SSO announces three months of newly-recorded online concerts featuring Chief Conductor Hans Graf conducting a larger SSO and soloists Chloe Chua and Ng Pei-Sian
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s digital season SSOPlayOn! continues with a trio of online concerts led by its new Chief Conductor, Hans Graf, taking place in November, December and January and streamed on SISTIC Live.
On Friday 6 November at 8pm, Hans Graf directs the SSO in a programme pairing Metamorphosen, Richard Strauss’s monumental work for strings, with Mozart’s “Gran Partita” Serenade.
The following month, on Friday 4 December, Hans Graf conducts an online performance of Beethoven’s Third Symphony – in the composer’s 250th anniversary year – in a programme which also sees young Singapore star violinist Chloe Chua perform Mozart’s Second Violin Concerto.
The Beethoven250 celebrations continue on 8 January, when the SSO’s Chief Conductor is on the podium for the Seventh Symphony, paired in this programme with Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No.1, performed by SSO’s Principal Cello, Ng Pei-Sian.
Alongside these concerts, the SSO will be holding online concerts on SISTIC Live every fortnight, including, on 20 November, An Evening of French Music, in which Darrell Ang conducts works by Debussy, Ravel and Ibert. This performance is in association with the vOilah! France Singapore Festival 2020 and is supported by BNP Paribas.
On Friday 18 December, the SSO joins forces with the Singapore Symphony Chorus, Youth Choir and Children's Choir, to mark the holiday season with a special online edition of its traditional Christmas Concert. There’ll be music by Bach, Handel and Vivaldi, alongside contemporary carols by John Rutter and other festive favourites.
VCHpresents: Organ also moves online for the first time with a three-concert series, ‘Calamity and Calm’, exploring music written for consolation on 28 October, 11 & 25 November – to be streamed for free on the SSO’s Facebook page at 12.30pm. This series is a collaboration with the Singapore Chapter of the American Guild of Organists and features local organists Evelyn Lim, Anne Maria Lim, Isaac Lee and Phoon Yu, who will perform works by the likes of Hubert Parry, J.S. Bach and Brahms. The series also includes the premiere of the first organ work by Syafiqah Adha Sallehin, We Believe All in One God. On 9 December at 12.30pm, organist Koh Jia Hwei, violinist Lee Shi Mei and cellist Lin Juan perform works by Mendelssohn and Rheinberger in a VCHpresents: Organ concert, ‘With Strings Attached’ to be streamed on the SSO Facebook page.
On 22 January, the VCHpresents: Chamber season continues with musicians of the SSO playing a pair of string quartets by Mozart and Beethoven in a ticketed concert to be streamed on SISTIC Live
Tickets for all Nov-Jan concerts go on sale on 14 October at 10am and start at $10, on a pay-as-you-wish basis, with a special $5 early-bird rate available from 10am on 14 Oct until 9.59am on 16 Oct. All SSO ticketed online concerts are streamed on SISTIC Live and are available to watch for two weeks after the online premiere.
The following SSO live concerts are cancelled:
- Beethoven’s Ode to Joy – 6 & 7 Nov
- Beethoven’s Fate: Neeme Järvi & Sergei Nakariakov – 13 & 14 Nov
- Lise de la Salle Plays Gershwin – 19 Nov
- Concerts for Children: A Musical Tumble Through Time – 28 & 29 Nov ‘
- Volodin Plays Schumann – 3 Dec
- Tribute to Bill Evans – 11 & 12 Dec
- SSO Christmas Concert at the Esplanade – 18 & 19 Dec
- SSO Christmas Matinee for Children – 19 December
- Krystian Zimerman: Beethoven Piano Concertos – 9, 15 & 16 January
- Evelina Dobračeva Sings Four Last Songs – 22 January
- Janine Jansen Plays Brahms – 4 February
Calamity and Calm - The Music of Hope (Online)
Evelyn Lim, organ / Phoon Yu, organ / Anne Maria Lim, organ / Haslina Hassan, presenter
Wed / 28 Oct 20 / 12.30pm
Facebook & YouTube
This free performance will premiere on 28 October, 12.30pm on the VCHpresents and SSO Facebook pages, SSO YouTube page.
