SSO closes 2024/25 season on a high note, SNYO heads on tour
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra rounds up an impressive 2024/25 season with its popular SSO Mother's Day Concert, performances featuring Daniil Trifonov, Behzod Abduraimov, and more.
Singapore, 27 March 2025 - The Singapore Symphony closes an exciting 2024/25 season with a lineup of concerts catered to all music fans. From world-class artists and free family-friendly concerts to performances by the Singapore National Youth Orchestra and Singapore Symphony Choruses, your concert calendar will be packed for the next few months. The Singapore National Youth Orchestra will also embark on its first tour since 2018, performing in Macao, Shenzhen and Hong Kong.
FLYING THE SINGAPORE FLAG
Following SSO’s highly successful Australian tour in February, the Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO), led by Music Director Joshua Tan and featuring violin soloist Ning Feng, will kick off its multi-city tour at the Macao Cultural Centre (28 June), followed by the Grand Theatre Concert Hall in Shenzhen (29 June), and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (30 June). They will present an exciting programme including Dvořák’s Sixth Symphony, Shostakovich’s Violin Concerto No. 2 and a new commission Echoes from the Heartland by Singaporean composer Tony Makarome.
As part of an exchange arrangement with the Macao Youth Symphony Orchestra (MYSO) and Hong Kong Youth Symphony Orchestra (HKYSO), reading sessions and member activities have been planned. The MYSO and HKYSO will also perform side-by-side with SNYO at the Macao and Hong Kong concerts respectively, in a piece to be announced.
Back home, catch our young musicians in action on 7 June in the SNYO Pre-Tour Concert, featuring the same programme with violinist Zhi-Jong Wang.
NOT TO BE MISSED BY PIANO LOVERS
Piano lovers are in for a treat this April, beginning with Behzod Abduraimov and Hans Graf – Rachmaninoff and Ravel (11 and 12 April). The phenomenal pianist Behzod Abduraimov will perform Rachmaninoff’s popular Paganini Rhapsody, while the SSO, Singapore Symphony Chorus and Youth Choir will also present Ravel’s famous choreographic symphony Daphnis et Chloé in its rarely heard full score with choir. For those unable to make it in person, the concert will also be livestreamed on medici.tv and the Singapore Symphony YouTube as a Members-only exclusive on 12 April.
On 18 April, the renowned Daniil Trifonov will perform Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in SSO Gala: Daniil Trifonov and Hans Graf – Rachmaninoff and Debussy. Other works featured are Stravinsky’s ballet music Divertimento from The Fairy’s Kiss, as well as Debussy’s brilliant Images.
Both concerts will be conducted by Quantedge Music Director Hans Graf.
SSO Chamber Series: Deep Dive (25 April) features Hummel’s Piano Quintet in E-flat minor and Brahms’s First Piano Trio. Performed by musicians of the Singapore Symphony, the concert also spotlights an SSO Commission by Singaporean composer Joyce Koh – Deep Dive for bassoon, horn, harp and cello.
SPOTLIGHTING SSO MUSICIANS
SSO’s very own Principal Clarinet Ma Yue takes the stage on 2 and 3 May for Mozart and Finzi – Rodolfo Barráez and Ma Yue. He brings to life one of Finzi’s most popular works – his Clarinet Concerto. Associate Conductor Rodolfo Barráez continues his survey of Mozart’s symphonic oeuvre with his 35th and 39th Symphonies.
FOR THE CHORAL ENTHUSIASTS
On 23 and 24 May, Quantedge Music Director Hans Graf leads the combined forces of the SSO, Singapore Symphony Chorus and Youth Choir, Symphonia Choralis and vocal soloists Maria Bengtsson (soprano) and Tanja Baumgartner (mezzo-soprano) in Mahler’s monumental Second Symphony. Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony is a transcendent contemplation of life, culminating in ultimate triumph – the perfect conclusion to the SSO’s 2024/25 orchestra season.
On 1 June, join the Singapore Symphony Youth and Children’s Choirs with Choirmaster Wong Lai Foon in Look At The World. Revel in the words of John Rutter’s titular work and enjoy a varied programme of choral music from Mendelssohn, Gershwin and Piazzola together with music by Kelly Tang and Eudenice Palaruan.
