October proved to be an exciting month as the SSO set off to Kyoto, Japan for its first overseas performance since the pandemic. This was SSO’s second visit to Japan, following its debut in Osaka, as part of Asia Orchestra Week (AOW) in 2003. We are honoured to be invited again to participate in this annual event, organised by the Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, as the only international orchestra at this year’s iteration.
Following an early morning flight, the orchestra, along with our admin staff, touched down in Japan two days before the concert, and were whisked away to the Kyoto Concert Hall. It was all hands on deck in preparation for the big day, with the musicians soldiering on through rehearsals and our production crew priming the stage for a successful showcase.
On 19 October, the SSO performed to a full house of 1,600 with Music Director Hans Graf at the helm. Audiences in Japan witnessed the orchestra’s virtuosity in Mendelssohn’s Overture to A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Beethoven’s mighty Fifth Symphony. They also had a taste of Singapore with homegrown composer Koh Cheng Jin’s Luciola singapura, a multi-award-winning composition inspired by the discovery of a new species of firefly in Singapore. The piece featured the yangqin, a Chinese hammered dulcimer, that emits varied timbres to evoke the luminous beauty of the Singapore firefly.
Sharing the stage with the SSO was renowned French pianist Hélène Grimaud. She captivated the audience with an elegant performance of Ravel’s scintillating Piano Concerto in G major. As a special treat for those in attendance, Grimaud concluded her set with two encores: Silvestrov’s Bagatelle No. 2 and Brahms’ poignant Intermezzo Op. 117 No. 3.
Incredibly proud of our musicians, whose talent and passion continue to uplift and inspire many beyond our shores, representing our special Singapore sound on the international stage.
Held at the Helic Hall Kyoto on the next day, the Singapore Symphony Group participated in the Association of Japanese Symphony Orchestras symposium, which centred on the significance of arts organisations in metropolitan cities and the role of educational programmes in shaping youth development. Mr Kok Tse Wei, Deputy CEO (Programmes & Production), and Ms Jodie Chiang, Assistant Manager, Artistic Administration contributed to the lively discussion, highlighting the Group’s community outreach efforts in their keynote speech and panel discussion.
Come 2025, the SSO will embark on its first international multi-city tour in Australia. We look forward to seeing you there!