SSO Christmas Concert by Singapore Symphony

S IN G A P OR E SY MP H O N Y ORC HE S T R A

DISCOVERING MUSIC!

THAT’S FANTASTIC! 28 JANUARY 2018 Victoria Concert Hall It’s the world’s first symphony with a story! Heady daydreams and a Romantic ball, shepherds in the fields, and a doom-laden march to the scaffold followed by a feverish witches’ sabbath with monsters and sorcerers, all surrounding a torrid love drama. That’s Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique, “an episode in the life an artist”. SSO Associate Conductor Jason Lai takes on the role of storyteller angsty symphony – it’s going to be a fantastic ride!

Jason Lai, conductor

Tickets: $20 Concessions: $15

PATRON SPONSOR

SSO.ORG.SG

15 - 17 Dec 2017, Fri - Sun

SSO Christmas Concert Singapore Symphony Orchestra Joshua Tan, conductor Singapore Symphony Chorus Singapore Symphony Youth Choir Eudenice Palaruan, choral director Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir Wong Lai Foon, choirmaster

PYOTR ILYICH The Nutcracker Suite No. 1, Op. 71a 17’00 TCHAIKOVSKY 2b. Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy 2c. Russian Dance “Trepak” 2d. Arabian Dance 2e. Chinese Dance 2f. Dance of the Reed Flutes 3. Waltz of the Flowers JOHN RUTTER

Colours of Christmas 3’00

JOHN RUTTER

Donkey Carol 5’00

SAMUEL COLERIDGE-TAYLOR (arr. SYDNEY BAYNES)

Christmas Overture 6’00

VARIOUS (arr. PAUL CAMPBELL)

A Christmas Carol Fantasy 7’00

Intermission 20’00

GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL

“Hallelujah” from Messiah 4’00

VARIOUS (arr. JOHN HIGGINS)

Christmas on Broadway 7’00

TRADITIONAL (arr. JOHN RUTTER)

We Wish You a Merry Christmas 3’00

JOHNNY MARKS (arr. J.M. STEPHENSON)

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer 4’00

ALAN SILVESTRI & GLEN BALLARD (arr. WILLIAM ROSS)

God Bless Us Everyone 4’00 (from Disney’s A Christmas Carol)

Bryan Carmichael, boy soprano Michael Robinson, boy soprano

arr. DAVID BAWIEC & EUDENICE PALARUAN

O Come, All Ye Faithful 5’00

arr. JEFF TYZIK

Holiday Moods Suite No. 3 (Sing-a-long) 10’00

Supported by – “A Musical Discovery”

“Lim & Tan Securities – A Musical Discovery” is an outreach program to help underprivileged children discover the joy of music. Under this scheme, Lim & Tan Securities partners the SSO to provide free tickets for children to attend SSO concerts.

Concert duration: 2 hrs Go green. Digital programme booklets are available on www.sso.org.sg. Scan the QR code in the foyer to view a copy.

S ing a p or e S y mp hon y Or c he s t r a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A fine display of orchestral bravado for the SSO and Shuiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; The Guardian

Since its founding in 1979, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) has been Singaporeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flagship orchestra, touching lives through classical music and providing the heartbeat of the cultural scene in the cosmopolitan city-state. In addition to its subscription series concerts, the orchestra is well-loved for its outdoor and community appearances, and its significant role educating the young people of Singapore. The SSO has also earned an international reputation for its orchestral virtuosity, having garnered sterling reviews for its overseas tours and many successful recordings. The SSO makes its performing home at the 1,800-seat state-of-the-art Esplanade Concert Hall. More intimate works and all outreach and community performances take place at the

673-seat Victoria Concert Hall, the home of the SSO. The orchestra performs 100 concerts a year, and its versatile repertoire spans alltime favourites and orchestral masterpieces to exciting cutting-edge premieres. Bridging the musical traditions of East and West, Singaporean and Asian musicians and composers are regularly showcased in the concert season. This has been a core of the SSO’s programming philosophy from the very beginning under Choo Hoey, who was Music Director from 1979 to 1996. Since Lan Shui assumed the position of Music Director in 1997, the SSO has performed in Europe, Asia and the United States. In May 2016 the SSO was invited to perform at the Dresden Music Festival and the Prague Spring International Music Festival. This successful five‑city tour of

Germany and Prague also included the SSO’s return to the Berlin Philharmonie after six years. In 2014 the SSO’s debut at the 120th BBC Proms in London received critical acclaim in the major UK newspapers The Guardian and Telegraph. The SSO has also performed in China on multiple occasions. Notable SSO releases under BIS include a Rachmaninov series, a “Seascapes” album, two Debussy discs “La Mer” and “Jeux”, and the first-ever cycle of Tcherepnin’s piano concertos and symphonies. The SSO has also collaborated with such great artists as Lorin Maazel, Charles Dutoit, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Neeme Järvi, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Diana Damrau, Lang Lang, Yo-Yo Ma, Janine Jansen, Leonidas Kavakos and Gil Shaham.

