S S O C H RI S T M A S F U N DR AI S I N G C ON C E R T 1 5 & 16 DEC EMBER 2020 ESPL AN A DE C ONC E R T H ALL
NG PEI-SIAN PLAYS SHOSTAKOVICH THE HERO WITHIN FRI 8 JAN 2021 8PM
WATCH THE STREAM ONLINE ON SISTIC LIVE
SINGAPORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA HANS GRAF CHIEF CONDUCTOR NG PEI-SIAN CELLO
Singapore Symphony Principal Cello Ng Pei-Sian stars in Shostakovich’s supreme First Cello Concerto, a work of unrelenting edge-of-your-seat energy and awe-inspiring darkness. Join him and SSO Chief Conductor Hans Graf in this powerhouse programme that also includes Beethoven’s mighty “Heroic” Third Symphony. SHOSTAKOVICH CELLO CONCERTO NO. 1 IN E-FLAT MAJOR, OP. 107
TICKETS FROM $10
BEETHOVEN SYMPHONY NO. 3 IN E-FLAT MAJOR, OP. 55 “EROICA”
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S S O CH RI S T M AS FU NDR AISING C ONC ER T | 15 & 16 DE C 2020
CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE As you read this message, you would be seated in the Esplanade Concert Hall attending the first SSO live concert here since 5 March 2020 – nine months and a lifetime ago. It is our honour and privilege that you have donated to the SSO, and gone through a mildly uncomfortable COVID-19 test, to witness this very special concert. Let me share with you the reasons this concert is special. This is the national pilot concert for a performing arts event to admit a larger-thanallowed audience, with pre-event testing. SSO has participated willingly in a number of pilots and safety measure toe-dip tests in the past nine months. While there was no obligation to do so, we believed it was our
duty as the nation’s flagship performing arts company to manage each test pilot well, to demonstrate the safety of arts events, so that the cultural sector would continue to take small steps to open up. We believe that a nation without live performances would lose its spirit, and that you, our audience, come to live performance because they fill the needs of your soul. This is also a pilot for allowing more than a handful of musicians on stage to perform in front of an audience. During the past nine months, our orchestra has recorded concerts in small groups with no audience. Our digital season, #SSOPlayOn!, which has hit more than 1,000,000 views, features many recordings with an eerie silence
that greets the end of each performance. Tonight’s opportunity to play together in a larger ensemble, and perform great music for you, will allow our musicians to once again feel your energy, and psychologically make another step forward to (the new) normalcy. It has not been an easy year for the orchestra and for individual musicians, and this step towards the future is one we can make together with you. This year’s SSO Christmas Concert with the SSO Strings is a reflective one, although some familiar carols will still ring through the hall. We thank you for your spirit of giving by contributing to this fund-raising concert. If you miss hearing our Singapore Symphony Choruses, do tune in to the SSO Christmas Concert (Online) which features them singing (in small groups) with the orchestra almost like they used to do in past years. I wish you Happy Holidays! Goh Yew Lin Chairman, Singapore Symphony Group
SSO CHRIS TM AS F U N D R AI S I N G C O N C E R T A SHINING STAR ON THE HIGHEST PLACE 15 & 16 Dec 2020 Esplanade Concert Hall SSO Strings Joshua Tan Associate Conductor Kong Zhao Hui violin^
Noëls pour les Instruments (“Carol for Instruments”) by CHARPENTIER
15 mins
Christmas Concerto by MANFREDINI
10 mins
Winter from The Four Seasons^ by VIVALDI
7 mins
Carol of the Bells / God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen^ (Traditional, arr. M. Riley)
4 mins
Aria (Air on the G String) by J.S. BACH (arr. Stokowski)
6 mins
Fantasia on Greensleeves by VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
5 mins
A Christmas Dance “Sir Roger de Coverley” by BRIDGE
5 mins
Dawn (Traditional, arr. A. Chari)
5 mins
Concert Duration: 1 hr
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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, as well as outreach and community performances take place at the 673seat Victoria Concert Hall, the home of the SSO. The orchestra performs over 60 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. Under the Music Directorship of Lan Shui from 1997 to 2019, 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 The Telegraph. The SSO has also performed in China on multiple occasions.
In the 2020/21 concert season, the SSO welcomes renowned maestro Hans Graf as its Chief Conductor. Notable SSO releases on the BIS label include a Rachmaninoff series, a “Seascapes” album, three Debussy discs “La Mer”, “Jeux” and “Nocturnes”, 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, Gustavo Dudamel, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Diana Damrau, Martha Argerich, Lang Lang, Yo-Yo Ma, Janine Jansen, Leonidas Kavakos and Gil Shaham. The SSO is part of the Singapore Symphony Group, which also manages the Singapore Symphony Choruses, and the Singapore National Youth Orchestra. The mission of the Group is to create memorable shared experiences with music. Through the SSO and its affiliated performing groups, we spread the love for music, nurture talent and enrich our diverse communities.
