VCHpresents 2019/20 Season Brochure

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Chair Mr Goh Yew Lin Deputy Chair Ms Yong Ying-I Directors Mr Ang Chek Meng Mrs Odile Benjamin Mr Chng Hak-Peng Mr Lionel Choi Mr Warren Fernandez Prof Arnoud De Meyer Mr Heinrich Grafe Ms Liew Wei Li Ms Lim Mei Mr Sanjiv Misra Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao Mr Paul Tan Dr Kelly Tang Mr Yee Chen Fah

2019/20 Concert Season

Victoria Concert Hall 04 The Klais Organ 06 Concerts 07 Events Calendar 26 Ticketing 28 Fringe Activities 31

The information in this publication is correct at press time but the Singapore Symphony Group reserves the right to change programmes or artistes without prior notice.

©LERTKIAT CHONGJIRAJITRA

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WELCOME FROM THE CEO July 2019 marks the fifth anniversary of the re-opening of the Victoria Concert Hall, making this 2019/20 chamber music season a particularly meaningful one. Over the past five years, we have experimented with different types of concerts and spoke with many of you to understand what you look for when visiting this lovely hall. It gives us great pleasure to present you another season of wonderful music that reminds us what VCH stands for.

VCH stands for EXCELLENCE. We share with you a spectrum of top-level chamber music playing by international and local stars. On one end of the spectrum, a string quartet led by Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s Artist-in-Residence Rachel Barton Pine will be “shredding” some heavy metal music. The Pavel Haas Quartet will bring you the core repertoire from their hit recordings. On the other end of the spectrum, the musicians of the SSO and the Stradivari Quartet will perform two concerts, including one featuring the chamber ensemble version of Gustav Mahler’s First Symphony. Our organ series features such virtuosi as Masato Suzuki and François Espinasse, and our annual Baroque Festival is led

by Bojan Cicic, leader of the Academy of Ancient Music. Our annual Singapore International Piano Festival will feature Mei Yi Foo, Nelson Goerner, Leon McCawley and Christian Zacharias.

VCH stands for INTIMACY. As we hear more and more of you tell us about how intimate the music feels in our spaces, we continue to find new ways to bring you close encounters with music in this special venue. We will have for the first time since our re-opening, voice-and-piano recitals – one

features Chinese tenor Long Long and Malaysian piano star Tengku Irfan in a recital of French and Italian love songs. The second showcases popular baritone Zhou Zhengzhong and our own Piano Festival Artistic Director Lim Yan in a recital anchored on Chinese and European songs about home. We present Miloš Karadaglić in his debut solo recital at VCH. We are also introducing a new series called Intimate Moments, supported

by Chinese newspaper Lianhe Zaobao, where our musicians will share and perform personally meaningful chamber music repertoire with 60 audience members in the VTVCH Dance Studio.

Conversations will be in Mandarin.

VCH stands for COMMUNITY. We bring you programmes for the community, schools and families. Our organ series promises free lunchtime organ concerts with several organists to showcase the different sounds the Klais organ is capable of. We continue our annual family event in June, this year with film and animation, and will continue to feature our talented local musicians in our Atrium series.

Please join me in celebrating the fifth anniversary of the re-opening of the Concert Hall!

Chng Hak-Peng Chief Executive Officer Singapore Symphony Group

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VICTORIA CONCERT HALL The Victoria Concert Hall (VCH) is Singapore’s oldest concert hall and home to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO).

The Victoria Concert Hall (VCH) is Singapore’s oldest concert hall, presenting memorable experiences from outstanding classical music performances to young audiences’ first encounters with rhythm and sounds. Within the hall’s intimate acoustics and beautifully restored interior, each of its 673 seats offers an immediate connection with the artistes on its stage.

Facing Empress Place on the banks of the Singapore River, VCH has been home of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra since 1980.

Designed by architectural firm Swan & McLaren and built between 1902 and 1905 as a memorial hall in honour of Queen Victoria, the iconic hall was renovated from 1979 to 1980 to serve as a concert venue for the national orchestra. VCH’s Klais organ, with its 2,012 pipes, is Singapore’s only fully mechanical organ. It was first installed in 1987 through fundraising efforts from the thennewly formed Singapore Symphony Orchestra Ladies’ League. VCH underwent a four-year-long restoration by Singapore’s W Architects, with acoustics firm Arup as advisor, before reopening in 2014. During the process, 25 artisans from South India were flown in to restore the intricately

carved pillars inside the Concert Hall. The hall’s renewed façade and improved facilities serve to accentuate the historic aura and heartfelt intimacy of the space.

The hall hosts the annual Singapore International Piano Festival, the triennial Singapore International Violin Competition, and the biennial National Piano and Violin Competition. Numerous performers have inspired audiences through repertoire ranging from brass chorales to full symphony choirs, from jazz trio to world music ensemble, from string quartet to solo piano and organ.

