8 APR 2017 | SAT
SSO Pops Concert: Makoto Ozone • Rhapsody in Blue Singapore Symphony Orchestra Joshua Tan, conductor Makoto Ozone, piano
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY (Arr. DUKE ELLINGTON & BILLY STRAYHORN, Orch. JEFF TYZIK)
The Nutcracker Suite 17’00 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Overture Toot Toot Tootie Toot (Dance of the Reed-Pipes) Dance of the Floreadores (Waltz of the Flowers) Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy) Peanut Brittle Brigade (March)
MAURICE RAVEL Piano Concerto in G major 23’00 1. Allegramente 2. Adagio assai 3. Presto Intermission 20’00 JEFF TYZIK (Arr.) Symphonic Swing 10’00 GEORGE GERSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue 16’00
Concert duration: 1 hr 40 mins Let’s go green. Digital programme booklets are available on www.sso.org.sg. Scan the QR code in the foyer to view a copy.
Singapore Symphony Orchestra Since its founding in 1979, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) has been Singapore’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 all-time 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 Debussy disc, Seascapes featuring sea-themed music by Debussy, Frank Bridge, Glazunov and Zhou Long, 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, Lang Lang, Yo-Yo Ma, Leonidas Kavakos and Gil Shaham.
“The brilliantly chiselled strings unite in moderate tempos to produce a brilliant, virtuoso and sensuous sound performance from this outstanding orchestra.” Der Neue Merker
JOSHUA TAN
conductor
Second Prize winner of the 2008 Dimitris Mitropoulos International Competition, Singaporean conductor Joshua Tan’s rise to prominence on the international scene 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 by the Singapore newspaper, Lianhe Zaobao. He has also won numerous awards and scholarships, including the Bruno Walter Memorial Foundation Award, NAC-Shell Scholarship, SSO/MOE Scholarship and is the first ever recipient of 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 Mariinsky Theater Orchestra, Beethoven Bonn Orchestra, St Petersburg State Symphony, Russiche Kammerphilharmonie, National Center for the Performing Arts Orchestra (NCPA), China Philharmonic, Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic and many more orchestras from China and Japan. In opera, Tan has conducted La traviata, Tosca, Rigoletto, Il barbiere di Siviglia, La Cenerentola, Der fliegende Holländer, Lohengrin, Carmen, Don Giovanni, Manon Lescaut, Madama Butterfly, Cosi fan tutte and was also cover conductor for Christoph Eschenbach and Lorin Maazel. Adept with film/multimedia, Tan is a Disney-approved 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 and Principal Conductor, Guiyang Symphony Orchestra. He was Resident Conductor, NCPA Orchestra from 2009 to 2012. Highlights of the 2016/17 season include debuts with Sinfonia Varsovia, Japan Century Orchestra, Swan Lake and Giselle in Tokyo, Turandot, L’elisir d’amore in Singapore. Tan is a graduate of the Juilliard School and the Eastman School of Music (High Distinction).
MAKOTO OZONE
piano
Makoto Ozone moved to the United States in 1980 to study jazz composition and arranging at the Berklee College of Music in Boston. In 1983, Ozone graduated top in his class and gave a solo recital at the Carnegie Hall, and became the first Japanese musician to sign an exclusive contract with CBS. In recent years, Ozone has been performing works from the classical music repertoire. Under internationally renowned conductors, he has played concertos by Gershwin, Bernstein, Mozart, Beethoven, Rachmaninov and Shostakovich, in collaboration with leading orchestras in the world. In 2014 he toured Asia with the New York Philharmonic under the baton of Alan Gilbert performing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. In 2016 he completed a successful Piano Duo Plays “Acoustic” tour – 11 concerts with Chick Corea all over Japan, including two performances of Mozart’s Double Piano Concerto with the NHK Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Tadaaki Otaka.
Empowering lives. Nurturing communities.
We believe in building a sustainable future with the community – wherever we operate. In more than 30 countries, we reach out and give back through lending a hand to the needy and under-privileged, promoting education, caring for the environment as well as cultivating appreciation of the arts. We make it a part of our business to lay the foundation for a brighter future, one upon which successive generations will thrive.
