EVERYBODY LOVES A SOIREE!

Everybody loves a soiree! Is there a better way to unwind than in the company of friends and the happy making of music? The fun to be had in simple and informal performances more than makes up for the hours of practice (not to mention the expense of music lessons!). 

Sunday's soiree at the Havelock area home of Goh Ching Lee, former Singapore Arts Festival creative director and founder of Culture Link, has become a recurrent feature among a group of friends united by the love of music. With other friends (some newly acquainted and others reunited after long absences) joining in, it made for a gemutlich session of music and makan (with apologies to Beverly Hiong), one savoured by everybody present.

Such soirees could only happen after Covid restrictions and social distancing were lifted. Although there wasn't a crowd like those seen during the good old days of Bukit Damai (thanks to Neil and Debbie Franks), there was still a goodly number (namely eight!) who enjoyed the fun. 

So who came, what was played, who played what, and what happened? Here is the photographic evidence (but no videos to watch!) 

The evening began with cellist Loke Hoe Kit
partnered by Ching Lee in the first movement
of Brahms' First Cello Sonata (Op.38)

An attentive audience formed by some of
the region's foremost arts supremos.

The Loke-Goh duo continued into
the second movement of the Brahms sonata.

A well deserved drink at
the Rote Igel (Red Hedgehog).
A reference to Brahms' favourite watering hole,
and not Ching Lee's red frock!

Its makan time, and the silver arts aunties
tuck into delicious Peranakan fare. Here they are:
Juliana Lim (former Wagner Society Singapore),
Ng Siew Eng (former Sg Dance Theatre, Sg Lyric Opera)
Tisa Ho (Executive Director, Hong Kong Arts Festival)

Also joining the throng were
Alvin Tan (Founder, The Necessary Stage)
& Janet Chang (General Manager, PianoManiac)

Another informal shot of the revelers.

Three people attempting a four-hands
arrangement of J.S.Bach's Wachet auf!
We call that division of labour.

Ching Lee gives a solo performance of
Rachmaninov's Prelude in G sharp minor

Ching Lee and PianoManiac needed two takes
 to sight-read the four-hands arrangement of the
Adagio from Rachmaninov's Second Symphony.

More for the cello,
the Bach-Gounod Ave Maria.

To round up the evening,
the finale from Cesar Franck's Sonata in A major.
Also known as the Frank Sinatra.
John Dagpunar (Professor of Mathematics,
Southampton University) watches via Zoom.

Hoe Kit makes sure that the
video taken does not go viral!

We-fie of everybody who was still there by midnight.
No, the neighbours did not call the police.
They have good taste.
Photo by Alvin Tan.