ACTIVITIES FOR THE FAMILY
Casual music listeners can delight in a wide variety of performances, starting with the SSO Mother’s Day Concert on 11 May. Held at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, the free, open-air concert celebrates the maternal figures in our lives with a rich programme of classical works and crowd favourites. Bring along your picnic basket and enjoy great music under the evening sky.
Look forward to a full day of music activities on 31 May at SSO Open House 2025. Held at the iconic Victoria Concert Hall, highlights include a concert by Singapore National Youth Sinfonia with conductor Seow Yibin and soprano Joyce Tung Lee, a chamber showcase by musicians of the SSO, free atrium performances by members of the Singapore Symphony Choruses and the SOTA Malay Fusion Ensemble, and a theremin demonstration by Chris Ang. You can also sign up for a Foley workshop to learn the art of creating realistic sound effects used in film, craft your own mini organ and learn more about the majestic Klais Organ (Singapore’s only fully mechanical organ), as well as go on a backstage tour of the Victoria Concert Hall. There is something for everyone – from families to music enthusiasts and novices alike. Click here to find out more.
SSO Organ Series: Anne Maria Lim and the Magic Organ (8 June) is the perfect introduction to the beauty of the pipe organ. Young organist Anne Maria Lim will bring you through music from Bob Chilcott’s Mr Majeika and the Magic Organ, Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite, Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade and more. Fringe activities and exhibitions are also available for audiences to learn about the king of instruments.
Behzod Abduraimov and Hans Graf – Rachmaninoff and Ravel
Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Singapore Symphony Chorus / Singapore Symphony Youth Choir / Hans Graf, Quantedge Music Director / Eudenice Palaruan, Choral Director / Behzod Abduraimov, piano
Fri / 11 Apr 25 / 7.30pm
Sat / 12 Apr 25 / 7.30pm
Esplanade Concert Hall
Rachmaninoff’s Paganini Rhapsody is one of the most bewitching essays in musical variations. Watch the phenomenal pianist Behzod Abduraimov spin its 24 ingenious variations of breathless celerity, ravishing twilight and cinematic nostalgia. The Singapore Symphony Chorus and Youth Choir then join Hans Graf in a rendition of Daphnis et Chloé, the symphonie chorégraphique that Ravel called a vast musical fresco faithful to the Greece of his dreams.
This concert will be livestreamed on medici.tv and the Singapore Symphony YouTube as a Members-only exclusive on 12 Apr, 7.30pm (SGT).
We invite you to join either platform to watch the livestream.
FeaturingSingapore Symphony Orchestra / Singapore Symphony Chorus / Singapore Symphony Youth Choir / Hans Graf, Quantedge Music Director / Eudenice Palaruan, Choral Director / Behzod Abduraimov, piano
Programme| Ethel Smyth | On the Cliffs of Cornwall |
|---|---|
| Sergei Rachmaninoff (Rachmaninoff) | Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43* |
| Maurice Ravel (Ravel) | Daphnis et Chloé |
$100, $75, $55, $40, $30, $15
Daniil Trifonov and Hans Graf – Rachmaninoff and Debussy
Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Hans Graf, Quantedge Music Director / Daniil Trifonov, piano
Fri / 18 Apr 25 / 7.30pm
Esplanade Concert Hall
Combining consummate technique with rare sensitivity and depth, Daniil Trifonov’s performances are a perpetual source of awe. “Trifonov has everything and more. What he does with his hands is both technically and musically unbelievable. And then there is his touch — so gifted with tenderness and at the same time he has the demonic element. I have never heard anything like this before,” said none other than the legendary Martha Argerich. Hans Graf leads the SSO with Trifonov as he performs Rachmaninoff’s virtuosic Piano Concerto No. 4, framed by the genteel masquerade of Stravinsky’s ballet music for Le Baiser de la fée and Debussy’s musical impressions of Iberian festivity, the scent of night and the brilliance of springtime.
All proceeds from the Esplanade Box seats (priced at $258 each) will be recognised as donations. Singapore tax residents will qualify for a 2.5 times tax deduction on the donation amount.
Due to the fundraising nature of this event, the Esplanade Box seats are not eligible for any discounts or Donor Premium Pass redemptions.
