JEREMY MONTEIRO AT 65: THE STATE OF MY ART / Review

 

JEREMY MONTEIRO AT 65: 

THE STATE OF MY ART 

Esplanade Concert Hall 

Friday (14 March 2025)

This review published in The Straits Times on 17 March 2025 with the title "Jazz maestro Jeremy Monteiro's rousing gig for 65th birthday".

Since its inception in 1980, the Cultural Medallion has been awarded to only two pianists. The latest was avantgardeist Margaret Leng Tan (2015), but the first was Singapore’s “King of Swing” Jeremy Monteiro in 2002. Making his 65th birthday this year, a three-hour concert was the summation of 49 years of professional performance, 50 albums and over 700 original compositions behind him. 

Photo: Ken Cheong

With the typical candour and self-deprecating humour of a stand-up comic, he spoke about every work on the programme. The evening opened with a trio, just Monteiro on piano, Jay Anderson (bass) and Hong Chanutr Techatananan (drums). This was how jazz groups began, playing in smoke-filled lounges and clubs of yesteryear, where performances were improvised in the most free-wheeling way possible. 

In Dave Brubeck’s In Your Own Sweet Way, Monteiro’s mastery with dizzying runs on the right hand over left hand chords led the way, and thereafter almost every piece that came was an original work of his. Despite its title, Blues For Capt Hans was an upbeat fast number, contrasted with the true moody blues of Always In Love with its reflective melody transcribed on bass. 

Three became five, when they were joined by Frenchman Nicolas Folmer (trumpet/flugelhorn) and Sean Hong Wei (tenor sax) for Jazzybelle’s Shuffle, a casual saunter down Orchard Road which turned out to be more of a parade. Monteiro’s warm crooning voice was heard in Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart’s My Romance, accompanied by Sean, closing the first half in contemplation. 

Photo: Ken Cheong

The stage got more crowded when the Jazz Association Singapore Orchestra (JASSO) came aboard with Elephant In The Room, a busily brassy number co-written with Briton Alan Barnes. Then came a sequence of what might be Monteiro’s “greatest hits”, possibly his most memorable and catchiest numbers. Carousel in a Child’s Mind, written for his son Varian, was an ear worm of a fast waltz, while Brothers highlighted the solo of Taiwanese flautist Jenni Tsai. 

More guest performers including former Singapore Symphony Orchestra co-leader Lynnette Seah (violin) and vocalist Sneha Menon, who starred in Seul a Paris (Alone In Paris), composed during Monteiro’s lowest ebb while walking through the Jardin du Luxembourg. To heighten its French sense of melancholy, further commentary was provided by him on an accordion. 

Photo: Ken Cheong

Far more cheerful was From Paris to Segre, co-written with Eugene Pao, a classic train piece with with chugging rhythms and far-reaching sense of optimism. Monteiro’s longtime mentor 83-year-old Louis Soliano was also given the spotlight in Artie Butler’s Here’s To Life, where his vocals rose above the drumming to touch hearts. 

Photo: Ken Cheong

The concert proper closed with the lively beats of Mount Olive, after which the orchestra broke out with Happy Birthday To You and a birthday cake wheeled in for good measure. 

There was time for two encores, George Gershwin’s Love Is Here To Stay (with Menon’s soul-infused vocals) and Monteiro’s most heard and best-selling hit, One People, One Nation, One Singapore in a rousing blues-gospel version. Monteiro 65 thus becomes the perfect prelude to SG 60.

A Concert Not To Miss: INMO YANG & FESTIVAL STRINGS LUCERNE

Here is a concert not to miss!

Lovers of string music will either have recordings or remember the name of Lucerne Festival Strings, the legendary ensemble founded by Rudolf Baumgartner and Wolfgang Schneiderhan. Its brand of svelte, silky-smooth string sound regularly ruled the airwaves of 92.4 FM Stereo station in days of old. Its modern iteration under Australia-born violinist Daniel Dodds continues to thrill and excite with a rare and treasured virtuosity. 

Its latest Singapore performance, deferred from 2020, showcases the excellent young Korean violinist Inmo Yang, First prizewinner of the Paganini International Violin Competition (2015) and Sibelius Violin Competition (2022). This is an exciting programme not to be missed!

