Singapore Symphony Orchestra

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2 Singapore Symphony Orchestra 2015/16 season 04 The Orchestra 14 subscription / gala / christmas Concerts 38 SSO pops concerts 40 Concerts for Children & Babies Proms 43 discovering music! 44 VCH Chamber series 47 Singapore International Piano Festival 55 Booking Information 62 free performances 66 Index Esplanade concert hall Performing Home of the SSO The information in this publication is correct at press time but the SSO reserves the right to change programmes or artists without prior notice. Patron President Tony Tan Keng Yam Board of Directors Chairman Mr Goh Yew Lin deputy Chairman Mr Chng Hak-Peng Directors Mr Ang Chek Meng Mrs Odile Benjamin Mr Lionel Choi Prof Arnoud De Meyer Mr Heinrich Grafe Mr Kwee Liong Seen Ms Lim Mei Prof Lim Seh Chun Ms Tan Choo Leng Mr Paul Tan Mr Wong Nang Jang Mr Yee Chen Fah Ms Yong Ying-I SSO Council Chairman Prof Cham Tao Soon members Mr Alan Chan Ms Chew Gek Khim Mr Choo Chiau Beng Dr Geh Min Mr Goh Geok Khim Mr Khoo Boon Hui Prof Tommy Koh Mr JY Pillay Dr Stephen Riady Ms Priscylla Shaw Dr Gralf Sieghold Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao Dr Tan Chin Nam Ms Tan Choo Leng Mr Tan Soo Nan Mr Wee Ee Cheong

3 02 03 Welcome from the music director No celebration is quite complete without music. As we enter into the second half of Singapore s 50th birthday year, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to SSO s 2015/16 season, another series of exhilarating musical experiences that will bring back good memories and create exciting new ones. This season, we welcome the return of pianist Stephen Hough, who joins us for the complete Piano Concertos of Beethoven in September. Stephen s own composition, The Loneliest Wilderness, will also take centrestage with SSO s Principal Cellist Ng Pei-Sian as soloist. Completing the series of Beethoven concertos is violinist Leonidas Kavakos, who will also conduct the SSO in Beethoven s one and only Violin Concerto. In November we will give the Asian premiere of Wolfgang Rihm s Double Concerto featuring Mira Wang and Jan Vogler in November. We are also thrilled to perform two new works by Singaporean composers Chen Zhangyi and Koh Cheng Jin which have been specially commissioned by the SSO. Chen s composition will also be performed by the SSO at the Dresden Music Festival and Prague Spring International Music Festival in May The music of the great Russian composers will be highlighted this season, with two all-rachmaninov concerts featuring the Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 3, the symphonic poem The Rock and Rachmaninov s final composition, the Symphonic Dances. An all-shostakovich programme in February will juxtapose his light-hearted Piano Concerto No. 1 with the groundbreaking Leningrad Symphony. Sharing the spotlight on the conductor s podium this season are renowned maestros Charles Dutoit, Gennady Rozhdestvensky, Neeme Järvi and Vladimir Ashkenazy, amongst many others, and we will have a double birthday celebration of great Scandinavian masters Sibelius and Nielsen in July. We are also set to present Haydn s great choral masterpiece, The Creation, as well as Mahler s grand opus, the Symphony No. 3, featuring our very own Singapore Symphony Children s Choir. Towards the end of season, we will be joined by an international cast of singers in a concert performance of Bizet s timeless opera Carmen. Please join me and our amazing musicians on another journey of excitement and adventure, as we celebrate the joy and the wonder of great music. Lan Shui Music Director

4 05 A fine display of orchestral bravado for the SSO and Shui the guardian singapore symphony orchestra A premier Asian orchestra gaining recognition around the world, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) aims to enrich the local cultural scene, serving as a bridge between the musical traditions of Asia and the West, and providing artistic inspiration, entertainment and education. A full-time professional orchestra with 96 members, the SSO now makes its performing home at the Esplanade Concert Hall, and also performs regularly at the Victoria Concert Hall, home of the SSO since The SSO performs over 50 symphonic programmes a year. Its versatile repertoire spans the all-time favourites and orchestral masterpieces to exciting cutting-edge premieres, with Asian and Singaporean musicians and composers featuring prominently in the concert season. In September 2014 the SSO s debut at the BBC Proms in London received critical acclaim in the major UK newspapers The Guardian and Telegraph. In 2010 the SSO s 6-city tour of London and Germany, which included a concert at the Berlin Philharmonie, garnered rave reviews from The Times and Sueddeutsche Zeitung. The SSO has also performed in America, China, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Japan, France, Spain and Turkey. Since Lan Shui assumed the position of Music Director in 1997, the SSO has been distinguished by a high level of excellence and a rising international profile. Choo Hoey, who was Music Director from 1979 to 1996, is credited for developing the SSO with his diverse programming. Among the SSO s recordings under BIS are a number of CDs which have earned international acclaim, including a Rachmaninov series, a Seascapes album featuring a compilation of sea-themed music by Debussy, Frank Bridge, Glazunov and Zhou Long, and the first-ever cycle of Tcherepnin s piano concertos and symphonies. The SSO has also recorded the music of Chen Yi, Bright Sheng, Karl Goldmark and Richard Yardumian, collaborating with such great artists as Gil Shaham, Evelyn Glennie, Cho-Liang Lin, Noriko Ogawa, Yevgeny Sudbin, Sharon Bezaly, Claude Delangle, Christian Lindberg and Martin Fröst.

5 Shui s credentials as a Rachmaninov interpreter are impeccable, and his no-frills performance was intense without sentimentality, noble but never bombastic. THE GUARDIAN Lan Shui Music Director Lan Shui joined the Singapore Symphony Orchestra as Music Director in He has brought the SSO to greater heights during his tenure, through several international tours and recordings for the BIS label. Passionate about performing music by Asian and Singaporean composers, he is the recipient of several international awards from the Beijing Arts Festival, New York Tcherepnin Society, Boston University (Distinguished Alumni Award) and Singapore (Cultural Medallion). Lan Shui has also been Chief Conductor of the Copenhagen Philharmonic since 2007, and from 2011 to 2014 he served as Artistic Advisor to the National Taiwan Symphony. He has conducted many orchestras including the Baltimore Symphony, Bamberg Symphony, Deutsche Radio Philharmonie, Frankfurt Radio Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Stuttgart Radio Symphony, MDR Leipzig, Detroit Symphony, Houston Symphony, Deutsche Symphony (Berlin), Japan Philharmonic and Hong Kong Philharmonic. He has also performed at festivals including Tanglewood, Aspen, Bravo! Vail Valley, Round Top, Eastern Music, National Orchestra Institute and Casals Festivals. Born in Hangzhou, China, Lan Shui studied composition at the Shanghai Conservatory and graduated from the Beijing Central Conservatory, where he studied conducting with Xu Xin and Huang Fei Li. He made his professional conducting debut with Beijing s Central Philharmonic Orchestra in 1986 and was later appointed Conductor of the Beijing Symphony. From 1986 he continued his graduate studies at Boston University and attended the Tanglewood Music Festival, where he worked closely with Leonard Bernstein. In 1990 he conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic s Summer Festival, where he came to the attention of David Zinman who in 1992 invited him to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra as Conducting Affiliate for two seasons. From 1994 to 1997, he was Associate Conductor to Neeme Järvi at the Detroit Symphony. In the same period he assisted Kurt Masur at the New York Philharmonic, and worked with Boulez and the Cleveland Orchestra in Paris under the Young Conductors Project. Since 1998, Lan Shui has recorded over 20 CDs for the BIS label, including music by Arnold and Hindemith with the Malmö Symphony, and his albums have been nominated twice for the Grammy Awards. Notable releases with the SSO include a Rachmaninov series, the firstever complete symphonies of Tcherepnin and a Seascapes CD, which won a place in MusicWeb International s 2007 Recordings of the Year.

