Singapore Symphony Orchestra 2017/18 Season Brochure

2017 /18 LAN SHUI MUSIC DIRECTOR

PATRON President Tony Tan Keng Yam BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chairman Mr Goh Yew Lin Deputy Chairman Ms Yong Ying-I Directors Mr Ang Chek Meng Mrs Odile Benjamin Mr Chng Hak-Peng Mr Lionel Choi Prof Arnoud De Meyer Mr Heinrich Grafe Mr Kwee Liong Seen Ms Liew Wei Li Ms Lim Mei Prof Lim Seh Chun Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao Ms Tan Choo Leng Mr Paul Tan Dr Kelly Tang Mr Yee Chen Fah

NG PEI-SIAN PRINCIPAL CELLO

S ING A P OR E S Y MP HON Y OR C HE S T R A

SSO Recommends / 22

2017/18 SEASON

SSO Pops Concerts / 58

Subscription / Gala / Christmas Concerts / 26 SSO Chamber Series / 50 Families & Schools / 52 Free Concerts / 60 Index / 73 Tickets & Packages / 75 Victoria Concert Hall: Home of the SSO Esplanade Concert Hall: Performing Home of the SSO Orchestra photography by Lertkiat Chongjirajitra.

The information in this publication is correct at press time but the SSO reserves the right to change programmes or artists without prior notice.

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RE F L EC T IONS A ND RE NE WA L S WELCOME FROM THE MUSIC DIRECTOR

This season is a journey of reflection for me with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. In celebrating our 21 years together, as I cast my eyes back to our achievements over the last two decades, words cannot express how proud I am of the extraordinary work done by our musicians, management and Board.

21 years is a milestone in life, and also a time for reflection and renewal. In my penultimate year as Music Director, we shall embark on a journey to reach new heights with the SSO. There is a special feeling every time I walk on to the stage to perform with the musicians. Concert after concert, year after year, the infectious energy, dramatic colours and gripping intensity of our shared experiences never fail to inspire me. This is what I want to continue sharing with you.

This season, besides the all-time favourite symphonies by Beethoven, Dvorák and Tchaikovsky, you will hear the complete Brahms symphonies as well as the monumental works of Mahler (Symphonies Nos. 6 and 7) and

Bruckner (Nos. 3 and 9). We will also play rarely heard masterpieces such as Bartók’s Piano Concerto No. 1, Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1, Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 2 and Lutoslawski’s Symphony No. 4.

Look forward to the dazzle and drama of opera’s finest in the concert version of Puccini’s La Bohème and a 65-minute “Orchestral Adventure” based on Wagner’s Ring Cycle, as well as gala appearances by virtuoso soprano Diana Damrau, star pianist Lang Lang and award-winning violinists Janine Jansen and Leonidas Kavakos. We are also honoured to play a part in celebrating Finland’s 100th year of Independence in December.

We continue to champion with pride the music of Singapore composers, focusing on works that the SSO has commissioned and premiered in the past, such as the compositions of Tan Chan Boon, Er Yenn Chwen, Diana Soh and Kelly Tang. The SSO will also present the music of leading Thai composer Narong Prangcharoen as well as a world-premiere of the young Malaysian pianist-composer Tengku Irfan.

I take this opportunity to thank our esteemed friend Lim Yau, outgoing Choral Director of the Singapore Symphony Chorus, for the tremendous work he has done with the Chorus and Orchestra – many a magnificent voice has resounded on the stage under his direction.

We welcome Eudenice Palaruan, Choral Director, who has built a strong connection with the chorus over the past year. I am also pleased to announce the appointment of our new Principal Guest Conductor: Andrew Litton. We warmly welcome him to the SSO family. Andrew combines his excellent musicianship and extensive experience with the great rapport he has with our orchestra.

Tchaikovsky said, “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”.

See you in the concert hall!

LAN SHUI Music Director

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OUR S TOR Y

‘Orchestral playing at the peak of refinement and beauty’ Fanfare

SHUI BING VIOLA 05

SAMUEL ARMSTRONG TROMBONE

GULNARA MASHUROVA PRINCIPAL HARP

NIKOLAI KOVAL SECOND VIOLIN

DAMIAN PATTI ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL TROMBONE

JON PAUL DANTE PRINCIPAL TRUMPET

RACHEL WALKER PRINCIPAL OBOE

CHIKAKO SASAKI SECOND VIOLIN

‘A fine display of orchestral bravado for the SSO and Shui’ The Guardian

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-theart Esplanade Concert Hall. More intimate works and all outreach and community performances take place at the 673-seat Victoria Concert Hall, the home of the SSO. The orchestra performs 100 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.

Since Lan Shui assumed the position of Music Director in 1997, the SSO has performed in Europe, Asia and the United States. In 2016 the SSO was invited to perform at the Dresden Music Festival and the Prague Spring International 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

HIDEHIRO FUJITA PRINCIPAL TUBA 09

HAN CHANG CHOU PRINCIPAL HORN

acclaim in the major UK newspapers The Guardian and Telegraph. The SSO has also performed in China on multiple occasions.

Notable SSO releases under BIS include a Rachmaninov series, a Debussy disc, Seascapes featuring sea-themed music by Debussy, Frank Bridge, Glazunov and Zhou Long, 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, Vladimir Ashkenazy, Lang Lang, Yo-Yo Ma, Leonidas Kavakos and Gil Shaham.

ZHAO YING XUE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL CONTRA BASSOON 10

ROBERTO ALVAREZ ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL PICCOLO

ELAINE YEO ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL COR ANGLAIS

MARK SUTER ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL PERCUSSION 11

MU SIC DIREC TOR Lan Shui is renowned for his abilities as an orchestral builder and for his passion in commissioning, premiering and recording new works by leading Asian composers. As Music Director of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra since 1997, American Record Review noted that Shui has “turned a good regional orchestra into a world-class ensemble that plays its heart out at every concert”. Together they have made several acclaimed tours to Europe, Asia and the United States and appeared for the first time at the BBC Proms in September 2014.

Lan Shui held the position of Chief Conductor of the Copenhagen Phil from 2007 to 2015, and from 2017 he will be their Conductor Laureate. He recently concluded a four-year period as Artistic Advisor of the National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra. As a guest conductor, Shui has worked with many orchestras. In the United States he has appeared with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, San

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Francisco Symphony, and Baltimore and Detroit symphony orchestras.

In Europe he has performed with Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, hr-Sinfonieorchester, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Radio-Sinfonieorchester Stuttgart des SWR, Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, Gothenburg Symphony, Tampere Philharmonic and Orchestre National de Lille.

In Asia he has conducted the Hong Kong, Malaysian and Japan Philharmonic orchestras and maintains a close relationship with the China Philharmonic and Shanghai Symphony.

Since 1998 Shui has recorded over 20 CDs for BIS - including a Rachmaninov series, a Seascapes disc and the first-ever complete cycle of Tcherepnin’s symphonies with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra – and also music by Arnold and Hindemith with the Malmö Symphony Orchestra, which has received two Grammy nominations.

Lan Shui is the recipient of several international awards from the Beijing Arts Festival and the New York Tcherepnin Society, the 37th Besançon Conductors’ Competition in France and Boston University (Distinguished Alumni Award) as well as the Cultural Medallion – Singapore’s highest accolade in the arts.

Born in Hangzhou, China, Shui studied composition at the Shanghai Conservatory and graduated from The Beijing Central Conservatory. He continued his graduate studies at Boston University while at the same time working closely with Leonard Bernstein at the Tanglewood Music Festival. He has worked together with David Zinman as Conducting Affiliate of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, as Associate Conductor to Neeme Järvi at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and with Kurt Masur at the New York Philharmonic and Pierre Boulez at The Cleveland Orchestra.

‘Lan Shui is the master of movement, detail, and musical integrity’ American Record Guide

LAN SHUI MUSIC DIRECTOR

DUAN YU LING FIRST VIOLIN

WILLIAM TAN FIRST VIOLIN 13

JIN TA PRINCIPAL FLUTE

OLGA ALEXANDROVA DOUBLE BASS

IGOR YUZEFOVICH CONCERTMASTER 15

THE O R C HEST R A FIRST VIOLIN

LAN SHUI Music Director

ANDREW LITTON Principal Guest Conductor

JOSHUA TAN Associate Conductor

CHOO HOEY Conductor Emeritus

JASON LAI Associate Conductor

EUDENICE PALARUAN Choral Director

Igor Yuzefovich° Concertmaster Lynnette Seah Co-Concertmaster Kong Zhao Hui* Associate Concertmaster Chan Yoong-Han Fixed Chair Cao Can* Chen Da Wei Duan Yu Ling Foo Say Ming Gu Wen Li Jin Li Cindy Lee Sui Jing Jing Karen Tan William Tan Wei Zhe SECOND VIOLIN Michael Loh Associate Principal Hai-Won Kwok Fixed Chair Nikolai Koval* Chikako Sasaki* Margit Saur Shao Tao Tao Lillian Wang Wu Man Yun* Xu Jue Yi* Ye Lin* Yeo Teow Meng Yin Shu Zhan* Zhang Si Jing* VIOLA

*With deep appreciation to the Rin Collection for their generous loan of string instruments °Igor Yuzefovich plays an instrument generously loaned by Mr & Mrs G K Goh Musicians listed alphabetically rotate their seats on a per programme basis.

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Zhang Manchin Principal Guan Qi Associate Principal Gu Bing Jie* Fixed Chair

Marietta Ku Luo Biao Shui Bing Tan Wee-Hsin Yang Shi Li

OBOE

TRUMPET

Rachel Walker Principal Pan Yun Associate Principal Carolyn Hollier Elaine Yeo

Jon Paul Dante Principal David Smith Associate Principal Lau Wen Rong Sergey Tyuteykin

CELLO

COR ANGLAIS

TROMBONE

Ng Pei-Sian Principal Yu Jing Associate Principal Guo Hao Fixed Chair Chan Wei Shing Song Woon Teng Wang Yan Wang Zihao* Peter Wilson Wu Dai Dai Zhao Yu Er

Elaine Yeo Associate Principal

Allen Meek Principal Damian Patti Associate Principal Samuel Armstrong

DOUBLE BASS Guennadi Mouzyka Principal Yang Zheng Yi Associate Principal Karen Yeo Fixed Chair Olga Alexandrova Jacek Mirucki Wang Xu

CLARINET Ma Yue Principal Li Xin Associate Principal Liu Yoko Tang Xiao Ping

Hidehiro Fujita Principal

Tang Xiao Ping Assistant Principal TIMPANI BASSOON Liu Chang Associate Principal Christoph Wichert Zhao Ying Xue

FLUTE

Zhao Ying Xue Assistant Principal

Jin Ta Principal Evgueni Brokmiller Associate Principal Roberto Alvarez Miao Shanshan

HORN

Roberto Alvarez Assistant Principal

Wang Wei Assistant Principal TUBA

BASS CLARINET

CONTRA BASSOON

PICCOLO

BASS TROMBONE

Christian Schiøler Principal Jonathan Fox Associate Principal PERCUSSION Jonathan Fox Principal Mark Suter Associate Principal Lim Meng Keh Zhu Zheng Yi

HARP Han Chang Chou Principal Gulnara Mashurova Principal Gao Jian Associate Principal Jamie Hersch Associate Principal Marc-Antoine Robillard Associate Principal Kartik Alan Jairamin

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MU SICIA N C H AIR To continue to be one of the most outstanding orchestras in the region, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra needs to recruit and maintain its pool of talented musicians. We would like to thank the following organisations for their generous support for our Musician Chair programme.