Our learning and access programmes at VCH have engaged and drawn in diverse audiences.

From light entertainment to experimental theatre, concerts for children to recitals for connoisseurs, the Victoria Concert Hall has something for everyone. Activities include many free concerts, and tickets start at $10 for schools. The VCH Rose Studio, an exclusive recording facility, captures the magic on stage, allowing us to share it with audiences outside the concert hall.

Welcome to music, welcome to our home.

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THE KLAIS ORGAN The Victoria Concert Hall’s Klais organ is Singapore’s only fully mechanical organ, and has strong emotional links with generations of audiences.

It was first installed in 1987 through fundraising efforts from the then-newly formed Singapore Symphony Orchestra Ladies’ League.

The Klais organ, built by German organbuilder Orgelbau Klais, replaced the St. Clair organ that had been built in the Victoria Concert Hall (VCH) some 50 years earlier in 1931. The St. Clair organ was named after Major W. G. St. Clair, founder of the old Philharmonic Society and the first editor of the Singapore Free Press, and its façade was retained after the installation of the Klais organ.

In 2010, with the redevelopment of the VCH and Victoria Theatre, the organ – consisting of a total of 2,012 pipes – was methodically removed piece by piece, repaired and stored in climate-controlled warehouses during the refurbishment period. Many donors and supporters of classical music, notably the Lee Foundation, stepped forward to provide financial support for the restoration.

When the VCH reopened in the second half of 2014, the organ once again took centrestage, providing awe-inspiring and

delicate strains of music to old and new audiences. The Singapore Symphony Group started the VCH Organ Series in 2014 as a set of concerts to showcase the beauty and power of the Klais organ to the people of Singapore.

Visit www.sso.org.sg/klaisorgan to find out more.

TOP TO BOTTOM VCH Open House, May 2018 Dorothy Papadakos in Concert, Oct 2017 Thomas Trotter in Concert, Feb 2019

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©MARCO BORGGREVE

ORGAN, OMAKASE

Sun, 8 Sep 2019 4pm Concert Hall

MASATO SUZUKI, ORGAN

J.S. BACH Prelude and Fugue in G major, BWV 541 An Wasserflüssen Babylon from the Leipzig Chorale Preludes, BWV 653 Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565 Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele from the Leipzig Chorale Preludes, BWV 654 Komm, Heiliger Geist from the Leipzig Chorale Preludes, BWV 651 BRAHMS Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele from 11 Chorale Preludes, Op. 122, No. 5 O Welt, ich muss dich lassen, from 11 Chorale Preludes, Op. 122, No. 11 SCHUMANN Fugue No. 1 in B-flat major from Six Fugues on B-A-C-H, Op. 60

Free post-concert activities available. Pre-registration is required.

Please refer to Page 31 for more information.

LISZT Prelude on B-A-C-H, S. 260

O R GA N , O M A K A S E

Masato Suzuki, the eminent Japanese organist, conductor, harpsichordist and composer, presents a tantalizing programme of toccatas and sublime fugues, carefully interspersed with chorale preludes to cleanse your aural palate. Bach, Brahms, Liszt and Schumann – music regal and refined.

SHREDDING WITH RACHEL BARTON PINE

Sun, 27 Oct 2019 4pm Concert Hall

S H R ED D I N G W I T H R AC H E L BA RTO N P I N E

©LISA MARIE MAZZUCCO

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Infusing classical music with its heavy metal counterpart, award-winning violinist and Singapore Symphony Orchestra 2019/20 Artist-in-Residence Rachel Barton Pine powers up for a convention-breaking, genredefying night. From Van Halen to Sibelius, Nine Inch Nails to Shostakovich, Paganini to Led Zeppelin, watch her electrify the stage together with SSO musicians!

RACHEL BARTON PINE, VIOLIN MUSICIANS OF THE SSO

HIGHLIGHTS Eruption by VAN HALEN The Spirit of Radio by RUSH Master of Puppets by METALLICA Cowboys From Hell by PANTERA

PIPES DE DEUX

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PHOTO: ALEX IBY

Mon, 4 Nov 2019 12:30pm Concert Hall

EVELYN LIM, ORGAN JOANNA PAUL, ORGAN

SOLER arr. E.P. BIGGS The Emperor’s Fanfare J.S. BACH Gigue Fugue in G major, BWV 577 HOLLINS Maytime Gavotte LOCKLAIR “...and thanksgivings may follow” from Rubrics (A Liturgical Suite for Organ) SEYDELMANN Sonata No. 1 in C major for 4 hands, Allegro MATHIAS Fanfare VIERNE Sicilienne from 24 Pièces de fantaisie, Op. 53, No. 2 BOVET Salamanca from Trois Préludes Hambourgeois CALLAHAN Ragtime, Op. 49

Free post-concert activities available. Pre-registration is required.

