DE B U S S Y & DVOŘ ÁK:
SERENADE AND DANCE 1 AUGUST 2020 WATCH THE STREAM ONLIN E ON S I S T I C L I V E
SSO NATIONAL DAY C ON CE RT
A Nation in Harmony SAT 15 AUG 2020 8PM
W AT CH THE S TR EA M ONL INE ON S IS TIC L IVE S I N GAPO R E S Y M P H ONY ORCH E STRA DAR R E LL A NG C O N D U C T OR BE N J AM I N K H EN G V OC A L IST K SHI R J A G OV I N D B H A R A T A NAT YAM DANCER K HAI R UDI N S A H A R O M M A ST ER OF CEREM ONIES JAN I S W O N G S I G N LA N G U AGE INT ERP RET ER
A nation’s tunes are the unifying music of its people, and an essential ingredient of national identity. New music by Singapore’s finest young trailblazers in composition take centrestage at this year’s SSO National Day Concert. Musicians, singer, dancer, sign language interpreter - we unite to celebrate Singapore’s 55th birthday. Includes the following premieres: S AN D R A L I M NE W B E GI N N INGS T AN YUT I NG M E T R O JO N AT HAN S H I N C I T Y A R I S ING JO HN SHA R P L EY B R A H M A N: KANNAGI'S REALIZAT ION
D E BUS S Y & DV O ŘÁK : SERENADE AND DANCE 1 Aug 2020 Watch the stream online on SISTIC Live at 8pm
Singapore Symphony Orchestra Hans Graf Chief Conductor Gulnara Mashurova harp
D EB USSY
String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10 (arr. string ensemble)
25 mins
D EB USSY
Danses sacrée et profane for Harp & Strings
10 mins
D VO ŘÁ K
Serenade in D minor for Wind Instruments, Cello & Doublebass, Op. 44
25 mins
Concert Duration: 1 hr T Watch our online Pre-Concert Talk hosted by Hans Graf at our Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Participate in our survey for a chance to win complimentary tickets to our upcoming online concerts. www.surveymonkey.com/r/5B3YWDC
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.
Orchestral playing at the peak of refinement and beauty 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.
Fanfare
© BRYAN VAN DER BEEK
DEBU SSY & DV OŘ ÁK : SER ENADE AND DANC E | 1 AUG 2 0 2 0
HA N S G RAF Chief Conductor
Hans Graf is a frequent guest with major orchestras around the world including with the Boston Symphony, the Cleveland and Philadelphia Orchestras, the New York and Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw and Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestras, the London Symphony Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Budapest Festival Orchestra, the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, the Sydney and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras, the Seoul, Hong Kong and Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestras. Hans Graf’s discography includes all symphonies of Mozart and Schubert, the complete orchestral works by Henri Dutilleux and the world premiere recording of Zemlinsky’s opera Es war einmal. His recording of Alban Berg’s Wozzeck with the Houston Symphony won the ECHO Klassik 2017 award and the Grammy 2018 for Best Opera Recording.
The Austrian conductor Hans Graf is the Chief Conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra from the 2020/21 concert season. He held the role of Music Director of the Houston Symphony Orchestra 2001–2013, making him the longest-serving Music Director in the orchestra’s 100 year history. Prior to this, he was Music Director of the Calgary Philharmonic and of the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine. He has also held the post of Music Director at the Mozarteum Orchester Salzburg and the Basque National Orchestra.