Keppel Corporation Limited 1 HarbourFront Avenue #18-01 Keppel Bay Tower Singapore 098632 I www.kepcorp.com
SSO Musicians Lan Shui
Jason Lai
Joshua Tan
Choo Hoey
Okko Kamu
Lim Yau
MUSIC DIRECTOR
ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR
ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR
CONDUCTOR EMERITUS
PRINCIPAL GUEST CONDUCTOR
Choral Director
FIRST VIOLIN
CELLO
Igor Yuzefovich° Concertmaster 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
SECOND VIOLIN Michael Loh Associate Principal Hai-Won Kwok Fixed Chair Nikolai Koval* Priscilla Neo Chikako Sasaki* 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 Tong Yi Ping Janice Tsai^ Yang Shi Li
DOUBLE BASS Guennadi Mouzyka Principal Yang Zheng Yi Associate Principal Karen Yeo Fixed Chair Olga Alexandrova Ma Li Ming Jacek Mirucki Wang Xu
FLUTE Jin Ta Principal Evgueni Brokmiller Associate Principal Roberto Alvarez Miao Shanshan
PICCOLO Roberto Alvarez Assistant Principal
OBOE Rachel Walker Principal Pan Yun Associate Principal Carolyn Hollier Elaine Yeo
COR ANGLAIS Elaine Yeo Associate Principal
CLARINET Ma Yue Principal Li Xin Associate Principal Liu Yoko Tang Xiao Ping
BASS CLARINET
TUBA
Tang Xiao Ping Assistant Principal
Hidehiro Fujita Principal
BASSOON
TIMPANI
Zhang Jin Min Principal Liu Chang Associate Principal Christoph Wichert Zhao Ying Xue
Christian Schiøler Principal Jonathan Fox Associate Principal
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 Hoang Van Hoc^
TRUMPET Jon Paul Dante Principal David Smith Associate Principal Lertkiat Chongjirajitra^ Sergey Tyuteykin
PERCUSSION Jonathan Fox Principal Mark Suter Associate Principal Mark De Souza Lim Meng Keh Zhu Zheng Yi
HARP Gulnara Mashurova Principal
PIANO Shane Thio^ Principal
JAZZ BASS Wang Xu
TROMBONE Allen Meek Principal Damian Patti Associate Principal Samuel Armstrong
BASS TROMBONE Wang Wei Assistant Principal
* 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.
SUPERCHARGED SUNDAYS AT OSCAR’S S U P ESupercharge RCHA RGED SUNDAYS AT OSCAR’S your afternoons at Oscar’s Sunday Brunch, from freshly shucked oysters, your afternoons at Oscar’s Sunday Brunch, from freshly shucked BostonSupercharge lobsters, to premium roast London duck and free flow Laurent-Perrier Brut NVoysters, champagne. Boston lobsters, to premium roast London duck and free flow Laurent-Perrier Brut superfoods NV champagne. Balance all that indulgence at the 4 metre-long salad bar, chilled shakes with Balance all that at theprepared 4 metre-long salad chilled shakes with superfoods andindulgence organic pastas by chefs at bar, the theatrical stations. and organic pastas prepared by chefs at the theatrical stations. Sundays, 12.30pm to 3.30pm Sundays, 12.30pm to 3.30pm For reservations, visit www.connoisseur.sg or call 6432 7481 For reservations, visit www.connoisseur.sg or call 6432 7481
Two Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038982 Two Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038982
Phone +65 6334 8888 Phone +65 6334 8888
ConradSingapore.com ConradSingapore.com
Supporting the Local Arts and Cultural Scene Partner of SSO since 1978 NSL is a long-standing sponsor for Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO). We have been instrumental in helping the Orchestra reach out to the community-at-large as SSO brings music to the world. A leading industrial group in the Asia Pacific with businesses in Precast & Prefabricated Bathroom Unit and Environmental Services, NSL believes that while achieving business goals is important, its actions need to also create a positive impact on the community, environment and all stakeholders.