Please refer to Page 31 for more information.

ALBRECHTSBERGER Prélude and Fugue in C major for 4 Hands

P I P ES D E D EU X

Singaporean organists Evelyn Lim and Joanna Paul join hands to present a free lunchtime recital of organ music. Clarion fanfares, jolly gigues, even an evocative jaunt to Salamanca, Spain – come with us and be enchanted by the pipes and possibilities of the VCH Klais organ.

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LOVE AND LONGING

Inspired by beauty, love and longing, the young and upcoming Chinese tenor Long Long presents an afternoon of French and Italian love songs. Follow his voice in aria and air, accompanied by Malaysian pianist Tengku Irfan, and revel in the sublime poetry of heartache and heartbreak. Love, the strange gracefulness of everything you say.

LOV E A N D LO N G I N G

LONG LONG, TENOR TENGKU IRFAN, PIANO

Sun, 10 Nov 2019 4pm Concert Hall

CARDILLO Core ‘ngrato CILEA È la solita storia del pastore from L’arlesiana DE CURTIS Non ti scordar di me FAURÉ Chanson d’Amour, Op. 27 and Après un rêve from Trois mélodies GOUNOD Salut demeure chaste et pure from Faust LEHÁR Dein ist mein ganzes Herz from Das Land des Lächelns MASSENET Ouvre tes yeux bleus from Poème d’amour TOSTI Ideale and L’ultima canzone VERDI Non t’accostare all’urna

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PHOTO: YOHANN LC

FRENCH CONNECTIONS

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 7:30pm Concert Hall

LYNNETTE SEAH, VIOLIN GULNARA MASHUROVA, HARP MUSICIANS OF THE SSO

Supported by

In association with the 2019 Voilah! Festival

DEBUSSY Les Chansons de Bilitis RAVEL Introduction and Allegro for Harp, Flute, Clarinet and String Quartet, M. 46 MASSENET Meditation from Thaïs for Violin and String Ensemble FAURÉ Piano Quartet No. 1, Op. 15

F R EN C H CO N N EC T I O N S

Lynnette and Gulnara, two familiar faces of the SSO, come together in this enchanting evening of French musical poetry. Fauré’s elegant Piano Quartet shares the atmosphere of perfumed lyricism with Ravel’s well-known miniature harp concerto played in its original chamber form. Massenet’s heavenly Meditation from Thaïs needs no introduction, but be prepared to revel in the evocative verses from Debussy’s Les Chansons de Bilitis.

IN T IM AT E M O M E N T S 乐 享 时光 :

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 7:30pm Dance Studio

FROM WEST TO EAST 从西至东

Supported by

©MICHELLE TNG YING

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F R O M W EST TO E A ST

A new series, a new perspective. Intimate Moments is a chamber-scale opportunity for you to watch, listen and converse with a select musician of the Singapore Symphony family.

Meet violinist Zhang Si Jing this November with fellow SSO musicians in the cosy ambience of the VCH Dance Studio, in an evening of string delights.

ZHANG SI JING, VIOLIN MUSICIANS OF THE SSO

BORODIN Allegro moderato from String Quartet No. 2 in D major SHOSTAKOVICH Selections from String Quartet No. 8 in C minor, Op. 110 FRANÇAIX Selections from String Trio in C major SARASATE Introduction & Tarantella PIAZZOLLA Libertango

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©MICHELLE TNG YING

PIPE UP! II

Mon, 16 Dec 2019 12:30pm Concert Hall

It’s a majestic trombone and organ duo showcase as SSO trombonist Samuel Armstrong pairs up with Singaporean organist Isaac Lee. This turn-of-the-20thcentury programme takes you from Germany’s Rheinberger to England’s Holst, culminating in Ives’s inspired Variations on America and French composer Guilmant’s highly acclaimed trombone masterpiece, the Morceau symphonique.

RHEINBERGER Organ Sonata No. 11 in D minor, Op. 148 I. Agitato: Allegro II. Cantilene: Adagio HOLST Duo Concertante for Trombone and Organ GUILMANT Morceau symphonique, Op. 88 IVES Variations on America

ISAAC LEE, ORGAN

Free post-concert activities available. Pre-registration is required.

Please refer to Page 31 for more information.

PIPE UP! II

SAMUEL ARMSTRONG, TROMBONE

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ENDLESS SOUND

Sun, 9 Feb 2020 4pm Concert Hall

©LIUDMILA JEREMIES

无限的笙

Renowned Sheng virtuoso Wu Wei leads the SSO on a journey from East to West and back again, in an unmissable demonstration of the ancient Chinese instrument’s phenomenal capabilities. Prepared to be transported aloft with Eastern and Chinese favourites, alongside transcriptions of Baroque classics. Virtuosity, poetry, nostalgia — the endless sound of the Sheng.