Hans Graf has been made Chevalier de l’Ordre de la Légion d’Honneur by the French Government (2002) and was awarded the Grand Decoration of Honour of the Republic of Austria (2007). He is also Professor Emeritus for Orchestral Conducting at the Universität Mozarteum in Salzburg. 4
D EB U S S Y & DV OŘÁK: SER ENADE AND DANC E | 1 A U G 2020
G ULN ARA M ASH U R OVA harp
© BRYAN VAN DER BEEK
Gulnara Mashurova was born in Almaty, Kazakhstan. She started piano studies at the age of six and by age nine was chosen to study harp at the Pre Moscow Conservatory with Natalia Sibor. From 1991 to 1993, she studied with Vera Dulova at the Moscow Conservatory. Gulnara received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Harp Performance from the Juilliard School as a Jerome Green full scholarship recipient studying under Nancy Allen, Principal Harpist of the New York Philharmonic. She received her second Master’s in Orchestra Performance with a full scholarship from the Manhattan School of Music studying under Deborah Hoffman, former Principal Harpist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.
She has appeared as a soloist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the Flagstaff Symphony and the Thailand Philharmonic. In 2006 and 2007, Gulnara travelled to her native Kazakhstan to promote harp repertoire by performing concertos, recitals and chamber music.
Gulnara was a regular substitute with the New York Philharmonic both in live performances and recordings and has toured extensively with the Orchestra. She has performed with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Concertgebouw Orchestra, Sospeso Contemporary Ensemble, Absolute Ensemble, Stamford Symphony, Empire State Opera and Silkroad, the organization founded by Yo-Yo Ma.
In 2003, Gulnara joined the Singapore Symphony Orchestra as Principal Harpist and is on the faculty of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. She performs on a Lyon and Healy Style 23 harp.
5
SEC O N D V IOL 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 L A
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
C EL L 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# 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
6
FLUTE
H O RN
Jin Ta Principal Evgueni Brokmiller Associate Principal Roberto Alvarez Miao Shanshan
Han Chang Chou Principal Gao Jian Associate Principal Jamie Hersch Associate Principal Marc-Antoine Robillard Associate Principal Hoang Van Hoc
PICCOLO TR U M P ET
Roberto Alvarez Assistant Principal
Jon Paul Dante Principal David Smith Associate Principal Lau Wen Rong Sergey Tyuteykin
OBOE Rachel Walker Principal Pan Yun Associate Principal Carolyn Hollier Elaine Yeo
TR O M B O N E
Elaine Yeo Associate Principal
Allen Meek Principal Damian Patti Associate Principal Samuel Armstrong
CLARINET
B A SS T R O MBONE
Ma Yue Principal Li Xin Associate Principal Liu Yoko Tang Xiao Ping
Wang Wei Assistant Principal
BAS S CL AR I NE T
TIM P A N I
Tang Xiao Ping Assistant Principal
Christian Schiøler Principal Jonathan Fox Associate Principal
COR ANGL AI S
TU B A Tomoki Natsume Principal
BAS S OON P ER CU SSIO N
Wang Xiaoke Principal Liu Chang Associate Principal Christoph Wichert Zhao Ying Xue
Jonathan Fox Principal Mark Suter Associate Principal Mario Choo Lim Meng Keh
CONTRAB AS S OON H A RP
Zhao Ying Xue Assistant Principal
Gulnara Mashurova Principal
* 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. Musicians listed alphabetically by family name rotate their seats on a per programme basis. 7
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.