FESTIVE FEASTING AT OSCAR’S From elegant to magical, its all about tradition this festive season. Indulge in sumptuous Christmas buffet with the season’s favourites of traditional roast turkey and ham. Gather with family and friends on Christmas Eve and Day for a feast to satisfy, from BBQ lobster and beef station to a dessert house ﬁlled with endless decadent delights! Don’t forget to take a photo at the magniﬁcent 13-feet Conrad Bear Christmas Tree made with over 500 red bears, while enjoying the melody of Christmas carols in the hotel’s grand lobby. For reservations, visit www.connoisseur.sg/oscars-christmas or call +65 6432 7481/63.

centennial singapore Two Temasek Boulevard Singapore 038982 | Phone +65 6334 8888 | ConradSingapore.com

Cambridge IGCSE and International A Level Programmes for students aged 12 to 18 Our curriculum is focused on applied learning in STEM and the Humanitities to develop your child into a Curious Learner, Community and Creative Leader. Find out more at www.simacademy.edu.sg

JO SHU A TAN conductor

Second Prize winner of the 2008 Dimitri Mitropoulos International Competition, Singaporean conductor Joshua Tan’s rise to prominence has been marked by successful debuts in Carnegie Hall, Philharmonie Berlin, Mariinsky Hall, Bunkamura, Shanghai, Beijing and Taiwan. He was featured as the top Singaporean musical talent in 2009 (Lianhe Zaobao) and has won numerous awards and scholarships, including the Bruno Walter Memorial Foundation Award, NAC-Shell Scholarship, SSO/MOE Scholarship and the Charles Schiff Conducting Prize from the Juilliard School for outstanding achievement. In 2011, he received the Young Artist Award of Singapore. Tan has studied with leading conductors James DePreist, Charles Dutoit, David Zinman and Kurt Masur. He has conducted the Beethoven Bonn Orchestra, National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA) Orchestra, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and many more orchestras worldwide. In opera, Tan has conducted La traviata, Tosca, Rigoletto, Carmen, Don Giovanni, Manon Lescaut, Madama Butterfly, Turandot amongst others. He was also cover conductor for Christoph Eschenbach and Lorin Maazel. Adept at working with film/multimedia, Tan is a Disneyapproved conductor and gave the Asian premiere of Fantasia. He has also conducted for the BBC’s Planet Earth Series. Tan is presently Associate Conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. He was Resident Conductor, NCPA Orchestra from 2009 to 2012 and Principal Conductor, Guiyang Symphony Orchestra from 2013 to 2017. Highlights of the 2017/18 season include Giselle in Tokyo, L’elisir d’amore, Bernstein’s Mass and a performance of the complete West Side Story with film for the centenary in Singapore amongst others. Overseeing a special initiative, Joshua is also Director for the Asia Virtuosi since 2017, an annual festival orchestra which comprises of leading professional orchestral musicians from different orchestras in Asia. Tan is a graduate of the Juilliard School and the Eastman School of Music (High Distinction).

Eude nic e Pa l a r u a n choral director

Eudenice Palaruan studied at the University of the Philippines majoring in composition under Ramon Santos (National Artist for Music) and choral conducting under Joel Navarro. After finishing his Bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Degree in the Philippines, he took on a four-year study in choral conducting at the Berliner Kirchenmusikschule, Germany under Martin Behrmann. As a chorister and vocalist he performed with leading choirs such as the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Ateneo de Manila College Glee Club, Berlin Spandauer Kantorei, and the World Youth Choir. He was also involved in early music performance practice as a countertenor with the Berlin Monteverdichor and continuo player at the Philippine International Bamboo Organ Festival. On the podium he was the Music Director of the Ateneo de Manila College Glee Club, Assistant Choir Master of the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Principal Conductor of the San Miguel Master Chorale and the Union Church of Manila Chancel Choir. For the past seven years he was the Resident Conductor of the International Bamboo Organ Festival where he directed some of Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; leading choirs in the performance of early European choral music and the revival of Latin American baroque choral music. As a composer and arranger Palaruan introduced choral and other vocal works that exhibit the indigenous Filipino sound. His works are performed by Asian and European choirs in international festivals and competitions. With his active involvement in the choralization of Philippine and other Asian indigenous music he premiered a significant volume of new Asian choral works and is often invited to give lectures on non-Western vocal aesthetics and choral arranging in the Asian context. As a music pedagogue he taught composition and cantorship at the Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music, choral conducting subjects at the University of the Philippines College of Music and the St. Paul University Manila College of Music and the Performing Arts. Currently he is an Associate Professor at the School of Church Music in Singapore Bible College, training and mentoring young church musicians from different Asian countries.