NSL LTD 77 Robinson Road #27-00 Robinson 77 Singapore 068896 Tel: 6536 1000 I Fax: 6536 1008 I www.nsl.com.sg
Musicians’ Chair The Singapore Symphony Orchestra thanks the following organisations for supporting our Musicians’ Chair Programme. The programme supports artistic excellence initiatives in the orchestra’s annual operations. Principal Cello
Ng Pei-Sian
FIXED CHAIR, Cello
Guo Hao
CORPORATE SEATS 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 Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Singapore $10,000 and above Hong Leong Foundation Stephen Riady Group of Foundations Nomura Asset Management Singapore Ltd Prima Limited
1979 FUND The Singapore Symphony Orchestra gratefully acknowledges the following corporations and individuals for their contributions towards the 1979 Fund. The 1979 Fund is a campaign for contribution to the SSO Endowment Fund. Allen & Gledhill LLP Stephen Riady Group of Foundations United Overseas Bank Limited Mrs Odile Benjamin Ms Cham Gee Len Prof Cham Tao Soon Mr Chng Hak-Peng Mr Chng Kai Jin Mr Goh Yew Lin Mr Khoo Boon Hui Prof Tommy Koh Ms Liew Wei Li Prof Arnoud De Meyer Mr S R Nathan Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao Dr Tan Chin Nam Ms Tan Choo Leng Mr Wong Nang Jang Prof Chan Heng Chee Anonymous For more information or to make a donation, please contact the Development & Sponsorship Team at 6602 4234 or peggykek@sso.org.sg.
U P COM ING CONCERT S
15 APRIL 17 | SAT, 7.30pm esplanade Concert Hall
Robert Spano • Titan Robert Spano conductor Gustav Mahler’s daring Symphony No. 1 ”Titan“ is an exceptional work that effortlessly transits between tranquility to grandeur within an hour of music. Setting the scene to Titan is Schubert’s Unfinished Symphony, known as one of the greatest, and the strangest, of the genre. “Spano has that great skill in a conductor of making every performance radiate joy” – The New York Times
SCHUBERT Symphony in B minor, D.759 ”Unfinished“ MAHLER Symphony No. 1 in D major ”Titan“
Pre-concert Talk 6.30pm-7pm I library@esplanade
ESPLANADE Concert Hall
Tan Dun • Farewell My Concubine Tan Dun conductor Ralph van Raat piano Xiao Di Peking Opera soprano
U P COM ING CONCERT S
20 APRIL 17 | Thu, 7.30pm
Peking opera meets the piano in Grammy-winning composer Tan Dun’s concerto Farewell My Concubine, which paints a tragic love story between warrior Xiang Yu and consort Yu. Passacaglia: Secret of Wind and Birds draws on forms and methods from East and West, ancient and modern, and incorporates birdsong produced by smartphones. “A dynamic conductor” – The New York Times on Tan Dun
BARTÓK Dance Suite TAN DUN Concerto for piano and Peking opera soprano: Farewell My Concubine
TAN DUN Passacaglia: Secret of Wind and Birds (for cellphones and orchestra) BARTÓK The Miraculous Mandarin, Op. 19: Suite
Pre-concert Talk 6.30pm-7pm I library@esplanade Post-Concert Symphony Chat Foyer Stalls
SSO DONORS
PATRON SPONSOR Tote Board Group (Tote Board, Singapore Pools & Singapore Turf Club) $200,000 and above Temasek Foundation Nurtures CLG Ltd Christopher Ho & Rosy Ho SMRT Corporation Limited Conrad Centennial Singapore Zhendong Foundation $100,000 and above Anonymous $50,000 and above John Swire & Sons (S.E. Asia) Pte Ltd Tan Chin Tuan Foundation Singapore Press Holdings Ltd Joseph Grimberg Kingsmen Exhibits Pte Ltd Mr & Mrs Goh Yew Lin Anonymous GK Goh Holdings Limited NSL Ltd TransTechnology Private Limited Aquilus Pte Ltd
