SSO Season Opening Concert

S S O S E A S O N OP ENING C ON CE RT NEW SEASON, NEW BEGINNINGS 1 1 JU L Y 2 0 2 0 WATCH THE STREAM ONLIN E ON S I S T I C L I V E This concert is dedicated to the people of Singapore

SSO S EA S O N O PENI NG C O N C E R T NEW SEASON, NEW BEGINNINGS 11 Jul 2020 Watch the stream online on SISTIC Live at 7.30pm

Singapore Symphony Orchestra Hans Graf Chief Conductor Karen Gomyo violin Chloe Chua violin

T C H A I K O V SK Y

Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 “Pathétique”

46 mins

Recorded on 17 Jan 2020 at the Esplanade Concert Hall

J .S . B ACH

Largo from Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043

7 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.

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

SSO OPENING C ONC ER T | 11 JUL 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.

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S S O O P EN I N G C ONC ER T | 11 J U L 2020

K A R EN G O M Y O violin Born in Tokyo and beginning her musical career in Montréal and New York, Karen Gomyo now resides in Berlin. Forging strong relationships throughout Germany, she recently returned to the WDR RundfunkSinfonieorchester Köln for a special broadcast performance with Cristian Măcelaru, and in the 2020/21 season returns to the Bamberg Symphoniker for Beethoven’s Triple Concerto.

© GABRIELLE REVERE

A major highlight of this season is Karen’s debut with the Czech Philharmonic, where she will play Shostakovich’s First Violin Concerto conducted by Semyon Bychkov.

In Europe Karen has worked with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern, Dresdner Philharmoniker, Polish National Radio Symphony, Orchestre Symphonique de Radio France, Danish National Symphony, Kristiansand Symphony, BBC Symphony, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Philharmonia and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

Already well-established in North America, Karen has performed with the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Minnesota Orchestra, and the symphony orchestras of Detroit, San Francisco, Dallas, Cincinnati, Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver, St. Louis, and Washington D.C.

Further afield she has toured with New Zealand Symphony and appeared with West Australian Symphony Orchestra in Perth, Tasmanian Symphony and in recital at the Sydney Opera House. During the 2020/21 season in Asia, she makes her debuts with the Singapore Symphony, Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic and Suzhou Symphony Orchestra in China.

A passionate chamber musician, Karen has enjoyed a fruitful collaboration with guitarist Ismo Eskelinen culminating in the release of ‘Carnival’ in 2019 on BIS Records, with further releases also planned.

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SSO OPENING C ONC ER T | 11 JUL 2 0 2 0

Competition (First Prize, Junior 2017, Third Prize Junior 2015).

She has been enrolled in the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts School of Young Talents (NAFA) since she was four, and is currently under the tutelage of Yin Ke, leader of their Strings programme.

Her stunning maturity and musicality has captured the hearts of audience around the world, and her performances have taken her to concert halls across the UK, Thailand, Italy, Germany, China, Saudi Arabia, USA and Singapore, and to festivals such as the New Virtuosi Queenswood Mastercourse, Atlanta Festival Academy and the Singapore Violin Festival.

C HLO E CH U A violin Young violinist Chloe Chua’s meteoric rise on the classical music concert stage culminated in being awarded the joint First Prize at the 2018 Yehudi Menuhin International Competition for Young Violinists.

More recently she has performed with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, China Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra, AFA Festival Orchestra, Salzburg Chamber Soloists, Russian National Youth Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Yuri Bashmet, Kammerorchester Basel conducted by Umberto Benedetti Michelangeli and the China Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Maestro Xia Xiaotang.

The 13-year-old from Singapore had also garnered the top prize at the 24th Andrea Postacchini Violin Competition, and the Third Prize at the 2017 Zhuhai International Mozart Competition. She has also been awarded prizes at Thailand International Strings Competition (Junior Category Grand Prize), Singapore National Piano and Violin

She performs on a Vincenzo Postiglione, Napoli, 1884 on generous loan from Dr Peter Chew.

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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

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

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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.

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GUE S T MUSIC I A N S 11 J UL

TCHA I K O V SK Y S YMP HONY NO. 6

J . S . B A CH C O N C E R T O FO R TWO V I O LI N S

FIRS T VI OL I N Markus Tomasi Guest Concertmaster

H A R P SIC H OR D Darrell Ang

S E CON D V I OL I N Lim Shue Churn Helena Dawn Yah V IOLA Ho Qian Hui Yeo Jan Wea D OUBLE BAS S Joan Perarnau Garriga Principal Chia Ying Yin TUBA Paul Luxenberg Principal

Information correct at time of printing 10

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)

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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

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–

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6 tickets

10 tickets

12 tickets

16 tickets

20 tickets

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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

Special Appeal

Our Heartfelt Appreciation to You We initiated the Special Appeal to make up for lost ticket revenue due to three months of cancelled concerts.

