Hmm this is going to sound like publicity for concerts that I'm playing in, but since it'll only be relevant for the Singaporean readers i reckon that its not that big of an advertisement hehe (dun ban me pls =().
Otherwise for the other readers it'll give some hint as to how, um, rapidly SG is making cultural progress..
Anyways, there'll be Brahms 1st Symphony on 1st April (nope its not an april fools' joke). This work is probably known for being one of the most delayed works - it took over 10 years for him to finally publish this symphony - no thanks to the then critics (and wannabes) and the standard set by (ex-bonjwa) composer Beethoven.
It'll be performed @ the Esplanade(aka the Durian) Concert Hall. Titled Brahms Tonight! (with the "!") It'll showcase musicians from TPO (The Philarmonic Orchestra) and a talk by a musician-actor regarding Brahms and the symphony.
Personally, despite this programme consisting only of one piece, it was pretty draining as our orchestra is composed of amateurs i.e. its not full time or professional (read: paid) orchestra. For those who watch/read Nodame Cantabile its sort of like Roux-Marlet but without subscribers and with students (like me) as orchestra members.
Another small chamber concert has a programme of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos (Concerti) 2,5 and 6 (incidentally my friend who organised this said that they were composed, chronologically, in the order 6,2 then 5 IIRC) which will be performed on 18 Apr at the YST Conservatory Hall (Singapore only has 1 official conservatory as far as I know, 2-3 if I count those that effectively are conservatories).
Rehearsals for the 2nd one haven't gone into full swing yet, though i would expect my part at least to be far more difficult (am playing the 2nd solo viola braccio part for no.6 O_o). I'm not a music major either so that doesn't really help things but hopefull with some luck and practice i'll pull thru =p (so wish me luck haha). Anyway any SG ppl who feels like being a patron of the arts can drop me a PM (if my account is not locked cos of blatant advertising =p)
Is there a thread for Classical concerts on TL (didn't find any with search)?
Anyway, small gripe about the recent Classical Music + Elitism thread: if classical music is so elitist, then why do pop songs/"crossover" songs use classical themes so much in their songs (hypocrisy?)?
Then what are the movie soundtracks by John Williams (Star Wars, Jurassic Park etcetc.), Michael Nyman (GATTACA etc.), and Korngold (dunno offhand) supposed to be? Music for the elites in the masses that watch movies? I just came across Clair de lune on youtube and the top few searches has the Twilight (yes the fangirl movie) version. Perhaps criticisms of Classical music being "elite" should look at it from a equally supposed viewpoint of Popular, "crass" music (and media) "dragging" classical music down to the level of the masses. Oh wait, now its accessible and fashionable, but its still elitist?
when I stayed in Singapore, I thought the classical music scene was very much active there. The Esplanade concert hall is a really nice place, and it's pretty convenient since the subway directly connects to it. I think there's a lot of street performers that hang out by that particular subway stop as well.
I forgot which concert I saw over there, but the audience was very well informed. (not clapping between movements, etc.)
On March 31 2010 04:08 broz0rs wrote: when I stayed in Singapore, I thought the classical music scene was very much active there. The Esplanade concert hall is a really nice place, and it's pretty convenient since the subway directly connects to it. I think there's a lot of street performers that hang out by that particular subway stop as well.
I forgot which concert I saw over there, but the audience was very well informed. (not clapping between movements, etc.)
Hmm I would wager that most of the audiences at VCH and Esplanade know about the no-clapping-between-movements =p.
My fave performances that I've seen locally include Maazel conducting SSO in a programme with Tchaikovsky's R&J, Mendelssohn Vln Concerto and i think a Schumann symphony. Others includes Rach/Brahms Piano Concertos played by Demidenkov (Rach 2, Brahms 2) and Feltsman (Rach 3), which resulted in standing ovations and loud bravos. Its extremely difficult to get standing ovations in Singapore imho, no thanks to our conservative (or otherwise apathetic) culture haha.
When I played in a student ensemble/orchestra overseas, i was quite pleasantly surprised to see random audiences composed of people ranging from students to random townspeople giving us standing ovations ^_^ haha.
Re: said subway stop and their street performers i'm not too sure but i think i've heard complaints about said street performers practising (among other random dudes who like to sleep/chill and listen to radio) there ironically. Maybe i'm just cynical =P
On March 31 2010 06:57 Floydian wrote: Cool stuff, I was actually listening to Brahms' 1st Symphony earlier! If I lived in Singapore I'd almost think it was fate :o
Also, can you point me towards the classical music elitism thread you were talking about? I must have missed that one.
EPT
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