NG PEI-SIAN Principal Cello

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GUO HAO Fixed Chair Cello

BE A FRIEND OF THE SSO FOR A MINIMUM OF $75, ALL FRIENDS ENJOY Priority booking with 10% off all concert tickets!

Exclusive Meet-the-Artist sessions A pair of birthday tickets1 Discounts on merchandise, tax exemption and a personalised ticketing hotline service

BE A SILVER FRIEND FOR $200 2 top-priced tickets to any concert* 15% off Subscription concerts

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BE A PLATINUM FRIEND FOR $1,000 10 top-priced tickets to any concert* 25% off Subscription concerts 2 tickets to the popular SSO Christmas Concert2 An SSO gift * Valid for all concerts (excluding Babies’ Proms, Christmas, Gala, Pops and special concerts). tickets: Valid for Subscription, Chamber and Discovering Music! Concerts only, unless otherwise stated.

2 Subject to availability.

1 Birthday

For more details, visit www.sso.org.sg/friends or contact our Friends officer at friends@sso.org.sg.

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SSO REC O M M E N D S Thinking of watching a SSO concert but not sure where to start? Let us guide you on your musical journey.

FAMILIAR FAVOURITES These concerts are bound to get you hooked on classics, and keep you coming back for more!

25 Aug 2017 Emperor and PathÊtique 1 Nov 2017 Diana Damrau 30 Nov 2017 Lang Lang 27 & 28 Apr 2018 La Bohème

CONCERTS FOR BEGINNERS These concerts help guide beginners embarking on their first concerts, enhancing their understanding and appreciation of classical music and the orchestra.

SSO Discovering Music!

SSO Pops Concerts SSO Outdoor and Community Concerts FREE!

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FEELING ADVENTUROUS? Discover some of the most fascinating modern composers of the 20th and 21st centuries through these concerts.

29 Sep 2017 President’s Young Performers Concert 14 Oct 2017 Stephen Hough • Rachmaninov Piano Concerto 1 17 Nov 2017 Song of Destiny • Brahms Symphonies 3 Feb 2018 Shostakovich Cello Concerto 23 Mar 2018 Radiance and Spark 6 Apr 2018 Eliahu Inbal: Mahler 6

CONCERTS FOR FAMILIES AND YOUNG PEOPLE READY FOR MORE?

Kids love coming to the orchestra, and these are our most popular children’s concerts!

Becoming more comfortable with classical music, and would like to listen to more?

These concerts introduce you to a wider range of composers and music.

SSO Babies’ Proms (suitable for ages up to 6)

14 Jul 2017 Chopin Piano Concerto 2 • Poem of Ecstasy

SSO Campus Concerts FREE!

SSO Concerts for Children (for ages 4 and above)

19 Aug 2017 When in Rome 22 Sep 2017 Mendelssohn Violin Concerto • Brahms Symphonies 7 Dec 2017 Finland 100 30 Mar 2018 Alina Ibragimova Plays Brahms 11 May 2018 Christian Blackshaw Plays Beethoven

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A symphony is no joke.

Johannes Brahms

B R AH MS SYMPH O N I E S In 1896, just a year before his death, Brahms conducted a concert featuring both his piano concertos. It was to be his last time conducting.

In the celebratory dinner given in his honour afterwards, his lifelong friend and musical collaborator Joseph Joachim raised a glass to begin a toast, exclaiming, “To the greatest composer…” - to which Brahms quickly interjected with, “Quite right – here’s to Mozart!”

This image of Brahms, celebrated yet self-deprecating, reflects a witty and humorous composer who spent many years worrying if he could surmount the legacy of Beethoven. In 1870 he wrote “I shall never write a symphony”. His First Symphony took nearly 20 years to gestate and was finally completed when he was 43. By 1897 Brahms had written four, which have become staples in all symphony orchestras today. Rooted in traditional Classicism but forging his own path, Brahms’ style is of the unpretentious innovator - unassuming in spirit, resounding in legacy.

Lan Shui conducts the SSO in a complete Brahms Symphony Cycle in 2017, the 120th anniversary of the composer’s death.

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7 JULY 2017

Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68

28 JULY 2017

Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90

22 SEPTEMBER 2017

Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98

17 NOVEMBER 2017

Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73

ALLEN MEEK PRINCIPAL TROMBONE

EN JOY C O N C E RTS M O R E Make the most out of your concert experience.

Come join us for our series of fringe events designed to help you enjoy the music even more!

PRE-CONCERT TALK

OPEN REHEARSAL

Discover new insights into the music you are about to hear in the concert hall. Let our specialist speakers enrich your experience in the world of classical music.

Pre-Concert Talks are held from 6.30pm to 7pm.

That amazing concert you just watched is the result of several rehearsals and a lot of hard work. Open rehearsals offer a behind-the-scenes perspective of how the conductor shapes every note and phrase with the orchestra, and how the individual sections come together as a harmonious whole.

POST-CONCERT SYMPHONY CHAT Join our conductors and guest artists at the Symphony Chat where they will share their deepest thoughts and ideas on music. If you have a question about what you’ve just heard, this is the perfect opportunity to get it answered.

AUTOGRAPH SESSION Autograph sessions are arranged for selected SSO concerts, to allow you the opportunity to meet the performers and offer your compliments. View our schedule of autograph sessions on www.sso.org.sg.

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© ELIZABETH DELAGE

© LUKE RATRAY

7 JULY 2017 FRI | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

14 JULY 2017 FRI | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

GIL SHAHAM • BRAHMS SYMPHONIES EVENING, DREAMS, FANTASY. A NEW SEASON.

CHOPIN PIANO CONCERTO 2 • POEM OF ECSTASY FROM ENCHANTMENT TO ECSTASY

Lan Shui and the SSO open the season with Tan Chan Boon’s Soir, Rêves, Fantaisie. Lyricism, fantasy and mischief come alive in Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1 under the bow of Gil Shaham. Lan Shui begins the SSO’s Brahms Symphonies cycle with the epic Symphony No. 1 in C minor, a work that Brahms wrote and refined over a period of 21 years, embodying all the hallmark qualities of the German Romantic master.

Young Canadian pianist Charles Richard-Hamelin takes the lead in Chopin’s lyrical Second Piano Concerto, written when the composer was just 20, akin to the Armenian Suite which Richard Yardumian – who was born 100 years ago in 1917 – wrote when he was 19.

The youthful first half of this programme gives way to the gentle ebb and flow of Liadov’s The Enchanted Lake, before ending with the evocative soundscapes and gleaming final chords of Scriabin’s aptly titled Poem of Ecstasy.

Tan Chan Boon Soir, Rêves, Fantaisie from Symphony No. 2 Prokofiev Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19 Brahms Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68 Lan Shui, conductor Gil Shaham, violin

‘One of today’s preeminent violinists’ The New York Times PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade POST-CONCERT SYMPHONY CHAT 26

R. Yardumian Armenian Suite Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21 A. Liadov The Enchanted Lake, Op. 62 Scriabin The Poem of Ecstasy, Op. 54 Lan Shui, conductor Charles Richard-Hamelin, piano PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade

28 JULY 2017 FRI | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

MENDELSSOHN PIANO CONCERTO 1 • BRAHMS SYMPHONIES MUSIC TO TRANSFORM YOUR SOUL Melvyn Tan returns as the soloist in Mendelssohn’s spirited First Piano Concerto, a centrepiece framed by the magisterial melodies of Brahms’ regal Third Symphony and the heartfelt poetry of Strauss’ Death and Transfiguration, depicting the passing of an artist as he relives memories and achievements, to reach the ultimate transfiguration of the soul.

R. Strauss Tod und Verklärung (Death and Transfiguration), Op. 24 Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25 Brahms Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90

© SHEILA ROCK

Lan Shui, conductor Melvyn Tan, piano

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade FRIENDS’ CONCERT Friends of the SSO enjoy 50% off Cat 1 - 3 tickets.

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© MARCO BORGGREVE

© VERA GREINER

19 AUGUST 2017 SAT | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

25 AUGUST 2017 FRI | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

WHEN IN ROME SOUNDS SO ROMANTIC

EMPEROR AND PATHÉTIQUE POWER AND MAJESTY

Expect lush, sweeping soundscapes as Polish star conductor Michal Nesterowicz takes on two magnificent works from Respighi: the Pines of Rome and Fountains of Rome. Completing the programme is Beethoven’s glittering masterpiece, the Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, with soloist Anna Tsybuleva – winner of the 2015 Leeds International Piano Competition.

Two works of deep feeling and grandeur: one the most regal of piano concerti exuding tender beauty and assured optimism; the other a symphony of power and lyricism ending in heartbreak. Bringing fresh insights to these masterpieces is Singaporean conductor Wong Kah Chun, winner of the Gustav Mahler Conducting Competition in 2016, with rising star Shai Wosner on piano.

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73 “Emperor”

Respighi Fountains of Rome Respighi Pines of Rome Michal Nesterowicz, conductor Anna Tsybuleva, piano

Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74 “Pathétique” Wong Kah Chun, conductor Shai Wosner, piano

‘His feel for keyboard colour and voicing is wonderful’ The Washington Post on Wosner

OPEN REHEARSAL 19 Aug, 9.30am | For Friends of the SSO and ticketholders PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade 28

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade

8 SEPTEMBER 2017 FRI | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

‘Sheer dynamite from beginning to end’ The Herald on Andrew Litton

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

LITTON • BAVOUZET SSO’S NEW PRINCIPAL GUEST CONDUCTOR SSO presents Andrew Litton’s first concert as Principal Guest Conductor with Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony, a work full of restless drama and energy. French pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet’s recordings of the Bartók concertos have earned rave reviews, and he returns to the Singapore stage with the intriguing First Concerto.

Shostakovich Bartók Tchaikovsky

October, Op. 131 Piano Concerto No. 1 Symphony No. 4 in F minor, Op. 36

Andrew Litton, conductor Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, piano

‘Bartók gives me hope, makes me laugh, brings me to tears and makes me see life in a bigger perspective. He helps me to live.’

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade 29

© DAISUKE AKITA

22 SEPTEMBER 2017 FRI | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

29 SEPTEMBER 2017 FRI | 7.30PM | VICTORIA CONCERT HALL

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

MENDELSSOHN VIOLIN CONCERTO • BRAHMS SYMPHONIES INCOMPARABLE STRENGTH

PRESIDENT’S YOUNG PERFORMERS CONCERT YOUNG HEROES OF MUSIC

“Incomparable strength from start to finish” – so said the conductor Hans von Bülow of Brahms’ final symphony, the only one of his symphonic oeuvre that ends in a minor key. Japanese violinist Daishin Kashimoto, 1st Concertmaster of the Berlin Philharmonic, takes on the achingly beautiful Violin Concerto by Mendelssohn while SSO Principal Trumpet Jon Paul Dante presents the tuneful Hummel Trumpet Concerto, one of the most popular of the genre.

21 this year, euphonist Kang Chun Meng is the soloist in this year’s President’s Young Performers Concert, which also features Singapore-born composer Er Yenn Chwen’s Symphonia Anamneseos.

