The 28th edition of the Singapore International Piano Festival (SIPF) to feature both live and digital performances
Pianophiles can look forward to a mix of digital and live performances starring award-winning pianists including Kyoko Hashimoto, Shaun Choo, Ingrid Fliter, Leon McCawley and more
Singapore, 22 April 2022 — Following two years of disruptions due to the pandemic, the 28th edition of the Singapore International Piano Festival (SIPF), organised by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, will mark the return to full audience recitals. The annual event was cancelled for the first time in 2020, while a scaled down version for a 50 pax audience was held last year.
Set to take place from 4 to 13 June, this year’s edition, led by Artistic Director and Singaporean pianist Lim Yan, will feature a mix of digital and live performances, starring a stellar line-up of international pianists including Japanese Kyoko Hashimoto, Berlin-based Singaporean Shaun Choo, Argentinian Ingrid Fliter, British Leon McCawley, and more.
Live Concerts by International Guests
Opening this year’s live festival on 9 June at the home of the SSO is multi-award-winning pianist Kyoko Hashimoto, who will be performing miniature masterpieces from Beethoven and Debussy, as well as six charming gems by Suk. The evening will conclude with the Japanese playing Bartók’s own piano reduction of his well-known Dance Suite, originally written for orchestra.
Among the highlights at this year’s festival are the masterclasses conducted by international guests, with the first one by Kyoko on 10 June. Apart from being an acclaimed pianist with over 20 albums to her name, Kyoko is also a passionate educator, and is currently the Professor of Piano and Coordinator of Piano Area at the McGill University in Montreal.
Also happening on 10 June, Singapore International Piano Festival: Shaun Choo will feature the Berlin-based Singaporean pianist who will be making his debut appearance at the festival, performing a handful of classics by renowned composers including Beethoven, Chopin, Schubert and more, before concluding with his own piece Tango.
On 11 June, Singapore International Piano Festival: Ingrid Fliter will see the award-winning pianist present the sonatas of Beethoven, Haydn and Scarlatti, culminating in Schumann’s monumental Symphonic Etudes.
Fans of the Argentinian pianist, who is renowned for her interpretation of Chopin, will also be pleased to know that she will be holding a masterclass on 12 June.
On the same day, Singapore International Piano Festival: Leon McCawley will shine the spotlight on the acclaimed British pianist, who is set to mesmerise the crowd with an evening of piano poetry, featuring the irresistible gems of Austrian piano tradition.
The 28th edition of SIPF will end off on a high note on 13 June with Singapore International Piano Festival: Masterclass with Leon McCawley, where guests will get to hear and learn more from the British pianist who is popularly known for bringing freshness and vitality to Classical, Romantic and 20th century repertoire.
Online Festival on SSOLOUNGE platform
In addition to the live concerts, this year’s SIPF will also feature online recitals for the first time, starring acclaimed pianists hosted on SSOLOUNGE. These digital recitals were recorded live during the 2021 edition of SIPF, where audiences were capped at 50 persons for each performance due to safe management measures.
Kicking off the online recitals on 4 June, Singapore International Piano Festival – Chang Yun-Hua will feature the Taiwanese pianist performing Brahms’s sparkling 25 variations on a Handellian theme and Beethoven’s middle period masterpiece that starts with a farewell but ends in happy reunion.
In the evening, catch Singapore International Piano Festival – Kseniia Vokhmianina where viewers will get to witness the multi-award-winning pianist perform a recital of Bach, Rachmaninoff and three evocative preludes by Ukrainian composer Levko Revutsky.
On 5 June, Singapore International Piano Festival: Nicholas Loh will see the local pianist present a stunning programme of contemporary works including American composer-pianist Frederic Rzewski’s North American Ballads and George Crumb’s Eine Kleine Mitternachtmusik.
The online recitals will wrap up on the same day with Singapore International Piano Festival: Churen Li, featuring the local talent perform her own take on Bach, George Crumb’s Five Pieces for Piano, Schumann’s Kreisleriana, and Ravel’s Miroirs.
Patrons who wish to catch all four online recitals can purchase a SIPF Festival Pass at $8. The online recitals are also available to patrons who have a 12M Premium All-Access Pass to SSOLOUNGE.
For more information, visit www.pianofestival.com.sg.
