MINISTER GRACE FU AND SSO CELEBRATE NATIONAL DAY WITH ALL-SINGAPOREAN PROGRAMME (11 AUG)

On Saturday evening, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) marked the country’s 53 years of independence with an all-Singaporean showcase at the Esplanade Concert Hall.

The orchestra played to an audience of 1,400, which included the invited beneficiaries, staff and volunteers of local charities such as Mendaki and the Nursing Home Foundation. There were also guests from the Singapore Association for the Deaf who followed the concert with the help of a sign language interpreter.

The concert, attended by Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, Ms Grace Fu, was capped by a grand performance of Majulah Singapura.

Said Ms Grace Fu, “I commend the SSO for showcasing Singaporean music and our world-class talents in this wonderful concert as part of the National Day celebrations. The works reflect the richness and diversity of our multicultural society, which is something that we can all be proud of. The SSO has made its quality offerings more accessible to audiences from different backgrounds, by providing complimentary tickets to beneficiaries from various VWOs, charities and community groups. In addition, the SSO is also exploring innovative ways, such as digital streaming, to reach out to new audiences across different age groups. Our Singapore music is a great way to connect people from all walks of life, and celebrate our shared national identity!”

Conducted by Singaporean Darrell Ang, the SSO was accompanied by the 100-strong Singapore Symphony Choruses.

The evening’s programme comprised orchestra arrangements of popular favourites like Semoga Bahagia, Munnaeru Vaalibaa, a Xinyao medley; and a new choral version of the audience favourite, Home. It also premiered Singaporean composer Chen Zhangyi’s Vanda Violin Concerto, inspired by the national flower and featuring Singaporean violinist Kam Ning.

CEO of the Singapore Symphony Group, which manages the orchestra, Mr Chng Hak-Peng said, “At this concert, we pay tribute to our nation with an all-Singapore programme. Today, we can proudly say that we’ve a strong repertoire of local orchestra music, and outstanding musicians like Darrell Ang and Kam Ning who have established themselves on the international stage. This is a theme from our new concert season—to celebrate national identity through music history.

“This was also the first time that an SSO concert was beamed from the Esplanade Concert Hall to the Esplanade Outdoor Theatre and shown full on FB Live! We did this to create and share memorable experiences for Singapore's National Day with more people.”

On Sunday, 12 Aug, the video of the SSO concert will be screened to 3,500 migrant workers at the Westlite Dormitory, as part of its National Day celebrations organised by Project Chulia Street, which will include food distribution, free medical check-ups and international calls home, sing-alongs and games.

Photos:
https://we.tl/JQqlSPYX1T

Full video of concert:
https://ssoperfor.ms/nationalday2018live
(Credit: Singapore Symphony Orchestra)

Programme for the evening
World Premiere:

• Chen Zhangyi’s Vanda Violin Concerto (performed by Singaporean soloist Kam Ning)

Other Singaporean works:

• Syafiqah ’Adha Sallehin’s Bidasari
• Kelly Tang’s Symphonic Suite on a Set of Local Tunes
• Kelly Tang’s Sketches of Singapore
• Wang Chenwei’s The Sisters’ Islands
• Zubir Said’s Semoga Bahagia (arranged by Phoon Yew Tien)
• S. Jesudassan’s Munnaeru Vaalibaa (arranged by Phoon Yew Tien)
• Excerpts from Liang Wern Fook’s Xinyao Medley (arranged by Samuel Tan)
• Dick Lee’s Home (arranged by Kelly Tang)

Encore piece:

• Majulah Singapura (Zubir Said, arranged by Phoon Yew Tien)

Conductor: Darrell Ang
Singapore Symphony Choruses:
Eudenice Palaruan, Choral Director
Wong Lai Foon, Choirmaster

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