WONG LAI F OON choirmaster

As a founder-conductor of the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir, Wong Lai Foon has dedicated the past decade towards building up the ensemble to become the leading children’s choir in the nation. Since her appointment as Choirmaster in 2015, the SSCC has garnered much praise for its impressive choral tone, and its musically precise and polished performances, earning it the commendation of “one of the best children’s choirs in Asia” in a recent review. In the past two years, Wong has spearheaded the expansion of the SSCC, which now comprises a Concert Choir, Training Choir, three preparatory choirs, a Boys’ Ensemble, and a Youth Choir. During this time, she also led the Concert Choir on two tours, performing at the Philharmonie de Paris in 2015 with the Maîtrise de Radio France as part of Singapour en France – le Festival, and at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, Kuala Lumpur, during a joint concert tour with the Singapore National Youth Orchestra in December 2016. Commemorating the SSCC’s 10th anniversary in 2016, Wong directed the choir in a series of exciting performances and projects, including Mahler’s Third Symphony and Bizet’s Carmen with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, as well as a collaborative concert with the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. Two new choral works by local composers were also commissioned to commemorate the SSCC’s tenth year; Water, by Chen Zhangyi, and A Child’s Voice, by Lee Chin Sin. Both pieces are on the SSCC’s debut CD, And I’ll Sing Once More. In demand as a conductor with choirs across various segments of the community, Wong is the Resident Conductor of the Methodist Festival Choir, and the Assistant Conductor of The Philharmonic Chamber Choir. She has also previously prepared works for the Singapore Symphony Chorus and Singapore Lyric Opera. She received her master’s degree in choral conducting from Westminster Choir College, under the tutelage of Joseph Flummerfelt.

S ing a p or e S y mp hon y C hor us EUDENICE PALARUAN Choral Director SHANE THIO Rehearsal Pianist The Singapore Symphony Chorus (SSC) was inaugurated in 1980 under the direction of Choo Hoey, then Music Director of the SSO, giving its first performance on 13 June 1980. It has since established itself as one of the finest choirs in the region and one of the few symphony choruses in Southeast Asia. The chorus has performed under the baton of renowned conductors Peter Erdei, Eric Ericsson, John Nelson, Claus Peter Flor, Okko Kamu, and most recently, Masaaki Suzuki for Mozart’s Requiem. Under pioneering Choral Director Lim Yau’s dedicated tutelage, it has amassed a wide repertoire over the years, performing such works as Orff’s Carmina Burana, Rachmaninov’s The Bells, Tippett’s A Child of Our Time, Macmillan’s Seven Last Words from the Cross, Kodály’s Missa Brevis, Arvo Pärt’s Te Deum, Britten’s War Requiem, and Bach’s St John Passion, amongst many others. Brought together by an ardour for choral music, presiding Choral Director Eudenice Palaruan leads the SSC’s colourful communion of choristers, who come from a myriad of backgrounds including biochemists, tour guides and lawyers.

S ing a p or e S y mp hon y You t h C hoir WONG LAI FOON Choirmaster DARIUS LIM Associate Choirmaster EVELYN HANDRISANTO Rehearsal Pianist The Singapore Symphony Youth Choir (SSYC) was formed in 2016 to complement the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) with a chorus of young people’s voices. Bridging the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir (SSCC) and the Singapore Symphony Chorus (SSC), the SSYC is an up-and-coming addition to the SSO’s family of choruses, a platform for young adults to further their interest in choral singing, as well as to enable mature members of the SSCC to continue their development in classical choral singing. Comprising Singapore’s finest young choristers aged between 14 and 28, the SSYC aims to artistically enrich young adults musically and vocally, revelling in the best of all musical worlds and styles, ranging from orchestral to a cappella masterpieces spanning the Renaissance to 21st century contemporary music.

Sing a p ore S y mp hon y Chil dre n’s Choir Formed in 2006, the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir (SSCC) has established itself as the leading children’s choir in Singapore. It seeks to enrich the lives of young singers between the ages of 9 and 16, through a holistic choral training programme that nurtures artistic growth and personal development. Since its debut performance in 2007, the SSCC has given many successful concerts, including appearances with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) in Mahler’s Third Symphony, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Berlioz’s The Damnation of Faust, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Britten’s War Requiem, and Bizet’s Carmen. The SSCC is also a regular feature in the orchestra’s annual Christmas concerts. It has performed at the Philharmonie de Paris in a collaborative performance of Berlioz’s Te Deum with the Maîtrise de Radio France, as well as at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, where it partnered the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra in concert. In commemoration of a wonderful decade of singing, the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir has had a bustling line-up of activity, including recording their first CD, And I’ll Sing Once More, which is now available for purchase. The SSCC is proud to have Mr Christopher Ho and Mrs Rosy Ho as its Principal Champion.