SSO Associate Conductor Joshua Tan directs Beethoven’s heroic Third Symphony.

Hummel Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major, S. 49 Mendelssohn Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64

SINGAPORE PREMIERE

Joshua Tan, conductor Kang Chun Meng, euphonium

Lan Shui, conductor Daishin Kashimoto, violin Jon Paul Dante, trumpet Sponsored by

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Philip Wilby Euphonium Concerto

Beethoven Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 “Eroica”

Brahms Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade

Er Yenn Chwen Symphonia Anamneseos, a Symphony of Remembrance

Sponsored by

© SIM CANETTY-CLARKE

© BAPTISTE MILLOT

5 OCTOBER 2017 THU | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

14 OCTOBER 2017 SAT | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

STEVEN ISSERLIS • ELGAR CELLO CONCERTO FIRE AND COLOUR

STEPHEN HOUGH • RACHMANINOV PIANO CONCERTO 1 BEAUTY AND CONTEMPLATION

Acclaimed Singapore-born conductor Darrell Ang returns with a night of orchestral colour and emotional fire. The flights of fancy in Suk’s Scherzo Fantastique and the post-Tchaikovskian riches of Glazunov’s Fifth Symphony contrastingly frame the soul-crushing magnificence of Elgar’s Cello Concerto, helmed by esteemed cellist Steven Isserlis.

Suk Scherzo Fantastique, Op. 25 Elgar Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85 Glazunov Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, Op. 55 Darrell Ang, conductor Steven Isserlis, cello

Expect glistening beauty and virtuoso fireworks as Stephen Hough takes centrestage in Rachmaninov’s First Piano Concerto. Finnish maestro Hannu Lintu brings out the wit and contemplation of Shostakovich’s First Symphony, contrasting with Lutoslawski’s Fourth Symphony, the Polish composer’s last major work.

Lutoslawski Symphony No. 4 Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 1 in F-sharp minor, Op. 1 Shostakovich Symphony No. 1 in F minor, Op. 10 Hannu Lintu, conductor Stephen Hough, piano

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | Esplanade Concert Hall Stalls Foyer

OPEN REHEARSAL 14 Oct, 9.30am | Open to public PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade 31

SSO GALA 19 OCTOBER 2017 THU | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

SSO GALA

JANINE JANSEN GOLDEN, DELICATE, ETHEREAL Renowned Dutch violinist Janine Jansen makes her Singapore debut with her husband, conductor Daniel Blendulf, playing the intensely virtuosic Sibelius Violin Concerto. The meandering beauty of Sibelius’ ethereal Swan of Tuonela makes a dark contrast to the bright melodies of Dvorák’s Symphony No. 8.

Sibelius The Swan of Tuonela Sibelius Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47 Dvorák Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op. 88

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade 32

© MARCO BORGGREVE

Daniel Blendulf, conductor Janine Jansen, violin

27 OCTOBER 2017 FRI | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

THE RING – AN ORCHESTRAL ADVENTURE GOLD. LOVE. THE CURSE. Experience the magic of Wagner’s famous opera The Ring through this 67-minute orchestral adventure by Henk De Vlieger, directed by Kristjan Järvi. Saint-Saëns’ Fifth Piano Concerto fills the air with his hallmark French glitter, performed by celebrated French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet.

K. Järvi Saint-Saëns Wagner

ShANgHAi Wonder SINGAPORE PREMIERE Piano Concerto No. 5 in F major, Op. 103 “The Egyptian” The Ring – An Orchestral Adventure (arr. Henk De Vlieger)

Kristjan Järvi, conductor Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano

‘A musician with fearless, flawless fingers’

© B EALOVEGA

The West Australian on Jean-Yves Thibaudet

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade 33

SSO GALA 1 NOVEMBER 2017 WED | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL SSO GALA

DIANA DAMRAU A NIGHT AT THE OPERA

Celebrated soprano Diana Damrau graces the Singapore stage with her husband, bass-baritone Nicolas Testé, in a dazzling programme featuring famous duets and arias from Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette, Meyerbeer’s Les Huguenots and Dinorah, Bellini’s I puritani and Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess.

HIGHLIGHTS: Rossini

“Una voce poco fa” from The Barber of Seville

Meyerbeer “Nobles seigneurs” from Les Huguenots

“Ombre légère“ from Dinorah “Elle ne m’aime pas” from Don Carlo “Amour, ranime mon courage” from Romeo & Juliet

Bellini

“O rendetemi la speme” from I puritani

Pavel Baleff, conductor Diana Damrau, soprano Nicolas Testé, bass baritone

© REBECCA FAY

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | Esplanade Concert Hall Stalls Foyer

Verdi Gounod

10 NOVEMBER 2017 FRI | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

17 NOVEMBER 2017 FRI | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

BEETHOVEN TRIPLE CONCERTO IN C MUSICAL COLLABORATION IN THREES

SONG OF DESTINY • BRAHMS SYMPHONIES WANDER GLADLY IN THE LIGHT

Be inspired by the heroism and optimism in Copland’s Third, popularly known as “America’s Great Symphony”. SSO Principal Guest Conductor Andrew Litton doubles up as solo pianist, partnering our concertmaster Igor Yuzefovich and principal cello Ng Pei-Sian for the chamber-like Triple Concerto in C by Beethoven.

The Schicksalslied, a portrait of spiritually blinded mortals and Elysian spirits, is one of Brahms’ most ethereal and profound masterpieces. The concert opens with music from Malaysian child prodigy Tengku Irfan and ends with Brahms’ Second Symphony, suffused with Romantic pastoral sunshine.

Beethoven Concerto for Violin, Cello & Piano in C major, Op. 56 Copland Symphony No. 3 Andrew Litton, conductor/piano Igor Yuzefovich, violin Ng Pei-Sian, cello

Sponsored by

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade POST-CONCERT SYMPHONY CHAT

T. Irfan Meditation Brahms Gesang der Parzen, Op. 89 Brahms Schicksalslied, Op. 54 (“Song of Destiny”) Brahms Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 73 Lan Shui, conductor Singapore Symphony Chorus Singapore Symphony Youth Choir

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade 35

29 NOVEMBER 2017 WED | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

GALA RECITAL

LANG LANG IN RECITAL RITUAL FIRE DANCE Catch popular Chinese pianist Lang Lang in this solo recital before his concerti night. The programme of French and Spanish inspiration promises an evening of fiery colours, restless energy and evocative enchantment.

Debussy Ballade Liszt Piano Sonata in B minor S. 178 Albeniz from Suite Española, Op. 47 Granados from Goyescas, Op. 11 De Falla Danza ritual del fuego Lang Lang, piano

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SSO GALA 30 NOVEMBER 2017 THU | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

SSO GALA

LANG LANG IN THE HALL OF A PIANO PRINCE Superstar pianist Lang Lang returns with two piano concerti performances, the fiendishly difficult Bartók No. 2 and the expressive classic by Grieg. Rounding out the programme is Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite No. 1 of “Morning Mood” and “In the Hall of the Mountain King” fame.

Grieg Peer Gynt: Suite No. 1, Op. 46 Bartók Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16 Lan Shui, conductor Lang Lang, piano

‘The hottest artist on the classical music planet’ © ROBERT ASCROFT

The New York Times

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade 37

7 DECEMBER 2017 THU | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

FINLAND 100 YOUR DAY IS DAWNING Celebrate the 100th anniversary of Finland’s Independence in this grand concert featuring Finnish violinist, conductor and composer Jaakko Kuusisto’s Violin Concerto, played by its dedicatee Elina Vähälä. No celebration of Finnish nationalism is without the works of its greatest musical son, Jean Sibelius – the majestic Symphony No. 5 concludes the programme opened by Finland’s unofficial second national anthem, Finlandia.

Sibelius Finlandia, Op. 26 Jaakko Kuusisto Violin Concerto, Op. 28 Sibelius Symphony No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 82 Okko Kamu, conductor Elina Vähälä, violin

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade 38

15, 16 & 17 DECEMBER 2017 FRI & SAT | 7.30PM SUN | 4PM VICTORIA CONCERT HALL

SSO CHRISTMAS CONCERT THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR Ever wondered what it’s like to sing along with the SSO in the Victoria Concert Hall?

Associate Conductor Joshua Tan and the SSO bring you a sparkling collection of musical treasures for the yuletide season, complete with a sing-a-long segment where you can join in the chorus!

Joshua Tan, conductor Singapore Symphony Chorus Singapore Symphony Youth Choir Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir

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6 JANUARY 2018 SAT | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

12 JANUARY 2018 FRI | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

MAHLER 7 MUSIC OF THE NIGHT

HAYDN CELLO CONCERTO 1 A TRIBUTE TO FRIENDSHIP

Music of shadows and luminance, calm and fanfare, Mahler’s Seventh Symphony has divided opinion with its vivid array of contrasting instrumental range, orchestral colour and moods. Whatever your perception of night, Mahler leads the listener through moonlit dreamscapes and grotesque nightmares, culminating in a finale of daylight.

Written in the 1760s and lost for 200 years, Haydn’s Cello Concerto No.1 has become a staple of the cello repertoire since its rediscovery in 1961. On the other hand, Bruckner’s heroic Third Symphony, sometimes called the “Wagner Symphony”, exists in at least six versions. Catch these contrasting works with cellist Qin Li-Wei under the direction of Lan Shui.

Mahler Symphony No. 7 in E minor

Haydn Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major, Hob VIIb/1

Lan Shui, conductor

Bruckner Symphony No. 3 in D minor, WAB 103 Lan Shui, conductor Qin Li-Wei, cello

‘Meltingly beautiful tone, flawless intonation’ The New York Times

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade 40

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade

20 JANUARY 2018 SAT | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

SCHEHERAZADE • KARI KRIIKKU ARABIAN NIGHTS Rimsky-Korsakov Scheherazade, Op. 35 Kimmo Hakola Clarinet Concerto SINGAPORE PREMIERE

Finnish composer Kimmo Hakola’s Clarinet Concerto stamps its mark in the genre with modernity and rambunctious energy, laying out arresting rhythms and themes -- including the dance celebrations of a Yiddish wedding -- that cannot help but grab attention. Described as a roaring success for the composer, the concerto will see its Singapore premiere by acclaimed Finnish clarinettist Kari Kriikku and promises to be a wild ride. RimskyKorsakov’s interpretation of the Arabian Nights, the popular Scheherazade suite, completes the evening’s delights for the senses.

Lim Yau, conductor Kari Kriikku, clarinet

‘The most remarkable clarinettist of our times’ Leipziger Allmanach

© MARCO BORGGREVE

Sponsored by In Celebration of Tote Board’s 30 Years of Giving 1988 - 2018 to the Development and Promotion of Arts in Singapore.

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade 41

26 JANUARY 2018 FRI | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE AN EPISODE IN THE LIFE OF AN ARTIST Dark fantasies. Unrequited love. A witches’ sabbath.

An episode in the life of an artist. Berlioz’s radical masterpiece Symphonie Fantastique comes alive in the hands of Japanese maestro Kazushi Ono. It is paired here with Walton’s Viola Concerto, gorgeous music drenched in lively rhythms and jazzy harmonies.

