Yesterday, Singapore celebrated its 60 years of independence. YES, WE ARE 60! Probably the only nation on earth which had independence forced upon it, Singapore's separation from Malaysia was probably all for the best. We were forced to sink or swim, and we did the latter, like Joseph Schooling in 2016.
I will hit the big Six-O myself in a few days' time, so here is an opportunity to celebrate some significant classical artists who are or will be 60 this year. In short, they were born in 1965 - and there are some big names!
SIR BRYN TERFEL (9 November 1965)
The world-renowned Welsh baritone came to fame after his famous debut at the 1989 BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition. He has gone on to serenade the world, including my wife at his first Singapore concert.
DAME EVELYN GLENNIE (19 July 1965)
The Scottish lass-turned-dame was the world's first professional percussionist to have a solo career. Never once in her bios is there a mention that she is profoundly deaf, and nobody needs to know. And boy, can she lip read.
LILYA ZILBERSTEIN (19 April 1965)
The Russian-German pianist won the 1987 Busoni International Piano Competition and has a world- wide career. Her sons Anton and Daniel Gerzenberg are also concert pianists.
TASMIN LITTLE (13 May 1965)
The English violinist has recently retired from active concertising, giving her swansong in Singapore in 2020, just before the pandemic struck. She has a wide-ranging discography and nothing she performs is less than outstanding.
FRANK PETER ZIMMERMANN (27 February 1965)
The German violinist recorded extensively for EMI Classics and has an impressive Warner Classics box-set to his name. His appearances in Singapore with the New York Philharmonic (Brahms Violin Concerto and Singapore Symphony (Beethoven Triple Concerto) were memorable events.
WE MUST NOT FORGET NOTABLE CLASSICAL ARTISTS RESIDENT IN SINGAPORE.
TAN CHAN BOON (11 October 1965)
Singapore's most prolific composer of symphonies, with seven to his name at latest count. His influences have been Bruckner and Mahler, and he is the President of their respective societies in Singapore, which promote their music.
CHUA LIK WUK
(11 October 1965, same day as Tan Chan Boon!)
Arguably the greatest violinist this nation has ever produced. His retirement from the Singapore Symphony Orchestra was a huge loss for local audiences. His occasional appearance in recitals, though rare as hen's teeth, are a must attend. His wife, former SSO oboist SELENA LAI, and piano collaborator GOH AIK GUAN (6 January) were also born in 1965.
LIONEL TAN
Lionel Tan was the founding violist of T'ang Quartet, Singapore's first professional string quartet. He and his brother, cellist Leslie Tan, were Singapore Symphony Orchestra musicians before they went indie to form the T'ang Quartet, which bears their surname. Lionel was a student of Raffles Institution, and I remembered regularly seeing him attend SSO concerts all those years ago.
LIM AI HOOI (23 July 1965)
Born in Penang, Malaysia, she is one of the most important chorusmasters in Singapore. Director of the Singapore International Choral Festival and One Chamber Choir, her energy and indefatigability has to be witnessed to be believed. Her choirs sing most beautifully.
