SSO Christmas Concert 2020 (Online)

SSO Chri mas Concert A shining star on the highest place 1 8 DEC E M B E R 2020

W A T C H TH E ST REA M O NL I N E O N S I S T I C L I V E

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”

DEDICATED TO

S S O CH RI S T M AS C ONC ER T | 18 DE C 2020

CEO'S MESSAGE

It is with such great pleasure that the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Choruses welcome you to our online version of the annual SSO Christmas Concert.

Over the past nine months, the SSO has been determined to stay true to our mission of creating memorable experiences through music, and we were never going to let a pandemic stop us. From our four-day-aweek digital season during Circuit Breaker, where we found new and different ways to bring music into your homes and keep you company, to presenting online versions of our annual concerts like the President’s Young Performers Concert, and the SSO National Day Concert, we wanted to make sure you never had a moment without great music to feed your soul.

This SSO Christmas Concert (Online) is no different. Together with Associate Conductor Joshua Tan, Choral Director Eudenice Palaruan, and Choirmaster Wong Lai Foon, we wanted to find a new way to bring our traditions to you online. The biggest challenge was how to re-create online the festive spirit of a chorus singing Christmas music, when the rules allow only five persons to sing at a time in a recording.

We hope you enjoy some of the innovations we have slipped in to make this online concert uphold the meaning of Christmas.

We have made this online concert affordable so that more people around Singapore can have our music keep them company this festive season. We need your help. If you believe in what the Singapore Symphony Orchestra does for Singapore, and are in a position to do so, please consider making a donation to us. Your donation will help keep us going in this difficult year, and also unlock matching grants that we need to keep the music going.

Thank you for joining us this evening, and enjoy the concert!

Chng Hak-Peng CEO, Singapore Symphony Group

SSO CHRIS TM AS CO N C ERT A SHINING STAR ON THE HIGHEST PLACE 18 Dec 2020, 8pm (Online premiere on SISTIC Live) Viewable from 18 Dec 2020 to 8 Jan 2021 with valid tickets.

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 Video Creative Director And the Glory of the Lord from Messiah*

by HANDEL

3 mins

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring from Cantata No. 147*

by J.S. BACH

4 mins

Angel's Carol*

by JOHN RUTTER

4 mins

I Wish You Christmas*

by JOHN RUTTER

5 mins

Sussex Carol* (Traditional, arr. Bradford)

3 mins

We Wish You A Merry Christmas* (Traditional, arr. Rutter)

3 mins

Aria (Air on the G String)

by J.S. BACH (arr. Stokowski)

6 mins

Carol of the Bells / God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen^ (Traditional, arr. M. Riley)

4 mins

A Christmas Dance “Sir Roger de Coverley”

by BRIDGE

5 mins

Fantasia on Greensleeves

by VAUGHAN WILLIAMS

5 mins

Winter from The Four Seasons^

by VIVALDI

7 mins

*With the Singapore Symphony Chorus, Youth Choir and Children’s Choir 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

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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.

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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

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S S O CH RI S T M AS C ONC ER T | 18 DE C 2020

EUD E N I CE PAL AR UAN Choral Director Eudenice Palaruan obtained his Bachelor degree in Choral Conducting at the University of the Philippines College of Music after which he pursued Choral Conducting Pedagogy at the Berliner Kirchenmusikschule in Germany.

He has performed with major choral organisations including the Philippine Madrigal Singers and the World Youth Choir where he was a member and a soloist. He was also involved, in early music performance practice with the Berlin Montiverdichor as a countertenor. masked singers in September 2020. As a composer and arranger, he introduced choral works that exhibit traditional Asian vocal sound. As a music pedagogue, he taught at the Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music, the University of the Philippines College of Music and the St. Paul University Manila College of Music and the Performing Arts. He also hosts international music seminars, adjudicates and writes contest pieces for choral festivals and competitions.

As a conductor, he was a music director of the Ateneo de Manila College Glee Club, the assistant choirmaster of the Philippine Madrigal Singers, and the principal conductor of the San Miguel Master Chorale. He was the resident conductor and composer for the International Bamboo Organ Festival where he directed many of the Philippines’ leading choirs in the performance of early European choral music and the revival of Latin American baroque choral music.

He is currently an associate professor at the School of Church Music in Singapore Bible College.

Palaruan is actively composing even during COVID-19. The University of Notre Dame Concordia Choir in Indiana premiered his most recent work “Sh’ma” for fourteen 9

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Apart from performances with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Wong has led both choirs in collaborations with other ensembles. The Concert Choir has shared the stage with the celebrated ensemble, The King’s Singers, the Maîtrise de Radio France at the Philharmonie de Paris, and the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, Kuala Lumpur. Recent highlights of SSYC’s performances with the SSO include Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, a highly successful concert of Video Games Classics with Eimear Noone.