EN D L ES S S O U N D

WU WEI, SHENG JOSHUA TAN, CONDUCTOR MUSICIANS OF THE SSO

YAN HAI DENG 闫海登 Tunes of Jin Opera 晋调

MAO YUAN 茅沅 Dance of the Yao People 瑶族舞曲 ZHANG JING PING 张靖平 Celebratory Harvest 庆丰收

J.S. BACH arr. STEENBRINK Andante from Violin Sonata No. 2, BWV 1003 VIVALDI arr. WU WEI & STEENBRINK La Folia HUANG RUO 黃若 The colour yellow (2007) Pastoral Song 牧歌 [a Mongolian Folk Song 内蒙古民歌] CHONG KEE YONG [commissioned by the SSO] Remembering the Old Fishing Village 老渔港的回忆 NIE ER 聂耳 ARR. WU WEI Dragon Dance 金蛇狂舞

ORGAN, FRANÇAIS

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PHOTO: DEX EZEKIEL

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 12:30pm Concert Hall

A Baroque German composer who “turned” French, Bach transcribed by a French, French Romantics, and a trip to the Far East by the revolutionary French organist/composer Jehan Alain. Every piece has a French touch in this fascinating organ recital.

FRANÇOIS ESPINASSE, ORGAN

GUILAIN Suite du premier ton J.S. BACH (transcriptions by ANDRÉ ISOIR) Stirb in mir from Cantata BWV 169 Sinfonia from Cantata BWV 29 FRANCK Prélude, Fugue et Variation, Op. 18

ALAIN Deux danses à Agni Yavishta Litanies This concert is supported by the Singapore Chapter of the American Guild of Organists Free post-concert activities available. Pre-registration is required.

Please refer to Page 31 for more information.

O R GA N , F R A N Ç A I S

VIERNE Carillon de Westminster, Op. 54, No. 6

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IN T IM AT E M O M E N T S 乐 享 时光 :

THE COLOURFUL WORLD OF ANIMALS

Supported by

T H E CO LO U R F U L WO R L D O F A N I M A L S

©MICHELLE TNG YING

缤纷的动物世界

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 7:30pm Dance Studio

Next up on Intimate Moments, take a trip with SSO violinist Cindy Lee on a musical expedition of Classical and Romantic tunes inspired by animals. Sit back in the intimate surrounds of the VCH Dance Studio – watch and listen as string upon strings evoke the scenic escapades of nature’s poetry, wit and life.

CINDY LEE, VIOLIN MUSICIANS OF THE SSO

HAYDN Selections from String Quartet No. 3 in C major, Op. 33 “The Bird” SCHUBERT Allegro vivace from Piano Quintet in A major, D. 667 “Trout” FAURÉ Papillon, Op. 77 SAINT-SAËNS Selections from Carnival of the Animals

Last seen at the Singapore Symphony’s acclaimed 2018 semi-staging of La bohème as Marcello, the emerging Chinese baritone Zhou Zhengzhong returns for a solo recital with Singaporean pianist Lim Yan. Join them in this programme of heartfelt opera arias, contrastingly paired with Chinese songs of nostalgia and longing for home.

ZHOU ZHENGZHONG, BARITONE LIM YAN, PIANO

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LU ZAI YANG 陆在易 & YU YOU REN 于右任 Looking Forlornly Towards Home 望乡词 QING ZHU 青主 & LI ZHI YI 李之仪 I Live At The Yangtze River 我住长江头 SMETANA V Cechách (In Bohemia) from Rêves (Dreams), JB 1:103 No. 3, Vzpomínka (A Memory) from Sketches, Op. 4 HUANG ZI 黄自 & WEI HAN ZHANG 韦翰章 Nostalgia/Homesickness 思乡 GRIEG No. 6, Hjemve (Homesickness) from Lyric Pieces, Op. 57 VERDI Di Provenza il mar from La Traviata Alzati! là tuo figlio… Eri tu che macchiavi quell’anima from Un ballo in Maschera RIMSKY-KORSAKOV Gryaznoy’s Recitative and Aria from The Tsar’s Bride

S O N G S O F N O STA LG I A

SONGS OF NOSTALGIA

Sun, 29 Mar 2020 4pm Concert Hall

BA R O Q U E F EST I VA L

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BAROQUE

Leader of the famous Academy of Ancient Music, Bojan Cicic directs our ever-popular Baroque Festival this year. Be lifted by the twin programmes of colourful, spirited music by composers who were active in Rome – the Eternal City of art and inspiration.

Familiar names such as Vivaldi and Corelli share their muse with lesser-known but noless invigorating composers such as Locatelli and Colista, the “Genius of Rome”.