$20,000 and above Stephen Riady Group of Foundations Interchem Pte Ltd Singapore Institute of Management Keppel Corporation Ltd Van Cleef and Arpels Far East Organization Centre Pte Ltd Lee Foundation, Singapore United Overseas Bank Ltd Anonymous Ms Paige Parker & Mr Jim Rogers Mdm Tan Siew Hoon
Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Singapore Holywell Foundation Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore Pte Ltd Prima Limited Saga Tree Capital Advisors Pte Ltd Tan Choo Leng Mrs Dorothy Chan Geoffrey Wong Ee Kay & Wong Ai Ai Kris Foundation Doris & Andreas Sohmen-Pao
$10,000 and above Dr & Mrs Thomas Zuellig S R Nathan Anonymous Rubina Watch Co Pte Ltd Odile & Douglas Benjamin Maisy Koh & Dr Beh Swan Gin Christine Yeh Lim & Tan Securities Pte Ltd Timber Yeh Michael Lien & Tan Kheng Ju At-Sunrice Global Chef Academy Pte Ltd Boardroom Limited BTG Pactual Commodities (Singapore) Pte Ltd Bulgari Fraser And Neave (S) Pte Ltd Hong Leong Foundation Latham and Watkins LLP LGT Bank (Singapore) Ltd Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd Pontiac Land Group Nomura Asset Management Singapore Ltd One North Capital Pte Ltd OSIM International Limited PSA International Pte Ltd
Sunray Woodcraft Construction Pte Ltd Tan Kong Piat (Pte) Limited The Silent Foundation Ltd Total Trading Asia Pte Ltd Wowz Entertainment Pte Ltd Astrie Sunindar-Ratner Mr & Mrs Choo Chiau Beng Eugene Lai Anonymous Anonymous Alfred Wong Hong Kwok Pauline Chan Lito & Kim Camacho Anonymous Andress Goh Lai Yan Ms Lee Li-Ming Olivia Lum Mr & Mrs Yong Pung How Mrs and Mr Laura Hwang & Michael Hwang Prof Cham Tao Soon Leong Wai Leng Liew Wei Li Yong Ying-I Desmond Lim Yu Jin
$5,000 and above Tan Chin Nam Mr Ross & Dr Florence Jennings Ms Manju Vangal and Mr Arudra Vangal ComfortDelgro Corporation Limited CV Shipping Pte Ltd Goethe-Institute Liqui Moly Asia Pacific Pte Ltd Loke Cheng Kim Foundation Devika and Sanjiv Misra Lin Diaan-Yi Anonymous
Ms Cham Gee Len Beppe De Vito Anonymous Mr and Mrs Steven Goh Mr & Dr Peter Sheren Professor and Mrs Lim Seh Chun Mr & Mrs Simon Cheong Tan Sook Yee Goh Sze Wei Mr and Mrs W K Leong
$1,000 and above Anonymous Julian Chang Anonymous Arnoud De Meyer Judy Hunt Edmund Lin & Trina Liang-Lin Li Yuezhi Casio Singapore Pte Ltd Chandra Mohan Rethnam Robert Khan & Co Private Limited Dimple Sameer Aswani Lim Eng Neo Eric Wong Guy J P Hentsch Ng Keng Hooi Tan Khai Hee Kris Taenar Wiluan Lawrence Basapa & Celeste Basapa Tong Moi Eng Mr Robert & Cheryl Huray Ronald P Stride & Janet Stride Thorsten Walther Christopher & Bernice Franck Michelle Loh Robin Ian Rawlings Juliana and Clemente Benelli Chong Mi-Li Pamela Tan Boon Ngee Niyazi Taneri Obgyn Consultants Pte Ltd Wilmar International Limited Abigail Tan Pei Jun Alessandro Raniolo & Christine Pillsbury AndrĂŠ Klein Andreas Ruschkowski Anonymous Toshitaka Aoki Azima Moiz Aznan Abu Bakar Mr Bernard Jean Sabrier Bernhard Steiner Bettina Lieske Cynthia Chee Low Boon Hon Tan Boon Kheng Brian Holt Gambrill Britta Pfister Charles Robertson Raymond Phua Chee Whee Gan Chee Yen Khor Cheng Kian David Neo Chin Wee Goh Chiu Gak Christopher John Fussner Craig McTurk
Michele & Dr Daniel Kahn Daniel Tando David Harris Zemans Derek Quah Diana Browne Doddy Anderson Donald Harding Teo Ee Peng Elaine Zhang Anonymous Eugene Lee Gillian Metzger Gordon H L Tan Helene Fahy-Blanquet Herve Pauze Vincent Lam Ho Ming Lim Hong Eng Janet Pauline Ang Hooi Yeong Hunter Nield Irina Francken James Worth Jerry Gwee Chee Siong Zhang Jian John & Eliza Bittleston John S Davison Jonathan Reiter Joseph Mocanu Joyce Tan See Tho Kai Yin Kanti Bajpai Karen Fawcett Drs Raymond & Tika Tay Kathleen Moroney Leong Keng Hong Kevin Chang Pang-Hua Jennie Chua Kheng Yeng Wong Kim Yin Tan Kok Huan Tan Kok Kiong Teo Kok Leong Anonymous Anonymous Eunice Mah Li Lien Adelina Mah Li Ting Wong Liang Keen Lilian Khoo Luca & Barbara Tonello Marcie Ann Ball Margaret Chew Sing Seng Mark Edward Hansen Maureen Derooij Ivan Tan Meng Cheng Michael Kuschel Michel Blanc Monica Pitrelli Naoyoshi Nick Shimoda