6 08 This could be one of the great orchestras of the 21st century the spectator the orchestra Lan Shui Music Director jason lai Associate Conductor joshua tan Associate Conductor Choo Hoey Conductor Emeritus Okko Kamu Principal Guest Conductor Lim Yau Choral Director

7 13 FIRST VIOLIN CONCERTMASTER Igor Yuzefovich^ CO-CONCERTMASTER Lynnette Seah ASSOCIATE CONCERTMASTER Kong Zhao Hui* FIXED CHAIR Chan Yoong-Han Cao Can* Chen Da Wei Duan Yu Ling Foo Say Ming Gu Wen Li Jin Li Cindy Lee Alexander Souptel # * Sui Jing Jing Karen Tan William Tan Wei Zhe SECOND VIOLIN PRINCIPAL Zhang Zhen Shan ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL Michael Loh FIXED CHAIR Hai-Won Kwok Nikolai Koval* Priscilla Neo Margit Saur Shao Tao Tao Lillian Wang Wu Man Yun* Xu Jue Yi* Ye Lin* Yeo Teow Meng Yin Shu Zhan* Zhang Si Jing* ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL Guan Qi FIXED CHAIR Gu Bing Jie* Kim Jieun Marietta Ku Luo Biao Shui Bing Tan Wee Hsin Tong Yi Ping Yang Shi Li CELLO PRINCIPAL Ng Pei-Sian ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL Yu Jing* FIXED CHAIR Guo Hao* Chan Wei Shing* Song Woon Teng Wang Yan Wu Dai Dai Zhao Yu Er DOUBLE BASS PRINCIPAL Guennadi Mouzyka ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL Yang Zheng Yi FIXED CHAIR Karen Yeo Olga Alexandrova Ma Li Ming Jacek Mirucki Wang Xu FLUTE PRINCIPAL Jin Ta PICCOLO ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Roberto Alvarez OBOE PRINCIPAL Rachel Walker ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL Pan Yun Carolyn Hollier Elaine Yeo COR ANGLAIS ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL Elaine Yeo CLARINET PRINCIPAL Ma Yue ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL Li Xin Liu Yoko Tang Xiao Ping BASS CLARINET ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Tang Xiao Ping BASSOON PRINCIPAL Zhang Jin Min ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL Liu Chang Christoph Wichert Zhao Ying Xue CONTRA BASSOON ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Zhao Ying Xue ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL Gao Jian Jamie Hersch Marc-Antoine Robillard Kartik Alan Jairamin Wang Min TRUMPET PRINCIPAL Jon Paul Dante ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL David Smith Lertkiat Chongjirajitra Ikebe Jun TROMBONE PRINCIPAL Allen Meek ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL Damian Patti TUBA PRINCIPAL Hidehiro Fujita TIMPANI PRINCIPAL Christian Schiøler ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL Jonathan Fox PERCUSSION PRINCIPAL Jonathan Fox ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL Mark Suter Mark De Souza Lim Meng Keh Zhu Zheng Yi musician s chair programme To continue to be one of the most outstanding orchestras in the region, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra needs to recruit and maintain its pool of talented musicians. We would like to thank the following organisations for their generous support for our Musicians Chair programme. Principal Cello ng pei-sian Principal Flute JIN TA Santa Lucia Asset Management Principal Double Bass GUENNADI MOUZYKA Sso europe tour 2016 Lan Shui Music Director Gil Shaham violin 28 may 16 Sat Dresden Music Festival, Germany Frauenkirche Dresden 29 may 16 Sun Prague Spring International Music Festival, Czech Republic Municipal House, Smetana Hall VIOLA PRINCIPAL Zhang Manchin ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL Evgueni Brokmiller Roberto Alvarez Miao Shanshan HORN PRINCIPAL Han Chang Chou HARP PRINCIPAL Gulnara Mashurova Fixed Chair, Cello GUO HAO CHEN ZHANGYI New work commissioned by the SSO MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 CHEN ZHANGYI New work commissioned by the SSO MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 SCHOENBERG Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4 SCHOENBERG Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4 ravel La Valse STRAUSS Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59: Suite ^ Igor Yuzefovich plays an instrument generously loaned by Mr & Mrs G K Goh * With deep appreciation to Mr & Mrs Rin Kei Mei for their generous loan of string instruments from the Rin Collection # Served as Leader from 1993 to 2012 Musicians listed alphabetically by family name rotate their seats on a per programme basis.