Thanks to generous donors, the appeal has raised over $177,000 for the SSO as of 30 June 2020.

Thank you for your special gifts.

$25,000 AND ABOVE Mr & Mrs Goh Yew Lin

$10,000 AND ABOVE Chng Hak-Peng

$5,000 AND ABOV E Havas Media Asia Pacific Pte Ltd Angela Huang & Geo Chen A.D. Lim Ng Pei-Sian Mr & Mrs Robin Ian Rawlings Dr Alban Salord

$2,500 AND ABOV E Ang Ming Yi & Tanyatorn Lewchaleamwong Samuel Armstrong Prof Arnoud De Meyer Mr & Mrs Dorian Goh Dr Leong Keng Hong Ong Kong Hong Tibor Zoltan Szabady Teo Lay Lim Wicky Wong

$ 1 ,0 0 0 AN D AB OVE Dr Daniel N. Bach Prof Kanti Bajpai Dr Cynthia Chee Chung Sui Foh Arthur Davis Gan Chee Yen Pavitar Kaur Gill William Hernstadt Vanessa & Darren Iloste Khor Cheng Kian Paul Seiji Kitamura Koh Han Wei Colin Lang Lee Eng Lye Andrew Dr Norman Lee Er Stephen Leong Lim Shue Churn Lim Yuin Wen Lin Xiangqian Dr Loh Kai Woh Raymond Quah

Queenie & Friends Rak Syscom Pte Ltd Ian & Freda Rickword Alexey Rumyantsev Audrey Ruyters Naoyoshi Nick Shimoda Marcel Smit & Hanneke Verbeek Yukari Takada Tan Cheng Guan Tan Pei Jie Abel Teo Daniel Teo Valerie Thean Oliver Trianto Q. Mevr. Marie-Christine Van Meel Paul Winfindale & Huong Nguyen Wong Lai Foon Lillian Yin Anonymous (5)

We would also like to thank all the donors who are not listed here.

Every gift counts and helps to increase our matching grants.

This list reflects donations of $1,000 and above, that were made from 1 April to 30 June 2020.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to donors whose names were inadvertently left out at print time.

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SSO OPENING C ONC ER T | 11 JUL 2 0 2 0

PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY (1840–1893) Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 “Pathétique” (1893) I II III IV

Adagio – Allegro non troppo Allegro con grazia Allegro molto vivace Adagio lamentoso

After the premiere of the work in 1893, Rimsky-Korsakov asked Tchaikovsky what this “Programme Symphony”, as it was then titled, depicted. Tchaikovsky replied that there was indeed a programme, but he did not want to reveal it. He said later that the Symphony “would remain an enigma to all …, [a] programme saturated with subjective feeling.” Nevertheless, this, alongside the mystified reactions of the audience at its first performance, prompted Tchaikovsky to rethink its name.

His brother Modest suggested the alternative “Pateticheskaya”, meaning passionate or emotional in Russian, and this made it to the published score. In other editions such as English and French, the title is translated as Pathétique.

The Pathétique Symphony was written at the very end of Tchaikovsky’s life and encapsulates the length and breadth of his musical emotions, from optimistic passion to lyrical elegance, but also anguish and despair. As he desired, its exact meaning remains a subject of musicological debate today.

Above: Portrait of Tchaikovsky

by Nikolai Kuznetsov, 1893

a theme of great lyrical tenderness. A tumultuous scene of drama takes over, and after a reprise of the lyrical theme, the movement ends quietly.

Adagio – Allegro non troppo The first movement begins solemnly with the bassoon, leading the orchestra out of the darkness. A nervous Allegro non troppo heightens the pace, eventually revealing 20

but in good spirits at the time. He even wrote to his publisher, “Never in my life have I been so content, so proud, so happy in the knowledge that I have written a good piece.”

Perhaps in embracing the darkness, he had found the gold that does not glitter, and the strength that does not wither.

Allegro molto vivace The electrifying third movement begins with skittering strings that builds to an exuberant march, culminating in a massive orchestral whirlwind of thunder and triumph.

