EVERYBODY LOVES A SOIREE: THE CELEBRITY EDITION!

EVERYBODY LOVES A SOIREE:

THE CELEBRITY EDITION!

If truth be told, a musical soiree is always better whenever I am an observer. No way should I be a part of it other than being a fly on a wall, or to use a more local example, a gecko on the ceiling. Dr Ling Ai Ee, Singapore's most celebrated non-professional pianist and accompanist, regularly holds soirees and matinees at her home off Dunearn Road. Some of these have been fundraisers in aid of various charities, but this latest one was all about friends coming together to make music.

... and here's the programme du jour.

She has assembled a formidable line-up (9 musicians in all) this time around, including celebrities and veterans of Singapore's musical scene. Even the audience was filled with luminaries (which does not include off-duty music reviewers). The performers needn't have worried, as the programme was excellent, the level of playing was mostly beyond reproach, a testament of how hard they have worked on the music. For this, they deserve our whole-hearted applause. Not to mention the lovely makan served up!

The concert opened with a whole piano trio!
Beethoven's Op.11, the Gassenhauer so named
because it used tunes from the street (gasse).
Clarinettist Li Lingzhi, cellist Timothy Chua
with host with the most Ling Ai Ee on piano.

Another whole piano trio, albeit in one movement.
Rachmaninov's G minor Trio-Elegiaque,
with violinist Serene Lim, cellist Chan Chin Hong
and pianist Jonathan Aow.

The youngest performer was prodigious
15-year-old Timothy Chua in
Schumann's Adagio & Allegro, Op.70

Violin celebrity Siow Lee-Chin made a cameo
with Amy Beach's Romance.

She dedicated the performance to her patron and 
mentor Lady Yuen-Peng McNeice, who would have
celebrated her 107th birthday today.

The famous Leow Siak Fah family portrait.
There were at least 4 people pictured within
who were present at the soiree.

After the grub break, Astor Piazzolla tangos resumed,
first with Tangata with Ai Ee & Toh Chee Hung
from the famous Dennis Lee-Toh Chee Hung duo.

Chee Hung and Dennis were regulars, 
and helmed the first fundraising soiree.

Piazzolla's Oblivion with Lingzhi, Jonathan and
YST Conservatory's Tang I-Shyan on cello.

Now the heavy-duty trios:
Mendelssohn's Piano Trio No.1 (1st movement)
with Serene, Chin Hong & Jonathan.

... and the 2nd movement from
Lingzhi, I-Shyan and Jonathan

The recital proper closed with the first two movements
from Mendelssohn's Second Piano Trio,
now with Lingzhi, Timothy & Ai Ee.

As an encore, Ai Ee played
Leopold Godowsky's Alt Wien
in the memory of Dennis Lee.

The glam set:
Lee-Chin, cellist Leslie Tan & Lingzhi.
Watch where your hands go, Leslie!

Toh Chee Hung with Juliana Lim
from the Richard Wagner Society (Singapore).

Lee-Chin is senior enough to be the mother of
both Timothy and pianist Asher Seow.
Maybe there are related, after all!