Walton Viola Concerto Berlioz Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14 Kazushi Ono, conductor Zhang Manchin, viola

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade 42

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm-7pm | library@esplanade

© JIM RAKETE

3 FEBRUARY 2018 SAT | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

2 MARCH 2018 FRI | 7.30PM | VICTORIA CONCERT HALL

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

SHOSTAKOVICH CELLO CONCERTO WITNESS THE PHENOMENON

A IS FOR AIYAH MYSTERIES OF THE MACABRE

Leading Thai composer Narong Prangcharoen’s Phenomenon begins this fascinating programme with its invocation of mysterious natural phenomena.

Then, explore the dark and eerie soundscapes of Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 2, before concluding the night with Dvorák’s trademark symphonic melodies.

The SSO presents the world premiere of A is for Aiyah, composed by young Singaporean composer Diana Soh, an alumnus of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music and currently based in Paris. French soprano Élise Chauvin brings us on a journey of Mahlerian song through five lieder based on the poetry of Friedrich Rückert, and then the avant-garde theatre of Ligeti’s Mysteries of the Macabre.

Narong Prangcharoen Phenomenon

Diana Soh A is for Aiyah from ä bug i da

Shostakovich Cello Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 126

Webern Passacaglia, Op. 1

Dvorák Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60

Mahler Rückert-Lieder

Carlos Kalmar, conductor Jan Vogler, cello

Stravinsky Symphony in Three Movements

WORLD PREMIERE

Ligeti Mysteries of the Macabre Jason Lai, conductor Élise Chauvin, soprano

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | VCH Music Studio @ L3 POST-CONCERT SYMPHONY CHAT 43

© EVA VERMANDEL

23 MARCH 2018 FRI | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

30 MARCH 2018 FRI | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

RADIANCE AND SPARK A SHOWCASE FOR HORNS AND STRINGS

ALINA IBRAGIMOVA PLAYS BRAHMS A LUSH PAINTING OF NOBLE LYRICISM

Kelly Tang’s Two Symphonic Dances: Radiance and Spark were commissioned for and premiered at the 10th anniversary of the Esplanade in 2012, while the inspiration for Konzertstück was Schumann’s response to the invention of the valved horn. The SSO horns tackle this showcase for the instrument, and the strings will feature in the vigorous Orawa by Polish composer Wojciech Kilar of The Pianist fame.

Wojciech Kilar Orawa Schumann Konzertstück for 4 Horns in F major, Op. 86 Kelly Tang Two Symphonic Dances: Radiance and Spark Mozart Symphony No. 38 in D major, K. 504 “Prague” Michal Nesterowicz, conductor SSO horns Sponsored by

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Rising star Alina Ibragimova is one of the hottest names in classical music today, and she returns with Brahms’ Violin Concerto in D – a lush painting of noble lyricism exquisitely written for the instrument. Berg’s thoroughly modern “Drei Orchesterstücke” provides startling contrast, as does Bartók’s richly scored Concerto for Orchestra, promising a showcase of every musician on stage.

Berg Three Pieces for Orchestra, Op. 6 Brahms Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 Bartók Concerto for Orchestra Lan Shui, conductor Alina Ibragimova, violin

‘Her performances brim with lyricism and wit’

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade

The Guardian

POST-CONCERT SYMPHONY CHAT

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | Esplanade Concert Hall Stalls Foyer

6 APRIL 2018 FRI | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

ELIAHU INBAL: MAHLER 6 HAMMER OF FATE Written in an apparently happy period of his life, Mahler’s “Tragic Symphony” is often described in the exact opposite of terms: nihilistic, dark, foreboding. The tender slow movement aside, it “ends in hopelessness and the dark night of the soul” with its infamous hammer blows.

Mahler Symphony No. 6 in A minor “Tragic” Eliahu Inbal, conductor

‘Of all his works this was the most personal… We were both in tears… so deeply did we feel this music and the sinister premonitions it disclosed’ Alma Mahler

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade 45

SSO GALA 27 & 28 APRIL 2018 FRI & SAT | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

SSO GALA

LA BOHÈME THE KEY TO LOVE Young artists and chance meetings. In Paris and in love, trapped by circumstances, liberated by poetry. Revel in some of Puccini’s most luscious melodies as the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Choirs present a concert version presentation of La Bohème, one of the most beloved operas of all time.

Puccini La Bohème (Concert Version in 4 Acts) Lan Shui, conductor Singapore Symphony Chorus Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir Singapore Symphony Youth Choir

OPEN REHEARSAL April 26, 7:30pm | For Friends of the SSO and ticketholders PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade 46

© MARCO BORGGREVE

SSO GALA 5 MAY 2018 SAT | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

SSO GALA

KAVAKOS PLAYS SHOSTAKOVICH WINTER DAYDREAMS

‘Jaw-dropping virtuosity’ San Diego Union-Tribune

Acclaimed Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos returns to Singapore with the grotesque grandeur of Shostakovich’s relentless Violin Concerto No. 1. Lan Shui opens the concert with the gorgeous dawn song that opens Mussorgsky’s opera Khovantchina, and concludes with Tchaikovsky’s First Symphony, an atmospheric collage of “Winter Daydreams” that foreshadow his talent for balletic drama and endless capacity for heartfelt melody.

Mussorgsky Khovantchina: Introduction “Dawn on the Moscow River” Shostakovich Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 77 Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 1 in G minor, Op. 13 “Winter Daydreams”

© MARCO BORGGREVE

Lan Shui, conductor Leonidas Kavakos, violin

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade 47

11 MAY 2018 FRI | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERT

CHRISTIAN BLACKSHAW PLAYS BEETHOVEN LYRICISM AND SOULFULNESS Critically acclaimed British pianist Christian Blackshaw, renowned for his sensitive interpretation and deeply felt performances, is the perfect soloist for the lyricism and soulfulness of Beethoven’s beautiful Piano Concerto No. 4. German maestro Claus Peter Flor leads the SSO in the monumental architecture of Bruckner’s final symphony.

Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 Bruckner Symphony No. 9 in D minor, WAB 109 Claus Peter Flor, conductor Christian Blackshaw, piano

PRE-CONCERT TALK 6.30pm | library@esplanade 48

Dénes Várjon Jeremy Denk Seong-Jin Cho Dang Thai Son

25 TH SING APORE I N TE R N AT I O N A L P IA N O F E ST I VA L 7 - 10 J U N E 2 018 V I C TO R I A C O N CERT H ALL

PRESENTED BY

S GP I A N O FE ST

WWW.PIAN OFESTIVAL.C OM.SG

SSO C H A M BE R SE R I E S

11 & 12 AUGUST 2017 FRI & SAT | 7.30PM | VICTORIA CONCERT HALL

10 SEPTEMBER 2017 SUN | 4PM | VICTORIA CONCERT HALL

F OR T H E E M PE ROR

F R E NC H F L AVOU R S

Two nights of string quartets fit for a king, by Haydn and Mozart, pinnacles of the Neo-Classical era. The central hymn from Haydn’s Emperor Quartet was the national anthem of Austria for a time, while Mozart’s Prussian Quartets, written with the Prussian King’s interest in the cello in mind, were published two weeks after his premature death.

The mercurial and expressive flavour of the French colour this varied programme, featuring the sublime combination of flute, viola and harp via Debussyan Impressionism; the sultry strains of songs from Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess and the unduly neglected music of George Onslow, a 19th century French composer of English descent.

“If Mozart had written nothing but his violin quartets and the Requiem, they alone would have been sufficient to make him immortal.” - HAYDN Musicians of the SSO OPEN REHEARSAL 12 Aug | 10am | For Friends of the SSO and ticketholders

Musicians of the SSO

1 APRIL 2018 SUN | 4PM | VICTORIA CONCERT HALL

18 & 19 MAY 2018 FRI & SAT | 7.30PM | VICTORIA CONCERT HALL

RUS SI A N AT H E A R T

T H E GL ORY OF B A RO QU E

Russian-British violinist Alina Ibragimova joins us in an all-Russian programme across three Russian greats in their characteristic musical modes. The sweet yearnings of Tchaikovsky’s lyricism give way to the impish energy of Prokofiev and finally to the enigma of Shostakovich’s Third String Quartet, which he considered one of his best.

From Gabrieli to Handel, take a trip with UK period instrument violinist Peter Hanson through the elegance and riches of the Baroque greats, whose genius is displayed in their rich writing for voice and instrument – for which they often treated one like the other.

Alina Ibragimova, violin Musicians of the SSO

A multitude of solos is key to the design of the concerto grosso, a compact instrumental showcase that the likes of Biber and Vivaldi developed to spectacular heights.

Arias from Handel’s most popular oratorio, Messiah, are just a tiny sample of the vast treasure troves of Baroque musical drama. Purcell’s pioneering work setting English language theatre music, and the lively dance-operas of French Baroque master, Jean-Philippe Rameau, equally deserve your listening ear.

Peter Hanson, violin / conductor Musicians of the SSO OPEN REHEARSAL 19 May | 10am For Friends of the SSO and ticketholders

S WIR E-SSO TI C KETI N G SC H E ME F O R S C H O O L S Since its launch in January 2013, the Swire-SSO Ticketing Scheme has benefited over 30,000 students, enabling them to enjoy world-class performances by the SSO in the Esplanade Concert Hall at subsidised ticket prices as low as $10. Larger school groups were also rewarded with a free music appreciation talk in their campus to enhance their concert experience.

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERTS, DISCOVERING MUSIC! & SSO CHAMBER SERIES

$10 (min. 4 tickets)

POPS CONCERTS

A Night at the Movies: $35, $20 Leonard Bernstein at 100 – West Side Story: $45, $30

CONCERTS FOR CHILDREN

Peter and the Wolf & Summon the Superheroes: $32, $24 (15 tickets) Nature Tales $24, $20

Schools are able to use the Tote Board Arts Grant to subsidise up to 50% (excluding GST) of the final ticket price.

Prices before $1 booking fee. Enjoy a complimentary talk with every school booking of 20 tickets.

Contact our Customer Experience team at 6602 4245 or ticketing@sso.org.sg.

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25 & 26 NOVEMBER 2017 SAT & SUN | 2PM & 4PM VICTORIA CONCERT HALL Have you ever seen a kid conduct the SSO? Bring your kids to the ever-popular SSO Babies’ Proms, a unique concert experience where you are not expected to sit still nor sit quietly in the concert hall! A perfect way to introduce your little one to the world of classical music concerts!

Peter Moore, conductor

SS O

Babies’ Proms

Suitable for children aged 6 and below.

Tickets are required for children aged 2 and above.

Each concert lasts one hour, and pre-concert activities will be held 30 minutes before the respective show.

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Concerts for Children

2 & 3 SEPTEMBER 2017 SAT | 2PM & 4PM SUN | 2PM VICTORIA CONCERT HALL Delight your kids with the popular orchestral tale of Peter and the Wolf, as “told” by the theatrics (and antics) of acclaimed mime artists from Magic Circle Mime! Come experience the story as it unfolds ‘live’ on stage and help us outwit the fearsome wolf that threatens the orchestra and audience!

Joshua Tan, conductor Magic Circle Mime Company

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Concerts for Children

4 & 5 NOVEMBER 2017 SAT | 2PM & 4PM SUN | 2PM VICTORIA CONCERT HALL Join Leopold the Leopard and his best friend, a talking tree, as they tell a grand tale with the nature settings depicted in Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony.