BOJAN CICIC, VIOLIN/CONDUCTOR MUSICIANS OF THE SSO

FESTIVAL GENIUS OF ROME

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Sat, 11 Apr 2020 7:30pm Concert Hall

LEONI Sonata XII del terzo tono from Sonate di violino a voce sola, Book 1, Op. 3 STRADELLA Trio Sonata in D minor COLISTA Sonata à 3 in B-flat, W-K28 HANDEL Sonata a 5 for violin and strings in B-flat major, HWV 288 VALENTINI Concerto grosso Op. 7 No. 7 in G major

OPEN REHEARSAL 11 Apr 2020, 10am Free admission

DALL’ABACO Concerti à più istrumenti in D major, Op. 6 No. 12 MUFFAT Concerto grosso No. 12 in G major “Propitia Sydera”

ORPHEUS OF ROME

Sun, 12 Apr 2020 4pm Concert Hall

CORELLI Trio Sonata in D major, Op. 3 No. 2 Sinfonia to Santa Beatrice d’Este in D minor, WoO 1 Concerto grosso in D major, Op. 6 No. 4 VALENTINI Concerti grossi for Four Violins in A minor, Op. 7 No. 11 LOCATELLI Concerto grosso in C minor, Op. 1 No. 11 VIVALDI Violin Concerto in B-flat major, RV 366 “Il Carbonelli”

BA R O Q U E F EST I VA L

PHOTO: WILLIAN WEST

MONTANARI Concerto grosso in A major, Op. 1 No. 8

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THE STRADIVARI QUARTET

Fri, 17 Apr 2020 7:30pm Concert Hall

T H E S T R A D I VA R I Q UA R T E T P L AYS

MAHLER

One Chinese, two Swiss and a Polish — the cosmopolitan Stradivari Quartet has traversed the world with its thoughtprovoking programmes. Their first concert in the VCHpresents Chamber series is centred around the chamber version of Mahler’s First Symphony, in collaboration with musicians of the SSO.

STRAUSS Capriccio, Op. 85* ENESCU Romanian Rhapsody in A major, Op. 11 No. 1 for String Quintet and Piano* MAHLER (ARR. KLAUSS) Symphony No. 1 in D major for Chamber Orchestra* -Post-concert chat-

T H E S T R A D I VA R I Q UA R T E T P L AYS

Sun, 19 Apr 2020 4pm Concert Hall

T H E ST R A D I VA R I Q UA RT E T

BEETHOVEN

To mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Beethoven, the Stradivari Quartet presents two of the celebrated German composer’s string quartets. No. 11, nicknamed “Serioso”, was never intended for public performance; like No. 8, it was simply so ahead of its time. Accompanying these classics is Eight Colors by the prolific contemporary Chinese composer, Tan Dun, eight pieces of concentrated drama and ritual.

BEETHOVEN String Quartet No. 11 in F minor, Op. 95 “Serioso” String Quartet No. 8 in E minor, Op. 59 No. 2 “Rasumovsky” TAN DUN Eight Colors for String Quartet -Post-concert chat-

STRADIVARI QUARTET Xiaoming Wang, violin | Sebastian Bohren, violin | Lech Antonio Uszynski, viola | Maja Weber, cello

MUSICIANS OF THE SSO*

SECOND WIND

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PHOTO: MATT HOFFMAN

Mon, 4 May 2020 12:30pm Concert Hall

Singaporean flutist Cheryl Lim raises a second wind together with organist Koh Jia Hwei in this recital of multiple musical pipes. Besides works by Vierne, Franck and Martin, the extraordinary French composer Jehan Alain (1911-1940) is represented by two beguiling pieces for flute and organ.

ALAIN Aria for Flute and Organ

KOH JIA HWEI, ORGAN

VIERNE Toccata from Pièces de fantaisie, Op. 53 No. 2

Free post-concert activities available. Pre-registration is required.

Please refer to Page 31 for more information.

FRANCK Pastorale, Op. 19 MARTIN Sonata da chiesa for Flute and Organ

S ECO N D W I N D

CHERYL LIM, FLUTE

Three Movements for Flute and Organ

MILOŠ KARADAGLIĆ —

Fri, 15 May 2020 7:30pm Concert Hall

HERE COMES THE SUN

H ER E CO M ES TH E SU N

©LARS BORGES, MERCURY CLASSICS

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“The hottest guitarist in the world” is back!

Last seen with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in 2018, Miloš returns for a full concert dedicated to his guitar artistry.

Dreamy poetry and sultry fire from the Mediterranean, alongside Baroque elegance and melancholy, are evocative companions to Miloš’s signature tracks from his Beatles’ album Blackbird. You asked for him, so here comes the sun.

