HEALING ARTS SINGAPORE OPENING CONCERT / Photographs

This was the Opening Concert (Monday, 8 December 2025) of the 5-day symposium (8-12 December 2025) organised by Healing Arts Singapore in conjunction with the Centre of Music and Health based in Yong Siew Toh Conservatory. There was lots of music performed, and here are some of the photos from a colourfully varied concert.

Opening the evening were excerpts from
Chen Zhangyi's opera Lily, a probing work
about the ravages of dementia.

Soprano Wong Su Sun played the role of Lily,
a singing teacher alongside her son,
sung by tenor Jonathan Charles Tay.

Singapore's only hearing-impaired concert pianist
Azariah Tan related how his performance of
Beethoven roused a patient with dementia.

Here Azariah Tan performed the first movement
from Beethoven's Piano Concerto No.5 "Emperor".

It was a reading of true grandeur,
which he mastered in a matter of a few weeks!

Applause alongside YST Orchestral Institute
conductor Jason Lai.

Seeding The Floor - 
performing mindfulness of everyday
by Arts Fission

Movement and plants.

Finding beauty in the mundane.

The pastoral setting was telling:
country folks are happier people.

Musicians from Beautiful Mind Charity and
YST Orchestral Institute perform popular tunes.

Teng Ensemble joins the fray.
Young Artist Award recipient Syafiqah Sallehin
plays the accordion in Chow Junyi's Journey
with Geylang Sipaku Geylang and Rasa Sayang.

Phoon Yu's contrapuntal
Transi For The Common Man.

Western and traditional Chinese instruments
are highlighted in these works.

A rousing end to the concert
with Chow Junyi's Little White Boat.

NIGHT OF THE SAXOPHONE / AZARIAH TAN & YANG SHUXIANG Recitals / Review

NIGHT OF THE SAXOPHONE

Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Victoria Concert Hall

Thursday (19 August 2021)

 

AZARIAH TAN Piano Recital

Esplanade Recital Studio

Friday (20 August 2021)

 

YANG SHUXIANG Violin Recital

Esplanade Recital Studio

Saturday (21 August 2021) 

This review was published in The Straits Times on 25 August 2021 with the title "Homegrown talents shine in saxophone, piano and violin".

 

Whether now is a good time to be a young professional musician is debatable. While competition for performance opportunities is stiff due to sheer numbers of homegrown talents, the dearth of visiting overseas artists has also meant that locals get a better chance to be heard. One thing is certain: many of Singapore’s young soloists are excellent and often comparable with those of international standing.

Photo: Singapore Symphony Orchestra / Aloysius Lim

 

A shining example is saxophonist Samuel Phua, recent graduate from Finland’s Sibelius Academy, who performed the Saxophone Concerto of Russian composer Alexander Glazunov with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra led by music director Hans Graf. Not only did he have the requisite expertise to overcome the single-movement work’s technical hurdles, his alto saxophone’s creamy smooth tone also oozed charm and seductiveness.

 

Whether in lyrical passages or young composer Jonathan Shin’s tricky cadenza specially written for this performance, Phua was spot on in his execution. As if further proof of prowess were needed, the encore of Gershwin’s Promenade, arranged by SSO librarian Avik Chari, was stylish swagger personified.

 

The balance of the concert illustrated Mozart’s genius in two contrasting serenades. Serenata Notturno and A Musical Joke were perfect examples how to properly craft or ruin a composition respectively. The former was taken perfectly straight, while the latter played strictly for laughs, and one admits it takes true skill to make deliberately music sound bad.

 

On two consecutive evenings presented by the Kris Foundation, pianist Azariah Tan performed a solo recital as well as partnered violinist Yang Shuxiang. In the recital, two early Romantic sonatas by Chopin and Schubert were coupled to gripping effect. Both composers had led tragically short lives, prematurely curtailed by infectious diseases.

Photo: Kris Foundation / Lisa Peh

 

In the tuberculous Chopin’s Third Sonata, Tan found the right balance of tortured self-reflection and outright passion, evidenced in the nocturne-like slow movement and tumultuous finale. Even better was his journey through the syphilitic Schubert’s sprawling Sonata in A major (D.959), a slow burn that captured world-weariness in the most lyrical way possible. Through his ten fingers, Tan became a vivid storyteller.       