8 14 15 sso 15/16 subscription concert President s Young Performers Concert Walton s Cello Concerto Transfigured Night 23 & 24 July 15 Thu & Fri, 7.30pm Victoria Concert Hall sso 15/16 subscription concert R. STRAUSS Serenade for 13 Winds schoenberg Verklärte Nacht, Op. 4 2 & 3 July 15 Thu & Fri, 7.30pm Victoria Concert Hall 17 July 15 Fri, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall SCHUMANN Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54 Lan Shui conductor Nikolai Demidenko piano brahms Tragic Overture LISZT Piano Concerto No. 1 in E-flat major SINDING Suite in A minor, Op. 10 ravel Ma Mère L Oye Joshua Tan conductor Clarence Lee piano Kimberly Lo violin In this President s Young Performers Concert showcasing Singapore s brightest musical stars, 24-year-old pianist Clarence Lee will perform the fiery solo part in the First Piano Concerto by Liszt, while 14-year-old violinist Kimberly Lo takes on the virtuosic Suite in A minor by Norwegian composer Christian Sinding. Associate Conductor Joshua Tan also conducts the orchestral version of Ravel s Mother Goose which was inspired by popular fairytales. Sponsored by walton Cello Concerto britten Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20 r. Strauss Tod und Verklärung, Op. 24 Jason Lai conductor Qin Li-Wei cello Qin Li-Wei joins Associate Conductor Jason Lai and the SSO for Walton s Cello Concerto, a ravishing masterpiece Walton wrote on the Italian island of Ischia. The Sinfonia da Requiem is Britten s largest purely orchestral work and his response to the breakout of war in Europe. The concert closes with Strauss depiction of the transcendental experience of an artist s final moments in his tone poem Tod und Verklärung ( Death and Transfiguration )....a meltingly beautiful tone, flawless centered intonation and an ironclad technique Acclaimed Russian pianist Nikolai Demidenko returns in Schumann s Piano Concerto, one of the most lyrical of all piano concertos. The first half of the concert couples Richard Strauss youthful Serenade for 13 Winds a work filled with lyrical, melodic themes that foreshadow Strauss eminence as a composer of vocal music with Schoenberg s most seductive creation Verklärte Nacht ( Transfigured Night ), a work inspired by his feelings for his future wife Mathilde von Zemlinsky. There was more to this performance than barn-storming bravura The Guardian on Nikolai Demidenko the New York Times on Qin Li-Wei 2 JUL Thu, 6.30pm-7pm VCH Music L3 6.30pm-7pm Esplanade Concert Hall POST-concert symphony chat 6.30pm-7pm VCH Music L3

9 16 17 sso 15/16 subscription concert CARL NIELSEN JEAN SIBELIUS Scottish Fantasy Masaaki & Masato Suzuki sso 15/16 subscription concert Dissimilar in style and temperament, Nielsen and Sibelius were not only important musical ambassadors for their respective countries, they stood at the forefront of the Nationalist movement that had begun to permeate the realm of Western music by the second half of the 19th century. Sibelius took inspiration from the great Finnish epics and the natural landscape of Finland, whilst Nielsen s deep respect of Danish folk culture and traditions helped him redefine the national song tradition and claim for Denmark a spot amongst the great symphonists of the 20th century. In celebration of their 150th birth anniversaries in 2015, the SSO presents a programme showcasing the mastery of Carl Nielsen and Jean Sibelius. It was the Espansiva Symphony that first gained Nielsen recognition outside his home country, whilst Finlandia even today one of the key national songs of Finland and the sparkling and technically demanding Violin Concerto continue to stand amongst Sibelius most significant compositions. Nielsen s Espansiva Symphony 31 july 15 Fri, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall SIBELIUS Finlandia, Op. 26 SIBELIUS Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47 NIELSEN Symphony No. 3, Op. 27 Espansiva Award-winning violinist Ning Feng returns to join Lan Shui and the SSO for the dark and intense Concerto in D minor by Sibelius. The Espansiva Symphony achieved international renown for Danish composer Carl Nielsen, who described its pastoral second movement as the purist idyll...the peaceful mood that one could imagine in Paradise. 14 August 15 Fri, 7.30pm Victoria Concert Hall milhaud La création du monde, Op. 81 BRUCH Scottish Fantasy, Op. 46 BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67 Choo Hoey conductor Tseng Yu-Chien violin The SSO s founding Music Director Choo Hoey returns to partner the young Taiwanese violinist Tseng Yu-Chien, winner of the 2015 Singapore International Violin Competition, in Bruch s Scottish Fantasy. The first five bars of Beethoven s exhilarating Fifth features one of the most famous classical melodies ever written. Opening the concert is La création du monde ( The Creation of the World ), composed by Milhaud in the spirit of the New Orleans jazz bands he had heard in New York. 27 & 28 August 15 Thu & Fri, 7.30pm Victoria Concert Hall C.P.E. BACH Sinfonia in D major, H.633 W.183/1 POULENC Concerto for Organ, Timpani and Strings in G minor BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36 Masaaki Suzuki conductor Masato Suzuki organ Masaaki Suzuki has earned glowing reviews for his performances of Bach s Cantatas with the Bach Collegium Japan, and he will partner his son Masato Suzuki for this programme featuring Poulenc s Concerto for Organ, Timpani and Strings. This is not the happy-go-lucky Poulenc who wrote the Concerto for two pianos, but a Poulenc en route to the cloister a fifteenth century Poulenc, if you like, wrote the composer. The concert closes with Beethoven s ebullient Second Symphony. Lan Shui conductor Ning Feng violin Ning Feng s total mastery can be seen in the precision and sweep of his bow, and heard in the effortless tonal range, from sweet to sumptuous. The world s greatest Bach conductor new haven advocate 6.30pm-7pm VCH Music L3 6.30pm-7pm library@esplanade New Zealand Herald 6.30pm-7pm VCH Music L3 POST-concert symphony chat 28 AUG Fri

10 18 19 sso 15/16 subscription concert Beethoven Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 5 with Stephen Hough 2 september 15 Beethoven Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 4 with Stephen Hough 5 september 15 Sat, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 3 with Stephen Hough 10 september 15 Thu, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall sso 15/16 subscription concert Wed, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall HOUGH Loneliest Wilderness, Elegy for Cello & Orchestra BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major, Op. 19 BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73 Emperor Lan Shui conductor Stephen Hough piano Ng Pei-Sian cello Britain s best-loved pianist Stephen Hough takes centrestage in the five definitive Beethoven piano concertos over three exciting performances under Lan Shui. Beethoven s final piano concerto, the Emperor, is noble in character and the most popular among the five, described at its premiere as one of the composer s most original works. Earlier in his life, it was with No. 2 that Beethoven sought to establish a name for himself after his move to Vienna from Bonn. The concert opens with Hough s own composition, the elegiac Loneliest Wilderness, featuring SSO s Principal Cellist Ng Pei-Sian. cherubini Anacréon BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15 BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 Lan Shui conductor Stephen Hough piano Considered by many to be the greatest of the five concertos, No. 4 features an exquisite slow movement which is one of the most beautiful in the repertoire. The C major Concerto is infused with the rich Viennese musical tradition of Haydn and Mozart, and yet shows a young Beethoven striking out on his own path. 6.30pm-7pm library@esplanade open rehearsal 9.30am Esplanade Concert Hall BEETHOVEN Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 BRUCKNER Symphony No. 8 in C minor Lan Shui conductor Stephen Hough piano The dramatic Third Concerto was the only one of Beethoven s concertos to be written in a minor key, and broke new ground at the time of its 1803 premiere in Vienna. From the mysterious opening minutes, through a heartbreaking slow movement and a triumphant conclusion, Bruckner s magnificent Eighth Symphony covers an extraordinary emotional span and is considered by many to be his greatest work. 6.30pm-7pm library@esplanade Sponsored by The most perfect piano playing conceivable The Guardian Sponsored by 6.30pm-7pm Esplanade Concert Hall