ToteBoardSG ToteBoardSG
www.toteboard.gov.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 Christopher & Rosy Ho John Swire & Sons (S.E. Asia) Pte Ltd Lee Foundation Anonymous
C ONC E R TO C IR C LE Far East Organization Ho Ching Keppel Corporation Kris Foundation Clarinda & Christopher Martin Paige Parker & Jim Rogers Andreas & Doris Sohmen-Pao Neil & Mi Jong Tottman United Overseas Bank Ltd Geoffrey & Ai Ai Wong Dr Thomas Zuellig & Mary Zuellig
O VER T U RE PAT RONS Su Pin & Mervin Beng Odile & Douglas Benjamin BINJAITREE Lito & Kim Camacho Prof Cham Tao Soon Prof Chan Heng Chee Cara & Tamara Chang Chng Hak-Peng Mr & Mrs Choo Chiau Beng Prof Arnoud De Meyer Dr Geh Min Goh Swee Chen Vivien Goh Judy Hunt Maisy Koh & Dr Beh Swan Gin Leong Wai Leng LGT Bank (Singapore) Ltd
Michael Lien Beatrice Lim FC Marina Bay Sands Devika & Sanjiv Misra Kai S. Nargolwala Nomura Asset Management Singapore Ltd NSL Ltd Pavilion Capital Petrochemical Corporation of Singapore Pte Ltd Prima Limited Prof Gralf & Silvia Sieghold Stephen Riady Group of Foundations Total Trading Asia Pte Ltd Peter C.Y. Wong Catherine & David Zemans Anonymous (2)
S ER ENAD E PAT RONS 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 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 Ang Ming Yi & Tanyatorn Lewchaleamwong Samuel Armstrong 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
Stuart Liventals Ng Yong Ngee Ong Kong Hong Esmé Parish & Martin Edwards Greet Pelckmans Ron & Janet Stride Tibor Zoltan Szabady Anthony Tay Teo Lay Lim Dr Dang Vu & Oanh Nguyen Wicky Wong Anonymous (3)
11
P R EL U D E PAT RONS Ang Seow Long Kaiyan Asplund & family Jocelyn Aw 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 Wynthia Goh 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 & 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 Ling Yu Fei Firenze Loh Dr Loh Kai Woh Low Boon Hon Fabian Lua Joshua Margolis 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
Charles Robertson 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 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 Andrew & Stephanie Vigar Kris Wiluan Paul Winfindale & Huong Nguyen Wong Lai Foon Wu Guowei Lillian Yin Darren Yong & Connie Chaird Yong Seow Kin Zhang Xinyue Anonymous (19)
This list reflects donations that were made from 1 July 2019 to 30 June 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.
We love orchestral music and there is nothing like a live orchestral performance!
because...
The SSO brought Yo-Yo Ma, Lang Lang and Leonidas Kavakos to me in Singapore!
I have many happy memories with my family at the SSO Babies’ Proms, Pops and Christmas concerts…
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
Prelude
Rhapsody
Concert0 Circle
Serenade
Overture
–
–
–
6 tickets
10 tickets
12 tickets
16 tickets
20 tickets
–
–
2 tickets
4 tickets
6 tickets
$1,000 - $2,499
$2,500 - $4,999
–
$5,000 - $9,999 $10,000 - $24,999 $25,000 & ABOVE
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
Complimentary tickets to the following concert types: 1. Subscription /VCHpresents / Family / SIPF 2. Gala /Christmas/Pops
*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, write or speak to Nikki Chuang at nikki@sso.org.sg or +65 6602 4238.
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 SMRT Corporation John Swire & Sons (S.E. Asia) Pte Ltd Lee Foundation Santa Lucia Asset Management Pte Ltd European Union Delegation to Singapore Keppel Corporation Embassy of France in Singapore SPONSORS Symphony 924 Singapore Airlines Ltd Conrad Centennial Singapore
For more details, please write or speak to Chelsea Zhao at chelsea.zhao@sso.org.sg or +65 6663 4251.
SSO MUSICIANS PLAY FOR INVICTUS FUND
! se u ca d o o g a r o f s u in o J Our musicians Jamie Hersch, Hoang Van Hoc and Lau Wen Rong perform the Jupiter Hymn by Gustav Holst in support of The Invictus Fund - an initiative by ComChest to channel donations to social service agencies that support those impacted by COVID-19. We hope their performance would inspire you to support this campaign. From all of us at the SSO, thank you for your generosity. WATCH VIDEO AND DONATE HERE: www.comchest.sg/SSOCares
Benefit Dinner 2020 Appeal Our Heartfelt Appreciation to You
Our deepest appreciation to our donors despite the cancellation of the SSO Benefit Dinner this year. Because of contributions from committed patrons like you, the SSO will be able to keep the music going and continue to be a source of comfort, joy and inspiration for Singapore and others around the world.