Zhang Naxin Kwee Nee Chia Irene Mr & Mrs Neil Tottman Anonymous Leow Oon Geok Patricia Yih Patrick Lee Wu Peichan Valerie Peter White Loh Pong Tuan Radakrishnan Somalingam Cees & Raife Armstrong Richard Jerram Richard Logan Richard R. Smith Ridzuan Farouk Robert Tan Mr Roberto Cartelli Rolf Gerber Satoru Yano Juliana and Sheng Gao Lee Shu Yen Seah & Siak Jeffrey Loke Sin Hun Siong Ted Lee Mr Ho Soo Foo Steven Bernasek Steven Luk Lee Suan Yew Susanna Ho Choon Mei Takashi Kousaka Anonymous Shang Thong Kai and Tiffany Choong Todd On Anonymous Tony & Serene Liok Vincent Musumeci Chan Wai Leong Warren Fernandez Cheng Wei Mr & Mrs Willem Mark Nabarro William H Hernstadt Xiao Li Tian Xiao Ye Victor Loo Janin Lau Ying Hui Anonymous Ling Yu Fei Belinda Koh Yuh Ling Bao Zhiming Christopher Chen *This list is for donations from 1 Jan 2016 to 31 Dec 2016.
MAKOTO OZONE • RHAPSODY IN BLUE
In the 20th century, Gershwin, Ravel, Ellington and Strayhorn, and others sought to bridge perceived gaps between western art music and jazz in different ways, and often looked to the past for a foothold to anchor their considerable artistic innovations and experiments. Tchaikovsky composed The Nutcracker as a ballet back in 1892, and compiled a selection of eight popular dances into a suite which has become a staple of orchestras worldwide. Fast forward to 1960, when the composing duo of Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn (who were both also huge fans of Debussy and Ravel’s works) produced an album featuring recompositions (and retitling) of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite and Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suites, refocused through the lens of big band jazz. In his liner notes for the album, record producer Irving Townsend went on a flight of fancy, telling the fictitious, but thoroughly amusing story of how Ellington met “Peter Ilich” Tchaikovsky while Ellington’s orchestra performed in Las Vegas: “Duke Ellington and Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky met in Las Vegas while Duke’s band was setting attendance records at the Riviera Hotel. For the first time in Ellington history, Duke had decided to devote an entire album to arrangements of another composer’s works instead of his own, and Tchaikovsky was the natural choice. Because the suite is a favourite form for Ellington’s composition, the Nutcracker was the obvious Tchaikovsky work to choose. Duke and Billy Strayhorn needed some reassurance that nobody, including the famous Russian composer, would mind if the suite was translated into the Ellington style, but once those fears were banished, they attacked the SugarPlum Fairy and the Waltz of the Flowers as if they were no more sacred than Perdido.” Ellington and Strayhorn’s big band score was later adapted for symphony orchestra by Jeff Tyzik, composer, arranger and pops conductor for many American orchestras. While only arranging five movements from Ellington and Strayhorn’s nine, it is notable that Tyzik’s orchestration seemed to edge away from Ellington and Strayhorn’s big band and closer to Tchaikovsky’s original, only adding a saxophone, some percussion instruments and an extra trumpet.
