Thursday, May 29, 2014

My Thoughts on The Stage Club's 'What the Butler Saw'


If you have been down with the flu lately as I have been, perhaps this comedy of errors is the best medicine for you. A middle-age psychiatrist's attempt to seduce his new secretary turns into a a twisted series of cover-ups involving the doctor's wife, a young hotel butler, a psychotic government psychiatric watchdog and a police officer, a hilarious sex farce with more twists that would put the plot of The Marriage of Figaro to shame.


Despite the usual flubbing of lines, the ensemble cast kept the energy high, pulling with the script's clever play on words and absurd plot points with great chemistry and momentum. There's even some nudity from both sexes thrown in for good measure! The show runs till this coming Saturday so you still have a chance to check it out yourself.

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Satsuki Nagatome's 'May Breezes' - 11 June 2014


Satsuki Nagatome returns with her second solo recital entitled May Breezes, a take on her given name which means '5th month' in Japanese. Baritone Brent Allcock and her own Bel Canto Singers choir will make guest appearances. Check out her letter to us here:

Monday, May 26, 2014

LOTR: The Two Towers Live - 6 and 7 June 2014



Catch this movie screening with a live orchestra and chorus performing the iconic score. In my opinion nothing beats the sound of live unamplified music making (even with minimal electronic enhancement), which I'm sure will greatly enhance the epic film even for the seasoned fan. British soprano Rosalind Waters replaces Renee Fleming's solo part in the original soundtrack. More details below:



Wednesday, May 21, 2014

'What the Butler Saw' by The Stage Club - 28th – 31st May 2014


There is no singing in this comedic play but it looks like a fun evening anyhow, that and the promise of gratuitous nudity. What more can you ask for?



What The Butler Saw is a classic evening of farcical fun, with mistaken identities, cross-dressing, seduction and blackmail.

“What I love about this play is that although it follows a well-known formula it is taken to hysterical excess,” said director Gavin Low in his first play with The Stage Club. “The risqué elements were somewhat shocking to a British audience back at its premier in 1969, but in the modern day the play still exploits social attitudes to sex and sexuality in a light and entertaining way. Doors will be slammed, and clothes will be lost!”


Monday, May 12, 2014

Piano Duo Anderson and Roe - 13 June 2014


That this concert is presented by a subsidiary of Mediacorp might suggest some crossover nonsense, but a look at one of their many videos is enough to inform that they are the real deal: a young piano duo performing acoustically without electronic arrangements, whom also have a penchant for making snazzy music videos. They have apparently earned quite a substantial following on social media but of course nothing beats the live experience.

Monday, May 5, 2014

Opera Siam Previews New Production of Cavalli Opera


Opera Siam gives a preview of their new production of Cavalli's opera La Calisto on 13 and 14 May 2014. Check out the description below for more information:


OPERA SIAM’S YOUNG SOLOISTS team up with top San Francisco director
La Calisto Preview on May 13-14

Opera Siam will be presenting another ASEAN first - the first production of an opera by one of the most important early baroque opera composers — Cavalli's wild, gender-bending romp through Greek mythology.

There will be a special FREE WORKSHOP PREMIERE of excerpts from this production, with comecting commentary, on May 13 and 14 at 8 pm. This will be an opportunity to become familiar with this incredible music in advance of next season's full production.

An intimate production created by Richard Harrell, former head of opera at San Francisco Conservatory and head of San Francisco Opera's world-renowed Merola program for young singers, the opera will be performed in the Small Hall of the Cultural Center, in a similar setting and size of theatre to how it was originally performed in 1651. As was originally performed, the staging and costuming blends elements of ancient Greece and 17th Century to form a phantasmagorical mélange.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Zhou Tian-Yu Charity Piano Recital


Download the image above to find out more about this 20 year old piano prodigy's debut concert at SOTA Concert Hall, held in support of the Children's Cancer Foundation.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Jerry Hadley on Vocal Pedagogy

I came across this interview with the late Jerry Hadley where he discussed the issue of training young students, being very critical of the conservatory system and stressing the importance of listening to vintage recordings over purely technical instruction, whether it be for musical theatre, Mozart or (especially) Puccini. Gives one plenty of food for thought.