Photo: Kris Foundation / Lisa Peh

 

Heart-on-sleeve expressiveness defined Yang in his account of three Austro-German violin sonatas. The brief diversion that was Hindemith’s Sonata (Op.11 No.1) was merely a prelude to Schubert’s Grand Duo in A major (D.574), where its sheer congeniality and melodiousness could just melt hearts. This was chamber music at its most intimate, the give and take between violinist and pianist being close to perfection.

Photo: Kris Foundation / Lisa Peh

 

And when one thought the passion quotient had been exhausted, then came Richard Strauss’ Violin Sonata, a concerto-like romp through the full gamut of emotions. Yang’s brawny string tone and faultless intonation, allied with natural showmanship, made his performance a truly memorable one. The last three evenings proved that one does not need to leave our shores to witness greatness of musical artistry. 

 

DUO SENSES: HARP & PIANO / Laura Peh & Azariah Tan / Review

DUO SENSES: HARP & PIANO

LAURA PEH Harp Recital

AZARIAH TAN Piano Recital

Esplanade Recital Studio

Friday & Saturday 

(29 & 30 November 2019) 

This review was published in The Straits Times on 2 December 2019 with the title "Home-grown talents shine in harp and piano recitals". 

Kris Foundation has been presenting young Singaporean musical talents in recitals over the last decade, and this year’s two soloists were distinctive in different ways. In 2013, Laura Peh was established as the first Singaporean to perform a solo harp recital, while Azariah Tan became Singapore’s first hearing-impaired concert pianist.

Peh’s recital was a showcase of mostly French virtuoso pieces representing the “Golden Age of the Harp”. Opening with the etude-like Au matin (In The Morning) by Marcel Tournier, its sunlit pages radiated a warm glow and ethereal aura. Her art was the pursuit of gentle scintillation, with the 1^st movement from same composer’s Sonatine sounding just as persuasive, a heady reminder of the Belle Epoque.

Harp-fanciers will also recognise the names of Gabriel Pierne, Felix Godefroid and Elias Parish-Alvars, the latter two being hailed as the Paganini and Liszt of the harp. Despite being finger-twisters, their pieces also evoked the lyricism of bel canto and Chopin. Scarlatti’s Sonata in B minor and Debussy’s Clair de lune (from Suite Bergamasque) were originally conceived for the harpsichord and piano respectively, but these translated well on the harp too.

Artist & Composer:

Laura Peh with Lim Kang Ning

Also significant was the world premiere of young Singaporean composer Lim Kang Ning’s Cornish Tides, evocative and impressionist picture postcards of the wind-swept Cornwall landscape. The first movement was redolent of Debussy, with whole-tones sprinkled liberally, while the second was a whimsical scherzo which playfully involved rhythmic tapping of the harp’s wooden frame.

Pianist Azariah Tan’s programme comprised just two works, Beethoven’s Sonata No.30 in E major (Op.109) coupled with Johann Sebastian Bach’s mighty Goldberg Variations. This tandem worked a treat because of related thematic material, which Tan eloquently explained and demonstrated pre-performance.

Both works were regarded as spiritual journeys, with their requisite ups and downs. Opening quietly and closing in serenity, there was to be much activity and angst encompassed in between. The late Beethoven sonata received a supremely musical reading, culminating in the final movement’s set of variations on a hymn-like theme.

The descending bass notes to an aria was the subject of Bach’s fantastic variations, which comprised 30 in total but laid out as ten groups of three. As Tan explained, every three variations included a dance, a technically demanding study and a canon. His performance was highly assured and clear-headed as his preamble, and shorn of idiosyncracy or stylistic quirks.

As he chose to omit all repeats, the work clocked in just under 45 minutes, in effect a breeze. When the closing Aria breathed its last, a journey of transformation was complete. For most, that would  have been total satisfaction in itself, but Tan shared two lovely encores. A Chopin Prélude (Op.28 No.17) and an unpublished song by late Canadian pianist Vernon Duncombe were the extra treats.

Artist & Benefactor:

Azariah Tan with Kris Tan,

Founder of Kris Foundation.