11 sso 15/16 subscription concert Beethoven Violin Concerto with Leonidas Kavakos Dausgaard Conducts Mahler s Tenth gala Hélène Grimaud Plays Ravel sso 15/16 gala concert 25 & 26 september 15 Fri & Sat, 7.30pm Victoria Concert Hall 3 October 15 Sat, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall beethoven Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 61 DVOrÁK Symphony No. 7 in D minor, Op. 70 MAHLER Symphony No. 10 (Performing version by Deryck Cooke) Thomas Dausgaard conductor Leonidas Kavakos conductor/violin Greek violinist Leonidas Kavakos returns with Beethoven s sunny Violin Concerto, a virtuosic showpiece long considered one of the greatest written for the repertoire. Kavakos will also conduct Dvorák s dramatic Seventh Symphony, which the composer said was inspired by Love, God and my Fatherland. The tonal and intonational purity of Kavakos playing is magically beguiling Classic FM Chief Conductor of the Swedish Chamber Orchestra Thomas Dausgaard directs the SSO in Mahler s Tenth Symphony. Composed during a time of emotional turmoil in Mahler s personal life, the final movement is a passionate reaffirmation of Mahler s love for his wife Alma. The Tenth remained unfinished at the time of Mahler s death in 1911, and it was only in 1964 that Deryck Cooke s version the most widely-performed version today was premiered. Dausgaard s forces weaved through with authority and luminous beauty. The Times 9 & 10 october 15 Fri & Sat, 7.30pm Victoria Concert Hall RAVEL Le Tombeau de Couperin ravel Piano Concerto in G major mozart Idomeneo: Selections from Ballet Music mozart Symphony No. 39 in E-flat major, K.543 John Nelson conductor Hélène Grimaud piano French pianist Hélène Grimaud returns to join John Nelson and the SSO in Ravel s Piano Concerto. Infused with jazz idioms, the work remains one of the most popular concertos in the repertory. Opening the concert is Le Tombeau de Couperin ( The Grave of Couperin ), a work Ravel dedicated to his friends who were killed during the First World War. The all-mozart second half features selections from the scintillating ballet music from the opera Idomeneo, and the majestic Symphony No. 39. Riveting Ms Grimaud, besides being an elegant pianist, is an artist game for adventure. The New York Times 6.30pm-7pm VCH Music L3 6.30pm-7pm library@esplanade 6.30pm-7pm VCH Music L3 Not available for birthday voucher redemption.

12 sso 15/16 gala concert gala The Creation Rachmaninov Concerto No. 2 sso 15/16 subscription concert 23 & 24 october 15 Fri & Sat, 7.30pm Victoria Concert Hall 30 October 15 Fri, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall HAYDN The Creation Lim Yau conductor Vocalists to be announced Singapore Symphony Chorus The NAFA Chamber Choir Inspired by the masterly oratorios of Handel he had heard on his visits to London, Haydn set to music the text in John Milton s Paradise Lost, as well as passages from the Old Testament books of Genesis and Psalms. The Creation ( Die Schöpfung ) has endured to the present day as one of the most resoundingly popular and grandiose of the great choral masterpieces. rachmaninov Scherzo in D minor RACHMANINOV The Rock, Op. 7 RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18 Lan Shui conductor Nelson Goerner piano This all-rachmaninov programme opens with the composer s early composition from 1888, the Scherzo in D minor. Argentinian pianist Nelson Goerner returns with Rachmaninov s most popular piano concerto a popularity owing to its abundance of memorable melodies. Rachmaninov s symphonic fantasy, The Rock, is prefaced by lines from a poem by Lermontov: The golden cloud slept through the night / Upon the breast of the giant-rock. 6.30pm-7pm VCH Music L3 Not available for birthday voucher redemption. Sponsored by 6.30pm-7pm library@esplanade Nelson Goerner delivered a thrilling and fastidiously faithful account The Guardian

13 gala sso 15/16 subscription concert The Muse And The Poet 14 november 15 Sat, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall Rachmaninov Concerto No. 3 sso 15/16 gala concert SAINT-SaëNS La Muse et le Poète RIHM Concerto for Violin and Cello asian premiere debussy Jeux debussy Nocturnes Lan Shui conductor Mira Wang violin Jan Vogler cello The husband-and-wife duo of Jan Vogler and Mira Wang return with a pair of contrasting works: Saint-Saëns charming La Muse et le Poète for violin, cello and orchestra; and a new Double Concerto by Grawemeyer Award-winning composer Wolfgang Rihm, co-commissioned by the SSO, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra and the Friends of Dresden Music Foundation. The second half features two atmospheric works by Claude Debussy: Jeux and Nocturnes, of which the sensuous orchestration is testament to Debussy s unsurpassed reputation for painting orchestral pictures. Mr. Vogler pushed the expressive envelope to extremes 3 December 15 Thu, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall RACHMANINOV Vocalise RACHMANINOV Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30 RACHMANINOV Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 Vladimir Ashkenazy conductor Alexei Volodin piano The SSO s second all-rachmaninov programme this season features the return of star conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy, together with prize-winning Russian pianist Alexei Volodin performing in the grand Third Piano Concerto, a work that gained huge popularity after it was used in the soundtrack of the movie Shine. Rachmaninov s final work, the Symphonic Dances, includes a solo part for alto saxophone and showcases unique contributions from individual instruments in the orchestra. With support from The New York Times 6.30pm-7pm library@esplanade 6.30pm-7pm library@esplanade Not available for birthday voucher redemption. He played with staggering technique and furious accuracy The Guardian on Alexei Volodin

14 26 27 sso 15/16 christmas concert SSO Christmas Concert Mendelssohn s Violin Concerto 9 january 16 Sat, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall sso 15/16 subscription concert chen zhangyi New work commissioned by the SSO MENDELSSOHN Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 R. STRAUSS Der Rosenkavalier, Op. 59: Suite RAVEL La Valse Lan Shui conductor Yang Tianwa violin December 15 Fri & Sat, 7.30pm Sun, 4pm Victoria Concert Hall Jason Lai conductor Singapore Bible College Chorale Make it another memorable Christmas at the Victoria Concert Hall, as the SSO and the Singapore Bible College Chorale join forces under Associate Conductor Jason Lai. Come join us for three magical performances featuring traditional carols and favourite yuletide melodies. In this preview of the SSO s European tour programme, rising young violinist Yang Tianwa returns with Mendelssohn s wellloved masterpiece, the Violin Concerto in E minor. The concert opens with music specially composed for the SSO by the promising Singaporean composer Chen Zhangyi. The second half features the delightful Suite from Strauss popular opera Der Rosenkavalier as well as La Valse, Ravel s vivid depiction of nineteenth century Vienna when the waltz was king. An artist of exceptional technique and musicianship BBC Music Magazine on Yang Tianwa Not available for birthday voucher redemption. 6.30pm-7pm library@esplanade POST-concert symphony chat

