![]() |
Photo: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre |
![]() |
Photo: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre |
![]() |
Photo: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre |
![]() |
Photo: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre |
![]() |
Photo: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre |
![]() |
Photo: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre |
Share in the musings and memories of Chang Tou Liang, possibly Singapore's most rabid pianophile and pianomaniac.
![]() |
Photo: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre |
![]() |
Photo: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre |
![]() |
Photo: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre |
![]() |
Photo: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre |
![]() |
Photo: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre |
![]() |
Photo: Singapore Chinese Cultural Centre |
It was not actually a soiree but a lunch, in the company of Lianhe Zaobao music journalist and recent Yong Siew Toh Conservatory graduate in Music Leadership Zhang Heyang and his guests. These included young composer Lim Kang Ning, Vinna Er of the Kris Foundation, and a pair of fiddlers called Brett Yang and Eddy Chen.
They may be the YouTube sensation TwoSet Violin, but they are as regular as regular blokes go, exactly in real life as they are on video. The fact that our host Heyang was at one time the Concertmaster of the National University of Singapore Symphony Orchestra (NUSSO) helped. He served up a feast of penne arrabiata, fried beehoon, fish head curry, har cheong kai, hae chor, washed down by some grog, bubble tea, and a tiramisu to end it all.
TwoSet trying out Heyang's violin. |
Eddy plays Haydn's Serenade, which is actually by Roman Hofstetter. |
A segment of Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante for violin & viola. |
![]() |
Schubert's Standchen with Brett. |
![]() |
Two violinists and one violin in Shostakovich's Waltz No.2. |
Laughing at TwoZhang's attempt at Braga's Angel's Serenade. After which we attempted the local premiere of Lim Kang Ning's Colour Bar, which was no joke. |
A wefie before hitting the road! |
Hong Kong pianist, 29-year-old ARISTO SHAM has just been awarded the Gold Medal (1st Prize) at the 2025 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. He bested 27 other pianos from around to world to clinch this covetous accolade, the first pianist from Hong Kong to do so.
He also won the Audience Prize, this being a rare occasion when both the competition jury and audience concurred. In 2017, Hong Kong's Rachel Cheung, a non-medaling finalist, also won the hearts of the audience. Both pianists had been students of Eleanor Wong at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts.
The Silver Medal was awarded to Vasily Starikov (Israel/USA) and the Bronze Medal to Evren Ozel (USA). The three other finalists were Angel Stanislav Wang (USA), Carter Johnson (USA) and Philipp Lynov (Russia), the last of whom had earlier won 2nd prize winner at this year's Singapore International Piano Competition.
It was not a great surprise why Aristo won. His solid musicianship and sensitivity in a wide range of repertoire over the competition's six gruelling rounds (three recitals and three concertos), not including an earlier audition round, paved the way to ultimate victory. His humility, generous and sincere demeanor, and charismatic dress sense (a Horowitzian bow-tie and check out his socks!) also stood him out as an artist to look up to.
Here to relive Aristo's performances
in the Cliburn 2025:
Interestingly, the last three editions of The Cliburn have been won by Asian pianists. Yunchan Lim and Yekwon Sunwoo, both from South Korea, were the winners in 2022 and 2017 respectively. The last non-Asian pianist to win was Vadym Kholodenko (Ukraine) in 2013. The 2009 edition was dominated by Asians, with Zhang Haochen (China) and Nobuyuki Tsujii (Japan) sharing Gold, and Yeol Eum Son winning the Silver. The last pianist from the People's Republic of China to make the grand finals was Fei-Fei Dong in 2013.
Here is Magdalene Ho's very interesting and curiously absorbing Preliminary Round recital. Judge for yourself.
Here is another piano recital not to miss. Ukrainian pianist VADYM KHOLODENKO, 1st prize-winner of the 2013 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, makes a welcome return to Singapore for a recital that displays his wide-ranging and catholic tastes. Everything he plays is compelling through his consummate musicianship and force of personality.
His programme:
WILLIAM BYRD First Pavan and Galliard
WILLIAM BYRD John Come Kiss Me Now
KAIJA SAARIAHO Ballade
BEETHOVEN Piano Sonata No.17
in G major, Op.31 No.1
LISZT Three Concert Etudes
Il Lamento - La Leggierezza - Un Sospiro
LISZT Four Valses Oubliees
LISZT Valse-Impromptu
LISZT Scherzo & March
Victoria Concert Hall
Thursday, 12 June 2025 at 8 pm
Tickets available at:
Piano Recital by Vadym Kholodenko
Now watch this video:
This is not a foodie blog, but I thought it would be nice to do what Singaporeans do most, that is to rave about food and the places they regularly to makan. Finding new places to feast on comfort foods is an obsession, and so here begins this new series on Pianomania. This has absolutely nothing to do with classical music, but is a vital part of being who we are and how we function.
My first stop is the historic Colbar at Portsdown Road. Its name comes from Colonial Bar (or some people say it's a slang for "cold beer") as it dates from the 1960s when the British armed forces were still in Singapore. Its original location was in Jalan Hang Jebat near the end of the old winding Portsdown Road which linked North Buona Vista Road with the old Ayer Rajah Road. The original building had to be cleared with the construction of the flyovers / highways between Queensway and the Ayer Rajah Expressway. Its new site on Whitchurch Road lovingly recreates the old school atmosphere of the original.
Here are the photos from our recent dinner of Hainanese-styled Western cuisine, and judging by the delicious portions and relatively modest outlay, we will soon be back.
When was the last time you have seen one of these weighing machines? No, your weight will not go up after eating here. |
The old school non-air con, wooden walled and modest atmosphere was lovingly restored. |
The Way We Were, British expats having their fun. |
The original owners and fixtures of Colbar still remain here. |
Comfort food after a hard day's work. |
Pork chop with potatoes and mushrooms, Chicken cutlet with potatoes and beans. |
The outdoor eating area. |
A little bit of history on the wooden panels. |