Concerts!

Dear Readers,

after two nights of consecutive concerts - one that tkwek performed in and one that he went to watch, he's right back with reviews and reflections. Don't expect professional unbiased write-ups, though, cos just for once that's not what he's good at doing.

THURSDAY

YO concert was a blast, as usual (pun not intended, but audience feedback was that trumpet was really overpowering during the Haydn. GREAT JOB ANYWAY WENRONG!!!!!)

I've come to realize that musical conductors are like electrical or heat conductors. Good conductors understand the thoughts and emotions of their fellow musicians, and treats every single one of the players under his batons as a creative, thinking individual, and connects instantly with them. The music flows easily and smoothly through those nimble fingers and seems to spring from the tip of the ivory onto the ebony of the musicians' fingerboards and the silver of their flutes. The phrases connect, the piece pulsates and there is a sudden warmth (no pun intended, we're talking abt conductors, remember?) in the hall. Mr. Bundit was a brilliant conductor, and so is Mr. Lim!

Festive overture was good, i think it was the best part of this concert - even though i didn't divisi during the encore (SORRY FANGYING!). the encore round was better cos everyone was seriously having fun as an orchestra. finally. the crystallization of our hard work.

i think the audience loved it too. a million thanks to (oh great can i name all of them?)

MOM DAD YIYANG LUMPY JEREMY YENTER BENN ZENN JON (AND ALL THE ALUMNI)CLARISSE (thanks for the card) SHAOWEI LIANNE LINNETTE TINGWEI LAURA... (who else?)

for coming down to watch!

My mom said the second mvt was especially touching so thanks to the horn solo and adriel for the wonderful cello theme. (and ZHUEN for plucking so brilliantly and wonderfully). and well thanks to almost about everybody.

SIGH why does YO take so long to start again.

At least in the meantime i'll see some of you around!

FRIDAY - forgive the irony if you find any. IF.

Concert was by Mira Wang and the SSO.
Programme:
Excerpt from Eugene Onegin, Tchaikovsky
Spring in Dresden, Chen Yi (asian premiere)
Introduction and R.C., Saint-Saens
Romeo and Juliet, Prokofiev

The eugene onegin was a sunny and beautifully short piece, ending within 3 minutes and bringing a general sense of satisfied contentedness to the hall. (next sentence is true) the collective orchestral standard is much higher than sceptics like JOHN would have imagined, and i think we have a lot to learn from them.

Spring in Dresden came SPRINGING out at the audience with a brilliant crash, and the rest of the piece remained intrinsically modern, reflecting a sense of pervasiveness and impressionism that only the very greatest of musical intellectuals could have deciphered. Tremendous swoops reflected Mira Wang's technique (this part is true) and the ascending double-stops remain a lasting testimony to skill that can shine despite the choice of work.

(enter 5 minutes of VERY LOUD tuning from a solo violin backstage. plus random last-minute practice. all perfectly audible from audience stall seats)

Introduction and Rondo Capriccio was, and still is, a beautiful piece. The emotional character of the first section wasn't very well brought out, and we could tell the soloist hadn't quite 'gotten into the mood' yet, but after that it was brilliant, especially the last page (this part is real). Throughout, the technique was impeccable. Really really. my nose is still the same length.

Intermission was interesting. I didn't see many people that I know, besides SELINA, who was with her mom, and some ACS guys who looked really familiar. But Dad met someone he knew, and this guy was telling us about some spiritual experiences of musicians. Still, we took it with many pinches of salt.

Romeo and Juliet was great! I especially loved the third last movement - the famous scene where Romeo sees Juliet standing on the balcony. The music, especially the cello section's line, was beautifully touching. Two other nice movements were the 'Montagues and the Capulets' and the 'Death of Tybalt', which the SSO played with tremendous skill and vigour (no lies in this paragraph)

On the whole, a brilliant two nights of music.
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A series of fortunate events
The Straight Times Editor

symphony or cacophony - which is my life?