Chang Yun-Hua (Online)
Chang Yun-Hua, piano
Sat / 04 Jun 22 / 5.00pm
SSOLOUNGE
From the seaside glitter of the Spanish coast to the folk melodies of Eastern Europe, Taiwanese pianist Chang Yun-Hua presents a colourful journey on the piano that includes Brahms’s sparkling 25 variations on a Handellian theme and Beethoven’s middle period masterpiece that starts with a farewell but ends in happy reunion. Recorded live at the Victoria Concert Hall on 6 Jun 2021.
FeaturingChang Yun-Hua, piano
ProgrammePiano Sonata No. 26 in E-flat major, Op. 81a “Les Adieux” | Ludwig van Beethoven (Beethoven) |
|---|---|
Piano Variations | Copland |
Almería from Iberia, Book II | Isaac Albéniz (Albéniz) |
Variations and Fugue on a Theme by Handel, Op. 24 | Johannes Brahms (Brahms) |
Kseniia Vokhmianina (Online)
Kseniia Vokhmianina, piano
Sat / 04 Jun 22 / 8.00pm
SSOLOUNGE
Praised for her “artistry of the highest order” (The Straits Times), the multi-award-winning Kseniia Vokhmianina brings to the 2021 Singapore International Piano Festival a recital of Bach, Rachmaninoff and three evocative preludes by one of the most important 20th century composers of her native Ukraine, Levko Revutsky. Recorded live at the Victoria Concert Hall on 3 Jun 2021.
FeaturingKseniia Vokhmianina, piano
ProgrammePartita No. 1 in B-flat major, BWV 825 | Johann Sebastian Bach (J.S. Bach) |
|---|---|
Three Preludes, Op. 4 | Levko Revutsky |
Six moments musicaux, Op. 16 | Sergei Rachmaninoff (Rachmaninoff) |
Nicholas Loh (Online)
Nicholas Loh, piano
Sun / 05 Jun 22 / 5.00pm
SSOLOUNGE
A familiar personality in the Singapore music scene, Nicholas Loh affirms his title as a “fervent exponent of new music” in this programme of contemporary piano works. The American composer-pianist Frederic Rzewski’s North American Ballads is a fascinating evocation of American social history cast in the manner of Bach’s chorale preludes, while George Crumb’s Eine Kleine Mitternachtmusik takes you on an otherworldly night journey across his signature soundscape. Recorded live at the Victoria Concert Hall on 5 Jun 2021.
FeaturingNicholas Loh, piano
ProgrammeNorth American Ballads | Frederic Rzewski |
|---|---|
Eine Kleine Mitternachtmusik | George Crumb |
Churen Li (Online)
Churen Li, piano
Sun / 05 Jun 22 / 8.00pm
SSOLOUNGE
Listed in Singapore Tatler's 2018 Generation-T List, 26-year-old Churen Li is the “epitome of poise and polish” (The Straits Times), a pianist impressing audiences with her musicality, poetry and charm. Besides hearing her own take on Bach, come witness the uncanny inventiveness of Crumb’s Five Pieces for Piano, a piece close to Li, which are framed by the creative fantasies of Schumann and Ravel. Recorded live at the Victoria Concert Hall on 4 Jun 2021.
FeaturingChuren Li, piano
ProgrammePrelude after Bach | Johann Sebastian Bach (J.S. Bach) |
|---|---|
Kreisleriana, Op. 16 | Robert Schumann (Schumann) |
Five Pieces for Piano | George Crumb |
Miroirs | Maurice Ravel (Ravel) |
![[CANCELLED] Masterclass with Kyoko Hashimoto](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fweb-assets.sso.org.sg%2Fimages%2F_620x372_crop_center-center_none%2FKyoko-Hashimoto-Masterclass-SIPF-2022.jpg&w=1920&q=75)
[CANCELLED] Masterclass with Kyoko Hashimoto
Kyoko Hashimoto
Fri / 10 Jun 22 / 4.00pm
Victoria Concert Hall Dance Studio (Level 3)
[EVENT UPDATE] We regret to announce that pianist Kyoko Hashimoto has tested positive for COVID-19 and will be unable to fly into Singapore for her recital (9 Jun) and masterclass (10 Jun). We deeply apologise for the disappointment caused and wish Kyoko Hashimoto a speedy recovery. Details on refunds will be sent to ticket holders via email.
In line with Safe Management Measures for events exceeding 500 attendees, only fully vaccinated, recovered, medically ineligible individuals, or children aged 12 and below (minimum 7) will be admitted.