People throughout the centuries have confronted plague, war and disasters. Musicians – including organists – have been there portraying the sorrows of the masses and comforting them. Through music, entire generations and populations have expressed their grief, desires and hopes in times of trials and crises.
Click here to find out more about Victoria Concert Hall’s Klais Organ.
FeaturingEvelyn Lim, organ / Phoon Yu, organ / Anne Maria Lim, organ / Haslina Hassan, presenter
Programme| Hubert Parry | Chorale Prelude on “Eventide” |
|---|---|
| Johann Sebastian Bach (J.S. Bach) | Wenn wir in höchsten Nöten sein, BWV 641 |
| Louis Vierne (Vierne) | Lamento op. 53, no. 1 |
Metamorphosen and Mozart with Hans Graf (Online)
Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Hans Graf, Chief Conductor
Fri / 06 Nov 20 / 8.00pm
SISTIC Live [Online]
“The most perfect melodic shapes are found in Mozart”, said Richard Strauss of his famous 18th century predecessor. “Listen to the remarkable expansion of a Mozart melody.... You think it is coming to an end, but it goes farther, much farther.” Strauss’s Metamorphosen, “A Study for 23 Solo Strings” is a monument of beautiful, evolving sorrow, written near the end of the Second World War. Believed to be his personal elegy to the devastation of culture during the war, it is perhaps also a subtle reminder of the transformative power of art in a time of adversity.
FORMAT: SISTIC Live stream on 6 Nov 2020. Concert begins at 8pm with countdown lobby open at 7.30pm. Viewable until 20 Nov 2020, 8pm.
FeaturingSingapore Symphony Orchestra / Hans Graf, Chief Conductor
Programme| Richard Strauss (R. Strauss) | Metamorphosen for 23 strings |
|---|---|
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Mozart) | Serenade No. 10 in B-flat major, K.361 “Gran Partita” |
Calamity and Calm - The Music of Hope (Online)
Anne Maria Lim, organ / Isaac Lee, organ / Phoon Yu, organ / Haslina Hassan, presenter
Wed / 11 Nov 20 / 12.30pm
Facebook & YouTube
[This free performance will premiere on 11 November, 12.30pm on the VCHpresents and SSO Facebook pages, SSO YouTube page.]
People throughout the centuries have confronted plague, war and disasters. Musicians – including organists – have been there portraying the sorrows of the masses and comforting them. Through music, entire generations and populations have expressed their grief, desires and hopes in times of trials and crises.
Click here to find out more about Victoria Concert Hall’s Klais Organ.
FeaturingAnne Maria Lim, organ / Isaac Lee, organ / Phoon Yu, organ / Haslina Hassan, presenter
Programme| Johann Sebastian Bach (J.S. Bach) | Ich ruf’ zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639 |
|---|---|
| Georg Böhm | Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist |
| Johann Sebastian Bach (J.S. Bach) | Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 649 |
| Léon Boëllmann (Boëllmann) | Prière à Notre Dame from Suite Gothique |
Divertissement: An Evening of French Music (Online)
Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Darrell Ang, conductor
Fri / 20 Nov 20 / 8.00pm
SISTIC Live [Online]
Immerse yourself in an evening of French music, some of the most remarkable and delicate gems in the classical repertoire. Ibert’s sparkling Divertissement plays alongside Ravel’s exquisite miniatures from Mother Goose, under the gossamer twilight of Debussy’s unforgettable Clair de lune.
FORMAT: SISTIC Live stream on 20 Nov 2020. Concert begins at 8pm with countdown lobby open at 7.30pm. Viewable until 4 Dec 2020, 8pm.
