Wrapping the SSO 2018/19 Season

Wrapping the SSO 2018/19 Season

By Leong Wenshan & Peggy Kek

May 2019

With the splendid Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis at the Esplanade and a trio of chamber performances at the Victoria Concert Hall in May, the SSO Season 2018/19 wraps with several delightful and poignant highlights.

10 May 2019: The 2018/19 season closes with Masaaki Suzuki conducting Beethoven’s magnificent Missa Solemnis.
10 May 2019: The 2018/19 season closes with Masaaki Suzuki conducting Beethoven’s magnificent Missa Solemnis.
17 May 2019: SSO Chamber Series featuring SSO Woodwind Musicians - Temptation of the Saintly Pot
17 May 2019: SSO Chamber Series featuring SSO Woodwind Musicians - Temptation of the Saintly Pot
18 May 2019: SSO Chamber Series featuring Strings of the SSO - Death and the Maiden
18 May 2019: SSO Chamber Series featuring Strings of the SSO - Death and the Maiden
19 May 2019: SSO Chamber Series featuring Brass Ensemble of the SSO
19 May 2019: SSO Chamber Series featuring Brass Ensemble of the SSO

OUR FIRST SSO NATIONAL DAY

We held our first SSO National Day Concert at the Esplanade on 11 August 2018, complete with real-time Facebook Live webcast for Singaporeans living abroad, a telecast on the Esplanade waterfront as well as immersive signing on stage for the hearing-disabled in the audience. The all-Singaporean concert featured Singaporean violinist Kam Ning, and works by local composers such as Kelly Tang, Syafiqah ’Adha Sallehin and Dick Lee.

Concertgoers gear up in red in front of our photowall
Concertgoers gear up in red in front of our photowall
Minister Grace Fu chats with Darrell Ang, conductor for the National Day programme
Minister Grace Fu chats with Darrell Ang, conductor for the National Day programme
The SSO performed its first livestream via Facebook from the Esplanade Concert Hall.
The SSO performed its first livestream via Facebook from the Esplanade Concert Hall.
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra joined forces with the Singapore Symphony Chorus in this National Day showcase.
The Singapore Symphony Orchestra joined forces with the Singapore Symphony Chorus in this National Day showcase.
The SSO celebrated its 40th year of music-making with a concert featuring the meditative mysteries of Ives’ The Unanswered Question and the majestic strides of Beethoven’s Emperor Piano Concerto.
The SSO celebrated its 40th year of music-making with a concert featuring the meditative mysteries of Ives’ The Unanswered Question and the majestic strides of Beethoven’s Emperor Piano Concerto.
These two pieces played at our inaugural concert on 24 January 1979, which was conducted by our first Music Director Choo Hoey. The SSO paid tribute to Leong Yoon Pin (1932 - 2011), whose Dayong Sampan Overture was the first Singaporean composition ever played by the SSO.
These two pieces played at our inaugural concert on 24 January 1979, which was conducted by our first Music Director Choo Hoey. The SSO paid tribute to Leong Yoon Pin (1932 - 2011), whose Dayong Sampan Overture was the first Singaporean composition ever played by the SSO.
The concerto soloist for our 40th Anniversary Gala was Singaporean pianist Lim Yan, the new Artistic Director of the Singapore International Piano Festival, and the concert was conducted by our outgoing Music Director Lan Shui, in his penultimate concert as Music Director.
The concerto soloist for our 40th Anniversary Gala was Singaporean pianist Lim Yan, the new Artistic Director of the Singapore International Piano Festival, and the concert was conducted by our outgoing Music Director Lan Shui, in his penultimate concert as Music Director.
Cutting the SSO40th birthday cake: [L-R] Co-Concertmaster Lynnette Seah, Maestro Lan Shui, PM Lee Hsien Loong, Chairman Goh Yew Lin, SSG CEO Chng Hak-Peng
Cutting the SSO40th birthday cake: [L-R] Co-Concertmaster Lynnette Seah, Maestro Lan Shui, PM Lee Hsien Loong, Chairman Goh Yew Lin, SSG CEO Chng Hak-Peng
[L-R] SSO Concertmaster Igor Yuzefovich, Maestro Lan Shui, SSO musician Lim Shue Chern, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, SSO Co-Concertmaster Lynnette Seah & pianist Lim Yan
[L-R] SSO Concertmaster Igor Yuzefovich, Maestro Lan Shui, SSO musician Lim Shue Chern, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, SSO Co-Concertmaster Lynnette Seah & pianist Lim Yan
SSG CEO Chng Hak-Peng and Chairman Mr Goh Yew Lin walk PM Lee and Mrs Lee through a timeline of the SSO's 40-year history.
SSG CEO Chng Hak-Peng and Chairman Mr Goh Yew Lin walk PM Lee and Mrs Lee through a timeline of the SSO's 40-year history.
Maestro Lan Shui and PM Lee Hsien Loong at the SSO 40th Anniversary Gala
Maestro Lan Shui and PM Lee Hsien Loong at the SSO 40th Anniversary Gala
Lan Shui was the Music Director of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra for 22 years.
Lan Shui was the Music Director of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra for 22 years.
For his swansong, Lan Shui led a performance of Mahler Symphony No. 2 on 25 and 26 January at the Esplanade.
For his swansong, Lan Shui led a performance of Mahler Symphony No. 2 on 25 and 26 January at the Esplanade.