W O NG L AI F O O N Choirmaster As Choirmaster of the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir (SSCC) and the Singapore Symphony Youth Choir (SSYC), Wong Lai Foon oversees a family of choral ensembles that is dedicated to the development of young voices, and the continuing appreciation of choral and classical music.

Under her leadership, these two choirs have received praise for their polished choral tone, and for delivering performances with precision and clarity. The SSCC’s recording of Bob Chilcott’s Little Jazz Mass, featured on their CD, And I’ll Sing Once More, has been complimented by the renowned composer for its “fine sound and style”.

Committed to growing the body of treble choral works by local composers, Wong has commissioned works by Kelly Tang, Zechariah Goh, Chen Zhangyi, Darius Lim, and Lee Chin Sin. She is equally adept at the symphonic, operatic and a cappella choral repertoire, and has worked with ensembles including the Singapore Symphony Chorus, the Singapore Lyric Opera, Westminster Opera Theatre, and The Philharmonic Chamber Choir. She graduated from Westminster Choir College, under the tutelage of Joseph Flummerfelt.

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S S O CH RI S T M AS C ONC ER T | 18 DE C 2020

SIN G A P OR E S Y MP HO N Y C HORUS Celebrating Choral Excellence The Singapore Symphony Chorus (SSC) represents the pinnacle of choral excellence, bringing passionate choristers together in symphonic choral singing at the highest level.

Since its first performance on 13 June 1980, the SSC has established itself as one of the finest symphony choruses in the region. The chorus has performed with renowned conductors including Okko Kamu, Lan Shui, Lim Yau, Masaaki Suzuki and Sofi Jeannin – amassing a wide repertoire such as Rachmaninov’s The Bells, Arvo Pärt’s Te Deum, Britten’s War Requiem, and Bach’s St John Passion, amongst others.

In August 2019, the Singapore Symphony Chorus lent their vocals to Truly, SSO, a digital album of National Day Classics jointly released by Warner Music Singapore and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

Celebrating their 40th anniversary in 2020, the Singapore Symphony Chorus will be reflecting on their musical journey in an exciting lineup of SSC “Forty-ssimo” concerts.

Eudenice Palaruan Choral Director Shane Thio rehearsal pianist 11

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SIN G A P OR E S Y MP HO N Y YOU T H C HOIR Inspiring Choral Passion Comprising Singapore’s finest young choristers aged 17 to 28, the Singapore Symphony Youth Choir (SSYC) provides a fun and supportive environment that motivates and inspires singers to pursue their passion in choral singing.

Through a holistic choral training programme, passionate young singers form a community where they get to hone their vocal abilities and discover unique performing opportunities.

Making its debut in 2016 and under the guidance of a celebrated choirmaster, the SSYC has performed Scriabin’s Prometheus, Puccini’s La Bohème, as well as recorded Borodin’s Polovtsian Dances and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, among others. Besides performing independently, the SSYC has also performed and toured with the SSC and SSO. The SSYC looks forward to an exciting season ahead that includes performances with the SSO.

Wong Lai Foon Choirmaster Evelyn Handrisanto rehearsal pianist

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S S O CH RI S T M AS C ONC ER T | 18 DE C 2020

SIN G A P OR E S Y MP HO N Y C HIL DR E N ' S C HOIR Nurturing Choral Brilliance The path to choral brilliance begins at the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir (SSCC).

The SSCC is Singapore’s pride in children’s choral excellence and is the only children’s choir that performs with the national orchestra, the SSO. With over 200 members aged 9 to 18, it offers a multi-tiered, highly-organised membership and training structure. We kindle choral passion by fostering the all-important values for character development and offering abundant local and international opportunities.

Formed in 2006, the choir has sung at the Istana, shared the stage with critically acclaimed The King’s Singers, presented at the 33rd ASEAN Summit, and recently released their first album And I’ll Sing Once More.

The SSCC has an active performing calendar in the upcoming season and invites you to join them for an exciting lineup of upcoming activities and performances.

Wong Lai Foon Choirmaster Gabriel Hoe rehearsal pianist 13

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The Choruses SINGAPORE SYMPHONY CHORUS SOPRANO Karen Aw Laurence Biard Tertois Claire Byrne Julie Demange Wodtke Claudia Gehlen Grace Goh Catherine Harsono

Andrea Hendrickson Claudia Kaepernick Denise Liu Ema Naito-Bhakdi Ng Beng Choo Kirsty Poltock

Sarah Santhana Winnie S. Soekojo Stacey Wang Espera Sachiko Tomimori Masumi Tsuchiya Agnieszka Veriga

Dorothy Lee-Teh Lin Wei Eunice Ng-Chee Jemaima A Pagsibigan Elaine Ser Josephine Sim