Programme:

PROKOFIEV Symphony No.1 "Classical"

VIEUXTEMPS Violin Concerto in A minor "Gretry"

DUBUGNON Caprice No.4 "Es muss sein"

MOZART Symphony No.41 in C major "Jupiter"

Esplanade Concert Hall

Tuesday, 12 March 2024

7.30 pm

Get your tickets at SISTIC:

Esplanade Presents | Classics 2024 – Inmo Yang and Festival Strings Lucerne (sistic.com.sg)

Classics 2024 | Inmo Yang and Festival Strings Lucerne (12 Mar 2024) (youtube.com)

TWO PIANO RECITALS NOT TO MISS: ZEE ZEE IN CONCERT @ ESPLANADE CONCERT HALL

TWO PIANO RECITALS

YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS:

ZEE ZEE IN CONCERT

 

Making her Singapore début is prize-winning Chinese pianist Zee Zee, formerly known as Zhang Zuo, in two piano recitals at Esplanade Concert Hall. Known for her expressive and ebullient styles, she will be performing two separate programmes on 23 & 24 January 2022.

 

Sunday 23 January

 

SCHOENBERG Three Pieces Op.11

RAVEL Gaspard de la nuit

LISZT Années de pélérinage (Selections):

  Vallee d’Obermann

  Les jeux d’eau a la Villa d’Este

  Tarantella

 

Monday 24 January 17, 2022

 

CLARA SCHUMANN Three Romances, Op.11

ROBERT SCHUMANN 

Faschingsschwank aus Wien

(Carnival Jest in Vienna), Op.28

BRAHMS Handel Variations, Op.24

 

Both recitals at Esplanade Concert Hall at 7.30 pm

 

Tickets are still available at SISTIC:

Zee Zee in Concert - Esplanade

Classics 2021 - Esplanade

This presentation is sponsored by Kris Foundation.

SONGS OF LIU SANJIE / Singapore Chinese Orchestra / Review

SONGS OF LIU SANJIE

Singapore Chinese Orchestra

Esplanade Concert Hall

Saturday (3 March 2018)

This review was published in The Straits Times on 6 March 2018 with the title "Breezy take on Liu Sanjie coupled with catchy tunes."

The Singapore Chinese Orchestra's annual collaboration in this year's Huayi Chinese Festival of Arts was the world premiere of a concert production based on the iconic 1961 movie-musical Liu Sanjie. Liu Sanjie (Third Sister Liu) was the legendary heroine of the Zhuang people of Guangxi, renowned for her expressive singing and indomitable spirit.

A beautiful view of the Li River and its karst landscape
was the backdrop for this concert. 

Hailed a symbol of resistance against corrupt feudal landlords, the original movie depicted the  triumph of proletariats against greedy landowning bourgeoisie. Using songs originally written by Lei Zhen Bang, Cultural Medallion recipient Law Wai Lun's adaptation and orchestration trimmed the 110-minute content to a more manageable 80 minutes, while toning down its overtly socialist message.

The movie poster for Liu Sanjie
starring Huang Wanqiu as the heroine.

Central to the music is the shan ge (song of the hill-tribes), sung by the protagonist and her allies. Once heard, the catchy melodies and their variants ring in the ears, almost impossible to be rid of. This was especially when sung by soprano Wang Qing Shuang, who brilliantly sounded the part while looking a paradigm of virtue and innocence in her ethnic outfit designed by Max Tan and Yuan Zhiying.

Supporting her were tenor Jonathan Charles Tay (as love interest Ah Niu), soprano Peng Siran (sidekick Zhou Mei) and baritone William Lim (Old Fisherman), who were excellent in their portrayals. Opposing them stood Alvin Chiam (villain Mo Huai Ren in a speaking role) with his beard-stroking malevolence and evil laughter. His lackeys were the bumbling comedic trio of tenors Raymond Lee, Jeremy Koh and baritone Alvin Tan, taking a leaf from Ping, Pang and Pong from Puccini's Turandot.

Although referred to as a choral symphony, this was more a cantata in six seamlessly connected movements. One might have expected the climax to have taken place in the much-anticipated song duel between Liu Sanjie and the three hapless scholars, as in the movie. That was in the 3^rd movement, just before the intermission, when the spunky youth easily vanquished her adversaries with quick retorts and thinly-veiled insults.

But no, “The Competition” merely served like a prelude to the 4^th and 5^th movements' melodic delights where Liu and Ah Niu's love duet better fleshed out their personalities. These were separated by tense dissonant moments from the orchestra depicting Liu's abduction and incarceration by Mo's minions. This was short-lived with the heroes plotting a ridiculously easy getaway.

Goh Boon Teck's direction in the semi-staged production ensured that the narrative was breezy and fluently executed without missing the essence of the endeavour. Yeh Tsung's orchestra accompanied sympathetically, although the amplified solo voices and those of the Vocal Associates Festival Choruses (Khor Ai Ming, Chorus Mistress) were occasionally obscured.