RED BALLOON SERIES

This season also saw the launch of a new series of concerts designed to introduce newer works to audiences. Two concerts respectively presented works by one of America’s most influential living composers, Steve Reich, and music from or inspired by the world of rock music while a third showcased percussion instruments.

12 January 2019: Reich in 60 mins, a one-of-a-kind urban soundscape experience that included orchestra with street sounds.
12 January 2019: Reich in 60 mins, a one-of-a-kind urban soundscape experience that included orchestra with street sounds.
31 Jan 2019: Rock in 60 Mins, a night of kaleidoscopic groove and moves; electric guitar and rock-inspired music with orchestra.
31 Jan 2019: Rock in 60 Mins, a night of kaleidoscopic groove and moves; electric guitar and rock-inspired music with orchestra.
The SSO presented a heart-pounding featuring SSO Principal Timpanist Christian Schiøler and guest percussion duo Maraca2.
The SSO presented a heart-pounding featuring SSO Principal Timpanist Christian Schiøler and guest percussion duo Maraca2.

SSO IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Throughout the 18/19 Season , SSO took to the road to perform for residents in their neighbourhood community spaces. Aside from the usual venues to catch the national orchestra (Botanic Gardens, Gardens by the Bay, and Singapore Racecourse), audiences could also pop into their nearest schools, which opened doors to the public for SSO performances. New civic spaces like the Tampines Hub and Jurong Lake Gardens also hosted our smaller brass ensemble.

As part of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra's 40th Anniversary celebrations,we sent our brass ensemble on the road to bring you a delightful mix of familiar tunes from Mozart to Dick Lee's Home! These free performances were held at various locations in Singapore.
As part of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra's 40th Anniversary celebrations,we sent our brass ensemble on the road to bring you a delightful mix of familiar tunes from Mozart to Dick Lee's Home! These free performances were held at various locations in Singapore.
The travelling ensemble concluded the season at the opening of Jurong Lake Gardens.
The travelling ensemble concluded the season at the opening of Jurong Lake Gardens.
We took a ride to the northwestern neighbourhoods of Singapore for a free hour-long concert of great music, including the William Tell Overture used in The Lone Ranger, and music by John Williams.
We took a ride to the northwestern neighbourhoods of Singapore for a free hour-long concert of great music, including the William Tell Overture used in The Lone Ranger, and music by John Williams.

To all our patrons, old and new – thank you for joining in our music-making this past season, and for making the SSO 40th anniversary in 2019 a memorable affair.

To find out more about the new SSO concert season, click here.

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