MILOŠ KARADAGLIĆ, GUITAR MUSICIANS FROM RE:MIX

J.S. BACH Suite in C minor, BWV 997 GRANADOS Andaluza and Oriental from 12 Danzas españolas ALBÉNIZ Asturias (Leyenda) from Suite Española No. 1, Op. 47 MANUEL DE FALLA Danza de la molinero from The ThreeCornered Hat JOHN LENNON & PAUL MCCARTNEY Eleanor Rigby Fool On The Hill GEORGE HARRISON Here Comes The Sun TEDESCO El sueño de la razón produce monstruos from 24 Caprichos de Goya, Op. 195 DUPLESSY Cavalcade

THE PAVEL HAAS QUARTET —

Fri, 29 May 2020 7:30pm Concert Hall

©MARCO BORGGREVE

THE GREAT FUGUE

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ERWIN SCHULHOFF String Quartet No. 1 DVOŘÁK String Quartet No. 12 in F major, Op. 96 “American” BEETHOVEN String Quartet No. 13 in B-flat major, Op. 130 Great Fugue, Op. 133

PAVEL HAAS QUARTET Veronika Jarůšková, violin | Marek Zwiebel, violin | Jiří Kabát, viola | Peter Jarůšek, cello

T H E G R E AT F U G U E

One of the world’s most exciting contemporary chamber ensembles, the much lauded Pavel Haas Quartet is named after the Czech composer Pavel Haas (1899–1944).

Their reputation for championing the music — both familiar and unfamiliar — of their homeland is showcased in this programme of Dvořák’s popular American String Quartet and the work of the early 20th century Erwin Schulhoff. The concert ends with the titanic Op. 130 Quartet by Beethoven, one of his final works. The PHQ perform it in its original version with the famous Grosse Fuge or “Great Fugue”, which Igor Stravinsky called “an absolutely contemporary piece of music that will be contemporary forever.”

SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL PIANO FESTIVAL Victoria Concert Hall Tickets on sale: early 2020

WWW.PIANOFESTIVAL.COM.SG

SGPIANOFEST

THE COMPOSER AND THE MOUSE

Sat, 13 Jun 2020 4pm Concert Hall

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In this animated double-bill, the evergreen children’s classic, The Carnival of the Animals, is paired with The Composer and the Mouse, created by Tom Scott.

The latter tells the story of a talented yet hapless composer who finds his own musical style with the help of a mouse.

A fun introduction to classical music combining film and original music for organ and piano, performed live by the Scott Brothers Duo. TOM SCOTT, PIANO AND ANIMATOR JONATHAN SCOTT, ORGAN

This concert is recommended for ages 4 and above.

Free post-concert activities available.

Please refer to Page 31 for more information.

MOZART Overture to The Magic Flute TOM SCOTT The Composer and The Mouse GRIEG In The Hall Of The Mountain King from Peer Gynt SAINT-SAĂ‹NS The Carnival of the Animals

T H E CO M P O S E R A N D T H E M O U S E

This is a concert performed with film.

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AT A GLANCE NOVEMBER 2019 (CON’T)

SEPTEMBER 2019 Organ, Omakase Sun, 4pm, Concert Hall Masato Suzuki, organ

ORGAN

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©MARCO BORGGREVE

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French Connections Thu, 7:30pm, Concert Hall Lynnette Seah, violin Gulnara Mashurova, harp Musicians of the SSO

CHAMBER

Masato Suzuki

OCTOBER 2019

Lynnette Seah

Shredding with Rachel Barton Pine Sun, 4pm, Concert Hall Rachel Barton Pine, violin Musicians of the SSO

E XC I T E !

©LISA MARIE MAZZUCCO

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Rachel Barton Pine

NOVEMBER 2019 Pipes de deux Mon, 12:30pm, Concert Hall Evelyn Lim & Joanna Paul, organ

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Love and Longing Sun, 4pm, Concert Hall Long Long, tenor Tengku Irfan, piano

Intimate Moments: From West to East 乐享时光: 从西至东 Thu, 7:30pm, Dance Studio Zhang Si Jing, violin Musicians of the SSO

DECEMBER 2019 16

Pipe Up! II Mon, 12.30pm, Concert Hall Isaac Lee, organ Samuel Armstrong, trombone

ORGAN

FEBRUARY 2020 09

ORGAN

CHAMBER

Endless Sound 无限的笙 Sun, 4pm, Concert Hall Wu Wei, sheng Joshua Tan, conductor Musicians of the SSO

CHAMBER

©LIUDMILA JEREMIES

04

21

Wu Wei

AT A G L AN C E

24 Long Long

Organ, Français Mon, 12:30pm, Concert Hall François Espinasse, organ

ORGAN

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MARCH 2020

MAY 2020 (CON’T)

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Intimate Moments: The Colourful World of Animals 乐享时光: 缤纷的动物世界 Fri, 7:30pm, Dance Studio Cindy Lee, violin Musicians of the SSO

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29

Songs of Nostalgia Sun, 4pm, Concert Hall Zhou Zhengzhong, baritone Lim Yan, piano

Miloš Karadaglić — Here Comes The Sun Fri, 7:30pm, Concert Hall Miloš Karadaglić, guitar Musicians from re:mix

E XC I T E !