A Concert Not To Be Missed: PIANO EXTRAVAGANZA 2019

Lovers of the piano will not want to miss this concert:

PIANO EXTRAVAGANZA 2019

Saturday 22 June 2019

Esplanade Concert Hall at 7.30 pm

An extension of the long-running Young Virtuoso Recital series, Piano Extravaganza 2019 showcases four of Singapore most exciting young piano talents in concert. They will be performing a variety of solo works, and works for 4 hands and 8 hands, including a World Premiere.

The pianists are:

AZARIAH TAN

CLARENCE LEE

GABRIEL HOE & 

SONG ZILIANG

Repertoire includes:

BACH-BUSONI Chaconne

BRAHMS Hungarian Dances Nos.1&4

MILHAUD Scaramouche

LISZT Dante Sonata

BEETHOVEN Sonata No.30 in E major, Op.109

RACHMANINOV Suite No.2 for 2 Pianos

LU WENCHENG / CHEN PEIXUN
  Autumn Moon on Calm Lake

REN GUANG / WANG JIANZHONG
  Colourful Clouds Chasing The Moon

STRAUSS / GRÜNFELD Soirée de Vienne

TSAO CHIEH / BERTRAM WEE 
  The Republic from  Singapore Suite 
  (World Premiere)

Special Encore: Another World Premiere 

Tickets are available at:

https://www.sistic.com.sg/events/cpiano0619

Do not miss this!

CD Review (The Straits Times, March 2017)

A STATE OF WONDER

AZARIAH TAN PLAYS CHOPIN

SJ50 / ****1/2

Strange as it may seem, this appears to be the first-ever CD recording of Frederic Chopin's piano music by a Singaporean pianist. Not even Melvyn Tan, Seow Yit Kin or Toh Chee Hung has ever attempted such a recital programme on disc. 

The pianist is 25-year-old Azariah Tan, alumnus of the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory and University of Michigan, who was diagnosed to have progressive sensorineural deafness since the age of four.

Despite the disadvantage, he is an utterly musical and sensitive soul, which is immediately apparent in the two Nocturnes Op.62 and two shorter Preludes from Op.28. He finds a song-like tenderness and underlying disquiet to equal degree, and summons the passion needed to surmount the Second Sonata (Op.35), well-known for its Funeral March slow movement. If only there were a little more wildness alloyed to the good taste displayed, it would have been just right.

The Fourth Ballade (Op.52) unfolds ever so alluringly, with its climaxes very well judged. His view of the lyrical Berceuse is an epitome of grace, and the recital is completed by the early showpiece, Andante Spianato & Grande Polonaise Brillante (Op.22) which is sleek and majestic without being over-stated. One hopes to hear more from this genuine and exciting talent.   

News Flash: 

In a quirk of sheer serendipity, it was just announced today that Azariah Tan has been awarded the Paul Abisheganaden Grant for Artistic Excellence (2017) conferred by the National University of Singapore Centre for the Arts. Well done!

Albert Lin's Review of AZARIAH TAN'S PIANO RECITAL

(Click on image to enlarge)

Some background information:

The Young Virtuoso Recital Series is now part of The Asian Pianist Recital Series, organised by Singapore Conference Hall. The Young Virtuoso Recital was created in 2005 to highlight talented young Singaporean pianists who otherwise did not have a chance to showcase their musical abilities due to the lack of opportunities. It was first parked in the Singapore International Piano Festival from 2005 to 2009, until it was unceremoniously dropped by the Singapore Symphonia Co. Ltd. (which has since featured zero Singaporeans).   

There was just one stipulation for each performer: they were to include an original piano work by a Singaporean or Singapore-based composer in their recital.  

Young Singaporeans who have played in this series (and composers featured) were:

2005: Lim Yan 

2006: Lee Pei Ming (Dick Lee)

2007: Albert Lin (Zechariah Goh, Joyce Koh & PM.Lindborg)

2008: Sandi Koh (Tan Chan Boon)

2009: Nicholas Loh (John Sharpley)

2009: Yao Xiao Yun (Leong Yoon Pin)

2013: Abigail Sin (Emily Koh)

2013: Azariah Tan (Kawai Shiu)

THE ASIAN PIANIST: AZARIAH TAN Piano Recital / Photographs

Singaporean AZARIAH TAN PENG CHAY was the third pianist to appear in The Asian Pianist recital series organised by Singapore Conference Hall. He is also the most recent artist selected for the Young Virtuoso Recital, which has been an ongoing series and platform for Singapore's most talented young pianists since 2005. The previous Young Virtuoso featured was Abigail Sin who performed her recital at the same venue on 5 May 2013.