Created by Victor Yerrid, a master puppeteer from the Jim Henson Company, this show will be a great holiday treat for kids and adults alike!

Joshua Tan, conductor Victor Yerrid, puppeteer

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Concerts for Children

17 & 18 MARCH 2018 SAT | 2PM & 4PM SUN | 2PM VICTORIA CONCERT HALL

All Concerts for Children are suitable for ages 4 and above. No admission for infants-in-arms.

Retain your Concerts for Children tickets to enjoy 10% discount on the next production.

Supported by Lim & Tan Securities – A Musical Discovery, which enables children from underprivileged families to attend SSO concerts for free, discovering the joy of music.

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Become your favourite superhero for a day and don your capes and suits for an action-packed programme with Alasdair Malloy as SuperMac, the Kilted Crusader. The music will provide a real rollercoaster ride of super heroic sounds from the SSO, showing off the orchestra’s super-strength, superspeed and super-sound!

Joshua Tan, conductor Alasdair Malloy, presenter

DISCOVERING MUSIC! It’s another round trip of musical exploration with SSO Associate Conductor Jason Lai! Learn about the life of the composers behind the music and how they make whole symphonies out of building blocks of musical themes.

Find out what went into Brahms’ last symphony, the dark visions and heady dramas of Berlioz’s “Fantastic Symphony” as well as Bartók’s exhilarating Concerto for Orchestra, where everyone on stage is a soloist!

24 SEPTEMBER 2017 SUN | 4PM | VICTORIA CONCERT HALL

GO FOURTH WITH BRAHMS! 28 JANUARY 2018 SUN | 4PM | VICTORIA CONCERT HALL

THAT’S FANTASTIC! 1 MAY 2018 TUE | 4PM | VICTORIA CONCERT HALL

Jason Lai

EVERYONE IS A SOLOIST!

conductor Family packages & school packages available.

Suitable for ages 5 and above.

Please visit www.sso.org.sg for event updates.

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SSO

POPS CONCERT

A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES

31 AUGUST 2017 THU | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL From space to detectives, aliens to Mohicans, SSO Associate Conductor Jason Lai takes you on a movie date night of music from the cinema. Take a flight with X-Wing fighters across Interstellar Star Wars, and play a Game of Shadows to find out What Lies Beneath.

Jason Lai, conductor

HIGHLIGHTS: Zimmer

Themes from Interstellar and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Williams

Themes from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and The Force Awakens

Howard

The Sixth Sense

Goldsmith

Themes from Alien

Morricone

Themes from Cinema Paradiso

Jones

Themes from Last of the Mohicans

Silvestri

What Lies Beneath

SSO

POPS CONCERT

13 APRIL 2018 FRI | 7.30PM | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL Celebrate this iconic film of over 50 years and the winner of ten Academy Awards®, including Best Picture. The SSO plays Leonard Bernstein’s electrifying score and memorable songs with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim live, while the newly re-­mastered film is shown in glorious high definition on the big screen with the original vocals and dialogue intact. This classic romantic tragedy, directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins and one of the greatest achievements in the history of movie musicals, features Robbins’ breathtaking choreography and a screenplay by Ernest Lehman based on the masterful book by Arthur Laurents.

Joshua Tan, conductor

‘One of the greatest movie musicals reborn’ Sydney artsHub

West Side Story © 1961 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. All rights reserved.

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SHAO TAO TAO SECOND VIOLIN

FREE SS O C O N C E RTS

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20 JULY 2017 THU | 7.30PM | VICTORIA JUNIOR COLLEGE

9 MARCH 2018 FRI | 7.30PM | ACS (INDEPENDENT)

SSO ON CAMPUS

SSO ON CAMPUS

Jason Lai, conductor

Joshua Tan, conductor

8 MARCH 2018 THU | 12.30PM | VICTORIA CONCERT HALL

10 MARCH 2018 SAT | 6.30PM | GARDENS BY THE BAY

SSO LUNCHTIME CONCERT

CLASSICS IN THE PARK

Joshua Tan, conductor

Joshua Tan, conductor

Since its launch in 2005, the SPH Gift of Music series has reached out to tens of thousands of Singaporeans through its many free performances in the heartlands, parks, concert halls and shopping malls.

Admission is free.

Outdoor concerts are subject to prevailing weather conditions.

21 JULY 2017 FRI | 12.30PM | VICTORIA CONCERT HALL

22 JULY 2017 SAT | 6PM | SINGAPORE BOTANIC GARDENS

SPH GIFT OF MUSIC SERIES

SPH GIFT OF MUSIC SERIES

SSO LUNCHTIME CONCERT

THE STRAITS TIMES CONCERT IN THE GARDENS

Jason Lai, conductor

Jason Lai, conductor

SP H G IF T OF MU SIC SE RIE S

SING A P ORE S Y MP HON Y C HOR U S EUDENICE PALARUAN CHORAL DIRECTOR SHANE THIO REHEARSAL PIANIST

The Singapore Symphony Chorus (SSC) was inaugurated in 1980 under the direction of Choo Hoey, then Music Director of the SSO, giving its first performance on 13 June 1980; and in its 37-year history, has established itself as one of the finest choirs in the region and one of the few symphony choruses in Southeast Asia.

The chorus has worked with renowned conductors such as Peter Erdei, Eric Ericsson, John Nelson, Claus Peter Flor, Okko Kamu, and Masaaki Suzuki. They have amassed a wide repertoire over the years, performing such works as Orff’s Carmina Burana, Rachmaninov’s The Bells, Tippett’s A Child of Our Time, Macmillan’s Seven Last Words from the Cross, Kodály’s Missa Brevis, Arvo Pärt’s Te Deum, choral masterpiece Britten’s War Requiem, and baroque classic Bach’s St John Passion, amongst many others.

Brought together by a love of choral singing, the SSC gathers both locals and newcomers of Singapore. Their occupations range from biochemists to tour guides to lawyers, with diverse hobbies that include rock climbing, scuba diving and Chinese calligraphy.

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SING A P ORE S Y MP HON Y C HIL DRE N’S C HOIR WONG LAI FOON CHOIRMASTER DARIUS LIM ASSOCIATE CHOIRMASTER GABRIEL HOE REHEARSAL PIANIST

Formed in 2006, the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir (SSCC) has established itself as the leading children’s choir in Singapore. It seeks to enrich the lives of young singers between the ages of 9 and 16, through a holistic choral training programme that nurtures artistic growth and personal development.

Since its debut performance in 2007, the SSCC has given many successful concerts, including appearances with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) in Mahler’s Third Symphony, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Berlioz’s The Damnation of Faust, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Britten’s War Requiem, and Bizet’s Carmen. The SSCC is also a regular feature in the orchestra’s annual Christmas concerts. It has performed at the Philharmonie de Paris in a collaborative performance of Berlioz’s Te Deum with the Maîtrise de Radio France, as well as at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas, where it partnered the Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Orchestra in concert.

The Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir recently recorded their first CD, And I’ll Sing Once More.

‘Simply outstanding.’

The Straits Times

4 & 5 SEPTEMBER 2017 MON & TUE | 9AM-6PM

THE SSCC EXPERIENCE 24 SEPTEMBER 2017 SUN | 10AM

SSCC AUDITIONS 27 MAY 2018 SUN | 4PM VICTORIA CONCERT HALL

SSCC 12TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT

TIMELESS SPLENDOUR SSCC Experience is suitable for children aged 9 to 16. For Choral Progammes auditions, please email choral@sso.org.sg. For ticketing updates, please visit www.sso.org.sg.

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SING A P ORE S Y MP HON Y YOU T H C HOIR WONG LAI FOON CHOIRMASTER DARIUS LIM ASSOCIATE CHOIRMASTER EVELYN HANDRISANTO REHEARSAL PIANIST

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The Singapore Symphony Youth Choir is the newest choral ensemble to be singing under the belt of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

Formed in 2016 to enable mature members of the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir (SSCC) to continue their development in classical choral singing, as well as for young adults to further their interest in choral singing, the SSYC is an extension of the SSCC and exists to artistically enrich young adults musically and vocally, and to primarily serve the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO).

Singapore’s finest young choral singers aged between 14 and 28 revel in the best of all musical worlds and styles, ranging from orchestral to a cappella masterpieces covering the Renaissance period to contemporary music of the 21st century.

SING A P ORE N AT ION A L YOU T H ORC HE S T R A LEONARD TAN PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR LIN JUAN ASSISTANT CONDUCTOR

The Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO) occupies a special place in Singapore’s music community having produced a strong alumni contributing significantly to both seeding the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and other community orchestras in Singapore as well as teaching the next generation of budding musicians.

The SNYO is recognised by the Ministry of Education as a National Project of Excellence. Entry into the SNYO is by a rigorous audition process. Members in mainstream secondary schools with sustained involvement in the SNYO will have their participation in the orchestra recognised in lieu of a school-based Co-Curricular Activity (CCA).

Since April 2015, the SNYO started a new chapter with its management being transferred from the Ministry of Education to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, allowing the SNYO to draw on the knowledge and expertise of Singapore’s national orchestra.

The SNYO is made up of over 180 talented young musicians representing more than 60 schools across Singapore. Under its talent development programme, selected members receive individual tutoring from professional musicians including SSO musicians.

18 JULY 2017 TUE | 7.30PM ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

DAWN AND STORM: SNYO IN CONCERT 12 DECEMBER 2017 TUE | 7.30PM ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

SNYO IN CONCERT 9 SEPTEMBER 2017 9 DECEMBER 2017

SNYO AUDITIONS For audition details, please visit www.syno.org.sg 65

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I N S P I R E D .

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entertainment blend into a dynamic playground for you, the discerning traveller. Wake up in one of the 507 stylish guest rooms, savour tantalizing cuisines at award-winning restaurants, or explore world-class attractions, discover discreet luxury at one of the world’s top destination.

Two Temasek Boulevard, Singapore 038982 | Phone +65 6334 8888 | ConradSingapore.com

Supporting the Local Arts and Cultural Scene Partner of SSO since 1978 NSL is a long-standing sponsor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO). We have been instrumental in helping the Orchestra reach out to the community-at-large as SSO brings music to the world.

A leading industrial group in the Asia Pacific with businesses in Precast & Prefabricated Bathroom Unit and Environmental Services, NSL believes that while achieving business goals is important, its actions need to also create a positive impact on the community, environment and all stakeholders.

NSL LTD 77 Robinson Road #27-00 Robinson 77 Singapore 068896 Tel: 6536 1000 I Fax: 6536 1008 I www.nsl.com.sg

63

MUSICAL PRODIGY Organised by Symphony 924, The Young Talents Project 2017 is open to musicians and vocalists performing classical works.

YOUNG TALENTS PROJECT

Finalists will perform to a live audience at the historical Victoria Concert Hall, and be featured on national television and radio.

2017

The overall grand winner will win a trip to Vienna, home to world renowned classical composers, plus cash prizes.

Register before Sun 14 May, at

Symphony924.sg.