FeaturingSingapore Symphony Orchestra / Darrell Ang, conductor
Programme| Claude Debussy (Debussy) | Clair de lune (arr. Caplet) |
|---|---|
| Maurice Ravel (Ravel) | Ma mère l’Oye (“Mother Goose”) |
| Jacques Ibert (Ibert) | Divertissement |
Calamity and Calm - The Music of Hope (Online)
Anne Maria Lim, organ / Isaac Lee, organ / Evelyn Lim, organ / Phoon Yu, organ / Haslina Hassan, presenter
Wed / 25 Nov 20 / 12.30pm
Facebook & YouTube
[This free performance will premiere on 25 November, 12.30pm on the VCHpresents and SSO Facebook pages, SSO YouTube page.]
People throughout the centuries have confronted plague, war and disasters. Musicians – including organists – have been there portraying the sorrows of the masses and comforting them. Through music, entire generations and populations have expressed their grief, desires and hopes in times of trials and crises.
Click here to find out more about Victoria Concert Hall’s Klais Organ.
FeaturingAnne Maria Lim, organ / Isaac Lee, organ / Evelyn Lim, organ / Phoon Yu, organ / Haslina Hassan, presenter
Programme| Jean Langlais (Langlais) | Mors et Resurrectio from 3 Paraphrases grégoriennes, Op. 5, No. 1 |
|---|---|
| Syafiqah ‘Adha Sallehin | We believe all in one God |
| Johann Sebastian Bach (J.S. Bach) | Allein zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 1100 |
| Johannes Brahms (Brahms) | O Gott, du frommer Gott Op. 122, No. 7 |
| KARG-ELERT | Freu dich sehr, o meine Seele, Op. 65, No. 5 |
| W. WALOND | Voluntary in G Major, Op. 1 |
A Little Mozart with Chloe Chua (Online)
Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Hans Graf, Chief Conductor / Chloe Chua, violin
Fri / 04 Dec 20 / 8.00pm
SISTIC Live [Online]
Singapore’s winsome darling of the violin, Chloe Chua, stars in Mozart’s lyrical Violin Concerto No. 2, accompanied by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra with Chief Conductor Hans Graf. The second half of the programme features music of fiery impulse and all-consuming zeal: Beethoven’s unstoppable Seventh Symphony.
FORMAT: SISTIC Live stream on 4 Dec 2020. Concert begins at 8pm with countdown lobby open at 7.30pm. Viewable until 18 Dec 2020, 8pm.
FeaturingSingapore Symphony Orchestra / Hans Graf, Chief Conductor / Chloe Chua, violin
Programme| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Mozart) | Violin Concerto No. 2 in D major, K.211 |
|---|---|
| Ludwig van Beethoven (Beethoven) | Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92 |
With Strings Attached (Online)
Koh Jia Hwei, organ / Lee Shi Mei, violin / Lin Juan, cello
Wed / 09 Dec 20 / 12.30pm
Facebook & YouTube
[This free performance will premiere on 9 December, 12.30pm on the VCHpresents and SSO Facebook pages, SSO YouTube page.]
Josef Rheinberger (1839-1901) was a German organist and composer of the 19th century who is chiefly remembered for his fine and original work for organ - indeed, for such rare and beguiling combinations as organ, violin and cello - his Op. 149.
Click here to find out more about Victoria Concert Hall’s Klais Organ.
FeaturingKoh Jia Hwei, organ / Lee Shi Mei, violin / Lin Juan, cello
Programme| Felix Mendelssohn (Mendelssohn) | Andante with variations in D major |
|---|---|
| Josef Rheinberger (Rheinberger) | Suite for organ, violin and cello, Op. 149 |
SSO Christmas Concert (Online)
Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Joshua Tan, Associate Conductor / Kong Zhao Hui, violin / Singapore Symphony Choruses / Eudenice Palaruan, Choral Director / Wong Lai Foon, Choirmaster / Ng Pei-Sian, master of ceremonies / Eric Wong, Video Creative Director
Fri / 18 Dec 20 / 8.00pm
SISTIC Live [Online]
Merry Christmas! 2020 has been a year of many unusual memories, but the SSO won’t let it pass without our annual musical gathering of yuletide cheer. Join us and the Singapore Symphony Choruses in our special year-end celebration, featuring Baroque classics by Bach, Handel and Vivaldi as well as contemporary Christmas carols by popular choral music composer John Rutter. The show is directed by our "Count On Me, Singapore" director, Eric Wong. We wish you musical joy, harmony and peace on Earth!