H ANS G RAF Chief Conductor
SSO C H R ISTM AS FU NDR AISING C ONC ER T | 15 & 1 6 D E C 2 0 2 0
Joshua has conducted orchestras all around the world. These orchestras include the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra, Beethoven Bonn Orchestra, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Sydney Symphony Orchestra, amongst others. He has studied with various eminent conductors such as James DePreist, Charles Dutoit, David Zinman and Kurt Masur. A versatile conductor, Joshua is at home with both symphonic and operatic works. His substantial repertoire for opera includes La Traviata, Rigoletto, Der Fliegende Holländer, Lohengrin, Carmen, Don Giovanni, Madama Butterfly, Così fan tutte, and Turandot, among others. He has also served as cover conductor for Christoph Eschenbach and Lorin Maazel. He is also equally adept with ballet productions and music for film/ multimedia.
J O S H U A T AN Associate Conductor Second Prize-winner of the 2008 Dimitri Mitropoulos International Competition, Singaporean conductor Joshua Kangming Tan’s rise to prominence on the international scene has been marked by successful debuts in Carnegie Hall, Philharmonie Berlin, Mariinsky Hall and Bunkamura.
Joshua is presently Associate Conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Principal Conductor of the Singapore National Youth Orchestra and Director of the Asia Virtuosi. He has served successful stints as Resident Conductor of the National Centre for the Performing Arts (China) Orchestra, and as Principal Conductor of the Guiyang Symphony Orchestra.
A graduate of The Juilliard School and the Eastman School of Music (High Distinction), he is an awardee of numerous scholarships and awards, such as the Young Artist Award, Singapore (2011), Bruno Walter Memorial Foundation Award, NAC-Shell Scholarship, and the SSO/MOE Scholarship. 6
S S O CH RI S T M AS FU NDR AISING C ONC ER T | 15 & 16 DE C 2020
K O N G Z H AO H U I violin Kong Zhao Hui began learning the violin at the age of five, with his father Kong Guangtian. At the age of 11, he was admitted to the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and studied with Wang Zhenshan and Sui Keqiang. He also worked with violin masters including Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern and Yfrah Neaman. In 1984, Kong graduated with distinction from the Central Conservatory of Music, where he stayed on to teach. He went on to become the concertmaster of the Beijing Concert Hall Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and guest concertmaster of the China Broadcasting Symphony Orchestra. In 1987, Kong was invited to perform in the First International Music Festival of Macao, where he played The Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto to great acclaim. To date, Kong has performed this work in over a hundred well-received concerts.
Taipei Symphony Orchestra, Taipei Chinese Orchestra, Evergreen Symphony Orchestra, The Presidential Symphony Orchestra of Turkey and the Orchestre Symphonique de Bretagne. A passionate and virtuosic violinist, Kong is currently Associate Concertmaster of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and guest concertmaster of the Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra. He performs on a J.B. Guadagnini of Milan, c. 1750, donated by the National Arts Council, Singapore, with the support of Far East Organization and Lee Foundation, and a 1750 Nicolò Gagliano, on generous loan from the Rin Collection.