Natividad Solaguren Ena Su Elsie Tan Leanne Tan Wang Jiunwen Helena Whalen-Bridge

ALTO Chan Mei Yoke Patricia Chong Friederike Herrmann Truly Hutapea Susan Kurniawati Irene Law Evelyn Lee TENOR Jean-Michel Bardin Chng Chin Han Paul D. Galvez Norman Lee Jeroven Marquez Ronald Ooi

Ryan Padgett Rac Roldan Alan Smith Ian Tan Ben Wong

BASS Ang Jian Zhong William Chua Winsen Citra Paul Kitamura Caleb Liu Jared V. Robertson James Shin-Gay 14

SOPRANO

ALTO

Janice Lim Desiree Seng Tiffany Tam Tan Yuqing Jasmine Towndrow Raeanne Wong

Chan Li Ting Serene Cheong Elizabeth Goh Trixi Lim Zachary Lim Kerris Loh Ong Sherlyn Samyukta Sounderamann Tan Yulin

TENOR

BASS

Jason Carranceja Alfonso Cortez Margaret Devadason Loh Shao Wei Oh Chin Aik Caleb Yeo

Leonard Buescher Bryan Carmichael Aaron Koh Nathan Seah Tan Liang Rong Zhang Xidong

S S O CH RI S T M AS C ONC ER T | 18 DE C 2020

SINGAPORE SYMPHONY YOUTH CHOIR

SINGAPORE SYMPHONY CHILDREN'S CHOIR Maya Bessarab Anne-Sophie Cazaubon Ariane Cazaubon Ashley Chai Megan Fung Goh Chen Xi Huang Ziyan Tristan Hui Moksha Jain Hana Kasai Jadyn Koh Zoe Koh Amelia Law

Alethea Poh Summer Quek Suri Rao Joy Sim Navya Singh Angeline Sun Kate Tan Dora Tay Shannen Tay Aricia Te Bryan Watt Mao Yamaura You An Lin

Lee Yun Ling Emma Lee-Goh Melina Leong Arielle Leung Zoe Li Giselle Lim Loy Sheng Rui Lu Huaiyao Lu Kaixuan Alisha Malika Ng Yi Poh Kaylee Nga Violet Ong

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SING APORE SY MPHON Y CHILDRE N'S CHOIR (TR AINING WING) Preparatory Choir 1A Miya Ang Moses Chan Gracelynn Chia Chin Yi Hao Georgina Chua Emma Foo Matilda Kim Koh Genevieve Kaela Lee Lim Re'ann Maegan Lim Jayden Moktan Nicole Oei

Bianca Sales Nadia Sri Kanda Ashlynn Tan Carl Tang-Collin Megan Tay Sydney Tay Teo Gee Germaine Teo Elias Wong Matthew Wong Sophie Wong Kyla Yoong

Preparatory Choir 1B Serafima Bogatyreva Chew Yuxin Matthew Chiang Hailey Chua Fu Yuqi Angelina He Cloris Ho Hu Youxuan Huang Qiheng Myrna Chantarapaparp Johnston Shiori Kura

Catherine McConnell Alyssa Ng Pang Jing Fei Evynne Puah Bert Tam Ilysa Tan Wang Xiangning Xie Qingyuan Evelyn Xue Cammi Yeo

Preparatory Choir 2A Kendra Cheah Colleen Fung Gan Bing Aureilee Gooi Isabelle Ho Koh Yu Xuan Megan Lee Isabelle Li Emily Lim Raphael Low

Emma Sarah Binte Mohamad Emran Valensia Nimpuno Ong Xin Yan Kylie Ong Riann Ong Sophie Ong James Quek She Rui'en Shen Zheng Duo 16

Riyan Ballesteros-Pattanayak Cadence Chan Lisa Chang Audrey Chiam Faith Chua Dylan Francis Sanjit Hari Naomi Heng Emily Hia Abigail Ho

Liu Felix Annaleigh Ng Hayley Ng Kaitlyn Ng Laiqah Shaista Binte Shahrul Mira Sri Kanda Ellisya Tan Zhang Yixuan Zhou Siru

Training Choir Andre Ang Chng Ying Halyn Cho Chloe Chong Kaer Goh Lovleen Jeremiah Rachael Jong Kow Xuemin Loic Lastennet Lian Si Rui

Seifer Ong Janelle Pang Thaddaeus Shi Saloni Singh Sun Wenjun Tan Caewyn Emily Tan Tan Kang Yi Shania Tay Yoon Jaein

Boys' Ensemble Cris Bautro Kaedan Ong Joshua Tan Tan Hee Dominic Tang Oliver Tay Instructors William Lim Low Xu Hao Phua Ee Kia Ellissa Sayampanathan 17

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Preparatory Choir 2B

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

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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

C H A M B ER O R GAN / HAR PS IC HOR 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.