The suite begins with a transformation of the original miniature and delicate Overture into one with an easy stride, adding some syncopated counterpoint; the final chorus features some of the driving big band sound which Ellington’s band was famed for. Toot Toot Tootie Toot (Dance of the Reed-Pipes) was originally retitled “Caliopatootic toot toot tooti Toot”, but was shortened after Ellington’s band members had difficulty spelling it. It features a number of wind and brass section solos with some extra jazz-inflected dissonance and counterpoint. As Townsend wrote, “whatever Floreadores are, they are not waltz lovers, and this one-time waltz now jumps”. Tchaikovsky’s sweeping string melodies now instead leap in the reeds of the winds and valves of the brasses in the Dance of the Floreadores (Waltz of the Flowers). The Sugar Plum Fairy meets the Pink Panther, prowling around in a saxophone solo in Sugar Rum Cherry (Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy), all hints of European elegance stripped away in a drunken stupor before the concluding Peanut Brittle Brigade (March) swings the suite to a sizzling conclusion. In the first of two pieces for piano and orchestra tonight, Maurice Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major is one of the mainstays of 20th century western art music masterpieces. Ravel wrote, “it is written very much in the same spirit as those of Mozart and Saint-Saëns. The music of a concerto should, in my opinion, be lighthearted and brilliant, and not aim at profundity or at dramatic effects. It has been said of certain classics that their concertos were written not ’for‘ but ’against‘ the piano. I heartily agree. I had intended to title this concerto ’Divertissement‘. Then it occurred to me that there was no need to do so because the title ’Concerto‘ should be sufficiently clear.” The percussionist releases a “wound-up spring of the whip”, to quote the musicologist Stephen Parkany, and the piano concerto “begins like a wondrous contraption in a toy shop”. The solo piano is there from the start – creating a sparkling buzz over which the piccolo whistles a jaunty tune. Ravel was very intrigued by what he knew to be jazz, which tended to be a rather watereddown version from what the Americans knew, and the piano soon introduces a new jazzy and languid theme, twists and blue notes, some of which also recall
Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. There is clear Spanish influence here too, with some basque rhythms informing the music, before a cadenza propels the first movement towards a bright conclusion. Composed “with the assistance”, as Ravel put it, of the slow movement of Mozart’s Clarinet Quintet, the gentle second movement, which seems spontaneous and natural, had to be “squeezed out… painfully”, and came close to causing him great despair. In this Adagio assai, the piano spins an extensive melody above a tender, slow waltz in the bass that is set at a cross-rhythm against the melody. The woodwinds subsequently join in, and the English horn takes its turn at the great melody as the piano spins expressive trills to the end. The brief finale definitely epitomises Ravel’s idea of a “lighthearted and brilliant” concerto, with a repeated rhythmic motif, first played by the trumpets over the snare drum, which shows us key structural points in the movement. Virtuosic, running figurations are tossed around by the piano and later passed to the orchestral instruments, resulting in a challenging bassoon solo. While this is going on, other instruments interject in unrelated keys, and jazz-influenced trombone interjections seemingly appear out of nowhere. Momentum is however always maintained, with every episode building towards the movement’s brilliantly irresistible close. Jeff Tyzik also made several arrangements of popular tunes from other genres, including a Beatles Hits Medley, suites of great Western and Golden Age of Hollywood film scores, and in 1996, arranged some of the most memorable Big Band classics for orchestra in Symphonic Swing. It features swing classics from the 1940s, including Jersey Bounce, Opus 1, Sunrise Serenade, Tuxedo Junction, Satin Doll and Back Bay Shuffle, in an upbeat, toe-tapping medley. George Gershwin was born to Russian immigrant parents in Brooklyn, where he was immersed in a vast range of music. He left high school for Tin Pan Alley, quickly absorbing both the writing and performing styles of his time. Gershwin moonlighted as a vocal accompanist and at age 20, soared to fame with “Swanee”, a mega-hit for Al Jolson. Within the next few years, the flow of songs continued, including several Broadway musicals.
