SINGAPORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 10 & 11 SEP 2022 Sat, 10.30am & 2.30pm Sun, 10.30am Victoria Concert Hall Presented by Temasek Foundation SSO Concerts for Children A TimeThroughTumbleMusical
SINGAPORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Hi, I'm Boon Hua and I'll be conducting the SSO today! I'm a Singaporean conductor and have conducted orchestras all over the world. When I was much younger, I got my start in music from playing in school bands and the Singapore National Youth Orchestra, and fell in love with the sound of the orchestra. It’s been a joy sharing the wonderful music I’ve found in my travels with audiences like yourself! But today, I'm going to help Griffle the wizard help the Gimquat find her song. Watch me lead the SSO as we play the great classics - I hope you will find a tune you can call your favourite too!
We’re the Singapore Symphony Orchestra - you can call us the SSO! An orchestra is made of many musicians playing different instruments. Did you know that the word “symphony” means “sounding together”? The SSO often plays music by great composers like Mozart and Beethoven. We usually play in a concert hall, like the beautiful Victoria Concert Hall, our home. Our big concerts are held at the Esplanade Concert Hall that can seat 1,800 people. We want to show everyone how beautiful classical music is, so sometimes we have concerts near your home, or at the Singapore Botanic Gardens - you can enjoy fresh air and nature while listening to beautiful classical music!
LIEN BOON HUA conductor
HELLO!
Featuring Singapore Symphony Orchestra Lien Boon Hua conductor Platypus Theatre Peter Duschenes artistic director, writer & actor Samantha Bitonti actor Wendy Rockburn stage manager Tan Carine solo soprano & member of the Singapore Symphony Youth Choir* What We, re Playing Today! Prelude from Carmen Suite by Bizet Spring from The Four Seasons by Vivaldi Sad Dance | Jiminy Cricket | Awakening | Gregorian Chant by Mario Duschenes Tordion by Anonymous Bist du bei mir by Bach* Overture to The Marriage of Figaro by Mozart Dream of a Witches’ Sabbath from Symphonie Fantastique by Berlioz Lullaby by Brahms Can-Can from Orpheus in the Underworld by Offenbach Smokey Jazz by Mario Duschenes Selections from Mother Goose Suite by Ravel All music arranged by Mario Duschenes Duration: approximately 1 hour (without intermission)
Gregorian Chant
Gregorian Chants were sung in churches more than a thousand years ago, without any instruments and usually in the Latin Language. Listen out for the musicians singing nobly and strongly instead of playing their instruments!
The Tordion was a lively French dance popular in the 15th and 16th centuries. In this performance, two performers are featured: one on a flute playing the melody, and the other on a drum providing the rhythm. Aria An aria is an operatic number featuring a solo singer.
Bist du bei mir (German for “If you are with me”) is an aria originally from Stölzel’s opera Diomedes (1718). Listen out for how the voice of the solo soprano, Carine, soars majestically above the orchestra!
Welcome to today's adventure with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Platypus Theatre! Embark with us on a musical expedition across countries and centuries, as a wizard helps a discouraged Gimquat discover different genres of music - from Gregorian Chants to rap, and from arias to jazz - to find her unique song.
Tordion
Yet another popular and energetic French dance, this time from the early 19th century! This particular Can-Can by French composer Offenbach is the world’s most famous one, and has been used in many popular cartoon animations and movies.
Programme Music Programme Music tells stories through instrumental music. In Ravel’s Goose Suite, he depicts well-known scenes from fairy tales, such as this beautiful final movement titled The Fairy Garden to depict Sleeping Beauty being awakened by her prince.
Swing A style of jazz music popular in early 20th century North America, its name was derived from its emphasis on the ‘off-beat’, or the weaker beats in music. Listen and you’ll know what we mean! Catch the short but smooth solos by the brass section.
Can-can
PETER DUSCHENES artistic director, writer & actor As co-founder and artistic director of Platypus Theatre, thousands of young classical music fans have Peter to thank for introducing them to symphonic music. An award-winning playwright, Peter’s writing credits include all eight Platypus productions. In addition to his roles in Platypus shows, he has also acted and directed with companies across Canada and the United States. Peter lives in Ottawa, Canada with his wife Sarah. They have two children, Magda and Theo.
Almost one million young audience members have been introduced to classical music through Platypus Theatre. After performances with more than 75 orchestras worldwide, Platypus has established itself as one of North America’s premiere music education theatre companies. Children laugh, sing and empathize with the characters while learning musical concepts. In 2006, one of Platypus’ most cherished productions How the Gimquat Found her Song was produced for TV and went on to win several awards including Best Children’s Program at the prestigious Banff World Television Festival. During its 25th anniversary year, Platypus premiered its eighth original production, Presto, Mambo!.
PLATYPUS THEATRE
WENDY ROCKBURN stage manager Since 2005, Wendy has expertly juggled all of the details for Platypus Theatre productions, from monster’s heads to lighting cues. And as often as possible, she travels, most recently in the far reaches of Mongolia. Wendy has also been known to skydive over the desert in Namibia or outrace a gaucho in Argentina. Her favourite part about Platypus shows is watching the kids follow every turn in the story in rapt attention.
TAN CARINE solo soprano & member of the Singapore Symphony Youth Choir Carine is a Soprano from Singapore, who is currently under the tutelage of Teng Xiang Ting. She was awarded SemiFinalist in the 2018 Singapore Lyric Opera ASEAN Vocal Competition. Carine joined the Singapore Symphony Children's Choir in 2012 and has since advanced to the Singapore Symphony Youth Choir, where she remains an active member. In her free time, Carine likes to play with her pet bunny, Cello, who is named after the orchestral instrument.
SAMANTHA BITONTI actor Samantha is thrilled to be joining the Platypus team for the 2022-2023 season! Samantha calls Montréal home, and loves to spend her days playing Shakespeare with Repercussion Theatre, and cultivating creativity as a teacher with Geordie Theatre School. Bringing something classical to the hearts and minds of young people is right up her alley! Samantha loves acting, singing in the car, her friends and family, her cat Tilly, and ice cream.
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