Tuesday, August 30, 2016

‘Lone Journeys' by In Source Theatre In Review - 28 Aug 2016


Lone Journeys
Conceived by Jacklyn Kuan
Texts written by Ellison Tan
Center 42, Singapore
28 Aug 2016
Directed and devised by Jacklyn Kuan
Actors: Alvin Koh, Akiko Otao, Kailin Yong

A Review by Hawk Liu

The performance space was truly a black, square box with 10-15 chairs in each corner for the audience. Three actors told their stories through a series of narrations, dialogues and physical interactions with each other. Dressed totally in white, they did an admirable job, serving the devised play well with their unfaltering physical acting, range of emotions and precision of delivery, albeit slightly speedy in some of the texts for comprehension.


The play itself was more like a psychological examination of the lives of three humans caught in a machine world. Although an interesting concept, the abstract approach may not appeal to everyone. The narratives in many places tend to be long drawn out and many long silences didn't help to move the story along. The abstract physical movements sometimes left me wondering what was happening.

Also, there was the insufficient interaction with the machine world. It could have made more sense to me if I could see more of their relationship with the machine world in order to empathize with their states of being. Their dream of the human world was not urgent, as a result. To some extent, yes, I have felt their journeys, but I am not sure whether they mattered to me at all. As a result, I didn't like the play.


Friday, August 26, 2016

Martin Ng's 'The Italian Baritone' with Boris Kraljevic and Li Jie - 17 Dec 2016


Singapore's very own leading operatic baritone Martin Ng presents a second gala concert in Singapore at SOTA Concert Hall on 17 December 2016, 7.30pm. The programme will consist of Romantic Italian operatic arias and duets by Verdi, Puccini and their contemporaries. 

Sharing the stage with Martin are internationally reknowned Montenegrin pianist Boris Kraljevic and Germany-based Singaporean PR Li Jie

Tickets are $40 each, with 10% discount for students and NSFs. More news to come in the following months, meanwhile you can get tickets at Peatix at http://peatix.com/event/181283

Or if online purchasing is not your thing, offline tickets will be available for purchase at Madison Academy of Music from 30 September onwards. Head over and buy them from the counter! 

Annie at MBS - Running till 11 Sep 2016


Our own correspondent Hawk Liu visits the set of MBS's Annie and interviews the cast to show us what we can look forward to. You can even watch clips from the actual theatrical production. Check it out here!



Also, 7 year-old Filomena Litani heads on the East Coast Park and speaks to passers-by who are also looking forward to the show. They even sing a rousing rendition of Tomorrow live on the streets!


Tickets for Annie are now on sale at SISTIC. Check it our on their website here!
http://www.sistic.com.sg/events/annie0916

Friday, August 5, 2016

Interview: Xiao Chunyuan and Li Jie - 16 Aug 2016


Singaporean baritone Xiao Chunyuan, Germany-based soprano Li Jie and pianist Beatrice Lin will be performing a wide-ranging programme spanning many decades and languages in their joint vocal recital From Germany to Singapore on 16 August 2016, 8pm at the Esplanade Recital Studio. With a wealth of experience gained from local and European institutions, this concert looks to be a good collaboration between young professional singers. We had a chat with both singers to find out what you can expect come 16 August:

Thursday, August 4, 2016

Review: 'A Little Bit of Magic' by Brendan-Keefe Au and Ayano Schramm-Kimura

'A Little Bit of Magic' by Brendan-Keefe Au and Ayano Schramm-Kimura
Review by Alvin Koh Ming-Chuen


A Little Bit of Magic, a humble title did not quite do justice to this evening 's song and piano recital at the esplanade recital studio.

Greeted by a misty ambiance, one wondered what was happening, what was transpiring. You were shrouded by the grayish pastel mist that created a mysterious quality. The hues changed according to the themes of Forest, Water, Sky, Faraway Lands and The Mundane. In the sky theme section, there were lights of stars grazing the stage. Seemed a little more than just a little bit.

The first song from the opera, The Tempest by Hoiby, amply initiated the event after a succinct introduction by Mr. Brendan-Keefe Au, whose use of a visibly slow and energetic vibrato and a darkened tonal shade was appropriate for the characterisation of the monster Caliban. It started off the forest theme with a definite sureness.