On 3 January 1924, Paul Whiteman, the self-styled ”King of Jazz“, announced an eclectic concert was to take place at New York City's Aeolian Hall the following month, titled “An Experiment in Modern Music”. Whiteman went on to further proclaim that Gershwin was at work on a jazz concerto which would be premiered at this event. This was news to Gershwin, who read about it in the next day’s paper along with the rest of the world. Despite the initial confusion, Whiteman persuaded Gershwin to accept his commission. As the concert was only five weeks away, Gershwin hastily conceptualised the concerto on his way to Boston, inspired in part by the rhythmic sounds of the train ride. Upon returning to New York, he produced a two-piano score, and Whiteman’s orchestrator Ferde Grofé cladded it in instrumental livery. “I frequently hear music in the very heart of noise”, George Gershwin said, explaining the origins of Rhapsody in Blue. From the Rhapsody's opening clarinet wail, Gershwin created not symphonic jazz, but a unique, personal musical idiom: outdoor, urban, big-hearted, infinitely Romantic, and assuredly poetic. He purportedly showcased excerpts to Ravel, who was so impressed that he denied him composition lessons, claiming that they would hinder his natural genius. Leonard Bernstein famously likened the work to a series of paragraphs strung together as opposed to what was traditionally understood as a composition. Nonetheless, musical elements such as the frequent juxtaposition of broad, harmonic tutti sections with heavily syncopated virtuosic cadenzas combine to create a dazzling spectacle of musical mastery. While fully scored, the solo piano sections seem improvisational at times, creating a vernacular jazz vibe. Throughout the single extended movement, modulations are prevalent and often do not conform to classical harmonic patterns, yet never feel forced. The use of ragtime and clave rhythms native to Afro-Cuban music resonate with Gershwin’s sentiment that jazz should be an accompaniment for dance. Perhaps the most reliable measure of the Rhapsody's originality is that it had no direct descendants. Indeed, subsequent attempts to meld pop and serious music always seemed awkward. Yet its fame and impact inspired many serious composers to explore jazz and stirred countless pop composers to dabble in classical forms. The work has also been interpreted as a portrait of New York
City, notably in Woody Allen’s Manhattan and Disney’s Fantasia 2000. But for Gershwin, who died at just 38 from a brain tumour, this lay well in a future that he would not live to see.