“Undoubtedly I should have gone mad but for music. Music is indeed the most beautiful of all Heaven's gifts to humanity wandering in the darkness. Alone it calms, enlightens, and stills our souls. … a true friend, refuge, and comforter, for whose sake life is worth living.” – Tchaikovsky

This climactic “false conclusion” often draws applause from the audience, another point of contention that surrounds this symphony.

There is no doubt, in any case, to the dramatic and discomforting change of mood as the finale begins.

Programme note by Chia Han-Leon

“Music is indeed the most beautiful of all Heaven’s gifts to humanity wandering in the darkness.”

Adagio lamentoso Despair and resignation unrelentingly pervade this final movement.

Its gloom even makes the preceding celebrations seem a little sinister on reflection. Now the symphony truly ends as its life gradually dissolves, layer by layer, fading away into darkness.

Instrumentation 3 flutes, 1 doubling on piccolo, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 1 doubling on bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, bass drum, cymbals, tam-tam, strings World Premiere 28 Oct 1893, St. Petersburg (conducted by Tchaikovsky)

Tchaikovsky died just nine days after the Symphony’s first performance. It is not surprising that many have interpreted the Sixth Symphony as fate knocking at his door or even a suicide letter. But this is unlikely, for Tchaikovsky was not only in good health,

First performed by SSO 6 Nov 1981

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S S O O P EN I N G C ONC ER T | 11 J U L 2020

Allegro con grazia Strings usher in the lush and graceful “limping waltz” of the second movement, an Allegro con grazia in 5/4 time, gentle of soul and wistful in feeling.

SSO OPENING C ONC ER T | 11 JUL 2 0 2 0

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685–1750) Largo from Concerto for Two Violins in D minor, BWV 1043 (c. 1717–1723) Johann Sebastian Bach is now regarded as one of the greatest composers – if not the greatest – who ever lived. He was born in 1685 and spent his life writing music for the Protestant church and the powerful aristocratic courts of present-day Germany.

By the time of his death in 1750 he had written a vast repertoire of music including choral cantatas, organ music, keyboard suites and orchestral music.

the high-spirited fugal writing gives way to a more delicate counterpoint between the two soloists.

The second violin opens with a beautiful, song-like melody, which is then passed between the two violins. As the dreamy melody seamlessly unfurls over the course of the seven-minute movement, Bach strips back the string orchestra accompaniment.

In place of the dazzling fugue of the opening movement, there are simple chords played in a repeated short-long pattern, gently propelling the music forward.

The Double Violin Concerto was probably written between 1717 and 1723, when Bach worked for Leopold, Prince of AnhaltKöthen as his Kapellmeister or director of music. His responsibilities were chiefly to compose music and organise performances for the Prince and his court. Two of the musicians he had at his disposal were a pair of talented Principal Violinists, Joseph Speiss and Martin Friedrich Marcus, and this concerto was likely a vehicle to allow his two star soloists shine.

Robert Schumann once said: “In order to compose, all you need to do is remember a tune no one else has thought of.” In his Double Violin Concerto, Bach managed to create just that: a melody that feels like something half-recalled from childhood, and a balm for the soul in uncertain times.

Programme note by Elizabeth Davis

This is the only concerto Bach wrote for two violins – and it’s one of very few written throughout history for a pair of violin soloists. The great Baroque composer Antonio Vivaldi wrote his own Double Violin Concerto just a few years earlier, in 1711.

And we can be sure that Bach knew this work because he created his own organ transcription of the piece (in a time before recorded music, this was the best way to hear a new work).

Instrumentation strings World Premiere unknown First performed by SSO 28 Mar 1991 (Vasko Vassilev & Vanessa-Mae Nicholson, violins)

The outer two movements (Vivace and Allegro) show Vivaldi’s influence, but in this central movement (Largo ma non tanto) 22

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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

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ARTISTIC PL ANNING

CEO OFFICE

C O R P O R AT E S E R V I C E S

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

Customer Experience Mr Randy Teo Ms Dacia Cheang Ms Nur Shafiqah bte Othman

Finance, IT & Facilities Mr Rick Ong Mr Alan Ong Ms Goh Hoey Fen Mr Md Zailani bin Md Said

Ms Peggy Kek (Head)

Human Resources & Administration Mr Desmen Low Ms Melissa Lee Ms Evelyn Siew

Corporate Communications Ms Haslina Hassan

Legal Mr Edward Loh

Development Ms Chelsea Zhao Ms Nikki Chuang Ms Charmaine Fong

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

DE VELOPMENT & PA R T N E R S H I P S

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

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

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.