An hour before the recital commenced, a Pianophile Forum was held where invited panellists shared with the audience a selection of their favourite recordings by Asian pianists. The "expert panel" comprised Dr Kevin Tan (Law lecturer and former President of the Singapore Heritage Society), Mr Phan Ming Yen (former Straits Times critic, former The Arts Magazine editor, present Republic Polytechnic lecturer), Mr Victor Khor (concert pianist and alumnus of the Moscow Conservatory) and yours truly.

On the right, Victor Khor plays his I-pad for curious listeners.
The Vietnamese Dang Thai Son is his favourite Asian pianist.

No recordings by Lang Lang, Yundi or Yuja Wang were aired. Instead snippets from Li Ming Qiang (playing Enesco and Chopin), Raul Sunico (Saint-Saëns), Dang Thai Son (Rachmaninov and Mozart), Minoru Nojima (Liszt), Akira Eguchi (Franck) and Esther Budiardjo (Godowsky) were offered. The little audience in the Exhibition Hall was transfixed.  

The lighting in the hall ensured that
Azariah was a glittering presence!

Azariah Tan's piano recital was the main event, of course. It was a very well-balanced programme which had a bit of everything. He opened with J.S.Bach's Partita No.5 in G major and Mozart's Sonata in B flat major K.333, yielding performances of true musicality, style and not a bit of showmanship. 

After the interval, he gave a short preamble on a newly commissioned work by Singapore-based composer Kawai Shiu called Zraz Za, an atonal contemplation on Chopin's A minor Prelude (Op.28 No.2) which is a play on both Azariah's name and the the two syllables of Chop-In. He thanked the Very Special Arts, his very loyal supporters over the years, for commissioning the work.

The composer Kawai Shiu (right) acknowledges
Azariah's World Premiere of Zraz Za.

Azariah completed his programme with Chopin's Berceuse, Fourth Ballade and Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No.12. His sensitivity showed in the short cradle song, while he let rip for the virtuoso pieces that closed the recital. His free-wheeling style in the Liszt was particularly impressive, and sent the house into raptures. He performed two encores, both Chopin Études, Op.10 No.3 (E major) and Op.25 No.9 (G flat major).

Azariah is presently his Honours degree at the University of Michigan, and he had to fly off at 3 am the next morning! We certainly look forward to his next recital in Singapore. 

Signing autographs can be hard work too!

The University connection: (From L to R) Dr Kawai Shiu, Prof. Albert Tiu and Prof. Seah Kar Heng (Mechanical Engineering, NUS), Dr Christina Tan (School of the Arts) and Prof. Bernard Lanskey (Head, Yong Siew Toh Conservatory)

Azariah had a legion of Filipino fans, and here they meet
the Pinoy Piano Idol Albert Tiu,
who was Azariah's principal teacher at the Conservatory.  

(From L to R): Geoffery Yu, Guy Hentsch, Prof. Thomas Hecht
(Head of Piano, YST), Florence Fauls (former SSO Programme Executive) and Mike Fauls.

Azariah with his piano teacher Winnie Tay (extreme right),
Angelyn Aw (3rd from R) and piano students. 

Meeting of the Tan clan: (From L to R): Dr Tan Chay Hoon (Aza's mother), Dr Christina Tan,
Mr Leslie Tan (Aza's father), Aza, Dr and Mrs Kevin Tan.

Aza with the Singapore Conference Hall staff.

THE ASIAN PIANIST RECITAL SERIES presents AZARIAH TAN (Singapore)

Don't miss this exciting piano recital by one of Singapore's top young talents!

When: Sunday 1 September 2013, 7 pm
Where: Singapore Conference Hall

Programme: 

BACH Partita No.5 in G major
MOZART Sonata in B flat major, K.333
KAWAI SHIU Zraz Za   WORLD PREMIERE
CHOPIN Berceuse, Op.57
CHOPIN Ballade No.4, Op.52
LISZT Hungarian Rhapsody No.12

There will be a pre-concert forum on Favourite Asian Pianist Recordings at 6 pm in Exhibition Hall 1 (First Floor). Admission is free.

A short article in The Straits Times 
published on 23 August 2013.
(Click on image to enlarge)