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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.

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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

Complimentary tickets to the following concert types: 1. Subscription /VCHpresents / Family / SIPF /SISTIC Live

*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.

GEORGE FRIDERIC HANDEL (1685–1759) And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it Together; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring from Cantata No. 147 (1723) JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685–1750) Jesus bleibet meine Freude, meines Herzens Trost und Saft, Jesus wehret allem Leide, er ist meines Lebens Kraft, meiner Augen Lust und Sonne meiner Seele Schatz und Wonne, darum lass' ich Jesum nicht aus dem Herzen und Gesicht.

Jesus shall remain my joy, my heart's comfort and sap, Jesus shall fend off all sorrow, He is the strength of my life, the delight and sun of my eyes, the treasure and wonder of my soul; therefore I will not let Jesus go out of my heart and sight.

Angel's Carol JOHN RUTTER (b. 1945) Have you heard the sound of the angel voices Ringing out so sweetly, ringing out so clear?

He is come in peace in the winter’s stillness, Like a gentle snowfall in the gentle night; He is come in joy like the sun at morning Filling all the world with radiance and with light.

Have you seen the star shining out so brightly As a sign from God that Christ the Lord is here?

He is come in love as the child of Mary; In a simple stable we have seen his birth: Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo! Hear the angels singing ‘Peace on earth’.

Have you heard the news that they bring from heaven To the humble shepherds who have waited long?

Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo! Hear the angels sing their joyful song.

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And the Glory of the Lord from Messiah (1741)

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He will bring new light to a world in darkness, Like a bright star shining in the skies above; He will bring new hope to the waiting nations.

When he comes to reign in purity and love.

Let the earth rejoice at the Saviour’s coming; Let the heavens answer with the joyful morn: Gloria in excelsis Deo, Gloria in excelsis Deo! Hear the angels singing ‘Christ is born’, Hear the angels singing ‘Christ is born’.

I Wish You Christmas JOHN RUTTER I wish you starlight on fields of snow, The winter’s morning light and evening’s glow; I wish you candles that shine from ev’ry tree, So all the world can see The light that there could be.

I wish you music, I wish you song, With voices echoing, joyous and strong; I wish you church bells, ringing true and clear; I wish you Christmas, a merry Christmas, A merry Christmas to remember all the year.

Old friends smiling, thinking of times gone by; Young friends laughing: Christmas is here, Spirits are bright, and hopes are high.

I wish you loved ones around your fire; May Christmas bring you all your heart’s desire.

I wish you children to make the season new, With dreams you help come true, Just like it was for you.

I wish you blessings, I wish you love, The sound of angel choirs from high above; I wish you laughter, happiness and cheer: I wish you Christmas, a merry Christmas, And may its joy and peace be with you through the year.

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Sussex Carol TRADITIONAL (arr. Barlow Bradford) On Christmas night all Christians sing To hear the news the angels bring.

News of great joy news of great mirth News of our merciful King’s birth.

When sin departs before His grace Then life and health come in its place.

Angels and men with joy may sing All for to see the newborn King.

Then why should men on earth be sad Since our Redeemer made us glad.

When from our sin He set us free, All for to gain our liberty.

All out of darkness we have light Which made the angels sing this night.

All Glory to God and peace to men Now and forever, forevermore Amen.

We Wish You A Merry Christmas TRADITIONAL (arr. John Rutter) We wish you a merry Christmas, and a happy New Year.

Good tidings we bring to you and your kin: We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Now bring us some figgy pudding, and bring some out here.

For we all like figgy pudding, so bring some out here.

And we won’t go till we’ve got some, so bring some out here.

We wish you a merry Christmas, and a happy New Year.

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I wish you music, I wish you song; I wish you harmony your whole life long; The warmth of memories that long remain: I wish you Christmas, a merry Christmas, And may God bless you till we all shall meet again.

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Aria (Air on the G String) JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685–1750), arr. Leopold Stokowski (Italian) or ayre (French), referring to a songlike 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.

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 so named after a 19th century transcription that popularised the work with this name. This tune from his Orchestral Suite No. 3 needs no introduction. The word “air” comes from aria

Carol of the Bells/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen TRADITIONAL (arr. Matt Riley, 2016) This arrangement by American composerarranger 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.

A Christmas Dance “Sir Roger de Coverley” (1922) 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.

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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.

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Fantasia on Greensleeves

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Winter from The Four Seasons (1716–1717) 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).

two minutes of heartwarming contentment and carefree joy.

Programme notes by Chia Han-Leon

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, 30

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

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S I N G A P O R E N AT I O N A L YOUTH ORCHES TR A

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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.

# 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

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The mission of the Singapore Symphony Group is to create memorable shared experiences with music.

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