As a soloist, Kong has toured Asia, Europe and Australia and has performed with the Central Philharmonic, China National Symphony, China Philharmonic, National Ballet of China Symphony, as well as many other Symphony Orchestras and Chinese Orchestras in China; Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra, Queensland Youth Orchestra, Macao Orchestra, Macao Chinese Orchestra, 7
SECO N D VIOL IN
T HE ORC HE S T R A
Michael Loh Associate Principal Hai-Won Kwok Fixed Chair Nikolai Koval* Chikako Sasaki* Margit Saur Shao Tao Tao Wu Man Yun* Xu Jue Yi* Yeo Teow Meng Yin Shu Zhan* Zhao Tian*
HANS GRAF Chief Conductor JOSHUA TAN Associate Conductor ANDREW LITTON Principal Guest Conductor
VIO LA
CHOO HOEY Conductor Emeritus
Zhang Manchin Principal Guan Qi Associate Principal Gu Bing Jie* Fixed Chair Marietta Ku Luo Biao Julia Park Shui Bing Janice Tsai Wang Dandan Yang Shi Li
LAN SHUI Conductor Laureate EUDENICE PALARUAN Choral Director WONG LAI FOON Choirmaster
CELL O Ng Pei-Sian Principal, The HEAD Foundation Chair Yu Jing Associate Principal Guo Hao Fixed Chair Chan Wei Shing Jamshid Saydikarimov* Song Woon Teng Wang Yan Wang Zihao* Wu Dai Dai Zhao Yu Er
FIRS T VI OL I N Kong Zhao Hui# Acting Concertmaster/ Associate Concertmaster Chan Yoong-Han Fixed Chair Cao Can* Chen Da Wei Duan Yu Ling Foo Say Ming Jin Li Kong Xianlong Cindy Lee Karen Tan William Tan Wei Zhe Ye Lin* Zhang Si Jing*
D O U B LE BAS S Yang Zheng Yi Associate Principal Karen Yeo Fixed Chair Olga Alexandrova Jacek Mirucki Guennadi Mouzyka Wang Xu
8
FLUTE
TR U M P ET
Jin Ta Principal Evgueni Brokmiller Associate Principal Roberto Alvarez Miao Shanshan
Jon Paul Dante Principal David Smith Associate Principal Lau Wen Rong Sergey Tyuteykin
PICCOLO
TR O M B O N E
Roberto Alvarez Assistant Principal
Allen Meek Principal Damian Patti Associate Principal Samuel Armstrong
OBOE Rachel Walker Principal Pan Yun Associate Principal Carolyn Hollier Elaine Yeo
B A SS T R O MBONE Wang Wei Assistant Principal TU B A
COR ANG L AI S
Tomoki Natsume Principal
Elaine Yeo Associate Principal TIM P A N I CLARINE T
Christian Schiøler Principal Jonathan Fox Associate Principal
Ma Yue Principal Li Xin Associate Principal Liu Yoko Tang Xiao Ping
P ER CU SSIO N
Tang Xiao Ping Assistant Principal
Jonathan Fox Principal Mark Suter Associate Principal Mario Choo Lim Meng Keh
BAS S OON
H A RP
Liu Chang Associate Principal Christoph Wichert Zhao Ying Xue
Gulnara Mashurova Principal
BAS S CL AR I NE T
H A R P SIC H OR D Shane Thio^
CONTRABAS S OON Zhao Ying Xue Assistant Principal HORN Gao Jian Associate Principal Jamie Hersch Associate Principal Marc-Antoine Robillard Associate Principal Hoang Van Hoc
* With deep appreciation to the Rin Collection for their generous loan of string instruments. # Kong Zhao Hui performs on a J.B. Guadagnini of Milan, c. 1750, donated by the National Arts Council, Singapore, with the support of Far East Organization and Lee Foundation. ^ Musician on temporary contract. Musicians listed alphabetically by family name rotate their seats on a per programme basis. 9
Tote Board’s goal is to help build a
flourishing society. We want to inspire positive change and contribute towards building an inclusive, resilient and vibrant community, while fostering a caring and compassionate nation.
As a broad-based grantmaking organisation, Tote Board works closely with stakeholders and partners to support broad and diverse worthy projects in the sectors of Arts & Culture, Community Development, Education, Health, Social Service and Sports. Through these projects, Tote Board helps to uplift the community by giving hope to vulnerable groups and improving the lives of all in Singapore.
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# H e lp Us P la y O n Mus ic fo r a l l t i m e, th e m us ic of h o p e — During our absence from the concert halls since Circuit Breaker, you welcomed the SSO into your homes as we performed our new digital concerts for you. We are now working hard to put up live concerts in front of a live audience in the coming months. If you miss the SSO, please #HelpUsPlayOn by responding to this appeal.
“I miss the excitement of catching a live concert, online concerts aren’t quite the same…”
More than 700,000 people across Singapore enjoyed SSO concerts for free during Circuit Breaker - that’s seven times the number of people who would normally encounter the SSO in concert in a year
Every digital concert costs $25,000 more than a concert for live audience
“…my biggest heartache was foregoing Beethoven’s Gala Concert this year!”
The SSO is an arts charity and depends on donations and matching grants, which we need to survive. We need your help. Your donation unlocks matching grants that we need to sustain our digital operations. For every dollar donated, we will receive another from the Cultural Matching Fund. So your donation will make twice the difference. These are challenging times for many, but if you are able to help, please #HelpUsPlayOn and consider making a gift to the SSO. For tax and other patron benefits, please visit www.sso.org.sg/support-us/patron-benefits
Ways You Can Donate: - Visit giving.sg/sso/HelpUsPlayOn or sso.org.sg/donate to make a donation via Credit Card - Scan the QR code in PayLah! or PayNow For more information, please contact: - Ms Nikki Chuang at nikki@sso.org.sg - Ms Charmaine Fong at charmaine.fong@sso.org.sg
2020/21 Season Patrons Our story began just over four decades ago when we played our first concert in January 1979. This journey would not have been possible without patrons who believe in sharing the gift of music. Thank you for your generosity.