$50,000 AND ABOVE Aquilus Pte Ltd Christopher & Rosy Ho
$25,000 AND ABOVE Far East Organization Kris Foundation Paige Parker & Jim Rogers Andreas & Doris Sohmen-Pao
United Overseas Bank Geoffrey & Ai Ai Wong Dr Thomas & Mrs Mary Zuellig
$10,000 AND ABOVE Lito & Kim Camacho Mr & Mrs Choo Chiau Beng Maisy Koh & Dr Beh Swan Gin Lee Foundation
$5, 000 AND ABOVE Manju & Arudra Vangal
LGT Bank (Singapore) Ltd Marina Bay Sands Prof Gralf & Silva Sieghold Stephen Riady Group of Foundations
$2,500 AND ABOV E Odile & Douglas Benjamin Ron & Janet Stride
$1,000 AND ABOV E Dennis Au & Geraldine Choong Celeste & Lawrence Basapa Belinda Chua Alicia Thian & Brian Bonde Kris Wiluan Anonymous
This list reflects donations of $1,000 and above, that were under the Benefit Dinner 2020 Appeal. We would like to express our sincere thanks to donors whose names were inadvertently left out at print time.
I II III IV
Animé et très décidé Assez vif et bien rythmé Andantino, doucement expressif Très modéré – En animant peu à peu – Très mouvementé et avec passion
“Debussy’s great service to music was to reawaken among all musicians an awareness of harmony and its possibilities.”
second theme which undergoes a series of miniature variations showcasing Debussy’s adventurous approach to harmony. Following this, the second movement presents us with a different texture altogether: pizzicato upper strings against insistent repeated patterns in the lower strings. Musicologists have heard an echo of Javanese gamelan music here, a musical style which heavily influenced Debussy’s music after he heard it for the first time at the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1889. A beautiful slow movement is followed by the sunny finale which takes us finally into the sunshine of G major.
So said Hungarian composer Béla Bartók. Claude Debussy’s thrilling use of harmony and musical sensuality are both on display in this string quartet, the only one he ever wrote. The result is an unmistakeably Debussyian work, which just happens to be written for four string players.
Instrumentation 5 first violins, 4 second violins, 3 violas, 3 cellos, 2 double basses
It was written in 1893 when Claude Debussy was 31 and Debussy was probably inspired to write it after hearing Cesar Franck’s String Quartet in 1890. The quartet (heard tonight in an arrangement by SSO’s Chief Conductor, Hans Graf) opens in G minor with a striking opening theme that recurs throughout the piece. Then comes a 17
D EB U S S Y & DV OŘÁK: SER ENADE AND DANC E | 1 A U G 2020
CLAUDE DEBUSSY (1862–1918) String Quartet in G minor, Op. 10 (arr. string ensemble)
DEBU SSY & DV OŘ ÁK : SER ENADE AND DANC E | 1 AUG 2 0 2 0
CLAUDE DEBUSSY Danses sacrée et profane for Harp & Strings I II
Danse sacrée Danse profane
In 1894 the French piano maker Pleyel had just invented a chromatic harp which, because of an extra set of strings, removed the need for pedals. As part of their marketing for the instrument the firm commissioned Debussy to write a piece showing off the instrument’s capabilities. Of course, Debussy could have created something purely functional, but his Danses sacrée et profane has gone on to become one of his most admired works. The ‘sacred’ and ‘profane’ labels of the title are perhaps better understood as ‘spiritual’ and ‘earthly’. The first of the two dances has an air of ancient religiosity and recalls medieval chants in the string melodies under the harp’s glistening melody. The composer himself once noted the ‘gravity’ of the opening dance in a letter to fellow composer Manuel de Falla. By contrast, the composer pointed to the ‘grace’ of the second of the two dances. His exploration of the ‘profane’ – the earthly, the secular, the sensual – is a lilting waltz which nods to the lively music of the Mediterranean, particularly Spain.
