Japan’s piano man: Makoto Ozone16-year-old piano extraordinaire: Tengku IrfanBackstage with Jamie Hersch

www.sso.org.sg

Christmas in the Vic

The Quarterly Newsletter of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Bravissimo!january 2015 Vol. 16 No. 1 MICA (P) 019/07/2014

BraviSSimO! is published by the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. Printed by First Printers.No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher.

Contents

SSO News 03

Conrad Celebrities: 08Tengku Irfan & Makoto Ozone

Symphony Society 10

Backstage with Jamie Hersch 14

On My Playlist 15CD Review

The Autograph Collector 16

On the cover: At the end of the SSO’s Christmas Concert in the Victoria Concert Hall on December 11

Photography by Collin Tan

Editors: Cindy Lim Chang Tou Liang

EditorialIn this New Year edition we celebrate the success of the SSO’s Christmas Concerts and Babies’ Proms which played to full houses at the Victoria Concert Hall, reaching out to thousands of audiences, many of whom were attending a SSO concert for the first time. Special credit must also go to the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir, who made a special appearance at the high-profile WTA Finals Opening Ceremony singing the national anthem.

Here’s wishing our readers a happy 2015 filled with many more musical memories!

CINDY LIMEditorcindy@sso.org.sg

SSO News 03

Conrad Celebrities 09

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Christmas in the VicThe Christmas spirit was in the air in the Victoria Concert Hall from December 11 to 14 as the SSO’s four Christmas Concerts played to full-capacity audiences who sang along to popular carols. At the helm of the concert was Associate Conductor Joshua Tan, who led the orchestra, the Singapore Symphony Chorus and the Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir in classic yuletide melodies such as Irving Berlin’s White Christmas, Waldteufel’s Skater’s Waltz and Skater’s Overture by Jeff Tyzik. 12-year-old boy soprano Samuel Yuen was the soloist in Franck’s Panis Angelicus, Tyzik’s The Twelve Gifts of Christmas, Bach’s Ave Maria and John Rutter’s Candelight Carol.

The SSO Christmas Concerts played to full-capacity audiences

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Boy soprano Samuel Yuen

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Look, I’m on stage!

Concerts for babies sell outThe SSO’s ever-popular Babies’ Proms returned to the Victoria Concert Hall last month, with all five sessions on December 5, 6 and 7 fully subscribed. London-born presenter Peter Moore kept the adrenaline on high and his young audience on their toes as they swayed, clapped and marched to the music which included Townsend’s Cheerful Cha Cha, Strauss’s Radetzky March and Glinka’s Overture to Russlan and Ludmilla. The concerts ended on a high note with the orchestra giving an exuberant encore, Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson.!

Young maestro on the podium Seeing the cello up close

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Minister Khaw Boon Wan (centre) enjoying the performance

SSO musicians David Smith, Jon Dante & Allen Meek

Music for Children’s DayThe SSO Brass Ensemble kicked off the Children’s Day celebrations at Gardens by the Bay on October 3. Performing in the Far East Organization Children’s Garden, the quintet – consisting of Jon Dante, David Smith, Allen Meek, Hidehiro Fujita and Jamie Hersch – shone in their lively rendition of three popular pieces: Die Bänkelsängerlieder, El Gato Montés and Royal Garden Blues. Over 200 children from schools and charities supported by the Far East Organization joined in the celebrations along with special guests Mr Khaw Boon Wan, Minister for National Development, Ms Ho Ching, Patron of the Autism Association (Singapore) and Mrs Dorothy Chan, Executive Director of Far East Organization.

SSCC at the WTa FinalsOpening CeremonyThe Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir gave a moving performance of the National Anthem, Majulah Singapura, at Singapore’s inaugural hosting of the Women’s Tennis Association Finals Opening Ceremony in the Indoor Stadium on October 20.

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Singing the National Anthem in the Indoor Stadium

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bravissimo!06 bravissimo!Ariane and Anne-Sophie Cazaubon

Post-concert smiles

SSCC performing in VCH

Sweet singingThe Singapore Symphony Children’s Choir gave two free performances "Make Music. Celebrate Life." as part of the Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Concert series on November 22. Performing at the Victoria Concert Hall under conductor Wong Lai Foon, the young choristers delighted their audience with a selection of uplifting choral works including Festival Sanctus, The Prayer and Climb Ev’ry Mountain. Among the audience were some 350 beneficiaries from charities supported by the Tan Chin Tuan Foundation, including the Thye Hua Kwan (EIPIC) Centre, YMCA Singapore and residents of Kheng Chiu Loke Tin Kee Home.

