It was the start of an exciting partnership when the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Singapore Symphony Group and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) was signed in September 2018. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, plans for collaborative in-person performances were put on hold – until recently.
On the evenings of 22 and 23 August 2024 at the Esplanade Concert Hall, the Singapore and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras and Choruses finally united to present a joint-performance of the choral-orchestral spectacular Carmina Burana. The long overdue showcase exemplified the agreement, signed by the National Arts Council (Singapore) and Creative Australia earlier this year, committing to greater collaboration in the arts between both nations.
Under the baton of MSO’s Chief Conductor Jaime Martín, the orchestras presented a riveting repertoire featuring symphonic classics of Stravinsky’s The Firebird Suite and De Falla’s Three Dances from The Three-Cornered Hat, along with Fanfare for a City by Australian composer Maria Grenfell.
After the feast of fanfares, firebirds and flamenco, audience members relished the highly anticipated finale — Carmina Burana, Carl Orff’s grandiloquent 1937 oratorio. A combined 200-strong chorus, along with a trio of sterling Australian soloists, joined the orchestras to amplify the choral grandeur of the famed work. In a review, The Straits Times commended the orchestras and choruses for their ‘impressive delivery’ of this masterpiece.
Just as this is the MSO’s first trip to Singapore, SSO’s multi-city tour in 2025 will also be the orchestra’s first to Australia. In Melbourne, the MSO is set to present the SSO with Singaporean violin sensation Chloe Chua and SSO Principal Cellist Ng Pei-Sian as soloists, at Hamer Hall on 14 February 2025.
Beyond the historic collaboration, the musicians of the SSO and MSO also banded together for Magic Hour @ Raffles Hotel Singapore on 17 August 2024. The string quartet performed a mix of Singaporean and Australian works such as Kelly Tang’s Three Folk Dances, and Butterflying by Australian composer Elena Kats-Chernin. Elsewhere, MSO musicians also set aside time to impart their knowledge to the next generation of music-makers; on 24 August 2024, the musicians made the acquaintance of our Singapore National Youth Sinfonia students and guided these young talents in their current orchestral programme.
In its first multi-city tour since 2016, the SSO is set to perform in the Hamer Hall, Melbourne on 14 February 2025, along with stops in Sydney and Brisbane. We hope to see you there!