COMB INED CHOr us SOPRANO Au Zexian Karen Aw Pam Buckley Alexis Chen Chin Li Han Mairi Fernandez-ares Deborah Goh Grace Goh Karin Hesse Shiho Higuchi Deborah Lee Eleesha Lewis Janice Lim Sherilyn Lim Semach Polina Ng Beng Choo Ng Kong Tiok Avoni Odyuo Si Hui Ong Sarah Santhana Miki Taguchi Patricia Teng Sachiko Tomimori Olivia Trono Masumi Tsuchiya Assia Turner Susanna Wee ALTO Laura Ashbaugh Chiu Lu Yah Mervi Hiltunen Truly Hutapea Susan Kurniawati Irene Law Evelyn Lee Dorothy Lee-Teh Trixi Lim Wendy Lim Lin Wei

Sharon Low Desiree Seng Elaine Ser Josephine Sim Natividad Solaguren Yvonne Soh Ena Su Jien Nee Tai Elsie Tan Tan Li En Karen Yau TENOR Jean-Michel Bardin Chng Chin Han Edwin Cruz Mika Lam Loh Shao Wei Lim Wei Sheng Ronald Ooi Yann Perron Qi Jian Alan Smith Ian Tan Zhang Zeyu BASS Alfonso Cortez Arthur Davis Gerald Goh Vimezo Iralu Joseph Kennedy Paul Kitamura Ivan Lim Ethan Murugasu Kevin Neeson Michael Schlesinger Thierry Schrimpf Bjorn Soo Raymond Wu

CHILDREN’S CHOIR Anne-Sophie Cazaubon Ariane Cazaubon Ana Banchs Rodríguez Bryan Carmichael Arjun Chhabra David Cho Sophie Du Toit Nia Edwards Maria Erika Goh Nicole Gunawan Ikabella Heaps Shunsho Heng Caroline Hesse Erin Ho Hoo Amanda Hoo Ashley Sydney Klungsupavipat Sonja Lam Arthur Lee Lee Xin Ning Giselle Lim Javier Loke Chloe Luai Myasara Nahrin Kellianne Ng Oh Chin Aik Chloe Ong Anya Prabowo Michael Robinson Rebecca Schlesinger Chloe See Kristen Soh Samyukta Sounderraman Tiffany Tam Ashley Tan Tan Carine Tan Changyu Tan Liang Rong Justin Teng Jasmine Towndrow

Amanda Tung Aloysius Wong Raeanne Wong Mao Yamaura Seia Yano Caleb Yeo Zhou Yixi

u p comi n g con c ert s

6 JANUARY 2018

Sat | 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

MAHLER 7 music of the night MAHLER Symphony No. 7 in E minor Lan Shui, conductor Pre-concert Talk 6.30pm | library@esplanade

12 JANUARY 2018

Fri | 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

HAYDN CELLO CONCERTO 1 A TRIBUTE TO FRIENDSHIP HAYDN Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major, Hob VIIb/1 BRUCKNER Symphony No. 3 in D minor, WAB 103 Lan Shui, conductor Qin Li-Wei, cello Presenting Sponsor

SSO MU SICIAN S Lan Shui Music Director joshua tan Associate Conductor jason lai Associate Conductor andrew litton Principal Guest Conductor Choo Hoey Conductor Emeritus Eudenice Palaruan Choral Director

Margit Saur Shao Tao Tao Lillian Wang Wu Man Yun* Xu Jue Yi* Ye Lin* Yeo Teow Meng Yin Shu Zhan* Zhang Si Jing* VIOLA Zhang Manchin Principal Guan Qi Associate Principal Gu Bing Jie* Fixed Chair Marietta Ku Luo Biao Shui Bing Tan Wee-Hsin Janice Tsai Wei Jun-Ting^ Yang Shi Li CELLO

FIRST VIOLIN Igor YuzefovichÂ° Concertmaster, The GK Goh Chair Lynnette Seah Co-Concertmaster Kong Zhao Hui* Associate Concertmaster Chan Yoong-Han Fixed Chair Cao Can* Chen Da Wei Duan Yu Ling Foo Say Ming Gu Wen Li Jin Li Cindy Lee Sui Jing Jing Karen Tan William Tan Wei Zhe

Ng Pei-Sian Principal Yu Jing Associate Principal Guo Hao Fixed Chair Chan Wei Shing Song Woon Teng Wang Yan Wang Zihao* Peter Wilson Wu Dai Dai Zhao Yu Er DOUBLE BASS Guennadi Mouzyka Principal Yang Zheng Yi Associate Principal Karen Yeo Fixed Chair Olga Alexandrova Jacek Mirucki Wang Xu

SECOND VIOLIN

FLUTE

Michael Loh Associate Principal Hai-Won Kwok Fixed Chair Nikolai Koval* Chikako Sasaki*