ALWAYS A CLASSIC FOR YOUR INSPIRATION CATEGORIES: BIAN TONG

2016 WINNER SENIOR CATEGORY

Registration fee: $60

CHLOE CHUA

JUNIOR 7-12 years SENIOR 13 -17 years

2016 WINNER JUNIOR CATEGORY

Visit www.symphony924.sg or email symphonyYTP@mediacorp.com.sg for more details Open to all Singaporeans and Permanent Residents. symphony924

C OMMI T T E E S NOMINATING AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Mr Goh Yew Lin (Chairman) Mr Paul Tan Ms Yong Ying-I AUDIT COMMITTEE Mr Yee Chen Fah (Chairman) Mr Kwee Liong Seen Ms Lim Mei ENDOWMENT FUND COMMITTEE Prof Cham Tao Soon (Chairman) Mr David Goh Mr Paul Supramaniam Mr Anthony Teo SSO COUNCIL Prof Cham Tao Soon (Chairman) Mr Alan Chan Ms Chew Gek Khim Mr Choo Chiau Beng Dr Geh Min Mr Goh Geok Khim Mr Khoo Boon Hui Prof Tommy Koh Mr JY Pillay Dr Stephen Riady Ms Priscylla Shaw Dr Gralf Sieghold Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao Dr Tan Chin Nam Ms Tan Choo Leng Mr Tan Soo Nan Mr Wee Ee Cheong

MUSICIANS’ COMMITTEE Mr Mr Mr Mr Mr Mr

Chan Wei Shing Jon Paul Dante Jamie Hersch Ng Pei-Sian Mark Suter Christoph Wichert

SNYO COMMITTEE Ms Liew Wei Li (Chairlady) Mr Ang Chek Meng Ms Vivien Goh Dr Kee Kirk Chin Mrs Valarie Wilson SSO LADIES’ LEAGUE Mrs Odile Benjamin (Chairlady) Mrs Kwan Lui (Deputy Chairlady) Mrs Celeste Basapa Mrs Maisy Beh Mrs Kim Camacho Mrs Rosy Ho Ms Judy Hunt Prof Annie Koh Dr Julie Lo Mrs Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi-Martin Ms Paige Parker Ms Kris Tan Ms Manju Vangal Mrs Grace Yeh

71

M A N AG E ME N T CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

PROGRAMMES (SSO)

CORPORATE SERVICES

Mr Chng Hak-Peng

Ms Kua Li Leng (Head) Ms Teo Chew Yen Ms Jolene Yeo

Mr Rick Ong (Head) Mr Alan Ong (Finance) Ms Goh Hoey Fen (Finance) Mr Mohamed Zailani bin Mohd Said

CEO OFFICE Mr Edward Loh Mr Chris Yong ORCHESTRA MANAGEMENT Mr Ernest Khoo (Head) Mr Chia Jit Min Ms Tan Wei Tian Stage Management Ms Kimberly Kwa (Stage Manager) Ms Chin Rosherna Mr Ramayah Elango Mr Abdul Wahab bin Sakir Mr Mohamed Zailani bin Mohd Said Mr Muhammad Fariz bin Samsuri Mr Radin Sulaiman bin Ali LIBRARY Mr Lim Yeow Siang (Head) Mr Lim Lip Hua Ms Priscilla Neo

72

Community Outreach Ms Kathleen Tan Ms Vanessa Lee

HUMAN RESOURCES & ADMINISTRATION

Choral Programmes Ms Regina Lee Ms Whitney Tan

Mr Desmen Low Ms Shanti Govindasamy

PROGRAMMES (VCH)

SINGAPORE NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA

Ms Michelle Yeo (Head) Ms Erin Tan DEVELOPMENT & SPONSORSHIP Ms Peggy Kek (Head) Mr Anthony Chng Ms Nikki Chuang Ms Zhang Jingchao MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS & CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE Ms Cindy Lim (Head) Mr Chia Han-Leon Ms Myrtle Lee Ms Hong Shu Hui Ms Melissa Tan Ms Cheryl Pek Ms Khairani Basman Ms Dacia Cheang Ms Nur Shafiqah Bte Othman

Ms Pang Siu Yuin (Head) Ms Shirin Foo Mr Tan Yong Qing Ms Tang Ya Yun ABRSM Ms Hay Su-San (Head) Ms Patricia Yee Ms Lai Li-Yng Mr Joong Siow Chong

INDE X COMPOSER

WORK

PAGE

ALBENIZ BARTÓK

BARTÓK BARTÓK BEETHOVEN

BEETHOVEN BEETHOVEN

BEETHOVEN BEETHOVEN BELLINI

BERG

BERLIOZ BRAHMS BRAHMS BRAHMS BRAHMS BRAHMS BRAHMS BRAHMS

BRUCKNER BRUCKNER CHOPIN COPLAND DEBUSSY

DE FALLA DVORÁK DVORÁK

ELGAR

ER YENN CHWEN GLAZUNOV GOLDSMITH GOUNOD

GRANADOS GRIEG

GRIEG KIMMO HAKOLA HAYDN

HOWARD

HUMMEL

T. IRFAN

K. JÄRVI

JONES

WOJCIECH KILAR

JAAKKO KUUSISTO A. LIADOV LIGETI

FROM SUITE ESPAÑOLA, OP. 47 CONCERTO FOR ORCHESTRA PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 IN G MAJOR CONCERTO FOR VIOLIN, CELLO & PIANO IN C MAJOR, OP. 56 PIANO CONCERTO NO. 3 IN C MINOR, OP. 37 PIANO CONCERTO NO. 4 IN G MAJOR, OP. 58 PIANO CONCERTO NO. 5 IN E-FLAT MAJOR, OP. 73 “EMPEROR” SYMPHONY NO. 3 IN E-FLAT MAJOR, OP. 55 “EROICA” “O RENDETEMI LA SPEME” FROM I PURITANI THREE PIECES FOR ORCHESTRA, OP. 6 SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE, OP. 14 GESANG DER PARZEN, OP. 89 SCHICKSALSLIED, OP. 54 (“SONG OF DESTINY”) SYMPHONY NO. 1 IN C MINOR, OP. 68 SYMPHONY NO. 2 IN D MAJOR, OP. 73 SYMPHONY NO. 3 IN F MAJOR, OP. 90 SYMPHONY NO. 4 IN E MINOR, OP. 98 VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MAJOR, OP. 77 SYMPHONY NO. 3 IN D MINOR, WAB 103 SYMPHONY NO. 9 IN D MINOR, WAB 109 PIANO CONCERTO NO. 2 IN F MINOR, OP. 21 SYMPHONY NO. 3 BALLADE DANZA RITUAL DEL FUEGO SYMPHONY NO. 6 IN D MAJOR, OP. 60 SYMPHONY NO. 8 IN G MAJOR, OP. 88 CELLO CONCERTO IN E MINOR, OP. 85 SYMPHONIA ANAMNESEOS, A SYMPHONY OF REMEMBRANCE SYMPHONY NO. 5 IN B-FLAT MAJOR, OP. 55 THEMES FROM ALIEN “AMOUR, RANIME MON COURAGE” FROM ROMEO & JULIET FROM GOYESCAS, OP. 11 PEER GYNT: SUITE NO. 1, OP. 46 PIANO CONCERTO IN A MINOR, OP. 16 CLARINET CONCERTO CELLO CONCERTO NO. 1 IN C MAJOR, HOB VIIb/1 THE SIXTH SENSE TRUMPET CONCERTO IN E-FLAT MAJOR, S. 49 MEDITATION SHANGHAI WONDER THEMES FROM LAST OF THE MOHICANS

ORAWA VIOLIN CONCERTO, OP. 28 THE ENCHANTED LAKE, OP. 62 MYSTERIES OF THE MACABRE

36 44 29 37 35 28 48 28 30 34 44 42 35 35 26 35 27 30 44 40 48 26 35 36 36 43 32 31 30 31 58 34 36 37 37 41 40 58 30 35 33 58 44 38 26 43 73

74

COMPOSER

WORK

LISZT LUTOSLAWSKI

MAHLER

MAHLER

MAHLER

MENDELSSOHN

MENDELSSOHN MEYERBEER MEYERBEER MORRICONE MOZART

MUSSORGSKY

NARONG PRANGCHAROEN PROKOFIEV PUCCINI

RACHMANINOV

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV RESPIGHI RESPIGHI ROSSINI

SAINT-SAËNS

SCRIABIN SCHUMANN SHOSTAKOVICH SHOSTAKOVICH SHOSTAKOVICH SHOSTAKOVICH SIBELIUS

SIBELIUS SIBELIUS SIBELIUS SILVESTRI

DIANA SOH

R. STRAUSS STRAVINSKY

SUK

TAN CHAN BOON KELLY TANG

TCHAIKOVSKY TCHAIKOVSKY TCHAIKOVSKY VERDI

WAGNER

WALTON

WEBERN

PHILIP WILBY WILLIAMS

WILLIAMS

R. YARDUMIAN ZIMMER

ZIMMER

PIANO SONATA IN B MINOR S. 178 SYMPHONY NO. 4 SYMPHONY NO. 7 IN E MINOR SYMPHONY NO. 6 IN A MINOR “TRAGIC” RÜCKERT-LIEDER VIOLIN CONCERTO IN E MINOR, OP. 64 PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 IN G MINOR, OP. 25 “NOBLES SEIGNEURS” FROM LES HUGUENOTS “OMBRE LÉGÈRE“ FROM DINORAH THEMES FROM CINEMA PARADISO SYMPHONY NO. 38 IN D MAJOR, K. 504 “PRAGUE” KHOVANTCHINA: INTRODUCTION “DAWN ON THE MOSCOW RIVER” PHENOMENON VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 1 IN D MAJOR, OP. 19 LA BOHÈME (CONCERT VERSION IN 4 ACTS) PIANO CONCERTO NO. 1 IN F-SHARP MINOR, OP. 1 SCHEHERAZADE, OP. 35 FOUNTAINS OF ROME PINES OF ROME “UNA VOCE POCO FA” FROM THE BARBER OF SEVILLE PIANO CONCERTO NO. 5 IN F MAJOR, OP. 103 “THE EGYPTIAN” THE POEM OF ECSTASY, OP. 54 KONZERTSTÜCK FOR 4 HORNS IN F MAJOR, OP. 86 CELLO CONCERTO NO. 2 IN G MAJOR, OP. 126 OCTOBER, OP. 131 SYMPHONY NO. 1 IN F MINOR, OP. 10 VIOLIN CONCERTO NO. 1 IN A MINOR, OP. 77 FINLANDIA, OP. 26 SYMPHONY NO. 5 IN E-FLAT MAJOR, OP. 82 THE SWAN OF TUONELA VIOLIN CONCERTO IN D MINOR, OP. 47 WHAT LIES BENEATH A IS FOR AIYAH FROM Ä BUG I DA TOD UND VERKLÄRUNG (DEATH AND TRANSFIGURATION), OP. 24 SYMPHONY IN THREE MOVEMENTS SCHERZO FANTASTIQUE, OP. 25 SOIR, RÊVES, FANTAISIE FROM SYMPHONY NO. 2 TWO SYMPHONIC DANCES: RADIANCE AND SPARK SYMPHONY NO. 6 IN B MINOR, OP. 74 “PATHÉTIQUE” SYMPHONY NO. 4 IN F MINOR, OP. 36 SYMPHONY NO. 1 IN G MINOR, OP. 13 “WINTER DAYDREAMS” “ELLE NE M’AIME PAS” FROM DON CARLO THE RING – AN ORCHESTRAL ADVENTURE (ARR. HENK DE VLIEGER) VIOLA CONCERTO PASSACAGLIA, OP. 1 EUPHONIUM CONCERTO THEMES FROM STAR WARS: ATTACK OF THE CLONES THEMES FROM STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS ARMENIAN SUITE THEMES FROM INTERSTELLAR THEMES FROM SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS

PAGE

36 31 40 45 43 30 27 34 34 58 44 47 43 26 46 31 41 28 28 34 33 26 44 43 29 31 47 38 38 32 32 58 43 27 43 31 26 44 28 29 47 34 33 42 43 30 58 58 26 58 58

Online at www.sistic.com.sg Call +65 6348 5555 Or visit any SISTIC authorized agent near you

TIC K ETS WHEN TO BOOK

SPECIAL DISCOUNTS

Subscription, Pops, Gala & Christmas Concerts

Friends of the SSO: 10% discount Silver Friends:: 15% discount Gold Friends: 20% discount Platinum Friends: 25% discount

15 May 2017 Priority sales for Friends of the SSO 22 May 2017 Public sales Concerts for Children & Discovering Music!

29 May 2017 Priority sales for Friends of the SSO 1 June 2017 Public sales Babies’ Proms 4 July 2017 7 July 2017

Priority sales for Friends of the SSO Public sales

SSO Chamber Series 22 May 2017 Priority sales for Friends of the SSO 25 May 2017 Public sales

CORPORATE BOOKINGS Please call +65 6602 4245 or email ticketing@sso.org.sg for assistance.