PATR ON SPONSO R Tote Board Group (Tote Board, Singapore Pools & Singapore Turf Club)
MAE STR O C IR C L E Mr & Mrs Goh Yew Lin Temasek Foundation The HEAD Foundation
SYMPHONY C IR C LE Aquilus Pte Ltd Embassy of France in Singapore John Swire & Sons (S.E. Asia) Pte Ltd Lee Foundation The New Eden Charitable Trust
C ONC E R TO C IR C LE Far East Organization Ho Ching Kris Foundation Paige Parker & Jim Rogers Andreas & Doris Sohmen-Pao United Overseas Bank Ltd Geoffrey & Ai Ai Wong Dr Thomas Zuellig & Mary Zuellig
O VER T U RE PAT RONS ABRSM BINJAITREE Lito & Kim Camacho Prof Cham Tao Soon Alan Chan Prof Chan Heng Chee Cara & Tamara Chang Chng Hak-Peng Mr & Mrs Choo Chiau Beng Prof Arnoud De Meyer Vivien Goh Hong Leong Foundation Maisy Koh & Dr Beh Swan Gin Leong Wai Leng LGT Bank (Singapore) Ltd
Michael Lien Beatrice Lim FC Mavis Lim Geck Chin Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd Devika & Sanjiv Misra Kai S. Nargolwala NSL Ltd Pavilion Capital Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore Pte Ltd Prima Limited Prof Gralf & Silvia Sieghold Stephen Riady Group of Foundations Peter C.Y. Wong Catherine & David Zemans Anonymous (2)
S ER ENAD E PAT RONS Samuel Armstrong Dennis Au & Geraldine Choong Charles Brooks Lionel Choi Goh Sze Wei Jerry Gwee Havas Media Asia Pacific Pte Ltd Steven & Liwen Holmes Angela Huang & Geo Chen Robert Khan Lee Kok Keong Leong Wah Kheong A.D. Lim Lin Diaan-Yi
Mak Hoe Kit Dr Adrian Mondry Ng Pei-Sian Joyce, Swee Meng Ng & family Ng Yong Ngee Eddy Ooi Mark Procyshyn Mr & Mrs Robin Ian Rawlings Dr Alban Salord Ivan Tan Meng Cheng Kennie Ting Manju & Arudra Vangal Anonymous
R HA P SO D Y PAT RONS Ryoichi Akao Allen & Gledhill LLP Ang Ming Yi & Tanyatorn Lewchaleamwong Jocelyn Aw Odile & Douglas Benjamin Vivian Chandran Dr Faith Chia Evelyn Chin Mr & Mrs Dorian Goh Lorinne Kon KRPL Family Fund Mr & Mrs Patterson Lau
Dr Lee Shu Yen Dr Leong Keng Hong Ong Kong Hong Esme Parish & Martin Edwards Greet Pelckmans Ron & Janet Stride Tibor Zoltan Szabady Anthony Tay Teo Lay Lim Dr Dang Vu & Ms Oanh Nguyen Wicky Wong Anonymous (3)
P R EL U D E PAT RONS Ang Seow Long Kaiyan Asplund & family Dr Daniel N. Bach Prof Kanti Bajpai Lawrence & Celeste Basapa Bryan Carmichael Chan Ah Khim Jeanie Cheah Dr Cynthia Chee Cheng Eng Aun Cheng Wei Margaret Chew Dr Peter Chew Chong Eun Baik Chong Mi-Li Pamela Belinda Chua Chung Sui Foh Sally Chy Arthur Davis Ridzuan Farouk Elizabeth Fong Gan Chee Yen Gan Yit Koon Pavitar Kaur Gill Goh Chin Sean Goh Chiu Gak Mrs Goh Keng Hoong Goh Shin Ping Chiraporn Prof Goh Suat Hong Ilya Gutlin Owen Hawkes & Eunice Tan William Hernstadt Shaun The-Huan Hoang Vanessa & Darren Iloste Simon Ip Jordan Isac Jellycat Sg Peggy Kek Khor Cheng Kian Paul Seiji Kitamura
Belinda Koh Yuh Ling Dr Koh Chee Kang & Ms Chang Ting Lee Koh Han Wei Helen Koh Colin Lang Mr & Mrs Winson Lay Lee Eng Lye Andrew Lee Li-Ming Dr Norman Lee Viktor & Sonja Leendertz Lek Lee Yong Er Stephen Leong Wendy Leong Marnyi Leow Oon Geok Dr Bettina Lieske Lim Shue Churn Suzanne Lim Lim Yuin Wen Lin Xiangqian Candice Ling Firenze Loh Dr Loh Kai Woh Low Boon Hon Fabian Lua Joshua Margolis Clarinda & Christopher Martin Capt Isac Mathews Meng Dr Agnes Ng Ngiam Shih Chun Monique Ong Audrey Phua Preetha Pillai Raymond Quah Queenie & Friends Rak Syscom Pte Ltd Ian & Freda Rickword Robert Khan & Co Pte Ltd Alexey Rumyantsev
Andreas Ruschkowski Audrey Ruyters Michael Schlesinger Caroline Seow Retno Setyaningsih Naoyoshi Nick Shimoda Susan Sim Marcel Smit & Hanneke Verbeek Soh Leng Wan Veiter Soo Yukari Takada Casey Tan Khai Hee Tan Cheng Guan Daniel Tan Gordon H L Tan Tan Lian Yok Tan Pei Jie Tan Yee Deng Aileen Tang Abel Teo Daniel Teo Valerie Thean Alicia Thian & Brian Bonde Toby & Margit Oliver Trianto Q. Mevr. Marie-Christine Van Meel Kris Wiluan Paul Winfindale & Huong Nguyen Wong Lai Foon Wu Guowei Zhang Xinyue Haruna Yamabayashi Lillian Yin Darren Yong & Connie Chaird Yong Seow Kin Anonymous (21)