Jin Ta Principal Evgueni Brokmiller Associate Principal Roberto Alvarez Lu Yin^ Miao Shanshan

PICCOLO

TRUMPET

Roberto Alvarez Assistant Principal

Jon Paul Dante Principal David Smith Associate Principal Teerapol Kiatthaveephong^ Lau Wen Rong Sergey Tyuteykin

OBOE Rachel Walker Principal Pan Yun Associate Principal Carolyn Hollier Elaine Yeo

TROMBONE

Elaine Yeo Associate Principal

Allen Meek Principal Damian Patti Associate Principal Samuel Armstrong

CLARINET

BASS TROMBONE

Ma Yue Principal Li Xin Associate Principal Liu Yoko Tang Xiao Ping

Wang Wei Assistant Principal

BASS CLARINET

TIMPANI

Tang Xiao Ping Assistant Principal

Christian Schiøler Principal Jonathan Fox Associate Principal

COR ANGLAIS

TUBA Hidehiro Fujita Principal

BASSOON Liu Chang Associate Principal Christoph Wichert Zhang Zhaoqi^ Zhao Ying Xue CONTRA BASSOON Zhao Ying Xue Assistant Principal HORN Han Chang Chou Principal Gao Jian Associate Principal Jamie Hersch Associate Principal Marc-Antoine Robillard Associate Principal Kartik Alan Jairamin

PERCUSSION Jonathan Fox Principal Mark Suter Associate Principal Lim Meng Keh Wang Shan^ Zhu Zheng Yi HARP Gulnara Mashurova Principal KEYBOARD Shane Thio^ CELESTE Shane Thio^

*With deep appreciation to the Rin Collection for their generous loan of string instruments. °Igor Yuzefovich plays an instrument generously loaned by Mr & Mrs G K Goh ^Musician on temporary contract Musicians listed alphabetically by family name rotate their seats on a per programme basis.

music i a n c h a ir s

Igor Yuzefovich Concertmaster The GK Goh Chair The GK Goh Chair is endowed by the Family and Friends of Mr Goh Geok Khim

GUO HAO Fixed Chair Cello The Fixed Chair Cello is supported by

CORPORATE SEAT S The Singapore Symphony Orchestra appreciates the support of companies in our Corporate Seats scheme. The scheme supports the Orchestra through regular attendance of subscription concerts. $20,000 and above Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore (Pte) Ltd

Up to $10,000 Hong Leong Foundation Nomura Asset Management Singapore Ltd Prima Limited Santa Lucia Asset Management Stephen Riady Group of Foundations

This list is for donations from 1 Oct 2016 to 1 Oct 2017. The Singapore Symphony Orchestra is a charity and not-for-profit organisation. Find out how you can support us at www.sso.org.sg. Call or email us at 6602 4238 or peggykek@sso.org.sg.

Please Support Us We’re so glad you’ve made it to today’s concert. You are a part of the growing community of music lovers that the SSO performs for, week after week. The SSO presents over 130 concerts a year, including more than 50 free public performances. And because we have kept prices affordable, ticket sales cover less than 5% of our costs. As you can see, we have our hands full and we need all the help we can get.

HOW yo ur g if t he l p s $100 enables a disadvantaged child to watch a concert $1,000 helps fund a student’s music masterclass $10,000 helps replace a musician’s old instrument Visit www.sso.org.sg/donate * Call Nikki at 6602 4238, or email peggykek@sso.org.sg From all of us at the SSO, thank you for your generous support. *For tax-payers in Singapore, your donation may qualify you for 250% tax deduction. To receive the tax deduction for Year 2017, please submit your donation by 28 December 2017.

he a r t f e lt t h a nk s to t he fa mily a nd F RIEND S of mr g oh g eok k him

In appreciation of a major gift from the Family and Friends of Mr Goh Geok Khim on the occasion of his 85th birthday on 17 July 2017, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra is pleased to announce the naming of the SSO Concertmaster position, the GK Goh Chair. Mr Goh Geok Khim and SSO Concertmaster Igor Yuzefovich

$500,000

Mr and Mrs Goh Yew Lin $60,000 to $160,000 Anonymous Far East Organization Anonymous $15,000 to $20,000 Mr and Mrs Tan Vern Han Irene Tedja