©LARS BORGES, MERCURY CLASSICS

CHAMBER

APRIL 2020 11 12

Baroque Festival — Genius of Rome Sat, 7:30pm, Concert Hall Baroque Festival — Orpheus of Rome Sun, 4pm, Concert Hall

Miloš Karadaglić

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CHAMBER

©MARCO BORGGREVE

Bojan Cicic, violin/conductor Musicians of the SSO

The Pavel Haas Quartet — The Great Fugue Fri, 7:30pm, Concert Hall Pavel Haas Quartet

Bojan Cicic

17* 19

The Stradivari Quartet Plays Mahler Fri, 7:30pm, Concert Hall The Stradivari Quartet Plays Beethoven Sun, 4pm, Concert Hall

CHAMBER

Pavel Haas Quartet

JUNE 2020 04 07

Stradivari Quartet Musicians of the SSO*

27th Singapore International Piano Festival Thu - Sun, 7:30pm, Concert Hall Jun 4: Nelson Goerner Jun 5: Mei Yi Foo Jun 6: Leon McCawley Jun 7: Christian Zacharias

The Stradivari Quartet

4

Second Wind Mon, 12:30pm, Concert Hall Koh Jia Hwei, organ Cheryl Lim, flute

13 ORGAN

The Composer and the Mouse Sat, 4pm, Concert Hall Tom Scott, piano and animator Jonathan Scott, organ

ORGAN

AT A G L A N C E

Mei Yi Foo

MAY 2020

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TICKET PRICES DATE

VENUE

LOVE AND LONGING

10 Nov 19

Concert Hall

FRENCH CONNECTIONS

14 Nov 19

Concert Hall

9 Feb 20

Concert Hall

SONGS OF NOSTALGIA

29 Mar 20

Concert Hall

THE STRADIVARI QUARTET PLAYS MAHLER

17 Apr 20

Concert Hall

THE STRADIVARI QUARTET PLAYS BEETHOVEN

19 Apr 20

Concert Hall

THE PAVEL HAAS QUARTET – THE GREAT FUGUE

29 May 20

Concert Hall

SHREDDING WITH RACHEL BARTON PINE

27 Oct 19

Concert Hall

MILOŠ KARADAGLIĆ – HERE COMES THE SUN

15 May 20

Concert Hall

ORGAN, OMAKASE

8 Sep 19

Concert Hall

THE COMPOSER AND THE MOUSE

13 Jun 20

Concert Hall

GENIUS OF ROME

11 Apr 20

Concert Hall

ORPHEUS OF ROME

12 Apr 20

Concert Hall

21 Nov 19

Dance Studio

20 Mar 20

Dance Studio

ENDLESS SOUND 无限的笙

TI C K E T P R I C ES

BAROQUE FESTIVAL

INTIMATE MOMENTS 乐享时光 FROM WEST TO EAST 从西至东

THE COLOURFUL WORLD OF ANIMALS 缤纷的动物世界

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CAT 1

CAT 2

$30

$20

CAT 3

CAT 4

CONCESSION PRICES

$22, $15

$20

$15

$30

$20

$15

$30

$20

$22, $15

$30

$20

$15

$30

$20

$15

$30

$20

$15

$30

$20

$22, $15

$50

$40

$30

$20

$22, $15

$25

$20

$15

$30

$20

$22, $15

$30

$20

$15

$30

$20

$15

$18

$12

$18

$12

T I C K E T P R I C ES

Family bundle of 4: $90 & $72

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BOOK YOUR TICKETS

Online at www.sso.org.sg

Call SISTIC’s hotline at (65) 6348 5555

Visit a SISTIC Authorised Agent near you

FRIENDS SEASON PASS

AFFORDABLE TICKETS FOR SCHOOLS

all VCHpresents series concerts.

Students can enjoy world-class performances at the Victoria Concert Hall at subsidised ticket prices as low as $10.

10% OFF

ESPLANADE&ME, GALLERY INSIDER & KINOKUNIYA PRIVILEGE CARD*

10% OFF

all VCHpresents series concerts.

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

Contact our Customer Experience team at (65) 6602 4245 or ticketing@sso.org.sg.

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

CORPORATE BOOKINGS Please contact our Customer Experience team at (65) 6602 4245 or ticketing@sso.org.sg.

ADMISSION GUIDELINES B O O K YO U R TI C K E TS

All events in the VCHpresents season are for patrons aged 7 and above, with the following exceptions: EVENT

ADMISSION AGE

VCHpresents Organ: The Composer and the Mouse

Recommended for ages 4 and above.

No admission for infants-in arms.

If parents wish to bring children under 4, a ticket for each child is required.

VCH Open House

Recommended for ages 6 and above.

*Information correct at time of printing

VCH OPEN HOUSE

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Wed, 27 May 2020 Join us at the Victoria Concert Hall for a day of musical fun!