15 28 gala 29 sso 15/16 gala concert Mahler s Third Charles Dutoit & Arabella Steinbacher 23 january 16 Sat, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall sso 15/16 subscription concert RAVEL Rapsodie espagnole PROKOFIEV Violin Concerto No. 2 in G major, Op. 63 SAINT-SAëNS Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78 Organ Charles Dutoit conductor Arabella Steinbacher violin 16 january 16 Sat, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall Swiss conductor Charles Dutoit makes his SSO debut alongside German violinist Arabella Steinbacher in a programme that features Ravel s popular Rapsodie espagnole and the delightful Second Violin Concerto by Prokofiev. The second half showcases Saint-Saëns grandest symphony ever, the Organ, of which he claimed to have given everything to it I was able to give. MAHLER Symphony No. 3 in D minor Lan Shui conductor Sasha Cooke mezzo soprano Ladies of Singapore Symphony Chorus Lim Yau choral director Singapore Symphony Children s Choir Wong Lai Foon choirmaster Among her assets are a finely polished technique and a beautifully varied palette of timbres The New York Times on Arabella Steinbacher Mahler s Third is a glorious symphonic opus scored for mezzo-soprano, chorus and orchestra and the first work into which he incorporated his whole universe: each movement represents an element in the universe plants, animals, man, angels all culminating in a concluding celebration of divine love in the final movement. 6.30pm-7pm library@esplanade open rehearsal 15 JAN Fri, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall Friends Concert! Friends of the SSO enjoy 50% off this concert (Cat 1-4) at all SISTIC outlets. Not available for birthday voucher redemption. 6.30pm-7pm library@esplanade

16 30 31 sso 15/16 subscription concert SSO 37th Anniversary Concert: Ein Heldenleben The Butterfly Lovers Leningrad Symphony sso 15/16 subscription concert 19 & 20 February 16 Fri & Sat, 7.30pm Victoria Concert Hall 26 February 16 Fri, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall LI HUANZHI Spring Festival Overture SHOSTAKOVICH Piano Concerto No. 1 in C minor, Op. 35 XU ZHENMING A Tone Picture of Border Village MA KE, JU WEI, ZHANG LU etc. Selections from The White-Haired Girl: Ballet Suite SHOSTAKOVICH Festive Overture, Op. 96 SHOSTAKOVICH Symphony No. 7 in C major, Op. 60 Leningrad Gennady Rozhdestvensky conductor Viktoria Postnikova piano Jon Paul Dante trumpet 29 january 16 Fri, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall koh cheng jin New work commissioned by the SSO MOZART Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat major, K.482 R. STRAUSS Ein Heldenleben, Op. 40 Darrell Ang conductor Melvyn Tan piano A monstrous act of egotism, said one contemporary reviewer of Strauss tone poem Ein Heldenleben ( A Hero s Life ), of which the heroic subject was the composer himself, and which also famously features a touchingly affectionate portrait of Strauss wife, Pauline. Singaporean conductor Darrell Ang will also direct the orchestra in Mozart s charming Piano Concerto No. 22 featuring pianist Melvyn Tan. The concert opens with music by the 18-year-old Singaporean composer Koh Cheng Jin, who will be embarking on her studies at the Juilliard School. Sponsored by CHEN GANG / HE ZHANHAO Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto CHEN LE-CHANG Sainaim Rhapsody Zheng Xiao Ying conductor Kong Zhao Hui violin Hailed at its 1959 premiere as a breakthrough in China s symphonic music, The Butterfly Lovers remains one of the most performed concertos in the 20th century and is based on the legend of the young lovers Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, who are transformed into butterflies as they reunite in death. Prominent conductor Zheng Xiao Ying will also conduct a selection of other well-known Chinese pieces, including excerpts from the ballet music of the opera The White-Haired Girl. The husband-and-wife duo of Gennady Rozhdestvensky and Viktoria Postnikova return with two great masterpieces from Shostakovich. The Leningrad Symphony in reality a veiled outcry by the composer against all forms of fascism stood in its time as a musical symbol of resistance to and condemnation of the Nazi regime. One of Shostakovich s most delightfully glib works, the First Piano Concerto also features a substantial part for solo trumpet. Few conductors do so little and achieve so much as Rozhdestvensky The Boston Herald Not available for birthday voucher redemption. 6.30pm-7pm VCH Music L3 6.30pm-7pm library@esplanade

17 32 33 sso 15/16 subscription concert Symphonie Fantastique Brahms Piano Quartet sso 15/16 subscription concert 5 March march 16 Sat, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall Sat, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall BRAHMS Violin Concerto in D major, Op. 77 BERLIOZ Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14 Jean-Claude Casadesus conductor Valeriy Sokolov violin Valeriy Sokolov returns in the technically demanding Concerto in D major by Brahms, a work which, despite a lukewarm critical reception a concerto against the violin is acknowledged today as one of the greatest in the repertoire. The eminent conductor Jean-Claude Casadesus also leads the SSO in Berlioz s Symphonie Fantastique, a symphonic tale (complete with orchestral sound effects) of an artist s doomed love, which leads him to the grave, and beyond. It was playing full of effective contrasts, steel alternating with velvet brahms Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80 r. strauss Horn Concerto No. 2 in E-flat major, AV132 BRAHMS orch. SCHOENBERG Piano Quartet in G minor, Op. 25 Okko Kamu conductor Han Chang Chou horn Okko Kamu conducts Schoenberg s orchestration of Brahms Piano Quartet, a work reminiscent of Beethoven s music and containing some of Brahms most memorable melodies. The first half features the cheery Academic Festival Overture as well as the ebullient Second Horn Concerto by Richard Strauss, featuring the SSO s Principal Horn, Han Chang Chou. A conductor of great energy and insight Classics Today The Strad on Valeriy Sokolov 6.30pm-7pm library@esplanade 6.30pm-7pm library@esplanade