This list reflects donations that were made from 1 October 2019 to 30 September 2020. We would like to express our sincere thanks to donors whose names were inadvertently left out at print time. The Singapore Symphony Group is a charity and a not-for-profit organisation. Singapore tax-payers may qualify for 250% tax deduction for donations above $50. You can support us by donating at www.sso.org.sg/donate or www.giving.sg/sso.
We love orchestral music and there is nothing like a live orchestral performance!
because... I have many happy memories with my family at the SSO Babies’ Proms, Pops and Christmas concerts…
The SSO brought Yo-Yo Ma, Lang Lang and Leonidas Kavakos to me in Singapore!
The SSO is an arts charity and depends on donations. If you love the SSO, please consider making a donation to support your orchestra –
Every gift makes a difference.
As a valued donor patron of the SSO, you will receive many benefits. PATRON CATEGORIES
PAT R O N BENEFITS
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Concert0 Circle
$1,000 - $2,499
$2,500 - $4,999
$5,000 - $9,999 $10,000 - $24,999 $25,000 & ABOVE
–
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6 tickets
10 tickets
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16 tickets
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2. Gala /Christmas/Pops
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2 tickets
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3. SSO Special Gala Concerts
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Tax Benefits Priority Booking Discounts for all SSG concerts Invitation to special events Donor listing: 1. Concert booklets and website 2. Donors’ Wall at VCH
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*The benefits above do not apply to supporters who give through an event.
To find out more, please visit www.sso.org.sg/support-us, or write to Nikki Chuang at nikki@sso.org.sg.
Corporate Patronage Form a special relationship with Singapore’s national orchestra and increase your name recognition among an influential and growing audience. Our concerts provide impressive entertainment and significant branding opportunities. SSO Corporate Patrons enjoy attractive tax benefits, Patron of the Arts nominations, acknowledgements in key publicity channels, complimentary tickets, and invitations to exclusive SSO events. Temasek Foundation The HEAD Foundation John Swire & Sons (S.E. Asia) Pte Ltd Embassy of France in Singapore Lee Foundation Aquilus Pte Ltd SPONSORS SMRT Corporation Symphony 924 Singapore Airlines Ltd Conrad Centennial Singapore
For more details, please write to Chelsea Zhao at chelsea.zhao@sso.org.sg.
SSO C H R ISTM AS FU NDR AISING C ONC ER T | 15 & 1 6 D E C 2 0 2 0
Noëls pour les Instruments (“Carols for Instruments”, c.1690) MARC-ANTOINE CHARPENTIER (1643–1704) I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX
Joseph est bien marié (“Joseph has married well”) Or nous dites Marie (“Now tell us, Mary”) Laissez paîtres vos bêtes (“Shepherds, let your animals graze”) Vous qui désirez sans fin (“You who desire endlessly”) À la venue de Noël (“When Christmas comes”) O créateur (“O Creator”) Une jeune pucelle (“A young maiden”) Où s’en vont ces gais bergers (“Where are these cheerful shepherds going”) Les bourgeois de Chastre (“The townspeople of Chastre”)
Charpentier is one of the most celebrated composers of the French Baroque, whose musical legacy comprised a vast oeuvre of sacred and theatre music, as well as instrumental works. His music for Christmas remains popular today, especially his Messe de Minuït pour Noël (Midnight Mass for Christmas), written around the 1690s. A special feature of this Midnight Mass is the inclusion of traditional French carols (noëls) as musical material. These folksongs lend a lively, even dance-like air to the ceremonies, perfectly fusing festive dignity with communal celebration. The selection today is based on the carols Charpentier used, in his own arrangements for instrumental ensemble, which are sometimes played as interludes in the Mass.