Refunds will not be granted to ticket-holders who do not meet these admission requirements.
Renowned pianist and educator Kyoko Hashimoto is Professor of Piano and Coordinator of Piano Area at the McGill University, Montreal, and was piano and chamber music faculty of the Utrecht Conservatory for 12 years. Beyond her busy performance schedule and over 20 albums, she regularly serves as a jury member at numerous international competitions and given masterclasses all over the world. Many of her students are pursuing active careers in performance.
FeaturingKyoko Hashimoto
Shaun Choo
Shaun Choo, piano
Fri / 10 Jun 22 / 7.30pm
Victoria Concert Hall
In line with Safe Management Measures for events exceeding 500 attendees, only fully vaccinated, recovered, medically ineligible individuals, or children aged 12 and below (minimum 7) will be admitted.
Refunds will not be granted to ticket-holders who do not meet these admission requirements.
Prize-winner of 13 international awards, including nine first prizes and five-time winner in international Chopin competitions across the world, Berlin-based pianist Shaun Choo has been called the most talented and gifted Singaporean pianist of his generation. “His smile is enough to light up Carnegie Hall without electricity.” Come witness this phenomenal artist for the first time at the Singapore International Piano Festival in this recital of classics concluding with his own Tango.
FeaturingShaun Choo, piano
ProgrammeSonata No. 23 in F minor, Op. 57 “Appassionata” | Ludwig van Beethoven (Beethoven) |
|---|---|
Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52 | Frédéric Chopin (Chopin) |
Chaconne in D minor | Johann Sebastian Bach (J.S. Bach) |
Auf dem Wasser zu Singen, S.558, No. 2 | Franz Schubert (Schubert) |
Die Forelle, S.564 “The Trout” | Franz Schubert (Schubert) |
Aufenthalt from Schwanengesang, S.560/3 (arr. Liszt) | Franz Schubert (Schubert) |
Liebesleid (arr. Rachmaninoff) | Fritz Kreisler (Kreisler) |
On the Beautiful Blue Danube (arr. Schultz-Evler) | Johann Strauss (Strauss) |
Tango | Shaun Choo |
Ingrid Fliter
Ingrid Fliter, piano
Sat / 11 Jun 22 / 7.30pm
Victoria Concert Hall
In line with Safe Management Measures for events exceeding 500 attendees, only fully vaccinated, recovered, medically ineligible individuals, or children aged 12 and below (minimum 7) will be admitted.
Refunds will not be granted to ticket-holders who do not meet these admission requirements.
Ingrid Fliter sprang to international attention when she was awarded the Gilmore Artist Award in 2006, the fifth pianist to receive this distinction. Born in Argentina, Fliter is a laureate of the Ferruccio Busoni Competition, silver medalist at the 2000 Chopin Competition in Warsaw, and a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist from 2007-2009. Join her in her Singapore debut presenting the sonatas of Beethoven, Haydn and Scarlatti, culminating in Schumann’s monumental Symphonic Etudes, a work whose composition he struggled with for nearly two decades.
FeaturingIngrid Fliter, piano
ProgrammeSonata in E minor, Hob. XVI/34 | Joseph Haydn (Haydn) |
|---|---|
Sonata No. 18 in E flat major, Op. 31, No. 3 “The Hunt" | Ludwig van Beethoven (Beethoven) |
Keyboard Sonata in C-sharp minor, K. 247 | Domenico Scarlatti |
Symphonic Etudes, Op. 13 | Robert Schumann (Schumann) |
Masterclass with Ingrid Fliter
Ingrid Fliter
Sun / 12 Jun 22 / 4.00pm
Victoria Concert Hall Dance Studio (Level 3)
In line with Safe Management Measures for events exceeding 500 attendees, only fully vaccinated, recovered, medically ineligible individuals, or children aged 12 and below (minimum 7) will be admitted.
Refunds will not be granted to ticket-holders who do not meet these admission requirements.
Join us for this masterclass with acclaimed Argentinian pianist, 2000 Chopin Competition silver medallist, BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist 2007-2009 and Gilmore Artist Award recipient Ingrid Fliter, renowned for her interpretation of Chopin.
FeaturingIngrid Fliter
Leon McCawley
Leon McCawley, piano
Sun / 12 Jun 22 / 7.30pm
Victoria Concert Hall
In line with Safe Management Measures for events exceeding 500 attendees, only fully vaccinated, recovered, medically ineligible individuals, or children aged 12 and below (minimum 7) will be admitted.