FeaturingSingapore Symphony Orchestra / Hans Graf, Quantedge Music Director / Daniil Trifonov, piano
Programme| Igor Stravinsky (Stravinsky) | Divertimento from The Fairy’s Kiss |
|---|---|
| Sergei Rachmaninoff (Rachmaninoff) | Piano Concerto No. 4 in G minor, Op. 40* |
| Claude Debussy (Debussy) | Images |
$198, $158, $128, $98, $78, $58
Deep Dive
Chan Yoong-Han, violin / Zhang Si Jing, violin / Gu Bing Jie, viola / Ng Pei-Sian, cello / Yu Jing, cello / Christopher Mui, cello / Yang Zheng Yi, double bass / Christoph Wichert, bassoon / Marc-Antoine Robillard, French horn / Nigel Foo, harp / Jane Xie, piano / See Ning Hui, piano
Fri / 25 Apr 25 / 7.30pm
Victoria Concert Hall
Join the musicians of the Singapore Symphony for a truly inspiring evening of music at the Victoria Concert Hall, starting with Deep Dive, an SSO commission by Singaporean composer Joyce Koh. Widely regarded as one of the greatest piano virtuosos of his era, Hummel's Piano Quintet in E-flat minor is an efferverscent masterpiece, showcasing the piano in its full power. The evening ends with one of the most beloved works of the piano trio genre, Brahms's heartfelt First Piano Trio.
FeaturingChan Yoong-Han, violin / Zhang Si Jing, violin / Gu Bing Jie, viola / Ng Pei-Sian, cello / Yu Jing, cello / Christopher Mui, cello / Yang Zheng Yi, double bass / Christoph Wichert, bassoon / Marc-Antoine Robillard, French horn / Nigel Foo, harp / Jane Xie, piano / See Ning Hui, piano
Programme| Joyce Koh | Deep Dive for bassoon, horn, harp and cello |
|---|---|
| Johann Nepomuk Hummel (Hummel) | Piano Quintet in E-flat minor, Op. 87 |
| Johannes Brahms (Brahms) | Piano Trio No. 1 in B major, Op. 8 |
$20
Mozart and Finzi – Rodolfo Barráez and Ma Yue
Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Rodolfo Barráez, Associate Conductor / Ma Yue, clarinet
Fri / 02 May 25 / 7.30pm
Sat / 03 May 25 / 7.30pm
Victoria Concert Hall
Gerald Finzi’s Clarinet Concerto is one of the 20th century British composer’s most popular orchestral works, a woodwind gem whose pastoral nostalgia and folk-inspired spontaneity will come to life with Singapore Symphony Principal Clarinet Ma Yue. SSO Associate Conductor Rodolfo Barráez continues his survey of Mozart’s symphonic oeuvre with the stately harmonies of the Haffner Symphony and the supreme confidence of his 39th.
FeaturingSingapore Symphony Orchestra / Rodolfo Barráez, Associate Conductor / Ma Yue, clarinet
Programme| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Mozart) | Symphony No. 35 in D major, K. 385 “Haffner” |
|---|---|
| Gerald Finzi (Finzi) | Clarinet Concerto, Op. 31* |
| Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Mozart) | Symphony No. 39 in E-flat major, K. 543 |
$100, $75, $55, $40, $30, $15
SSO Mother’s Day Concert 2025
Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Lien Boon Hua, conductor / Renata Hann, soprano / Teng Xiang Ting, soprano
Sun / 11 May 25 / 6.00pm
Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage, Singapore Botanic Gardens
Flowers bear the sweetest fruits of labour - the Singapore Symphony celebrates Mother's Day with a free, open-air concert at the Botanic Gardens. Bring mom, family and your picnic basket to an evening of blossoming musical inspiration, starring young musicians and composers of Singapore.
Don't miss the pre-show performance happening from 5.30pm by violinist Travis Wong and pianist Michelle Seah who will perform Wieniawski's Polonaise de concert and music from Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.
The concert will be hosted by Symphony 92.4 presenter, Amanda Zhu.
This concert may be delayed or cancelled in the event of inclement weather. Please check our Facebook and Instagram pages for updates.