The final movement''s big tune Folksongs Are Like The River In Spring reiterated the triumph of singing, this time with percussionist Shen Guo Qin's drum-set ensuring a Broadway and bright lights feel-good ending that drew a standing ovation. Had Liu Sanjie turned capitalist? That will be one for the books.         

Wang Qing Shuang with Jonathan Charles Tay,
Alvin Chiam and Jeremy Koh.

Director Goh Boon Teck, conductor Yeh Tsung and
composer Law Wai Lun receiving their accolades.

CANCELLED! MURRAY PERAHIA'S RECITAL AT ESPLANADE

We have received news from Esplanade that due to an illness, Murray Perahia has cancelled his Asian tour. 

Get well soon.

SISTIC will arrange for refunds in due course.

Here is another piano recital not to be missed. Celebrated American pianist MURRAY PERAHIA makes a welcome return to Esplanade Concert Hall with a programme of Bach, Schubert, Mozart and Beethoven.

MURRAY PERAHIA IN RECITAL

Esplanade Concert Hall

Thursday, 8 March 2018 at 7.30 pm

Programme includes:

J.S.BACH French Suite No.6 in E major

SCHUBERT Four Impromptus, Op.142

MOZART Rondo in A minor, K.511

BEETHOVEN Sonata No.32 in  C minor, Op.111

Tickets available at:

https://www.esplanade.com/events/2018/murray-perahia-in-recital

In addition, Murray Perahia is holding a masterclass at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory two days before

MURRAY PERAHIA Piano Masterclass

Yong Siew Toh Conservatory Concert Hall

Tuesday, 6 March 2018 at 4 pm

Tickets available at:

https://www.esplanade.com/events/2018/~/link.aspx?_id=2107148FC36A4DA6B7DDFE12804BF8D0&_z=z

Do not miss these unforgettable piano events.

People-Watching at the SINGAPORE INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION 2018 GRAND FINAL

The 2nd Singapore International Violin Competition came to a thrilling climax and conclusion with the Grand Final held at Esplanade Concert Hall on Thursday 8 February 2018. Three grand finalists performed a concerto each with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, attended by a well filled hall including a Who's Who of classical music in Singapore. Here are some photos from the intermission reception and prize-award ceremony.

Pang Siu Yuin (General Manager of Singapore National
Youth Orchestra), Cham Gee Len and Vivien Goh
(Sponsor of the Goh Soon Tioe Recital Prize)

Violinist Chin Chee Mee,  conductor Chan Tze Law, 
music philanthropist Tan Kah Tee,
Chia Sin Teck and Julie Tan
(Singapore Music Teacher's Association)

Mervin Beng (Founder of re:Sound),
master luthier Tong Ming Xi,
pianist Ge Xiaozhe and composer Chen Zhangyi.

Dr & Mrs Koo Siaw Sing
(Yong Siew Toh Conservatory)

Almost the T'ang Quartet:
Violinist Ng Yu Ying, pianist Susan Lai,
conductor Jason Lai (not Susan's husband)
and cellist Leslie Tan.

The YST Doctor's table:
Adeline Wong, Marc Rochester & Craig De Wilde.

Violinist Seah Huan Yuh, Law Li Fang (Octagon)
and Tang I Shyan (YST Concerts)

Susan Lai and her husband pianist Albert Tiu.

Cellist Qin Li-Wei with Lionel Choi
(Director of Singapore International Piano Festival)

Composer Chen Zhangyi and violinist Anna Lee,
pianist Khor Shang Jin and cellist Beverly Hiong
(Founder of Music & Makan).

Here is the jury: Qian Zhou (Chairperson),
Takashi Shimizu, Boris Kuschnir, David Takeno,
Kam Ning, Kim Nam Yun, Paul Roczek, Viktor Tretyakov,
Mauricio Fuks and Silvia Marcovici.

The grand finalists await the verdict:
Laurel Gagnon, Lisa Yasuda, Shi Xiaoxuan,
Oleksandr Korniev, Sergei Dogadin and Chisa Kitagawa.

Down to the final two:
the moment Sergei and Chisa are
informed of the final result.

All the finalists and the jury.

The finalists with Qian Zhou and Bernard Lanskey.
dean of Yong Siew Toh Conservatory

3rd Prizewinner Oleksandr Korniev
with his wife Yuliana.

2nd Prizewinner Chisa Kitagawa
with her mother Chiyo.

1st Prizewinner Sergei Dogadin
with his Victor's trophy by Tiffany & Co.