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Vladimir Ashkenazy

ashkenazy with the SSOAcclaimed pianist and conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy was in town on October 29 to direct the SSO in a brilliant interpretation of Dvor ák’s Eighth Symphony, as well as an all-Sibelius first half, comprising his popular orchestral masterworks Finlandia, The Swan of Tuonela as well as the Karelia Suite. !

The Singapore Symphony Chorus

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Glorious voicesThe Singapore Symphony Chorus presented its first choral concert at the Victoria Concert Hall on November 9, and was joined by organist Evelyn Lim in Kodaly’s Missa Brevis which features Gregorian chant and Hungarian folksong. Under Choral Director Lim Yau, the chorus also performed Donna Nobis Pacem (1996) by Peteris Vasks as well as two Motets by Bruckner: Virga Jesse and Ave Maria.

Makoto Ozone performs with Joshua Tan and the SSO at the Esplanade Concert Hall on 13 February 2015. Tickets from SISTIC.

Makoto Ozone may be one of the most successful jazz pianists today, but he recalls disliking his first piano lessons as a five-year-old. “I took my first lesson using a very basic classical textbook and I hated it. It was not musical, it was not fun, and it didn’t swing,” he recounts.

He remembers shying away from the piano until a concert by the legendary Oscar Peterson changed his life when he was 12. “It was like a revolution in my whole body. I felt like I got struck by a bolt of lightning. I had no idea piano could be played like that. I heard the sound of piano, bass and drums from one piano.”

The affable 53-year-old Japanese musician, whose international career took off following his successful debut at Carnegie hall three decades ago, remembers his fascination with the black keys of the organ as a toddler. “When I played just the black keys, it sounded like music as opposed to the white keys which sounded very plain and boring. It was like playing a game for me. I would learn some very simple melody, and find those notes on the keyboard.”

In 1983 Ozone was the first Japanese musician to sign an exclusive recording contract with CBS. That same year he joined vibraphonist Gary Burton’s quartet and has since toured the world extensively with them. In 2004 he formed the No Name Horses big band in Japan.

Makoto Ozone is now based in Tokyo, where he teaches once or twice a month at the Kunitachi College of Music whenever he is not travelling. “Playing music and composing music is the most joyful thing for me now. The smile on the audience’s faces and the positive energy they give back to me keeps me going.”

Cindy Lim

MakOTO OzOnE

Japan’s piano man

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Conrad Centennial Singapore offers a choice of exciting dining venues. Dine on contemporary Cantonese cuisine and innovative dim sum creations by top Hong Kong chefs at award-winning Golden Peony. Oscar’s offers delicious buffets for breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as a delectable Amazing Graze Sunday brunch.

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He made his concerto debut with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) under Claus Peter Flor at the age of 11. Now 16 and a student at the Juilliard Pre-College in New York, Tengku Irfan has made return appearances with the MPO and has also performed with the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra and the Estonian National Symphony Orchestra. In 2013 he won the first prize at the Aspen Music Festival’s Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 2 Competition.

The 16-year-old Malaysian pianist says the past year in Juilliard has been “very enjoyable”. “Studying piano and composition is challenging while fun at the same time, and studying conducting gives me the opportunity to analyze music from a slightly different perspective,” he notes.

Also a prolific composer, Irfan won the 2012 ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award and the 2012 Charlotte Bergen Award for his String Quartet No. 1. His orchestral piece Sahibul Hikayat Fantasy Overture won him his second ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Award in 2014, and was premiered at the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra 2013/2014 Season Opening and 15th Anniversary Gala Concert. Another orchestral piece, Keraian, was premiered by the New York Philharmonic.

TEnGku IrFan

16-year-old piano extraordinaire

Catch Tengku Irfan in concert performing Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 at the Esplanade Concert Hall on 30 January 2015. Concert sponsored by CIMB.Tickets available from SISTIC.

“It started from just improvising on the piano, which then led to notating down my ideas. Gradually it developed from there,” Irfan explains. “Both my parents are music lovers, and there is always music being played in the house and in the car. Although they don’t come from a classical background, they are very supportive of my passion and have been with me all the way in my musical endeavours.”

His parents and sisters live with him in New York. To unwind Irfan spends time with his sisters and friends, and they enjoy activities just like other regular teens. “We may hang out together or go to the movies…I also love playing video games!”

Cindy Lim

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Dinner withGÜnther Herbig &ray Chen

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Over 20 Friends of the SSO attended the Meet-the-Artist Dinner at Barossa at the Esplanade Mall on October 16. They were joined by special guests, acclaimed conductor Günther Herbig and Mrs Herbig as well as Taiwanese-Australian violinist Ray Chen and his mother, in a truly delightful evening.