FeaturingSingapore Symphony Orchestra / Lien Boon Hua, conductor / Renata Hann, soprano / Teng Xiang Ting, soprano
Programme| Jonathan Shin | City Arising |
|---|---|
| Giacomo Puccini (Puccini) | Se come voi piccina io fossi ¹ |
| Chen Zhangyi | Golden Mother ² |
| Johann Strauss II (J. Strauss II) | Roses from the South |
| Léo Delibes (Delibes) | Flower Duet ¹ ² |
| Antonín Dvořák (Dvořák) | Slavonic Dances, Op. 72 - Nos. 1, 2 and 7 |
Free admission
Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony
Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Singapore Symphony Chorus / Singapore Symphony Youth Choir / Symphonia Choralis / Hans Graf, Quantedge Music Director / Eudenice Palaruan, Choral Director / Wong Lai Foon, Choirmaster / Chong Wai Lun, Chorus Master (Symphonia Choralis) / Maria Bengtsson, soprano / Tanja Ariane Baumgartner, mezzo-soprano
Fri / 23 May 25 / 7.30pm
Sat / 24 May 25 / 7.30pm
Esplanade Concert Hall
Hans Graf leads the combined forces of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Chorus and Youth Choir, Symphonia Choralis and vocal soloists in Mahler’s monumental Resurrection Symphony, a transcendent contemplation of life, suffering and death, culminating in ultimate triumph.
FeaturingSingapore Symphony Orchestra / Singapore Symphony Chorus / Singapore Symphony Youth Choir / Symphonia Choralis / Hans Graf, Quantedge Music Director / Eudenice Palaruan, Choral Director / Wong Lai Foon, Choirmaster / Chong Wai Lun, Chorus Master (Symphonia Choralis) / Maria Bengtsson, soprano / Tanja Ariane Baumgartner, mezzo-soprano
Programme| Gustav Mahler (Mahler) | Symphony No. 2 in C minor “Resurrection” |
|---|
$100, $75, $55, $40, $30, $15
Look At The World
Singapore Symphony Youth & Children’s Choirs / Wong Lai Foon, Choirmaster / Ellissa Sayampanathan, Assistant Choral Conductor
Sun / 01 Jun 25 / 4.00pm
Victoria Concert Hall
"Look at the world, everything all around us; Look at the world, and marvel every day." The Singapore Symphony Youth and Children’s Choirs revel in the words of the titular work by famed choral composer John Rutter, taking you through this varied programme of choral music spanning the harmony of the seasons, the inherent hymns of nature and the spirited folksongs of the world.
FeaturingSingapore Symphony Youth & Children’s Choirs / Wong Lai Foon, Choirmaster / Ellissa Sayampanathan, Assistant Choral Conductor
Programme| John Rutter | Look At The World |
|---|---|
| Felix Mendelssohn (Mendelssohn) | Herbstlied |
| Ola Gjeilo | Tundra |
| Béla Bartók (Bartók) | Tavasz (Spring) |
| George Gershwin (Gershwin) | Summertime |
| Charles Stanford | The Blue Bird |
| Paul Hindemith (Hindemith) | La Biche (The Doe) from Six Chansons |
| Kelly Tang | The Daffodils |
| György Ligeti (Ligeti) | Reggel |
| Traditional | Niska Banja (Serbian) |
| Traditional | Sakura Sakura |
| Paranjoti | Dravidian Dithyramb |
| Zechariah Goh | Four Tones |
| Astor Piazzolla (Piazzolla) | Libertango |
| Eudenice Palaruan | Peribahasa |
$30, $20
SNYO Pre-Tour Concert
Singapore National Youth Orchestra / Joshua Tan, SNYO Music Director / Zhi-Jong Wang, violin
Sat / 07 Jun 25 / 7.30pm
Esplanade Concert Hall
The Singapore National Youth Orchestra, led by Music Director Joshua Tan, presents Echoes from the Heartland - an SNYO commission by renowned Singaporean composer Tony Makarome, before accompanying award-winning Chinese violinist Zhi-Jong Wang in Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 2. The vibrant optimism of Dvořák's Symphony No. 6 provides a magnificent send-off for the SNYO ahead of their tour to Macao, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong at the end of June 2025.