Christmas Concerto (Concerto grosso, Op. 3, No. 12 in C major, 1718) FRANCESCO MANFREDINI (1684–1762) I II III
Pastorale: Largo Largo Allegro
The Italian composer Francesco Manfredini was a contemporary of J.S. Bach, Handel, Domenico Scarlatti and Vivaldi. Against such illustrious names, his name has fallen into relative neglect, and the fact that much of his music is lost does not help. His three-movement Christmas Concerto is a work in the fine tradition of Baroque Christmas Concertos, after the likes of Corelli and Torelli. It begins with the genre’s signature Pastorale, a pleasing prelude of idyllic serenity representing the shepherds of Christmas. A pious, contemplative Largo is followed by a joyful conclusion.
18
ANTONIO VIVALDI (1678–1741) I
II
III
Allegro non molto Frozen and trembling in the icy snow, In the severe blast of the horrible wind, As we run, we constantly stamp our feet, And our teeth chatter in the cold. Largo To spend happy and quiet days near the fire, While, outside, the rain soaks hundreds. Allegro We walk on the ice with slow steps, And tread carefully, for fear of falling. Symphony, If we go quickly, we slip and fall to the ground. Again we run on the ice, Until it cracks and opens. We hear, from closed doors, Sirocco, Boreas, and all the winds in battle. This is winter, but it brings joy.
Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons is not only one of the most famous pieces of music from the Baroque era (and indeed, in all of classical music), but also a prime example of the astonishing resourcefulness of the Baroque masters in using very limited instrumentation to depict a scene or story. Vivaldi’s focus on storytelling detail is present not only in his music, but also the poems he provided to describe the score (see English translations above). In Winter, Vivaldi uses only strings to depict trembling in the cold and chattering teeth in the face of freezing winds. Even the unsteadiness of walking on ice is palpable in the precarious finale. But in the middle of these wintry perils lies one of the greatest gems of Baroque music, the Winter Largo, two minutes of heartwarming contentment and carefree joy.
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S S O CH RI S T M AS FU NDR AISING C ONC ER T | 15 & 16 DE C 2020
Winter from The Four Seasons (1716–1717)
SSO C H R ISTM AS FU NDR AISING C ONC ER T | 15 & 1 6 D E C 2 0 2 0
Carol of the Bells/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen TRADITIONAL (arr. Matt Riley, 2016) This arrangement by American composer-arranger Matt Riley blends two traditional tunes for solo violin with string orchestra. God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen is one of the oldest known traditional English Christmas carols, dated to the 16th century or earlier. The popular “Carol of the Bells” is much more recent, based on music written in 1914 by Ukrainian composer Mykola Leontovych. This music, Shchedryk (“Bountiful Evening” but also called “The Little Swallow”) is not originally a Christmas song, but a folk chant/story associated with the New Year and the coming of spring in pre-Christian Ukraine. The story tells of a swallow entering a household to herald the bountiful year to come. The tune gained wider popularity outside of Ukraine after American composer-educator Peter Wilhousky introduced it to America in 1936, with new lyrics. In more recent times, Carol of the Bells continues to maintain its popularity as a Christmas song through versions by a multitude of artists, from the Swingle Singers to Pentatonix.
Aria (Air on the G String) JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685–1750), arr. Leopold Stokowski The immense legacy of Bach’s sacred music, including many celebrating Christmas, are among the pinnacles of Baroque music. But among his secular works, one stands out – the divine Air on the G String. The tune from his Orchestral Suite No. 3 needs no introduction. The word “air” comes from aria (Italian) or ayre (French), referring to a song-like composition for voice or instrument. And that is the nature of this wordless and sublime treasure for strings. It is a moment of timeless peace amongst the grandiose dances of its rest of the suite, seemingly detached from any specific period or style of music, such is its transcendent beauty.