With Maestro Günther Herbig & Mrs Herbig (front row, centre)

Guests posing with Ray Chen (seated, in white) and his mother (left) Ray Chen (left) with Lecia Ong and Una Lauw

Odile & Douglas Benjamin

amongst Friends

The annual Conrad-SSO Amongst Friends Dinner was held on October 30 at the Conrad Centennial Singapore, and was jointly hosted by Mr Mark Meaney, General Manager of the Conrad Centennial Singapore and SSO Chairman Mr Goh Yew Lin. The event provided an excellent networking platform for the 40 guests consisting of SSO’s sponsors and business partners of the Conrad, which is the SSO’s Official Hotel. Dinner highlights include a spirited performance by SSO Concertmaster Igor Yuzefovich and Principal Cellist Ng Pei-Sian.

Ms Carol Loy, Mr & Mrs Oo Soon Hee & Mr Goh Yew Lin

Igor Yuzefovich & Ng Pei-Sian

Ms Theresa Chew, Ms Hanna Schwartz & Mr & Mrs Matthew Nursella

Mr Mark Meaney, Mr & Mrs Hiroyuki Nishikawa & Mr Goh Yew Lin

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Little red Dot

18 musicians and administrative staff received the Long Service Award from SSO Chairman Mr Goh Yew Lin at the SSO Annual Dinner on November 12. Amongst the recipients were violinist Chen Da Wei, violist Tong Yi Ping and Assistant Examinations Manager Patricia Yee who had been part of the SSO family for the past 25 years. Titled Little Red Dot in a nod to the upcoming SG50 festivities in 2015, the event held at the Conrad Centennial Singapore celebrated all things Singaporean, with the dinner spread featuring popular local dishes such as rojak and popiah.

Wu Dai Dai, Zhao Yu Er, Zhao Ying Xue & Miao Shanshan

Vanessa Lee, Regina Lee & Redonnia Yeo

Gulnara Mashurova & Mark Suter

Mrs Celeste Basapa & Ms Kris Tan

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Cao Can & Gu Bing Jie Kong Zhao Hui & Maestro Lan Shui

Nikki Chuang & Lucinda Lam

The SSO Brass Ensemble livening things up

Yoko Liu & Liu Chang

The spotlight will fall on SSO’s Associate Principal Horn Jamie Hersch on January 16 as he takes on the solo part in A Sheltered Corner composed by his older brother Michael. The work was commissioned for the 50th anniversary concert of the Eastern Music Festival in 2010, where it was premiered by Jamie.

“It’s a huge honour and privilege to have music written for me by Michael and my utmost joy to be able to perform it. Michael’s work is extremely demanding and difficult but incredibly rewarding as it is such original and incredible music,” says the 40-year-old musician.

This is the second major work that that Michael has written for Jamie. ln 2009 Jamie teamed up with cellist Daniel Gaisford for the premiere performance of Last Autumn, a massive two-and-a-half hour work for horn and cello, in Philadelphia where it was ranked the No. 1 Classical Event of the Year by the Philadelphia Inquirer.

“Last Autumn required 2 years of preparation and I even had a horn designed to be able to get the kind of sound I had in mind. Like Last Autumn, A Sheltered Corner is also demanding, and I use the same horn for it as well,” he explains.

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A musical reunion between brothers

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Catch A Dangerous Liaison at the Victoria Concert Hall on January 16. Tickets from SISTIC.

Michael (left) with Jamie at a rehearsal for the premiere performance of A Sheltered Corner in 2010

Growing up in northern Virginia outside of Washington DC, Jamie remembers spending a lot of time with his two brothers on their farm in the western part of Virginia. His parents were classical music lovers and he started playing professionally since his junior year in high school, where he performed and recorded regularly with the National Symphony Orchestra under Mstislav Rostropovich.

What are his passions outside of performing? “I love teaching, geology, astronomy, hi-fi and general acquisition of knowledge,” says Jamie. “I also enjoy watching documentaries and playing video games.”

Cindy Lim

Jamie Hersch

On My PlaylistWHaT SSO MuSICIanS HaVE bEEn LISTEnInG TO

MarC-anTOInE rObILLarD SSO ASSOciATe PriNciPAl HOrN

Mahler’s Seventh Symphony is not performed as much as the others. Unlike many of his other symphonies, it is purely instrumental (no voices or choirs). It contains many subtle but definitely modern ideas which give it its unique character. Sometimes powerful and at times delicate with a wide range of different

moods and sounds. To me, this recording of Mahler’s Seventh Symphony under Maestro Claudio Abbado sets the standard for this monumental work. A truly inspired performance by an impeccable Chicago Symphony Orchestra with special mention to its amazing brass section!

