Singapore National Youth Orchestra Performs Elgar & Prokofiev

Singapore Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Cellist, Ng Pei-Sian, joins the Singapore National Youth Orchestra as soloist in Elgar’s Cello Concerto. Written in 1919, the Concerto is one of Elgar’s best-loved works. Alongside the Concerto are two other stylistically distinct 20th-century masterpieces.

Opening the concert is Malcolm Arnold’s Four Cornish Dances depicting the history, traditions and character of Cornwall, the southwesternmost region of the United Kingdom. Prokofiev’s Fifth Symphony, written as a musical celebration marking the end of the Second World War, rounds off this programme.

The composer himself said of this heroic and joyous work, “I wanted to sing the praises of the free and happy human being—of such a person’s strength, generosity and purity of soul.” This concert is conducted by the SNYO’s Principal Guest Conductor Peter Stark.

Ng Pei-Sian was Commonwealth Musician of the Year in 2007, winner of the Gold Medal and First Prize at the 55th Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition held in London. He has performed concertos with the major Australian symphony orchestras, Singapore Symphony (SSO), Malaysian Philharmonic, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Estonian National Symphony, Oulu Symphony, Sinfonia ViVA, City of Southampton Orchestra, Philippine Philharmonic and the Orchestra of the Music Makers and performed around the world in venues including London's Royal Festival Hall, Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room, Konzerthaus (Berlin), New York's Lincoln Centre and Carnegie Hall.

Peter Stark’s performances as a conductor are exhilarating, imaginative and inspiring. At the heart of all his work lies a passion and commitment to the study and practice of music to profit humanity. Peter is a Professor of Conducting at London’s Royal College of Music, Rehearsal Director to the European Union Youth Orchestra and has taught nearly six hundred private students. His acclaimed courses in conducting have taken him across the world and his reputation as a teacher is renowned.

www.sso.org.sg/

*before booking fees: $1 for tickets $20 and below, $3 for tickets $20.01 to $40, $4 for tickets above $40.

Tickets are available from website: ticketing.sso.org.sg, SISTIC hotline: 6348 5555, SISTIC counters island-wide and Esplanade Box Office.