FeaturingSingapore National Youth Orchestra / Joshua Tan, SNYO Music Director / Zhi-Jong Wang, violin
Programme| Tony Makarome | Echoes from the Heartland |
|---|---|
| Dmitri Shostakovich (Shostakovich) | Violin Concerto No. 2 in C-sharp minor, Op. 129 |
| Antonín Dvořák (Dvořák) | Symphony No. 6 in D major, Op. 60 |
$38, $28, $18
Anne Maria Lim and the Magic Organ
Anne Maria Lim, organ
Sun / 08 Jun 25 / 5.00pm
Victoria Concert Hall
Mr Majeika was a wizard. Or at least he had been a wizard. But now he’s a school teacher. And because Mr Majeika could still do magic, some very unusual things happen.... Thus begins the enchanted and entertaining adventure of Mr Majeika and the Magic Organ, by popular UK composer Bob Chilcott. Join up-and-coming young organist Anne Maria Lim as she imbues this and other charming tales of myth and magic with the enthralling voice of the pipe organ.
Fringe activities: Learn more about the pipe organ through various exhibitions and demonstrations around the venue.
FeaturingAnne Maria Lim, organ
Programme| Bob Chilcott | Mr Majeika and the Magic Organ |
|---|---|
| Igor Stravinsky (Stravinsky) | Berceuse and Final from The Firebird Suite |
| Gilbert and Sullivan | The Sorcerer |
| Henry Purcell (Purcell) | Chaconne from King Arthur |
| Felix Mendelssohn (Mendelssohn) | Scherzo and Nocturne from A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Op. 61 |
| Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (Rimsky-Korsakov) | Chanson Arabe and Dance Orientale from Scheherazade, with Solo Violin |
$10
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 SSO Chamber Series and SSO Organ 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 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.
Find out more about the Singapore Symphony Orchestra HERE
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ABOUT THE SINGAPORE NATIONAL YOUTH ORCHESTRA
The Singapore National Youth Orchestra (SNYO) showcases the extraordinary capability of our youth. It inspires them towards artistic excellence, nurtures them to reach beyond their potential and develops them through rigorous training within a vibrant, supportive, and diverse environment. Established formally in 1980, the SNYO has welcomed generations of youths into the transformative world of orchestral music, performing locally and representing Singapore on prestigious international stages.
The SNYO family comprises two orchestras: the Singapore National Youth Orchestra and Singapore National Youth Sinfonia, with over 180 members aged 10 to 24 from more than 60 schools across Singapore, guided by professional musicians in rehearsals, sectionals, and masterclasses. Recognised by the Ministry of Education as a National Project of Excellence, members of the SNYO have their participation in the orchestra recognised as a Co-Curricular Activity.
Music Director Joshua Tan has been leading the SNYO since 2018 while Associate Conductor Seow Yibin has been in position since 2022.
Over the years, SNYO has performed in concert venues and music festivals across Australia, Austria, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. Other musical endeavours include collaborations with the Singapore Ballet, TwoSet Violin and side-by-side concerts with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.
Find out more about Singapore National Youth Orchestra.
ABOUT THE SINGAPORE SYMPHONY CHORUSES
A premier body for classical choral singing, the Singapore Symphony Choruses comprise the Singapore Symphony Chorus (SSC), Singapore Symphony Youth Choir (SSYC) and Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir (SSCC).
Drawing membership from diverse ages, nationalities and walks of life, our Choruses embody a comprehensive singing ecosystem that nurtures the brilliance of our brightest young talents, inspires youthful passion for the art and celebrates the best of choral excellence!
At the heart of our holistic training approach, our Choruses are committed to fostering artistic growth and well-rounded personal development, in delivering outstanding performances. Singers are provided with the richest and most unique performing experiences and opportunities to record and perform with some of the world’s most distinguished conductors, artistes and renowned orchestras.
Straddling musical worlds and styles, the Choruses’ repertoire ranges from orchestral masterpieces to a cappella favourites, spanning the Renaissance to contemporary 21st-century music.
Find out more about Singapore Symphony Choruses
For media enquiries, please contact:
Elizabeth Low
Senior Executive, Marketing Communications, Singapore Symphony Group
E: elizabeth.low@sso.org.sg
Celine Tan
Assistant Account Director, Havas Play
E: celine.tansl@havas.com
M: +65 9816 1204