The Finals of the Singapore International Violin Competition 2026 has begun, with the completion of the first evening. In two concerts, the six finalists become first violinists of a string quartet to perform either of two quartets from Joseph Haydn's Op.77 set. Working with three members of the world-renowned Shanghai Quartet (violinist Angelo Xiang Yu, violist Honggang Li and cellist Sihao He), each performs as the leader of the quartet, an underrated skill demanded of all great violinists who are also great musicians.
In a way, this is a subtle and astute test of musical leadership and interpretation that is quite different from the outwardly virtuosic person of a soloist in a concerto performance.
This evening, the performances of both Haydn string quartets were a total delight. These two quartets, composed in 1802, represent his most mature works and final utterances in this medium which he popularised. The first violinist's role is a virtuoso one, not just having to play the melodic lines, master the most difficult passages, but also to keep the ensemble together. In this respect, all the three finalists this evening shone, their outings showed that live performances best any recording to be had. I am certain that the small audience, not exceeding 50 people at the most in Victoria Concert Hall were truly enthralled.
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| A small audience attended the concert, with the jury sitting in the circle seats. |
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| SongHa Choi (South Korea) was the leader in Haydn's Quartet in G major, Op.77 No.1 |
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| Zou Meng (China) was the local favourite, presently a student at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory. He led in the Quartet in F major, Op.77 No.2 |
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| Georgii Moroz (Ukraine) is a Yong Siew Toh alumnus. He starred in the evening's second performance of Haydn's Quartet in F major, Op.77 No.2 |
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