Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Interviews with SPOT Singers - Charmaine Tan, Jeremy Koh and Evelyn Ang - 23 June 2017


We speak to Charmaine Ang, Evelyn Toh and Jeremy Koh from Singapore Pocket Opera Theatre to discuss their young company and upcoming concert, :48 - Our Gift to the Life Changers. Teachers. on 23 June 2017 at the Esplanade Recital Studio. Expect an evening of beautiful singing and unexpected audience participation activities. Check out our conversation below to find out more!



The Mad Scene: For readers who are not familiar with SPOT, please tell us what is it, who's in it and what do you guys hope to achieve with this company?

Charmaine: SPOT stands for Singapore Pocket Opera Theatre. We want to bring our performances around (hence the name) to break down barriers for the general public to learn and enjoy classical music through mostly informal settings.

Evelyn: SPOT is a portable, mobile, western opera ensemble that is started by a group of NAFA music alumni who wish to make classical music more accessible and relevant to people. We also see this as an opportunity to give back for all we've so blessedly experienced and received.

Jeremy: To add on, SPOT consists of not only the singers and pianist, but also resident string instrumentalists whom we frequently perform together when we embark on projects, and a support team that consists of composers, playwrights, photographers and volunteers. Check out www.singaporepocketopera.com to see who’s who!


Saturday, June 10, 2017

Australia Soprano Deborah Cheetham Live in Singapore - 21 June 2017


Soprano and composer Deborah Cheetham presents a full-length recital in Singapore entitled Songs of Belonging, presenting a programme of classics by Catalani, Cilea, Dvořák , Puccini, Richard Strauss and Vaughan Williams as well as her original compositions inspired by her aboriginal heritage.

Check out the Esplanade's website for more information, and get your tickets at SISTIC!


Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Sister Act at MBS in Review


Written by Jeremy Lee

I’ll admit it, when I first heard that the iconic 1992 comedy Sister Act was being made into a stage musical, I was sceptical. But then I thought, if Dirty Dancing and Saturday Night Fever could be made into successful jukebox musicals, why not Sister Act?

Then I heard that it was going to have all-original music, and I started to have my doubts again.  After all, part of the reason why Sister Act was so popular was because of its soundtrack, which had RandB songs performed by imitable EGOT winner Whoopi Goldberg and her nun chorus. Remember hits such as “I Will Follow You”, “My Guy (My God)” and the pure ecstasy of “Shout”?

Why take away these great songs and replace them with new songs that people won’t know?

Monday, June 5, 2017

FREE: SLO's Opera in the Park - 17 June 2017


The Singapore Lyric Opera's popular Opera in the Park series returns on 17 June 2017 at the Singapore Botanic Gardens. This year's instalment features winners from last year's SLO-ASEAN Vocal Competition. They include Open Category Winners Izen Kong, tenor, Zhang Jie, soprano and Junior Category Winners Lauren Yeo and Melissa Hecker.

Izen Kong
Zhang Jie

Lauren Yeo
Melissa Hecker
Supporting these four prize-winning soloists are the Singapore Lyric Opera Chorus (led by Terrence Toh), Children's Choir (led by Rose Loh) and Orchestra (led by Joshua Kangming Tan) As usual admission is free. So bring a nice mat and pack up your picnic basket. See you at the Botanic Gardens on 17 June!