18 34 gala 35 sso 15/16 subscription concert Eroica Barber s Violin Concerto Bizet s Carmen sso 15/16 gala concert 1 april 16 8 & 9 april 16 Fri & Sat, 7.30pm Victoria Concert Hall Fri, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall mendelssohn Hebrides Overture, Op. 26 Fingal s Cave STRAVINSKY Danses Concertantes PROKOFIEV Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 16 barber Violin Concerto, Op. 14 BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 Eroica MOZART Symphony No. 38 in D major, K.504 Prague Okko Kamu conductor Wong Chiyan piano Lan Shui conductor Igor Yuzefovich violin 22 & 23 april 16 Fri & Sat, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall Pianist Wong Chiyan makes his SSO debut in the technically demanding Second Piano Concerto, an early work completed when Prokofiev was still a student at the St Petersburg Conservatory. A contemporary critic foresaw greatness for its composer, though, he wrote, the work left listeners frozen with fright, hair standing on end. Prinicipal Guest Conductor Okko Kamu closes the concert with Beethoven s Eroica Symphony, a work which breaks away from the formal traditions of the classical era. Chiyan Wong is an exciting, original and thoughtful pianist Stephen Hough 6.30pm-7pm library@esplanade SSO s Concertmaster Igor Yuzefovich takes centrestage in Barber s Violin Concerto, one of his best-loved compositions, which started life as a commissioned work but was reportedly rejected by the intended soloist, who declared its finale too difficult to play. Mozart s Symphony No. 38 was premiered in 1787 in Prague and its statuesque opening anticipates the overture to his opera, Don Giovanni, which also premiered in Prague the same year. Sponsored by 6.30pm-7pm VCH Music L3 POST-concert symphony chat 9 APR Sat BIZET Carmen Lan Shui conductor Singapore Symphony Chorus The NAFA Chamber Choir Lim Yau choral director Singapore Symphony Children s Choir Wong Lai Foon choirmaster 6.30pm-7pm library@esplanade open rehearsal 21 APR Thu, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall Not available for birthday voucher redemption. Music Director Lan Shui directs the concert version of Bizet s famous opera depicting a controversial story of seduction and tragedy which broke new ground at its 1875 premiere in Paris. A grand masterpiece showcasing Bizet s brilliant orchestration and melodies, Carmen went on to become his greatest known work and remains one of the most frequently performed operas around the world today....if you were to suppress adultery, fanaticism, crime, evil and the supernatural, there would no longer be the means for writing one note Georges Bizet

19 36 37 sso 15/16 subscription concert Handel Variations get closer to the sso Make the most out of your concert experience. Come join us for our series of fringe events designed to help you enjoy the music even more! Discover more about what you re about to hear. Our Pre-Concert Talks bring you new insights into the different aspects of the works performed at the SSO concerts. Let our specialist speakers enrich your experience in the world of classical music. 2 Jul 15 Thu 17 Jul 15 fri 23 Jul 15 Thu 24 Jul 15 fri 31 Jul 15 fri 14 aug 15 fri 27 aug 15 Thu 28 aug 15 fri 2 sep 15 wed 5 sep 15 sat 10 sep 15 Thu 25 sep 15 fri 26 sep 15 sat 3 oct 15 sat 9 oct 15 fri 10 oct 15 sat 23 oct 15 fri 24 oct 15 sat 30 oct 15 fri 14 nov 15 sat 3 dec 15 thu 9 jan 16 sat 16 jan 16 sat 23 jan 16 sat 19 feb 16 fri 20 feb 16 sat 26 feb 16 fri 5 mar 16 sat 26 mar 16 sat 1 apr 16 fri 8 apr 16 fri 9 apr 16 sat 22 apr 16 fri 23 apr 16 sat 6 may 16 fri 7 may 16 sat All sessions will be held from 6.30pm to 7pm. 6 & 7 may 16 Fri & Sat, 7.30pm Victoria Concert Hall HAYDN Symphony No. 86 in D major CONUS Violin Concerto in E minor BRAHMS orch. RUBBRA Variations on a Theme by Handel Neeme Järvi conductor Lu Wei violin Esteemed maestro Neeme Järvi returns to conduct Rubbra s orchestration of the monumental Handel Variations by Brahms, a set of 25 variations based on a theme from Handel s Harpsichord Suite No. 1 and hailed as perhaps the finest set of piano variations since Beethoven. He is joined by Lu Wei in the meltingly beautiful Violin Concerto by Russian composer Julius Conus, a work championed by the legendary Jascha Heifetz. Järvi s mastery of the long, inward line showed us what creative conducting is all about. post-concert symphony chat Join our conductors and soloists at the Symphony Chat, where they will share their thoughts, views and ideas on music. If you have a question about what you ve just heard, this is also the perfect opportunity for you to get them answered. 17 Jul 15 fri open rehearsal You may not know just how much work goes into the preparation of each SSO concert so why not sit in at one of our Open Rehearsals? See how the conductor shapes each note and phrase with the orchestra, and hear how individual musical parts slowly come together to form a harmonious whole. 5 sep 15 sat 9.30am 28 aug 15 fri 15 jan 16 fri 7.30pm 9 jan 16 sat 21 apr 16 thu 7.30pm 9 apr 16 sat autograph sessions Please visit the What s On section on to view our schedule of autograph sessions. 6.30pm-7pm VCH Music L3 The Arts Desk Esplanade Concert Hall Victoria Concert Hall library@esplanade Victoria Concert Hall Music L3

20 38 39 sso 15/16 sso pops concert sso concert My Neighbor TOTORO: The Best of Joe Hisaishi sso 15/16 sso pops concert 6 August 15 Thu, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall Joshua Tan conductor Following a sell-out concert in 2014, Associate Conductor Joshua Tan and the SSO bring you the best of award-winning composer Joe Hisaishi in this not-to-bemissed concert at the Esplanade Concert Hall! Highlights include music from Studio Ghibli s acclaimed animation films such as My Neighbor TOTORO, Spirited Away and Kiki s Delivery Service as well as themes from some of his best-loved film scores. 16 october 15 Fri, 7.30pm Esplanade Concert Hall Jason Lai conductor The SSO s film music concerts led by Associate Conductor Jason Lai have seen phenomenal success and he returns with yet another stunning lineup of silver screen favourites. Whether you like romance, thriller or sci-fi, there is something for everyone with selections from The Godfather, Mission Impossible, Psycho, Back to the Future and many more award-winning films. Book early to secure the best seats in the house! A Night at the Movies The audience lapped up every minute of the night s programme the straits times sso concert Tickets: $28-$80 Family packages & school packages available. My Neighbor TOTORO: Priority sales: 26 May 15 Public sales: 29 May 15 A Night at the Movies: Priority sales: 1 Jul 15 Public sales: 4 Jul 15