Fantasia on Greensleeves RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS (1872–1958), arr. Ralph Greaves, 1934 The realm of English folk music has more tunes of great beauty than there are words to describe the sunset yearning and bittersweet nostalgia they so magically invoke. Vaughan Williams’s Fantasia on Greensleeves, based on the traditional English folk song melody, has its roots as an orchestral interlude from Act IV of his opera Sir John In Love. The popular version we hear today was arranged by Ralph Greaves (1889–1966) who, working under the direction of the composer, not only made unforgettable use of the familiar Greensleeves melody, but also incorporated another folk song Lovely Joan as an interlude. On a separate note, the melody of Greensleeves became associated with Christmas when the 19th century English writer of hymns and carols William Chatterton Dix wrote the “What Child Is This” in 1865, a carol still popularised today in song. 20
FRANK BRIDGE (1879–1941) This lively work for strings was written in 1922 by English composer Frank Bridge. The name Roger de Coverly refers to an English and Scottish folk dance theme suggesting the titular fox running in and out of cover, which quite aptly describes the skittering, fast-paced nature of the music. The strings take the theme through a set of variations before, tongue-in-cheek, the violas begin to play Auld Lang Syne and the piece culminates with a flourish. Programme notes by Chia Han-Leon
Dawn TRADITIONAL (arr. Avik Chari, 2020) 2020 has been a challenging year for the world. As we focus on restoring our economy and infrastructure, we also need to spend time healing our mental health. With the company of good friends, leadership, and self-reflection, we can begin to move forward and eventually heal. This piece is an attempt to depict that. The ensemble begins dark and solemn, a little unlike the robust joy of many Christmas carols, and a strained and sorrow-inducing version of Silent Night is heard. However, the solo instruments lead us to a brighter future with the help of other carols such as Away in a Manger and Deck the Halls. In response to these carols, a different version of Silent Night is heard – slowly evolving from solemn to nostalgic and finally, joyful. This piece was written for Singapore Symphony Orchestra, to be first performed at its 2020 Christmas Fundraising Concert. Programme note by Avik Chari
Avik Chari (b. 1995) is a Singaporean composer and sound installation designer with a fierce passion for non-linear and interactive media. He embraces the use of space as a tool for musical structure and storytelling through his sound installations and electro-acoustic works. Avik studied at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and currently works as a music librarian at the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. 21
S S O CH RI S T M AS FU NDR AISING C ONC ER T | 15 & 16 DE C 2020
A Christmas Dance “Sir Roger de Coverley” (1922)
BOA RD OF D IRE C T ORS & C OMMI T T E E S CHAIR Mr Goh Yew Lin SSO COUNCIL
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Ms Yong Ying-I (Deputy Chair) Mr Ang Chek Meng Mr Chang Chee Pey Mr Chng Hak-Peng Mr Chng Kai Fong Mr Warren Fernandez Prof Arnoud De Meyer Mr Heinrich Grafe Ms Liew Wei Li Mr Sanjiv Misra Mr Paul Tan Dr Kelly Tang Mr Geoffrey Wong Mr Yee Chen Fah NOMINATING AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Mr Goh Yew Lin (Chair) Prof Arnoud De Meyer (Treasurer) Mr Paul Tan Ms Yong Ying-I
HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE Ms Yong Ying-I (Chair) Prof Arnoud De Meyer Mr Yee Chen Fah Dr Kelly Tang INVESTMENT COMMITTEE Mr Geoffrey Wong (Chair) Mr David Goh Mr Sanjiv Misra AUDIT COMMITTEE Mr Yee Chen Fah (Chair) Mr Heinrich Grafe Ms Lim Mei SNYO COMMITTEE Ms Liew Wei Li (Chair) Mr Ang Chek Meng Ms Vivien Goh Dr Kee Kirk Chin Mrs Valarie Wilson
S S O M U S I C I A N S’ C O M M I T T E E Mr Jamie Hersch Mr Ng Pei-Sian Mr Mark Suter Mr Christoph Wichert Ms Elaine Yeo Mr Yeo Teow Meng
Prof Cham Tao Soon (Honorary Chair) Mr Alan Chan (Chair) Mrs Odile Benjamin Prof Chan Heng Chee Mr Choo Chiau Beng Dr Geh Min Mr Goh Geok Khim Mr Khoo Boon Hui Prof Tommy Koh Ms Lim Mei Mr JY Pillay Dr Stephen Riady Ms Priscylla Shaw Prof Gralf Sieghold Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao Prof Bernard Tan Dr Tan Chin Nam Ms Tan Choo Leng Mr Tan Soo Nan Mr Wee Ee Cheong S S O L A D I E S’ L E A G U E Mrs Odile Benjamin (Chair) Mrs Kwan Lui (Deputy Chair) Mrs Celeste Basapa Mrs Maisy Beh Mrs Kim Camacho Mrs Rosy Ho Ms Judy Hunt Prof Annie Koh Dr Julie Lo Mrs Clarinda TjiaDharmadi-Martin Ms Paige Parker Ms Kris Tan Ms Manju Vangal Mrs Grace Yeh