Valid for Subscription Concerts only.

Esplanade&Me, Gallery Insider & Kinokuniya Privilege Card: 10% off Subscription, SSO Chamber Series and Singapore International Piano Festival concerts (Cat 1-3).

CONCESSIONS Senior citizens (55 years and above), full-time NSF men and full-time students enjoy concession discounts on production of identification. Venue ushers may request to view a valid concession pass. Concession tickets are strictly non-transferable.

No admission for children below 6 years of age unless otherwise indicated.

75

S I N G LE TIC KET P R ICES

Subscription Concerts (Esplanade CH) Concessions: Cat 4-5: 30% off

Subscription Concerts (Victoria CH) Concessions: Cat 3-4: 30% off

Christmas Concert (15-17 Dec 17) Concessions: $35, $20

SSO Gala: Janine Jansen (19 Oct 17) Concessions: $30, $20

SSO Gala: Diana Damrau (1 Nov 17) Concessions: $30, $20

Lang Lang in Recital (29 Nov 17) Concessions: $80, $45

SSO Gala: Lang Lang (30 Nov 17) Concessions: $80, $45

SSO Gala: La Bohème (27-28 Apr 18) Concessions: $30, $20

SSO Gala: Leonidas Kavakos (5 May 18) Concessions: $30, $20

President’s Young Performers Concert (29 Sep 17) Concessions: $25, $15

76

CAT 1

CAT 2

CAT 3

CAT 4

CAT 5

$88

$68

$48

$28

$15

$72

$52

$32

$18

-

$88

$68

$48

$28

-

$98

$78

$58

$38

$25

$98

$78

$58

$38

$25

$388

$288

$188

$108

$58

$388

$288

$188

$108

$58

$168

$108

$58

$38

$25

$98

$78

$58

$38

$25

$48

$38

$20

-

-

SSO Chamber Series: Alina Ibragimova (1 Apr 18) Concessions: $15

SSO Chamber Series Concessions: $15 2-Concert Package: 20% discount

CAT 1

CAT 2

$38

$20

CAT 3

CAT 4

CAT 5

-

-

-

$20

-

-

-

-

$88

$68

$48

$28

-

$128 $88 $58

$38

-

SSO Pops Concert: A Night at the Movies (31 Aug 17) Concessions: $35, $20 Family of 4 Package: 15% discount (Cat 1-2)

West Side Story (13 Apr 18) Concessions: $45, $30 Family of 4 Package: 15% discount (Cat 1-2)

Discovering Music!

Concessions: $15 Family of 4 Package: $60

$20

-

-

-

-

$40

$32

-

-

-

$40

$30

-

-

-

$32

$25

-

-

-

$40

$30

-

-

-

Babies’ Proms (25 & 26 Nov 17) Tickets not required for child under 2 if accompanied by an adult with a ticket.

Concerts for Children: Peter and the Wolf (2 & 3 Sep 17) Family of 4 packages: $144 & $108

Nature Tales (4 & 5 Nov 17) Family of 4 packages: $116 & $90

Summon the Superheroes (17 & 18 Mar 18) Family of 4 packages: $144 & $108

Prices before booking fees: $1 for tickets priced $20 and below, $3 for tickets priced $20.01 to $40, $4 for tickets above $40.

77

C O N CERT PA C KA GES Buy more and save more. Book a minimum of 3 concerts to enjoy these benefits.

- Save up to 30% - Additional 5% savings when you book by 31 July 2017 - Free ticket exchange when your plans change

NO. OF CONCERTS

DISCOUNT (until 31 Jul 17)

DISCOUNT (from 1 Aug 17)

3-CONCERT PACKAGE

3 - 5

20%

15%

6-CONCERT PACKAGE

6+

30%

25%

NO. OF CONCERTS

ESPL ANADE CONCERT HALL CONCERTS

DISCOUNTED PRICE (until 31 Jul 17)

DISCOUNTED PRICE (from 1 Aug 17)

3-CONCERT PACKAGE 3 - 5

Cat 1: $74.40 Cat 2: $58.40 Cat 3: $41.40 Cat 4: $25.40

Cat 1: $78.80 Cat 2: $61.80 Cat 3: $44.80 Cat 4: $26.80

6-CONCERT PACKAGE 6+

Cat 1: $65.60 Cat 2: $51.60 Cat 3: $36.60 Cat 4: $20.60

Cat 1: $70 Cat 2: $55 Cat 3: $39 Cat 4: $24

Includes booking fees.

NO. OF CONCERTS

VICTORIA CONCERT HALL CONCERTS

DISCOUNTED PRICE (until 31 Jul 17)

DISCOUNTED PRICE (from 1 Aug 17)

3-CONCERT PACKAGE 3 - 5

Cat 1: $61.60 Cat 2: $45.60 Cat 3: $28.60

Cat 1: $65.20 Cat 2: $48.20 Cat 3: $30.20

6-CONCERT PACKAGE 6+

Cat 1: $54.40 Cat 2: $39.40 Cat 3: $25.40

Cat 1: $58 Cat 2: $42 Cat 3: $27

Includes booking fees.

If you need assistance, call our friendly Customer Experience team on 6602 4245 (Mon - Fri, 9am-6.30pm, closed on public holidays); or email ticketing@sso.org.sg.

78

2 017 / 18 BOOKIN G FORM By email: ticketing@sso.org.sg By mail: SSO Customer Experience, 11 Empress Place #01-02 Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore 179558

STEP 1

Please tick one.

3-Concert Package

6-Concert Package

STEP 2 Fill in the ticket quantity under your selected concerts.

We can help you with the final calculations if you are paying by credit card.

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERTS

NO. OF TICKETS CAT 1

ESPL ANADE CONCERT HALL 7 Jul 17

Gil Shaham

14 Jul 17

Chopin Piano Concerto 2

28 Jul 17

Mendelssohn Piano Concerto 1

19 Aug 17

When in Rome

25 Aug 17

Emperor and Pathétique

8 Sep 17

Litton • Bavouzet

22 Sep 17

Mendelssohn Violin Concerto

5 Oct 17

Steven Isserlis

14 Oct 17

Stephen Hough

27 Oct 17

The Ring

10 Nov 17

Beethoven Triple Concerto in C

17 Nov 17

Song of Destiny

7 Dec 17

Finland 100

6 Jan 18

Mahler 7

12 Jan 18

Haydn Cello Concerto 1

20 Jan 18

Scheherazade

26 Jan 18

Symphonie Fantastique

3 Feb 18

Shostakovich Cello Concerto

23 Mar 18

Radiance and Spark

30 Mar 18

Alina Ibragimova

Yes, please do my sums!

CAT 2

CAT 3

SUBTOTAL ($) CAT 4

CAT 5

SUBSCRIPTION CONCERTS

NO. OF TICKETS CAT 1

6 Apr 18

Eliahu Inbal

11 May 18

Christian Blackshaw

CAT 2

CAT 3

SUBTOTAL ($) CAT 4

CAT 5

-

-

VICTORIA CONCERT HALL 2 Mar 18

A is for Aiyah

Prices shown include booking fees.

TOTAL PAYABLE ($)

STEP 3

Payment

Bank / Cheque No.________________________ (payable to SISTIC.com Pte Ltd)

By cash (at VCH box office only)

Please charge my credit card for the amount of $____________________

VISA

MASTERCARD

AMERICAN EXPRESS

JCB

DINERS

Cardholder’s name __________________________ Card no.

Expiry date (mm/yy)

/

Signature ____________________________________________

STEP 4 Mr

Your Details Miss

Mrs

Dr

Other: _______________________________________________

Surname: ____________________________________ Given Name: __________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ Postal code: _________________________ E-mail: _______________________________________ Tel (HP): ______________________________________

Your tickets will be mailed to you within two weeks. If you have an enquiry, please contact our Customer Experience Officer at +65 6602 4245 or ticketing@sso.org.sg.

REC ORDING S Follow the SSO on Apple Music and Spotify.

BIS-SACD-1837

DEBUSSY: LA MER Images Pour Orchestra Prelude a L’apres-Midi D’un Faune Lan Shui, conductor ‘The Singapore Symphony Orchestra applies itself with notable sensibility, energy and colouristic finesse to some core Debussy.’

Gramophone

BIS-SACD-1842

GOLDMARK: RUSTIC WEDDING SYMPHONY Symphony NO. 2 Lan Shui, conductor ‘Goldmark’s tuneful Rustic Wedding Symphony is projected here with infectious enthusiasm by Shui and his excellent orchestra.’

BBC Music Magazine

SSO-CD-1201 & SSO-CD-1302

SAINT-SAËNS: CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS*/ BRITTEN: YOUNG PERSON’S GUIDE TO THE ORCHESTRA Lan Shui, conductor Low Shao Suan & Low Shao Ying, pianos William Ledbetter, Andrew Lim & Koh Chieng Mun, presenters *available in both English and Mandarin

SSO recordings are available from the SSO merchandise cart during performances.

View the complete collection on www.sso.org.sg.