Refunds will not be granted to ticket-holders who do not meet these admission requirements.
“Light of touch, stylistically assured and brimful of intelligence and wit.” - Gramophone.
Praised for his unfailingly communicative pianism, leading British pianist Leon McCawley presents an evening of piano poetry at the 28th edition of the Singapore International Piano Festival featuring the irresistible gems of Austrian piano tradition.
FeaturingLeon McCawley, piano
ProgrammeVariations in F minor HXVII/6 | Joseph Haydn (Haydn) |
|---|---|
Sonata No. 15 in F major, K. 533/K. 494 | Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Mozart) |
Sonata No. 21 in B-flat major, D. 960 | Franz Schubert (Schubert) |
Masterclass with Leon McCawley
Leon McCawley
Mon / 13 Jun 22 / 7.00pm
Victoria Concert Hall Dance Studio (Level 3)
In line with Safe Management Measures for events exceeding 500 attendees, only fully vaccinated, recovered, medically ineligible individuals, or children aged 12 and below (minimum 7) will be admitted.
Refunds will not be granted to ticket-holders who do not meet these admission requirements.
Praised for his unfailingly communicative playing, British pianist Leon McCawley has been delighting audiences worldwide with his performances and recordings of great integrity and variety, bringing freshness and vitality to Classical, Romantic and 20th century repertoire.
FeaturingLeon McCawley
ABOUT THE SINGAPORE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Founded in 1979, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) is Singapore’s flagship orchestra, touching lives through classical music and providing the heartbeat of the cultural scene. In addition to its subscription series concerts, the SSO is also known for its outdoor and community appearances. The orchestra also presents intimate chamber performances in the VCHpresents series, the annual Singapore International Piano Festival (SIPF) and the biennial National Piano and Violin Competition (NPVC) at the Victoria Concert Hall, Home of the SSO. The SSO is part of the Singapore Symphony Group, which also manages the Singapore Symphony Choruses, and the Singapore National Youth Orchestra. The Group’s vision is to be a leading arts organization that engages, inspires and reflects Singapore through musical excellence. Our mission is to create memorable shared experiences with music. Through the SSO and its affiliated performing groups, we spread the love for music, nurture talent and enrich our diverse communities.
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra was nominated and clinched third place in the prestigious Gramophone Orchestra of the Year Award 2021. In 2022, BBC Music Magazine named the SSO as one of the 21 best orchestras in the world.
Visit Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s website and find out more.
Follow Singapore Symphony’s Orchestra Facebook page, Instagram
and YouTube page
ABOUT SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL PIANO FESTIVAL
The Singapore International Piano Festival (SIPF) was established in 1994, when solo piano recitals were a rare event in the country. Now into its 28th edition, the festival has become a highlight of the international music calendar and is today Asia’s premier piano festival.
SIPF takes the unique approach of presenting recitals by four different pianists over a series of consecutive evenings. Past editions of the festival have featured the virtuosos Martha Argerich, Nelson Freire, Yuja Wang, Stephen Kovacevich, Nikolai Demidenko, Pascal Rogé, Piotr Anderszewski, Stephen Hough, Benjamin Grosvenor, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, Lars Vogt and Angela Hewitt, among others.
The festival is organised by Singapore Symphony Orchestra and the live concerts will take place at the Victoria Concert Hall. The 2022 edition will be held from 4-13 June.
ABOUT SSOLOUNGE
Launched in September 2021, the SSO’s streaming platform SSOLOUNGE allows audiences to watch live and pre-recorded masterworks of great composers, as well as premieres of classical performances from the comfort of their own screens. From reliving the best of Mozart’s concertos to revelling in the passages of lyrical grace from Romantic works, SSO fans and concertgoers can enjoy access to a repository of digital premieres and archived concerts. SSOLOUNGE comes with two subscription options: the 12M Premium All-Access Pass offers exclusive access to archived concerts, as well as 3-month unlimited access for new releases, and the Single Access Pass which allows the user to view one concert for 3 months.
Visit the SSOLOUNGE platform
For media enquiries, please contact:
Shannon Teo
Account Manager
Red Havas
E: shannon.teo@havas.com
M: +65 9049 2428
Iris Ee
Account Executive
Red Havas
E: iris.ee@havas.com
M: +65 8205 5545