Ho Ching Holywell Foundation Limited Lee Theng Kiat

$8,000 to $10,000 Chan Wing Cheng Santosa Handojo David Lee Lee Ming San

Liu Chee Ming Kai S. Nargowala Geoffrey Wong and Ai Ai Wong Thomas Teo

Chartered Asset Management Pte Ltd Goh Geok Ling

Mr and Mrs Leong Wah Kheong nTan Corporate Advisory Pte Ltd

Dr and Mrs Choy Khai Meng Dr Ng Eng Hen & Prof Ivy Ng Dr Adrian Saurajen

Peter Seah Whang Tar Liang

Bobby Chin Dr Christopher Chen Jennie Chua Khoo Boon Hui Kwa Chong Seng

Betty Lim & Ng Yi-Kheong Wan Pong Liang Wee Joo Yeow Wee Kok Wah Whang Yee Ling

Yong Ying-I Anonymous Anonymous

$3,000 to $5,000 Poh Beng Swee Marie Elaine Teo

$2,000 Lucien Wong Anonymous

Up to $1,000

Help us to spread the love of music. Visit www.sso.org.sg/donate Your donation to the SSO is 250% tax deductible. Our charity registration: 48-0003303-X

William Wong Yeo Cheow Tong Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous

A S ta nding Ovat ion to our Donor s a nd Sp on s or s PATRON SPONSOR

Tote Board Group (Tote Board, Singapore Pools & Singapore Turf Club) $900,000 and above

Temasek Foundation Nurtures CLG Ltd $100,000 and above

Christopher Ho & Rosy Ho Interchem Pte Ltd Anonymous $50,000 and above

John Swire & Sons (S.E. Asia) Pte Ltd Singapore Press Holdings Limited Joseph Grimberg Kingsmen Exhibits Pte Ltd Lee Foundation, Singapore Mr & Mrs Goh Yew Lin GK Goh Holdings Limited NSL Ltd Aquilus Pte Ltd Anonymous

$20,000 and above Saga Tree Capital Advisors Pte Ltd Singapore Institute of Management Keppel Care Foundation Stephen Riady Group of Foundations Kris Foundation Far East Organization Mr and Mrs Goh Geok Khim Geoffrey Wong & Ai Ai Wong United Overseas Bank Limited UPP Holdings Limited Eugene Lai Chin Look Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi-Martin

Dorothy Chan Ms Paige Parker and Mr Jim Rogers Mr and Mrs Wong Ngit Liong JCCI Singapore Foundation Limited Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore Pte Ltd Tan Chin Tuan Foundation Holywell Foundation Limited Pontiac Land Group One North Capital Pte Ltd Anonymous Christina Ong Doris and Andreas Sohmen-Pao

$10,000 and above Dr and Mrs Thomas Zuellig Foundation Prince Albert II of Monaco Allen & Gledhill LLP Santa Lucia Asset Management Pte Ltd S R Nathan Lim and Tan Securities Pte Ltd ABRSM At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy Pte Ltd BinjaiTree Boardroom Limited DBS Bank Limited Hi-P International Limited Hong Leong Foundation LGT Bank (Singapore) Ltd Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd Nomura Asset Management Singapore Ltd OSIM International Limited Prima Limited PSA International Private Limited Resorts World at Sentosa Pte Ltd Van Cleef and Arpels Tan Kong Piat (Pte) Limited Choo Chiau Beng

Tan Choo Leng Christine Yeh David Ong Eng Hui Anonymous Prof Chan Heng Chee Lito and Kim Camacho Amy and Kevin Gould Anonymous Andress Goh Lai Yan Lee Li-Ming Anonymous Olivia Lum Kim Teo Poh Jin Pauline Chan and Jean Nasr Yong Pung How Yong Ying-I Maisy Koh and Dr Beh Swan Gin Prof Cham Tao Soon Leong Wai Leng Liew Wei Li Lin Diaan-Yi Desmond Lim Yu Jin

$5,000 and above Juliana and Clemente Benelli Prof Arnoud De Meyer Ms Manju Vangal and Mr Arudra Vangal Sharon Chandran Mr and Mrs Tan Vern Han AIA Singapore Private Limited ComfortDelgro Corporation Limited CV Shipping Pte Ltd F & N Foods Pte Ltd Fullerton Fund Management Company Ltd Loke Cheng Kim Foundation Devika and Sanjiv Misra Anonymous

Electrolux S.E.A. Pte Ltd Grace Fu Hai Yien Chng Hak-Peng Anonymous Ross & Florence Jennings Prof and Mrs Lim Seh Chun Mr and Mrs W K Leong Ms Tan Sook Yee Mr & Dr Peter Sheren Odile & Douglas Benjamin Dr Gralf Sieghold Anonymous