79

AT A GL AN C E

2017 / 18

JUL2017

7

FRI | 7.30PM | ECH

GIL SHAHAM • BRAHMS SYMPHONIES Lan Shui, conductor | Gil Shaham, violin

CONCERT C ALENDAR

14

FRI | 7.30PM | ECH

CHOPIN PIANO CONCERTO 2 • POEM OF ECSTASY Lan Shui, conductor | Charles Richard-Hamelin, piano

28

FRI | 7.30PM | ECH

MENDELSSOHN PIANO CONCERTO 1 • BRAHMS SYMPHONIES Lan Shui, conductor | Melvyn Tan, piano

GIL SHAHAM

AUG2017

11

FRI & SAT | 7.30PM | VCH

19

SAT | 7.30PM | ECH

&12

SSO CHAMBER SERIES: FOR THE EMPEROR

WHEN IN ROME Michal Nesterowicz, conductor | Anna Tsybuleva, piano

25

FRI | 7.30PM | ECH

EMPEROR AND PATHÉTIQUE Wong Kah Chun, conductor | Shai Wosner, piano

MICHAL NESTEROWICZ

31

THU | 7.30PM | ECH

POPS CONCERT: A NIGHT AT THE MOVIES Jason Lai, conductor

SEP2017

2

&3

8

SAT (2PM & 4PM) | SUN (2PM) | VCH

CONCERTS FOR CHILDREN: PETER AND THE WOLF Joshua Tan, conductor | Magic Circle Mime Company FRI | 7.30PM | ECH

LITTON • BAVOUZET Andrew Litton, conductor | Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, piano

10

SUN | 4PM | VCH

22

FRI | 7.30PM | ECH

ANDRE W LIT TON

SSO CHAMBER SERIES: FRENCH FLAVOURS

MENDELSSOHN VIOLIN CONCERTO • BRAHMS SYMPHONIES Lan Shui, conductor | Daishin Kashimoto, violin Jon Paul Dante, trumpet

24 ECH: Esplanade Concert Hall VCH: Victoria Concert Hall

80

SUN | 4PM | VCH

DISCOVERING MUSIC!: GO FOURTH WITH BRAHMS! Jason Lai, conductor

29

FRI | 7.30PM | VCH

PRESIDENT’S YOUNG PERFORMERS CONCERT Joshua Tan, conductor | Kang Chun Meng, euphonium

OCT2017

5

THU | 7.30PM | ECH

STEVEN ISSERLIS · ELGAR CELLO CONCERTO

STEVEN ISSERLIS

Darrell Ang, conductor | Steven Isserlis, cello

14

SAT | 7.30PM | ECH

STEPHEN HOUGH • RACHMANINOV PIANO CONCERTO 1 Hannu Lintu, conductor | Stephen Hough, piano

19

THU | 7.30PM | ECH

SSO GALA: JANINE JANSEN Daniel Blendulf, conductor | Janine Jansen, violin

27

FRI | 7.30PM | ECH

THE RING – AN ORCHESTRAL ADVENTURE Kristjan Järvi, conductor | Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano

NOV2017

1

JANINE JANSEN

WED | 7.30PM | ECH

SSO GALA: DIANA DAMRAU Pavel Baleff, conductor | Diana Damrau, soprano Nicolas Testé, bass-baritone

4

&5

10

SAT (2PM & 4PM) | SUN (2PM) | VCH

CONCERTS FOR CHILDREN: NATURE TALES Joshua Tan, conductor | Victor Yerrid, puppeteer FRI | 7.30PM | ECH

BEETHOVEN TRIPLE CONCERTO IN C

DIANA DAMR AU

Andrew Litton, conductor/piano | Igor Yuzefovich, violin Ng Pei-Sian, cello

17

FRI | 7.30PM | ECH

SONG OF DESTINY • BRAHMS SYMPHONIES Lan Shui, conductor

25 &26

29

SAT & SUN | 2PM & 4PM | VCH

SSO BABIES’ PROMS Peter Moore, conductor WED | 7.30PM | ECH

RECITAL GALA: LANG LANG IN RECITAL Lang Lang, piano

30

THU | 7.30PM | ECH

SSO GALA: LANG LANG

L ANG L ANG

Lan Shui, conductor | Lang Lang, piano

81

DEC2017

7

THU | 7.30PM | ECH

FINLAND 100 Okko Kamu, conductor | Elina Vähälä, violin

15

16&17

FRI & SAT (7.30PM) | SUN (4PM) | VCH

SSO CHRISTMAS CONCERT Joshua Tan, conductor

ELINA VÄHÄL Ä

JAN2018

6

SAT | 7.30PM | ECH

MAHLER 7 Lan Shui, conductor

12

FRI | 7.30PM | ECH

HAYDN CELLO CONCERTO 1 Lan Shui, conductor | Qin Li-Wei, cello

K ARI KRIIKKU

20

SAT | 7.30PM | ECH

SCHEHERAZADE • KARI KRIIKU Lim Yau, conductor | Kari Kriikku, clarinet

26

FRI | 7.30PM | ECH

SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE Kazushi Ono, conductor | Zhang Manchin, viola

28

SUN | 4PM | VCH

DISCOVERING MUSIC!: THAT’S FANTASTIC! Jason Lai, conductor

FEB2018

3

SAT | 7.30PM | ECH

SHOSTAKOVICH CELLO CONCERTO Carlos Kalmar, conductor | Jan Vogler, cello

JAN VOGLER

MAR2018

2

FRI | 7.30PM | VCH

A IS FOR AIYAH Jason Lai, conductor | Élise Chauvin, soprano

17

&18

23

SAT (2PM & 4PM) | SUN (2PM) | VCH

CONCERTS FOR CHILDREN: SUMMON THE SUPERHEROES Joshua Tan, conductor | Alasdair Malloy, presenter FRI | 7.30PM | ECH

RADIANCE AND SPARK Michal Nesterowicz, conductor | SSO horns

30 ALINA IBR AGIMOVA

82

FRI | 7.30PM | ECH

ALINA IBRAGIMOVA PLAYS BRAHMS Lan Shui, conductor | Alina Ibragimova, violin

APR2018

1

SUN | 4PM | VCH

SSO CHAMBER SERIES: RUSSIAN AT HEART Alina Ibragimova, violin | Musicians of the SSO

6

FRI | 7.30PM | ECH

ELIAHU INBAL: MAHLER 6 Eliahu Inbal, conductor

13

FRI | 7.30PM | ECH

POPS CONCERT: WEST SIDE STORY

ELIAHU INBAL

Joshua Tan, conductor

27

&28

MAY2018

1

FRI & SAT | 7.30PM | ECH

SSO GALA: LA BOHÈME Lan Shui, conductor

TUE | 4PM | VCH

DISCOVERING MUSIC!: EVERYONE IS A SOLOIST! Jason Lai, conductor

5

SAT | 7.30PM | ECH

SSO GALA: KAVAKOS PLAYS SHOSTAKOVICH Lan Shui, conductor | Leonidas Kavakos, violin

11

FRI | 7.30PM | ECH

CHRISTIAN BLACKSHAW PLAYS BEETHOVEN Claus Peter Flor, conductor | Christian Blackshaw, piano

18 &19

FRI & SAT | 7.30PM | VCH

SSO CHAMBER SERIES: THE GLORY OF BAROQUE Peter Hanson, violin / conductor | Musicians of the SSO

LEONIDAS K AVAKOS

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SUP P OR T YOUR ORC HE S T R A W I T H A G IF T TODAY

Our mission as the national orchestra is to create memorable shared experiences through musical excellence.

When you make a donation to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, you are helping to spread the love for music, to nurture young talent and enrich the diverse communities in our country.

We are always trying to balance the need to cover our costs while still keeping ticket prices affordable for Singaporeans.

Over the years, many generous benefactors have stepped forward to lend us a hand. Their donations help us to hold down overall prices and to make it possible for students to attend concerts with heavily subsidised tickets.

The SSO receives double the benefit of every donation.

This is because every dollar you give to the SSO is matched by a grant of the same amount from the government’s Cultural Matching Fund. A large portion of SSO’s funding therefore depends on the amount of donations we receive from benefactors like you.

Please consider making a gift of music to Singapore’s very own national orchestra.

A donation of ~ $1,000 would enable a number of disadvantaged children to attend a singing workshop ~ $10,000 would enable us to upgrade a young musician’s old clarinet or viola ~ $200,000 would enable us to stage an outdoor concert featuring the SSO In return, you as a SSO donor could benefit from a tax deduction of 2.5 times the amount of your donation.

You could also receive other benefits such: ~ Access to the best seats in the house, or ~ Exclusive hosting opportunities for your most valued clients To make a gift of music today, please visit www.sso.org.sg/donation or contact the Development and Sponsorship department at:

GU BING JIE FIXED CHAIR VIOLA 84

Tel: 6602 4237/ 6602 4238 or Ms Peggy Kek Director, Development and Partnerships peggykek@sso.org.sg

A S TA NDIN G O VAT I O N T O O U R D O N O R S PATRON SPONSOR Tote Board Group PRINCIPAL PRESENTING SPONSOR OF THE SSO 2016 EUROPE TOUR Temasek Foundation Nurtures PRINCIPAL CHAMPION OF THE SINGAPORE SYMPHONY CHILDREN’S CHOIR Christopher Ho & Rosy Ho

ANNUAL CAMPAIGN 2016 DONORS* Saga Tree Capital Advisors Pte Ltd Mrs Dorothy Chan Mrs Christina Ong Mr & Mrs Goh Yew Lin Anonymous

Binjai Tree Boardroom Limited One North Capital Pte Ltd Resorts World at Sentosa Pte Ltd Prof Chan Heng Chee

Desmond Lim Yu Jin Leong Wai Leng Geoffrey & Ai Ai Wong Anonymous

*This list includes donations of $10,000 and above.

BENEFIT DINNER 2017 DONORS* Christopher Ho & Rosy Ho Interchem Pte Ltd G K Goh Holdings Ltd Kingsmen Exhibits Pte Ltd Tote Board Mr Joseph Grimberg Far East Organization Kris Foundation Mr & Mrs Goh Geok Khim

Stephen Riady Group of Foundations United Overseas Bank Limited UPP Holdings Limited Anonymous Dr Julie Lo & Mr Eugene Lai Mrs Clarinda Tjia-Dharmadi-Martin & Mr Christopher Martin Ms Paige Parker & Mr Jim Rogers Mdm Tan Siew Hoon Thomas Zuellig

At Sunrice GlobalChef Academy Credit Suisse DBS Bank Ltd Hi-P Internatonal Limited LGT Bank (Singapore) Ltd Marina Bay Sands Pte Ltd One North Capital Pte Ltd OSIM International Limited PSA International Tan Kong Piat (Pte) Ltd

Van Cleef and Arpels Harpreet K. Bedi & Satinder S. Garcha Lito & Kim Camacho Pauline Chan & Jean Nasr Choo Chiau Beng Kevin & Amy Gould Jullie Kan, Johanes Oeni & Christian Rothbuehler Maisy Koh & Dr Beh Swan Gin

Anonymous Liew Wei Li Olivia Lum Mr David Ong Andreas & Doris Sohmen-Pao Tan Choo Leng Teo Poh Jin, Kim Geoffrey & Ai-Ai Wong Grace Yeh Yong Pung How

*This list reflects donations of $10,000 and above as at 26 April 2017.

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WANG WEI ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL BASS TROMBONE

DAMIAN PATTI ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL TROMBONE

Patron Sponsors

A Standing Ovation for Our Corporate Partners OFFICIAL HOTEL

OFFICIAL TRAINING PARTNER

OFFICIAL RADIO STATION

OFFICIAL OUTDOOR MEDIA PARTNER

OFFICIAL POSTAGE SPONSOR

OFFICIAL AIRLINE

Partners

LEE FOUNDATION

S I N G AP ORE SYMP HONY O R C H E STR A 11 Empress Place #01-02 Victoria Concert Hall Singapore 179558 T +65 6602 4200 (main) E corporate@sso.org.sg sso.org.sg