FORMAT: SISTIC Live stream on 18 Dec 2020. Concert begins at 8pm with countdown lobby open at 7.30pm. Viewable until 8 Jan 2021, 8pm.
FeaturingSingapore Symphony Orchestra / Joshua Tan, Associate Conductor / Kong Zhao Hui, violin / Singapore Symphony Choruses / Eudenice Palaruan, Choral Director / Wong Lai Foon, Choirmaster / Ng Pei-Sian, master of ceremonies / Eric Wong, Video Creative Director
Programme| Georg Frideric Handel (Handel) | And the Glory of the Lord from Messiah* |
|---|---|
| Johann Sebastian Bach (J.S. Bach) | Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring from Cantata No. 147* |
| John Rutter | Angel’s Carol* |
| John Rutter | I Wish You Christmas* |
| Traditional | Sussex Carol (arr. Bradford)* |
| Traditional | We Wish You A Merry Christmas (arr. Rutter)* |
| Johann Sebastian Bach (J.S. Bach) | Aria (Air on the G String, arr. Stokowski) |
| Traditional | Carol of the Bells/God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen^ (arr. M. Riley) |
| Frank Bridge (Bridge) | A Christmas Dance “Sir Roger de Coverley” |
| Ralph Vaughan Williams (Vaughan Williams) | Fantasia on Greensleeves |
| Antonio Vivaldi (Vivaldi) | Winter from The Four Seasons^ |
Ng Pei-Sian Plays Shostakovich (Online)
Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Hans Graf, Chief Conductor / Ng Pei-Sian, cello
Fri / 08 Jan 21 / 8.00pm
SISTIC Live [Online]
Singapore Symphony Principal Cello Ng Pei-Sian stars in Shostakovich’s supreme First Cello Concerto, a work of unrelenting edge-of-your-seat energy and awe-inspiring darkness. Join him and SSO Chief Conductor Hans Graf in this powerhouse programme that also includes Beethoven’s mighty “Heroic” Third Symphony.
FORMAT: SISTIC Live stream on 8 Jan 2021. Concert begins at 8pm with countdown lobby open at 7.30pm. Viewable until 22 Jan 2021, 8pm.
FeaturingSingapore Symphony Orchestra / Hans Graf, Chief Conductor / Ng Pei-Sian, cello
Programme| Dmitri Shostakovich (Shostakovich) | Cello Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major, Op. 107 |
|---|---|
| Ludwig van Beethoven (Beethoven) | Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 “Eroica” |
Mozart's Violet and Beethoven's Serioso (Online)
Chan Yoong-Han, violin / Kong Xianlong, violin / , violin / Zhao Tian, violin / Marietta Ku, viola / Dandan Wang, viola / Jamshid Saydikarimov, cello
Fri / 22 Jan 21 / 8.00pm
SISTIC Live [Online]
Mozart reached new levels of refinement and finesse with his Prussian Quartets, written near the end of his life. Beethoven, as he did with the symphonic form, expanded the possibilities of the string quartet. It should never be performed in public, he said of his Serioso Quartet, but only for a small circle of connoisseurs. It was too cutting-edge for its time. But today, 250 years after his birth, it is a startling example of his genius.
FORMAT: SISTIC Live stream on 22 Jan 2021. Concert begins at 8pm with countdown lobby open at 7.30pm. Viewable until 5 Feb 2021, 8pm.
FeaturingChan Yoong-Han, violin / Kong Xianlong, violin / , violin / Zhao Tian, violin / Marietta Ku, viola / Dandan Wang, viola / Jamshid Saydikarimov, cello
Programme| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Mozart) | String Quartet No. 21 in D major, K.575 “The Violet” |
|---|---|
| Ludwig van Beethoven (Beethoven) | String Quartet No. 11 in F minor, Op. 95 “Serioso” |
For press enquiries, please contact:
Elizabeth Davis
T +65 6602 4239
elizabeth.davis@sso.org.sg