From educational programmes in the concert hall, to backstage and historical tours of the building, and performances at the atrium there’s definitely something for everyone.

FRINGE ACTIVITIES

Sat, 13 Jun 2020 | 3-6pm Learn more about the pipe organ through various exhibitions and demonstrations.

VICTORIA CONCERT HALL TOURS 8 Sep 2019 4 Nov 2019 16 Dec 2019 24 Feb 2020 4 May 2020

Admission is free.

Pre-registration is required.

VCH ATRIUM PERFORMANCES ALL THROUGH THE YEAR Free performances staged all through the year!

Featuring local ensembles of all musical genres.

Suitable for all ages.

For tour registration and event details, head over to www.sso.org.sg/vchpresents.

VC H O P EN H O U S E & F R I N G E AC T I V I T I ES

ORGAN EXHIBITION

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COMMITTEES NOMINATING AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Mr Goh Yew Lin (Chair) Prof Arnoud De Meyer Mr Paul Tan Ms Yong Ying-I HUMAN RESOURCES COMMITTEE Ms Yong Ying-I (Chair) Prof Arnoud De Meyer Mr Yee Chen Fah Dr Kelly Tang ENDOWMENT FUND COMMITTEE Mr Goh Yew Lin (Chair) Mr David Goh Mr Sanjiv Misra AUDIT COMMITTEE Mr Yee Chen Fah (Chair) Mr Heinrich Grafe Ms Lim Mei

CO M M IT TEES

SNYO COMMITTEE Ms Liew Wei Li (Chair) Mr Ang Chek Meng Ms Vivien Goh Dr Kee Kirk Chin Mrs Valarie Wilson

SSO COUNCIL Prof Cham Tao Soon (Honorary Chair) Mr Alan Chan (Chair) 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 SSO MUSICIANS’ COMMITTEE Mr Jon Paul Dante Mr Jamie Hersch Mr Ng Pei-Sian Mr Mark Suter Mr Christoph Wichert Ms Elaine Yeo Mr Yeo Teow Meng

SSO LADIES’ LEAGUE Mrs Odile Benjamin (Chair) Mrs Kwan Lui (Deputy Chair) Mrs Celeste Basapa Mrs Kim Camacho Mrs Rosy Ho Ms Judy Hunt Prof Annie Koh Ms Maisy Koh Dr Julie Lo Mrs Clarinda TjiaDharmadi-Martin Ms Paige Parker Ms Kris Tan Ms Manju Vangal Mrs Grace Yeh

MANAGEMENT

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CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Mr Chng Hak-Peng ARTISTIC PLANNING Mr Hans Sørensen (Head) Programmes (VCH) Ms Erin Tan Programmes (SSO) Ms Kua Li Leng Ms Teo Chew Yen Ms Jodie Chiang Community Outreach Ms Vanessa Lee Choral Programmes Ms Regina Lee Ms Whitney Tan ORCHESTRA MANAGEMENT Mr Ernest Khoo (Head) Orchestra Mr Chia Jit Min Concert Operations Ms Kimberly Kwa Ms Chin Rosherna Mr Ramayah Elango Mr Md Fariz bin Samsuri

CEO OFFICE Ms Shirin Foo Mr Lim Yeow Siang Customer Experience Mr Randy Teo Ms Dacia Cheang Ms Nur Shafiqah bte Othman DEVELOPMENT & PARTNERSHIPS Ms Peggy Kek (Head) Corporate Communications Ms Leong Wenshan Ms Haslina Hassan Development Ms Chelsea Zhao Ms Nikki Chuang MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS Ms Cindy Lim (Head) Mr Chia Han-Leon Ms Myrtle Lee Ms Jana Loh Ms Hong Shu Hui Ms Sherilyn Lim Ms Melissa Tan

CORPORATE SERVICES Ms Lillian Yin (Head) Finance, IT & Facilities Mr Rick Ong Mr Alan Ong Ms Goh Hoey Fen Mr Jeffrey Tang Mr Md Zailani bin Md Said Human Resources & Administration Mr Desmen Low Ms Melissa Lee Ms Evelyn Siew Legal Mr Edward Loh SINGAPORE NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA Ms Pang Siu Yuin (Head) 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

MANAG EM ENT

Library Mr Lim Lip Hua Ms Priscilla Neo Ms Wong Yi Wen

PATRON SPONSOR

SUPPORTED BY

MATCHED BY

MAJOR DONORS

MR & MRS GOH YEW LIN

2019/20 SEASON PARTNERS OFFICIAL HOTEL

OFFICIAL RADIO STATION

OFFICIAL AIRLINE

2019/20 SEASON PATRONS

The Singapore Symphony Orchestra is a charity and not-for-profit organisation.

You can support us by donating at www.sso.org.sg/donate.

SSO.ORG.SG/VCHPRESENTS