The Singapore Symphony Orchestra Celebrates National Day With A Heartfelt Tribute Through Music
Media Release
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) celebrated Singapore’s 54th birthday with a heartfelt and unique showcase at the Esplanade Concert Hall on Saturday, 10 August.
Khairuddin Saharom hosted the concert, with sign interpreter Janis Wong signing the script as well as the music for deaf members in the audience. Singaporean conductor Joshua Tan led the evening’s performance, featuring performances by musicians Jeremy Monteiro, Tamagoh, Christy Smith, Samuel Phua, Nawaz Mirajkar, V M Sai Akileshwar and jazz vocalist Joanna Dong. Excerpts from the 2-hour concert were also livestreamed on the SSO’s Facebook page.
The specially curated musical programme featured several world premieres, among them Raffles March, Jewel of Srivijaya (for Mridangam, Tabla and Orchestra), Kampong Overture and Our Singapore Dream by Lee Jinjun. Kampong Overture is made up of three popular Malay folk tunes - Geylang Sipaku Geylang, Lengang Kangkung and Suriram. The SSO also performed March On – A Medley of NS Songs by various composers.
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) celebrated Singapore’s 54th birthday with a heartfelt and unique showcase at the Esplanade Concert Hall on Saturday, 10 August.
Khairuddin Saharom hosted the concert, with sign interpreter Janis Wong signing the script as well as the music for deaf members in the audience. Singaporean conductor Joshua Tan led the evening’s performance, featuring performances by musicians Jeremy Monteiro, Tamagoh, Christy Smith, Samuel Phua, Nawaz Mirajkar, V M Sai Akileshwar and jazz vocalist Joanna Dong. Excerpts from the 2-hour concert were also livestreamed on the SSO’s Facebook page.
The specially curated musical programme featured several world premieres, among them Raffles March, Jewel of Srivijaya (for Mridangam, Tabla and Orchestra), Kampong Overture and Our Singapore Dream by Lee Jinjun. Kampong Overture is made up of three popular Malay folk tunes - Geylang Sipaku Geylang, Lengang Kangkung and Suriram. The SSO also performed March On – A Medley of NS Songs by various composers.
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra, together with the Singapore Symphony Chorus (SSC) and Singapore Symphony Youth Choir (SSYC) played to an audience of 1,360, including seniors from AWWA, young musicians from Purple Symphony and members of the Singapore Association for the Deaf (SADEAF).
Leading up to National Day, the SSO recently released Truly, SSO. Released worldwide on 2 Aug 2019 on all digital platforms. The digital album reimagines all-time National Day classics in honour of the bicentennial celebrations and in conjunction of Singapore’s 54th birthday.
Full video of concert:
(Credit: Singapore Symphony Orchestra)
Listen to Truly, SSO Digital album
Programme for the evening World Premieres:
Raffles March by A. Dietz (arr. Bertram Wee)
Jewel of Srivijaya, for Mridangam, Tabla and Orchestra by Tony Makarome
Kampong Overture by Lee Jinjun
March On - A Medley of NS Songs by Various Composers (arr. Phoon Yew Tien)
Our Singapore Dream by Lee Jinjun
Other Singaporean works:
March (Colonial Days) from Singapore, Symphonic Suite for Large Orchestra by Tsao Chieh
MONTAGE: Concerto for Jazz Piano & Orchestra by Kelly Tang
The Awakening from Singapore Song Series III by Lam Chao Phang (arrangement by Leong Yoong Pin)
Voices from the Heart by Tan, K.C. & Bok, S.Y. (arrangement by Kelly Tang) Home by Dick Lee (arrangement by Kelly Tang)
Encore piece:
• Majulah Singapura (Zubir Said, arranged by Phoon Yew Tien)
Conductor:
Joshua Tan
FEATURING
Joshua Tan, conductor
Jeremy Monteiro, piano
Tamagoh, drums
Christy Smith, bass
Samuel Phua, saxophone
Nawaz Mirajkar, tabla
V M Sai Akileshwar, mridangam
Joanna Dong, jazz vocalist
Eudenice Palaruan, choral director
Singapore Symphony Choruses:
Eudenice Palaruan, Choral Director
Wong Lai Foon, Choirmaster
For press enquiries, please contact:
Leong Wen Shan (Ms)
M +65 9850 4090
wenshan@sso.org.sg
Haslina Hassan (Ms)