$1,000 and above Thorsten Walther Christian Rothenbuehler Johanes Oeni Schroder Investment Management (Singapore) Ltd Dr Tan Chin Nam Anonymous Jullie Kan Lim Eng Neo Ronald and Janet Stride Chartered Asset Management Private Limited Prive Clinic Pte Ltd Xeitgeist Entertainment Group Pte Ltd Daniel Harel and Laurence Harel Eric Wong Guy J P Hentsch Ivy Teh Julian and Sandra Chang Ng Keng Hooi Tan Khai Hee Kris Wiluan Lawrence Basapa Anonymous Marie Elaine Teo Leow Oon Geok Patrick Chong Chong Siak Ching Ho Soo Foo Leong Yoke Chun Cynthia Chee Bin Eng Andreas Ruschkowski Timothy Pitrelli Eugene Lee See Tho Kai Yin Electronics & Engineering Pte Ltd Kim Woon Soo Shih Chih-Lung Coutte Didier D'Isidoro Eddy Chong Mi-Li Pamela Gael Bomblian Cambridge Therapeutics Pte Ltd Jean Yip Salon Pte Ltd JW Central Pte Ltd Robert Khan & Co Private Limited Sara Taseer Fine Jewellery Pte Ltd Dr Ho Ching Lin (SNEC) Wilmar International Limited Gan Chee Yen Connie Chaird Fong Ei Lie Gajardo Eugenia Carmichael Heather Lin John Hsu Lai Kenneth Mark Wong Kevin Ong Lee Fong Lau Leok Yee Lau Kheng Tiong Yeo Ning Hong

This list is for donations from 1 Oct 2016 to 30 Sep 2017.

Somalingam Radakrishnan Richard Low Robin Ian Rawlings Richard Smith Bernhard Steiner Sheila Patel Ho Soh Choon Lee Suan Yew Lim Swee Lin Wong Yik Mun Low Nguok Kwong Todd On Lian Tan Poh Jerry Gwee Xiao Ye Tian Tan Wee Kheng Kenneth Michael Tan Kok Huan Anonymous Ng Yong Ngee Pauline Ang Hooi Yeong Alvin Liew AndrĂŠ Klein Andre Maniam Arudra Vangal Azima Moiz Aznan Abu Bakar Bernard Jean Sabrier Bettina Lieske Bo Sun Low Boon Hon Tan Boon Ngee Brian Holt Gambrill Charles Robertson Khor Cheng Kian David Neo Chin Wee Goh Chiu Gak Christopher John Fussner Daniel Tando David Harris Zemans Derek Quah Donny Low Teo Ee Peng Low Fatt Kin Gillian Metzger Vincent Lam Ho Ming Lim Hong Eng Janet Chai Huei Chuen Hunter Nield Jeremy Snoad John & Eliza Bittleston Jonathan Reiter Joseph Mocanu Joyce Tan Kanti Bajpai Anonymous Leong Keng Hong Jennie Chua Kheng Yeng Lai Kim Peng Mitchell Tan Kok Kiong Eunice Mah Li Lien Adelina Mah Li Ting

Wong Liang Keen Lilian Khoo Liwen Holmes Marcie Ann Ball Margaret Chew Sing Seng Mark Edward Hansen Matthew Latham Matthew G Johnson Maureen Derooij Ivan Tan Meng Cheng Michel Blanc Michelle Loh Giles Tan Ming Yee Naoyoshi Nick Shimoda Kwee Nee Chia Irene Mr & Mrs Neil Tottman Wu Peichan Valerie Peter White Cees & Raife Armstrong Richard Logan Ridzuan Farouk Robert Tan Rolf Gerber Satoru Yano Jeffrey Loke Sin Hun Siong Ted Lee Susanna Ho Choon Mei Takashi Kousaka Shang Thong Kai and Tiffany Choong Vanessa Yeo Chan Wai Leong Warren Fernandez Cheng Wei Mr & Mrs Willem Mark Nabarro William H Hernstadt Xiao Li Victor Loo Belinda Koh Yuh Ling Bao Zhiming Annie Yeo Arend Schumacher Benjamin Ma Enhao Reuben Ong Chin Evelyn Rachel Irina Francken John S Davison Kathleen Moroney Madeleine Lee Stuart Liventals Goh Sze Wei