Programme notes by Christopher Cheong
simge.edu.sg 6248 9746
Board Of Directors & Committees
PATRON President Tony Tan Keng Yam
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mr Goh Yew Lin (Chairman) Ms Yong Ying-I (Deputy Chairman) Mr Ang Chek Meng Mrs Odile Benjamin Mr Chng Hak-Peng Mr Lionel Choi Prof Arnoud De Meyer Mr Heinrich Grafe Mr Kwee Liong Seen Ms Liew Wei Li Ms Lim Mei Prof Lim Seh Chun Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao Ms Tan Choo Leng Mr Paul Tan Dr Kelly Tang Mr Yee Chen Fah
NOMINATING AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Mr Goh Yew Lin (Chairman) Mr Paul Tan Ms Yong Ying-I
AUDIT COMMITTEE Mr Yee Chen Fah (Chairman) Mr Kwee Liong Seen Ms Lim Mei
SSO COUNCIL
SSO LADIES’ LEAGUE
Prof Cham Tao Soon (Chairman) Mr Alan Chan Ms Chew Gek Khim Mr Choo Chiau Beng Dr Geh Min Mr Goh Geok Khim Mr Khoo Boon Hui Prof Tommy Koh Mr JY Pillay Dr Stephen Riady Ms Priscylla Shaw Dr Gralf Sieghold Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao Dr Tan Chin Nam Ms Tan Choo Leng Mr Tan Soo Nan Mr Wee Ee Cheong
Mrs Odile Benjamin (Chairlady) Mrs Kwan Lui (Deputy Chairlady) Mrs Celeste Basapa Mrs Maisy Beh Mrs Kim Camacho Mrs Rosy Ho Ms Judy Hunt Prof Annie Koh Dr Julie Lo Mrs Clarinda Tjia-DharmadiMartin Ms Paige Parker Ms Kris Tan Ms Manju Vangal Mrs Grace Yeh
MUSICIANS' COMMITTEE Mr Chan Wei Shing Mr Jon Paul Dante Mr Jamie Hersch Mr Jin Ta Mr Ng Pei-Sian Mr Marc-Antoine Robillard Mr Mark Suter Mr Christoph Wichert Mr Yang Zheng Yi Mr Yeo Teow Meng
SNYO COMMITTEE ENDOWMENT FUND COMMITTEE Prof Cham Tao Soon (Chairman) Mr David Goh Mr Paul Supramaniam Mr Anthony Teo
Ms Liew Wei Li (Chairlady) Mr Ang Chek Meng Ms Vivien Goh Dr Kee Kirk Chin Mrs Valarie Wilson
Management
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Mr Chng Hak-Peng
CEO OFFICE
PROGRAMMES (VCH)
Mr Chris Yong
Ms Michelle Yeo (Head) Ms Erin Tan
ORCHESTRA MANAGEMENT Mr Ernest Khoo (Head) Mr Chia Jit Min Ms Tan Wei Tian Stage Management Ms Kimberly Kwa (Stage Manager) Ms Chin Rosherna Mr Ramayah Elango Mr Abdul Wahab bin Sakir Mr Mohamed Zailani bin Mohd Said Mr Muhammad Fariz bin Samsuri Mr Radin Sulaiman bin Ali
LIBRARY Mr Lim Yeow Siang (Head) Mr Lim Lip Hua Ms Priscilla Neo
PROGRAMMES (SSO) Ms Kua Li Leng (Head) Ms Teo Chew Yen Ms Jolene Yeo Community Outreach Ms Kathleen Tan Ms Vanessa Lee Choral Programmes Ms Regina Lee Ms Whitney Tan
DEVELOPMENT & SPONSORSHIP Ms Peggy Kek (Head) Mr Anthony Chng Ms Nikki Chuang Ms Zhang Jingchao
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS & CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE Ms Cindy Lim (Head) Mr Chia Han-Leon Ms Myrtle Lee Ms Hong Shu Hui Ms Melissa Tan Ms Cheryl Pek Ms Khairani Basman Ms Dacia Cheang Ms Nur Shafiqah Bte Othman
CORPORATE SERVICES Mr Rick Ong (Head) Mr Alan Ong (Finance) Ms Goh Hoey Fen (Finance) Mr Mohamed Zailani bin Mohd Said
HUMAN RESOURCES & ADMINISTRATION Ms Wee Puay Cheng (Head) Mr Desmen Low Ms Shanti Govindasamy
SINGAPORE NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA Ms Pang Siu Yuin (Head) Ms Shirin Foo Mr Tan Yong Qing Ms Tang Ya Yun
ABRSM Ms Hay Su-San (Head) Ms Patricia Yee Ms Lai Li-Yng Mr Joong Siow Chong
Patron Sponsor
A Standing Ovation for Our Corporate Partners Official Hotel
Official training partner
Official Postage Sponsor
Official Radio Station
Official Airline
Partners
LEE FOUNDATION
Supported by various corporate sponsors and individual donors, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee and registered under the Charities Order.
Singapore Symphony Orchestra
www.sso.org.sg