Above: Cross-strung chromatic harp (Pleyel, Wolff, Lyon & Cie, early 20th century)
It seems that Debussy was sceptical about the potential of Pleyel’s new instrument, and indeed the company ceased production of the chromatic harp by 1930. Happily – as we’ll hear in this concert – the piece can be performed on pedal harp or even piano.
Instrumentation Harp, 5 first violins, 4 second violins, 3 violas, 2 cellos, double bass
18
I II III IV
Moderato, quasi Marcia Minuetto. Tempo di minuetto Andante con moto Finale. Allegro molto sounds of the wind ensemble. And the work closes with a lively finale guaranteed to get any audience – ancient or modern – tapping their toes.
Antonín Dvořák was born in 1841 near Prague in what was then the Austrian Empire (now the Czech Republic). Dvořák was deeply inspired by the music, culture and traditions of his homeland, specifically the folk music of Moravia and Bohemia. He frequently incorporated folk melodies and rhythms into his music and is now often regarded as a leading voice of Romantic nationalism – a style of composition which looked to folk music for inspiration and which, broadly speaking, includes composers such as Bedřich Smetana (also Czech), Edvard Grieg (from Norway) and Edward Elgar (from England).
Programme notes by Elizabeth Davis
Instrumentation 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 3 horns, cello, double bass
Dvořák wrote his Serenade after hearing a performance of Mozart’s Serenade in B-flat major (also for wind instruments) during a trip to Vienna in 1878. But Dvořák poured the music and traditions of his homeland into the form. The work recalls the Czech tradition of courtly music-making in the region’s many beautiful castles and palaces. It opens with a stately march, followed by a courtly minuet – based on the traditional Slavic dumka dance – complete with contrasting trio. The third, more substantial movement is a lyrical Andante that celebrates the mellow
19
D EB U S S Y & DV OŘÁK: SER ENADE AND DANC E | 1 A U G 2020
ANTONÍN DVOŘÁK (1841–1904) Serenade in D minor for Wind Instruments, Cello & Doublebass, Op. 44
ONLY THE FINEST MUSIC
BOA RD OF D IR E 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 Mrs Odile Benjamin Mr Chang Chee Pey Mr Chng Hak-Peng Mr Chng Kai Fong Mr Lionel Choi 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
HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE
NOMINATING AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
SNYO COMMITTEE
Mr Goh Yew Lin (Chair) Prof Arnoud De Meyer (Treasurer) Mr Paul Tan Ms Yong Ying-I
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
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) 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 Dr 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
Mr Hans Sørensen (Head)
Ms Shirin Foo Mr Lim Yeow Siang
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
Customer Experience Mr Randy Teo Ms Dacia Cheang Ms Nur Shafiqah bte Othman DE VELOPMENT & PA R T N E R S H I P S Corporate Communications Ms Haslina Hassan Development Ms Chelsea Zhao Ms Nikki Chuang Ms Charmaine Fong MARKE TING C O M M U N I C AT I O N S 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 C O R P O R AT E S E R V I C E S Ms Lillian Yin (Head)
Finance, IT & Facilities Mr Rick Ong Mr Alan Ong Ms Goh Hoey Fen Mr Md Zailani bin Md Said Human Resources & Administration Mr Desmen Low Ms Melissa Lee Ms Evelyn Siew Legal Mr Edward Loh S I N G A P O R E N AT I O N A L YOUTH ORCHES TR A Ms Pang Siu Yuin (Head) Ms Tang Ya Yun Ms Tan Sing Yee 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) 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 UP POR T E D BY
PAT RO N S P ON S OR
MATCHE D BY
M A JO R D ON OR S
Mr & Mrs Goh Yew Lin
S EA S O N PA R TN ER S Official Radio Station
Official Community Partner
Official Outdoor Media Partner
Official Airline
S E A S O N PATRO NS
Christopher & Rosy Ho
Aquilus Pte Ltd
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.