21 40 41 sso 15/16 concerts for children Jack and the Beanstalk 12 & 13 september 15 Sat, 2pm & 4pm Sun, 2pm Victoria Concert Hall Joshua Tan conductor Dandi Productions Based on Roald Dahl s Revolting Rhyme, Jack and the Beanstalk by Dandi Productions features a cast of four actors, outrageous puppets and a stunning 60-foot beanstalk, which rises from the stage to the ceiling in a matter of seconds. There s still a cow, a giant and an ambitious boy with a pocket full of beans, but in Dahl s telling of the tale, getting rich depends on getting past the giant s highly developed sense of smell. With a 45-minute orchestral score by Latvian composer Georgs Pelécis, this wildly entertaining concert-story provides for plenty of unexpected twists, and a constant parade of inspired theatrics. Emily Saves the Orchestra 21 & 22 november 15 Sat, 2pm & 4pm Sun, 2pm Victoria Concert Hall Leonard Tan conductor Platypus Theatre A clever 10-year-old needs the audience to help outsmart a monster scheming to silence music forever. In this mesmerising children s concert, drama, dance, dazzling masks and costumes are woven together with orchestral music in a story about bravery and hope. Audiences will laugh, chant and sing while discovering musical concepts and urging Emily onward to defeat the horrible beast Cacopholous. Jason s Short Guide to Music History 18 & 19 march 16 Fri, 2pm & 4pm Sat, 2pm Victoria Concert Hall Jason Lai conductor From Bach to Beethoven and beyond, join Associate Conductor Jason Lai as he takes you on a thrilling tour of music history! Come and discover more about Baroque, Classical, Romantic and modern music and meet some of the composers who have helped to shape the course of history. ROMANTIC CLASSICAL Described as a visually stunning production and beautiful on the deepest level, audiences across the globe have fallen in love with this production which features excerpts from some of history s most beloved pieces, including Beethoven s Ninth Symphony, The Nutcracker and William Tell Overture. BACH BAROQUE BEETHOVEN sso 15/16 concerts for children Supported by Lim and Tan Securities A Musical Discovery, which enables children from underprivileged families to attend SSO concerts for free, discovering the joy of music. Tickets: $30, $25 Family packages & school packages available. Jack and the Beanstalk: Priority sales: 5 May 15 Public sales: 8 May 15 Emily Saves the Orchestra: Priority sales: 1 Jul 15 Public sales: 4 Jul 15 Jason s Short Guide to Music History: Priority sales: 1 Nov 15 Public sales: 4 Nov 15 Suitable for ages 4 to 14. No admission for infants-in-arms. Retain your Concerts for Children tickets to enjoy 10% discount on the next production.

22 42 43 sso 15/16 concerts for children SSO Babies Proms New to classical music? Join the SSO and Associate Conductors Jason Lai and Joshua Tan for this engaging and educational series suitable for young audiences, as well as first-time concertgoers. All concerts are held at the Victoria Concert Hall. sso 15/16 discovering music! 18 October & 29 november 15 Sat & Sun, 2pm & 4pm Victoria Concert Hall sun, 4pm Jason Lai conductor Peter Moore conductor/ presenter Join Uncle Peter and the SSO for an amazing musical adventure like no other and discover the fun and fantastic world of the orchestra and its different instruments! Now into its 13th year, the SSO Babies Proms promises to be an hour of great fun and entertainment for parents and children alike. 31 january 16 sun, 4pm Joshua Tan conductor 10 april 16 sun, 4pm Joshua Tan conductor Tickets: $30, $25 Family packages & school packages available. Priority sales: 1 Sep 15 Public sales: 4 Sep 15 Tickets: $20 Suitable for children aged 6 and below. Tickets are required for children aged 2 and above. Each concert lasts one hour, and pre-concert activities will be held 30 minutes before the respective show. For pre-school bookings, please call or marketing@sso.org.sg. Family packages & school packages available. Suitable for ages 5 and above. Please visit for event updates.

23 44 45 sso 15/16 vch CHamber series bach festival I 21 August 15 Fri, 7.30pm sso 15/16 vch CHamber series J.S. Bach Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066 Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F major, BWV 1046 Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068 VCH CHAMBER SERIES Franck s piano quintet bach festival II 22 August 15 Sat, 7.30pm bach cello suites with jan vogler 10 november 15 Tue, 7.30pm César Franck s Piano Quintet of 1880 was something of a watershed in chamber music, both with regard to its originality and emotional tumults pristine classical 19 july 15 Sun, 4pm RACHMANINOV Vocalise SHOSTAKOVICH Piano Trio No. 1 in C minor, Op. 8 Yao Xiao Yun piano Chen Da Wei violin Yu Jing cello franck Piano Quintet in F minor J.S. Bach Trio Sonata in D minor, BWV 1036 Trio Sonata in C major, BWV 1037 Trio Sonata in G major, BWV 1038 Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050 bach festival III 23 August 15 Sun, 7.30pm J.S. bach Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007 Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008 Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009 Suite No. 4 in E-flat major, BWV 1010 Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011 Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012 Jan Vogler cello Liu Jia piano Lynnette Seah violin Cindy Lee violin Zhang Manchin viola Ng Pei-Sian cello J.S. Bach Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major, BWV 1069 Concerto for 3 Violins in D major, BWV 1064 Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067

24 46 sso 15/16 vch CHamber series sax & sextet 31 october 15 Sat, 4pm SCHULHOFF Hot Sonate for alto saxophone and piano BUSCH Quintet for alto saxophone, two violins, viola and cello Claude Delangle saxophone MENDELSSOHN Piano Sextet in D major, Op. 110 Albert Tiu piano Chan Yoong-Han violin Gu Bing Jie viola Kim Jieun viola Ng Pei-Sian cello Yang Zheng Yi double bass Simply the mellowest, most subtle, liquid, and dreamy saxophonist I ve ever heard American Record Guide Tickets: $20 Bach Cello Suites with Jan Vogler: $48, $35, $20 Family packages, school packages and concert packages available. Priority sales: 26 May 15 Public sales: 29 May 15

25 49 be a friend of the sso For a minimum of SILVER Friend for $ 200 gold Friend for $ Be a , ALL Friends enjoy Be a en Violinist Ray Ch $ / 6 top-priced tickets worth up to $450 to any concert* / 20% off Subscription concerts / Priority booking with 10% off all concert tickets! / Exclusive Meet-the-Artist sessions / A pair of birthday tickets worth up to $120 / Discounts on merchandise, tax exemption and a personalised ticketing hotline service / 2 top-priced tickets worth up to $150 to any concert* / 15% off Subscription concerts Twin cellists Ng Pei -Sian and Ng Pei platinum Friend for $ Be a 1000 / 10 top-priced tickets worth up to $750 to any concert* / 25% off Subscription concerts / 2 tickets worth up to $160 to the popular Christmas Concert / Latest SSO CD * Valid for all concerts (excluding Babies Proms, Christmas, Gala and any other special concerts). Visit or contact our Friends officer at friends@sso.org.sg or for an application form today. -Jee

26 Swire-sso ticketing scheme for students Since its launch in January 2013, the Swire-SSO Ticketing Scheme has benefited over 16,000 students, enabling them to enjoy world-class performances by the SSO in the concert hall at subsidised ticket prices as low as $10. Larger school groups were also rewarded with a free music appreciation talk in their campus to enhance their concert experience. Subscription Concerts, Discovering Music! & VCH Chamber Series: $10 (min. 4 tickets) Pops Concerts: $26, $14 (15 tickets) Concerts for Children: $24, $20 (15 tickets) Yishun Town Secondary School Northland Primary School Schools are able to use the Tote Board Arts Grant to subsidise up to 50% (excluding GST) of the final ticket price. Prices before booking fees. Enjoy a complimentary talk with every school booking of 20 tickets. For enquiries please call or marketing@sso.org.sg.