People sometimes believe that orchestra musicians only listen to classical music, which isn’t true at all! In fact there is much to learn from listening to other genres of music. One of my favourite albums is the groundbreaking 1972 progressive-rock album “Fragile” by YES, an English rock band who achieved

worldwide success with their progressive and symphonic style of music. With titles such as “Roundabout” and “Heart of the Sunrise” and “Long Distance Runaround”, this album contains some of the finest material by YES. A mixture of virtuosity and ingenuity, it is a progressive-rock masterpiece that all 1970’s classic rock lovers should have.

LISTEn TO SSO’S LaTEST aLbuMJust as the Singapore Symphony Orchestra completes its cycle of Rachmaninov symphonies and orchestral pieces, it has begun on a new cycle of Claude Debussy’s symphonic works. The recording of La mer, three symphonic sketches of the sea, was previously released on the album Seascapes (BIS-1447, alongside works by Glazunov, Bridge and Zhou Long) in 2007 and issued to much critical acclaim. It appears again on this new CD with two more recent recordings.

The three Images for orchestra are separate works but often recorded as a group. The second and best known, Iberia, leads a life of its own. Its three movements – Par les rues et par les chemins (In the streets and by-ways), Les parfums de la nuit (Fragrances of the night) and Le matin d’un jour de fête (Morning of the festival day) - are regularly heard as a stand-alone showpiece. Its colourful evocation of Spanish scenes has led early commentators to note that “the French write the best Spanish music”.

The other two Images, Gigues and Ronde de Printemps (Round Dances of Spring) are less well-known, but are beautiful for their portrayal of moods and emotions. The melancholy of Scotland is contrasted with the joyous elation of French folksongs in the first and third pieces. The popular Prelude to the Afternoon of the Faun has SSO Principal Flautist Jin Ta in the languid and sinuous opening solo, one of the defining moments of early 20th century music.

With playing of such immediacy and spontaneity under the direction of the inspired Music Director Lan Shui, and brilliantly recorded to the Swedish label is usual high standards, this may well be the SSO’s best CD recording to date.

WIN A COPY OF SSO’S NEW DEBUSSY CDBY ANSWERING THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:

1. Which French poet so inspired Debussy by writing Après-midi d’un faune?

2. TRUE OR FALSE. Ronde de printemps, the third orchestral Image, contains the French song Nous n’irons plus au bois, which also appears in Debussy’s piano piece Jardins sous la pluie.

DEBUSSY La mer / Images pour orchestrePrélude à l’après-midi d’un fauneSingapore Symphony Orchestra / LAN SHUIBIS-1837 (SACD) / TT: 76’48

Closing date: 28 February 2015

Please send your answers and particulars to: marketing@sso.org.sg.The first five all-correct entries drawn on 1 March 2015 will be notified accordingly.

www.sso.org.sg

TICKETS: $20 - $78 (Concessions: $15, $28 / Group of 4 package available)

from SISTIC (6348 5555 / www.sistic.com.sg)Booking fees apply

13 Feb 15FRI, 7.30pm | ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

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Joshua Tan conductorMakoto Ozone piano

DUKE ELLINGTON The Essential Ellington: & BILLY STRAYHORN Music of Ellington and Strayhorn

GERSHWIN Concerto in F major

GERSHWIN Rhapsody in Blue in F major

the Autograph collector

Singapore Symphony Orchestra concerts are good events to get autographs of famous musicians, but these are not the only sources. Esplanade Theatres By The Bay occasionally present concerts where post-concert Meet and Greet and Autograph sessions are included. Time is often an essence and it's mostly first come first served, but most artists are happy to see their recordings being bought and inscriptions sought.

If you have any interesting autographs to share, please send a high-resolution scan and accompanying texts to: corporate@sso.org.sg. Happy autograph hunting!

VaLEry GErGIEVThe Russian conductor who is the supremo of the London Symphony Orchestra, which performed here on November 19 & 20, has a very efficient way of signing: a V and two further quick strokes. It takes him barely a minute to get a dozen autographs done; so much for the time-watchers.

DEnIS MaTSuEVThe pianist who is the Russian version of Lang Lang has a very stylised autograph, consisting of an M crossed in the middle by a lance which makes up the D, sort of. It appears like some Asiatic alphabet; very swift and done in a single wave, much like his sweeping way with Rachmaninov.

zubIn MEHTaThis one comes from Marina Bay Sands, where the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra had the misfortune of performing when Esplanade was not available on November 11. The Mumbai-born maestro was nonetheless a good sport, readily granting his cursive signature, which remains unvaried through the years, and posing for photographs.