stravinsky reinterprets the original work with staging that highlights people from the community in dramatic roles.

7:30pm Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall

22 Asia Style Collection 2013 The inaugural ASIA STYLE COLLECTION 2013 is a celebration of Asian pop culture, combining fashion and music in an amazing one-day extravaganza. The event features the first-ever collaboration of Korea’s K-POP COLLECTION and Japan’s TOKYO GIRLS COLLECTION, with exciting performances by Asia’s marquee musical acts such as Girls’ Generation and 2NE1.

Venue: Singapore Expo Halls 3 & 4

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28-30

9-28

Baybeats festival

The Addams Family Musical

Venue: Esplanade - Theatres On The Bay

THE ADDAMS FAMILY features an original story and it’s every father’s nightmare.

July

Tue - Sun, 8pm | Sat & Sun, 2pm Venue: Festive Grand™ Theatre, Resorts World® Sentosa

3-20

16 Jul-25 Aug

ALFIAN SA’AT – IN THE SPOTLIGHT COOK A POT OF CURRY In The Spotlight is a season dedicated to a single Singaporean playwright’s work. The aim of this season is to provide audiences with a representative survey of the playwright’s body of work, and more importantly to examine how these works relate to one another and to today’s audiences.

Venue: The Singapore Airlines Theatre, LASALLE College of the Arts

CAC Symphonic Band: Satoshi Concert Venue: Esplanade Concer Hall

8 Ronan Keating Live in Singapore Singer, songwriter, actor, philanthropist... the list goes on. It is easy to see why pop legend Ronan Keating continues to wow his fans.

8pm Venue: The Star Performing Arts Centre

8 An Evening with Dick Lee Multi-talented Artist. Composer. SRT’s Associate Artistic Director. Join acclaimed singer-songwriter Dick Lee as he takes you on a musical journey this evening through some of his favourite compositions and let him regale you with anecdotes from his life story.

8pm Venue: DBS Arts Centre

Phantom Of The Opera THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is a heart-wrenching story of the mysterious, hideously disfigured Phantom who lives beneath the Paris Opera House, and his obsession with the young singer Christine. Disguised as the ‘Angel of Music’ he devotes himself to creating a new opera star, and winning her love from his rival Raoul, while exercising a reign of terror over the Opera House.

Venue: MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands

19-28 Ballet Under The Stars by Singapore Dance Theatre Conceived in 1995, Ballet Under the Stars is one of Singapore’s favourite outdoor events. In 2013, Ballet Under the Stars will feature two weekends of remarkable contemporary and classical works, instead of the usual three evenings over one weekend.

Venue: Fort Canning Green

22-26

CAC Freshmen Orientation Camp 2013

August 1-4 HOSSAN-AH! Celebrating 20 LEONG Years! ingapore Boy Hossan Leong celebrates his 20th anniversary in showbiz this year by laughing and taking a stroll down memory lane in this sing-song-talk-kok-sit-downplay-piano-stand-up concert!

Venue: Drama Centre Theatre

2 The xx Critically acclaimed UK trio and Mercury Music Prize winners, The xx, perform their debut headline show in Singapore. They are one of the biggest bands in the world right now and their live show is impeccably beautiful. From sold out tours the world over to headlining Glastonbury, this is a show not to be missed!

8pm Venue: The Star Theatre

2-4 DRUM TAO : Rising Phoenix, Celebrating 20 years of Drum Tao One of the world’s most rigorous drum troupes of the 21st century, TAO is known for its extraordinary precision, energy and stamina.

Fri - 8pm / Sat - 3pm & 8pm / Sun - 3pm Venue: Esplanade Theatre

6 FALL OUT BOY ‘’Save Rock & Roll Tour’’ Singapore Fans of Fall Out Boy must have heaved a collective sigh of relief when the American pop-punk band reunited for a much-awaited album release, Save Rock And Roll, and a tour.

8.00pm Venue: Fort Canning Park

16-17

2013 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix

7pm Venue: Zouk

Asia’s biggest sporting and entertainment extravaganza returns with a power-packed lineup of international headliners, stunning productions and electrifying parades – all in one fully loaded circuit park. With just the one race ticket, you can catch these riveting performances and race action!

23-24 Masterpiece in Motion Masterpiece in Motion is SDT’s International Repertory Season featuring an annual triple bill with three ballets of international standards, bringing the finest examples of choreography to audiences back home.

8pm Venue: Esplanade Theatre

24 CAC Cynosure Ball 2013 Venue: Conrad Centennial Singapore

27 A Rocket To The Moon Live in Singapore After releasing 5 EPs and 2 full-length studio albums, the band has decided to call it day. This South East Asia run of shows will be their final tour and Singapore is fortunate to be one of those stops.

7.30 pm Venue: TAB Singapore

CAC MJ Hip Hop: Dancetitude Concert Venue: Republic Polytechnic: The Republic Cultural Centre Theatre

17 The Choir of King’s College, Cambridge “… superbly sung and beautifully balanced, Stephen Cleobury directing the King’s College voices with an unerring sense of long line and sustained building of paragraphs… a triumph.” - BBC Music Magazine

20-22

CAC Freshman Pageant Bash 2013

September 1 CAC Contemporary Dance - The Chrysalis Production Venue: Nanyang Auditorium

Venue: Marina Bay Street Circuit

October 1-13 The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) was London’s longest-running comedy having clocked a very palpable nine years in London’s West End. Singaporeans will be able to witness for themselves, the power of the trio of actors on stage when the production opens here from 1 – 13 October at the DBS Theatre.

Venue: DBS Theatre

2-13 The Taming of The Shrew Performed on a small-scale and intimate Elizabethan-style stage in the beautiful outdoor setting of Fort Gate at Fort Canning Park, the all-female cast will breathe new life into Shakespeare’s most outrageous comedy, The Taming of the Shrew. This outdoor venue will only accommodate 800 audience members per night and tickets for this exclusive production are expected to sell out.

Venue: Fort Gate at Fort Canning Park

10-20 Broadway Beng! 2013 – Benging you Back to Basics! Venue: Drama Centre Theatre

7.30pm Venue: Esplanade Concert Hall

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