SIN G A P OR E S Y MP HO N Y G ROUP M A N AG E ME N T
CHIEF E XECUTIVE OFFICER Mr Chng Hak-Peng
ARTISTIC PL ANNING
CEO OFFICE
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Mr Hans Sørensen (Head)
Ms Shirin Foo Mr Lim Yeow Siang
Ms Lillian Yin (Head)
Programmes (SSO) Ms Kua Li Leng Ms Teo Chew Yen Ms Jodie Chiang Community Outreach Ms Vanessa Lee Ms Samantha Lim Choral Programmes Ms Regina Lee Ms Whitney Tan Programmes (VCH) Ms Erin Tan Ms Lynnette Chng ORCHESTR A MANAGEMENT Mr Ernest Khoo (Head) Orchestra Mr Chia Jit Min Ms Karis Ong Concert Operations Ms Kimberly Kwa Ms Chin Rosherna Mr Ramayah Elango Mr Md Fariz bin Samsuri Library Mr Lim Lip Hua Ms Wong Yi Wen Mr Avik Chari
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Legal Mr Edward Loh
MARKE TING C O M M U N I C AT I O N S
Ms Pang Siu Yuin (Head) Ms Tang Ya Yun Ms Tan Sing Yee
Ms Cindy Lim (Head) Mr Chia Han-Leon Ms Elizabeth Davis Ms Myrtle Lee Ms Jana Loh Ms Hong Shu Hui Ms Sherilyn Lim Ms Melissa Tan D I G I TA L S S O Ms Cindy Lim (Lead) Mr Chia Jit Min (Asst Lead) Mr Chia Han-Leon Mr Lim Yeow Siang Mr Hans Sørensen
S I N G A P O R E N AT I O N A L YOUTH ORCHES TR A
ABRSM Ms Hay Su-San (Head) Ms Patricia Yee Ms Lai Li-Yng Mr Joong Siow Chong C O V I D -1 9 R E S P O N S E C O O R D I N AT I O N Ms Lillian Yin (Lead) Mr Rick Ong (Asst Lead)
PRESIDENT’S YOUNG PERFORMERS CONCERT AUDITION IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO SHINE.
If you are a Singaporean instrumentalist performing on Western classical instruments such as strings, woodwind, brass and percussion, audition now to perform with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra at our President’s Young Performers Concert 2021.
Joshua Tan SSO Associate Conductor and conductor of the President's Young Performers Concert
ELIGIBILITY Applicants should be Singapore citizens of no more than 25 years of age, as of 1 July 2021. APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: Please prepare and submit the following: 1. Applicant’s biography 2. A high-quality video featuring applicant’s recent performance of a concerto written for chamber-sized orchestra. 3. The composer’s name, title of work, duration of each movement and edition (if applicable). Submission and Application form: ssoperfor.ms/PYPC2021audition < SCAN TO APPLY APPLICATION DEADLINE 30 December 2020 For enquiries, please email to pypc@sso.org.sg. Shortlisted applicants will be notified by email in January 2021 to participate in a live audition scheduled to take place in February 2021. Shortlisted applicants should be prepared to play the concerto in full and should arrange for their own piano accompanist to play the orchestral part.
SSO CHRISTMAS CONCERT (ONLINE) A SHINING STAR ON THE HIGHEST PLACE FRI 18 DEC 2020 8PM
WATCH THE STREAM ONLINE ON SISTIC LIVE
SINGAPORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA JOSHUA TAN ASSOCIATE CONDUCTOR KONG ZHAO HUI VIOLIN SINGAPORE SYMPHONY CHORUSES EUDENICE PALARUAN CHORAL DIRECTOR WONG LAI FOON CHOIRMASTER NG PEI-SIAN MASTER OF CEREMONIES ERIC WONG DIRECTOR
Merry Christmas! 2020 has been a year of many unusual memories, but the SSO wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t let it pass without our annual musical gathering of yuletide cheer. Join us and the Singapore Symphony Choruses in our special year-end celebration, featuring Baroque classics by Bach, Handel and Vivaldi as well as contemporary Christmas carols by popular choral music composer John Rutter. The show is directed by our "Count On Me, Singapore" director, Eric Wong. We wish you musical joy, harmony and peace on Earth!
TICKETS FROM $10
S UP P OR T E D BY
PATRO N SPON SOR
M ATCH E D BY
MA J O R D ON ORS
Mr & Mrs Goh Yew Lin
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The mission of the Singapore Symphony Group is to create memorable shared experiences with music. Through the SSO and its affiliated performing groups, we spread the love for music, nurture talent and enrich our diverse communities. The Singapore Symphony Orchestra is a charity and not-for-profit organisation. You can support us by donating at www.sso.org.sg/donate.