S S O C hr is t m a s C onc e r t 2017 Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker frequently graces the stage each festive season. Its enchanted story is about a girl who sneaks downstairs one Christmas Eve to play with her favourite Christmas present, a Nutcracker, and is spirited away on a magical adventure in the Land of Snow and Kingdom of Sweets. Much of The Nutcracker’s continuing universal appeal also stems from Tchaikovsky’s classic score. Described by ballet critic Alastair Macaulay as “abundant and perfect”, its timeless tunes have permeated popular consciousness. Tchaikovsky extracted eight selections from the ballet and compiled them into an immensely popular Suite, with six of these delightful selections performed today. The twinkling celesta in the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy leads to the exhilarating rush of the Trepak. The exotic Arabian Dance conjures visions of foreign lands, before the flute leads the Chinese Dance and Dance of the Reed Flutes into a windswept flourish. The Waltz of the Flowers brings the Suite to a swirling conclusion. With his gift of writing simple yet beautifully memorable tunes, John Rutter is described as the world’s most-performed choral composer. This gift is showcased in Colours of Christmas, where a lyrical melody is placed over a flowing accompaniment. The gently lopping and off-kilter Donkey Carol describes the journey of a donkey “riding over the bumpy road”, carrying Mary, following Joseph and eventually watching over Jesus. Samuel Coleridge-Taylor made his name with The Song of Hiawatha, which vied with Handel’s Messiah and Mendelssohn’s Elijah in popularity for several decades. Several years after Coleridge-Taylor’s untimely death at the age of 37, English conductor Sydney Baynes arranged the Christmas Overture from his incidental music to The Forest of Wild Thyme, a “fairy drama for children” by Alfred Noyes. It features well-known carols such as God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, Good King Wenceslas and Hark the Herald Angels Sing, dressed as a charming orchestral overture. Some Hollywood-style glitz is added to proceedings with Paul Campbell’s Christmas Carol Fantasy for chorus and orchestra. This elegant arrangement wraps Ding Dong Merrily On High, On Christmas Night, Silent Night, God Rest You Merry Gentlemen and Joy to the World in bright, festive colours. Handel’s 1741 oratorio, Messiah, is another perennial seasonal classic, with many choral societies worldwide staging performances of it in December

each year. Written in three parts, the Hallelujah Chorus closes the Second Part of the oratorio – which discusses Christ’s passion, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension – leading to the glorious blaze of “Hallelujah!” One of the myths surrounding this work involves King George II attending the London premiere of Messiah in 1743 and standing up at this Chorus, with the audience in that theatre duly following suit, thus starting a tradition of standing at the Hallelujah Chorus. However, there is no evidence that the King even attended the concert. Today, there is usually a slightly awkward mix of audience members standing to observe this tradition, and others who remain seated, demonstrating their disagreement with such assumed conventions. Christmas on Broadway, arranged by John Higgins, brings a selection of Christmas-themed songs from musicals and the silver screen into a feelgood medley for chorus and orchestra featuring God Bless Us Everyone, It's Beginning to Look Like Christmas, March of the Toys, My Favourite Things, Pine Cones and Holly Berries, Toyland and We Need a Little Christmas. John Rutter’s witty arrangement of seasonal favourite We Wish You a Merry Christmas brings a sprinkling of festive cheer before the orchestra prances to the fore with Johnny Marks’ delightful Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard’s rousing God Bless Us Everyone, from the 2009 film, A Christmas Carol, invites everyone to ‘come together one and all’ and receive divine blessings. Singapore Symphony Chorus Choral Director Eudenice Palaruan and David Bawiec then brings his arrangement of O Come All Ye Faithful, beckoning all to come and adore Christ the Lord. Veteran pops conductor, arranger and trumpeter Jeff Tyzik’s Holiday Moods Suite No. 3 brings a slightly more sombre take on classic carols Adeste, Fideles (O Come All Ye Faithful), God Rest You Merry Gentlemen, The First Noel, and Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming, before throwing caution to the wind with a sleigh-bell driven finale in a rousing rendition of We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

Adeste Fideles Adeste, Fideles, Laeti triumphantes, Venite, venite in Bethlehem. Natum videte, Regem angelorum: Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus, Venite adoremus Dominum. O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels. O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Sing choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, Sing all ye citizens of heaven above. Glory to God in the highest, glory! O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen God rest you merry, gentlemen, Let nothing you dismay, Remember Christ, our saviour Was born on Christmas Day, To save us all from Satanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s power, When we were gone astray, O tidings of comfort and joy Comfort and Joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

From God our heavenly Father A blessed angel came, And unto certain shepherds, Brought tidings of the same: How that in Bethlehem was born, The Son of God by name. O tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and Joy, O tidings of comfort and joy.

The First Noel The first Noel the angels did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay, In fields where they lay keeping their sheep On a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star Shining in the east beyond them far, And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel.

Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming Lo, how a rose e’er blooming From tender stem hath sprung! Of Jesse’s lineage coming As men of old have sung. It came a flow’ret bright, Amid the cold of winter, When half spent was the night.

Isaiah ‘twas foretold it, The rose I have in mind, With Mary we behold it, The Virgin Mother kind. To show God’s love aright, She bore to men a Saviour, When half spent was the night.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas We wish you a merry Christmas, We wish you a merry Christmas, We wish you a merry Christmas And a happy New Year!

Now bring us some figgy pudding, Now bring us some figgy pudding, Now bring us some figgy pudding, Now bring some to us here.

Now tidings we bring To you and your kin. We wish you a merry Christmas And a happy New Year!

We won’t go until we get it, We won’t go until we get it, We won‘t go until we get it, So bring it right here!

We wish you a merry Christmas, We wish you a merry Christmas, We wish you a merry Christmas And a happy New Year!

Good tidings we bring For you and your kin. We wish you a merry Christmas And a happy New Year!

Programme notes by Christopher Cheong

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