27 53 singapore symphony chorus singapore symphony children s choir Lim Yau Choral Director Wong Lai Foon Choirmaster Darius Lim Assistant Choirmaster Since its inaugural performance of Brahms German Requiem in June 1980, the Singapore Symphony Chorus (SSC) has come a long way under Choral Director Lim Yau and established itself as one of the finest choirs in the region. The SSC regularly joins the Singapore Symphony Orchestra for performances of choral masterpieces, and recent highlights include Beethoven s Symphony No. 9, Poulenc s Gloria, Britten s War Requiem and Bach s St John Passion. The SSC is made up of volunteers from all walks of life, from Singapore and beyond. The 14/15 season saw the SSC return home to the Victoria Concert Hall, and in November 2014 they gave their first solo concert performing Kodály s Missa Brevis, Vasks Dona Nobis Pacem and Bruckner s Motets under Lim Yau. Since its debut performance in 2007, the Singapore Symphony Children s Choir (SSCC) has given many successful concerts, including appearances with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra in its Christmas Concerts and in the great choral masterpieces such as Beethoven s Symphony No. 9, Mahler s Third Symphony, Berlioz s Damnation of Faust, Orff s Carmina Burana and Britten s War Requiem. In June 2015 the SSCC was invited to perform in Paris at the closing reception of the Singapour en France le festival 2015, and alongside the Maitrise de Radio France at the opening of the Philharmonie de Paris. In 2014 the choir sang Singapore s national anthem at the opening ceremony of the Women s Tennis Association Finals. SSCC 10th Anniversary Concert 28 may 16 Sat, 7.30pm Victoria Concert Hall To find out more about upcoming auditions, please choral@sso.org.sg. For ticketing updates, please visit

28 55 Booking Information Online at Call Or visit any SISTIC outlet islandwide Outlet locations available on When to book JUL DEC 2015 SUBSCRIPTION CONCERTS 3 June 15 Priority sales for Subscribers* & Friends of the SSO 10 June 15 Public sales JAN MAY 2016 SUBSCRIPTION CONCERTS 5 October 15 Priority sales for Subscribers & Friends of the SSO 12 October 15 Public sales *Please use the booking forms enclosed. Concessions Senior citizens (55 years and above), full-time NSF men and full-time students enjoy concession discounts on production of identification. Venue ushers may request to view a valid concession pass. Concession tickets are non-transferable. Swire-SSO Ticketing Scheme for Students & Schools Subscription Concerts, Discovering Music! & VCH Chamber Series: $10 (4 tickets or more) Pops Concerts: $26, $14 (15 tickets) Concerts for Children: $24, $20 (15 tickets) Prices before booking fee. Schools are able to use the Tote Board Arts Grant to subsidise up to 50% of the total ticket price. For school groups of 10 and above, please marketing@sso.org.sg or call / Enjoy a complimentary talk with every school booking of 20 tickets. Special discounts Friends Of The SSO: 10% SILVER FRIENDs: 15% GOLD FRIENDs: 20% PLATINUM FRIENDs: 25% Valid for Subscription Concerts only, excludes Gala, Christmas and Children s Concerts. Kinokuniya Privilege Card: 10% off Subscription, Christmas, Pops and Discovering Music! concerts (Cat 1-3). Corporate bookings Please call / or marketing@sso.org.sg for assistance with group and corporate bookings. Admission No admission for children below 6 years of age unless otherwise indicated.

29 56 57 Single Ticket Prices cat 1 cat 2 cat 3 cat 4 cat 5 cat 6 cat 1 cat 2 cat 3 cat 4 cat 5 cat 6 concerts concerts Subscription Concerts at Esplanade CH Concessions: Cat 4-6: 30% off $75 $60 $45 $32 $22 $15 VCH Chamber Series: Jan Vogler (10 Nov 15) $48 $35 $ Concessions: $25, $15 Subscription Concerts at Victoria CH Concessions: Cat 3-4: 30% off $72 $55 $35 $ VCH Chamber Series Christmas Concert (11-12 Dec 15) Concessions: $30, $20 Priority sales: 1 Sep 15 Public sales: 4 Sep 15 $80 $60 $42 $ Concessions: $15 Family of 4 Package: 20% discount 2-Concert Package: 20% discount 4-Concert Package: 30% discount Priority sales: 26 May 15 Public sales: 29 May 15 $ Christmas Concert: Matinee (13 Dec 15) Concessions: $25, $15 Priority sales: 1 Sep 15 Public sales: 4 Sep 15 Gala: Hélène Grimaud (9-10 Oct 15) Concessions: $35, $20 Priority sales: 1 Jul 15 Public sales: 4 Jul 15 Gala: The Creation (23-24 Oct 15) Concessions: $30, $20 $72 $55 $35 $ $108 $78 $50 $ $80 $60 $42 $ Discovering Music! Concessions: $15 Family of 4 Package: $60 Please visit for ticketing updates. Babies Proms (28-29 Nov 15) Tickets not required for children under 2 if accompanied by an adult with a ticket. Priority sales: 1 Sep 15 Public sales: 4 Sep 15 $ $30 $ Priority sales: 1 Jul 15 Public sales: 4 Jul 15 Gala: Rachmaninov Concerto No. 3 (3 Dec 15) Concessions: $20, $15 Priority sales: 1 Jul 15 Public sales: 4 Jul 15 $98 $75 $55 $45 $32 $22 Concerts for Children: Jack And The Beanstalk (12-13 Sep 15) Priority sales: 5 May 15 Public sales: 8 May 15 Emily Saves The Orchestra (21-22 Nov 15) Priority sales: 1 Jul 15 Public sales: 4 Jul 15 $30 $ Gala: Mahler s Third (16 Jan 16) Concessions: $20, $15 Priority sales: 12 Oct 15 Public sales: 15 Oct 15 $90 $70 $50 $40 $30 $20 Jason s Short Guide To Music History (18-19 Mar 16) Priority sales: 1 Nov 15 Public sales: 4 Nov 15 Gala: Bizet s Carmen (22-23 Apr 16) Concessions: $20, $15 Priority sales: 12 Oct 15 Public sales: 15 Oct 15 $98 $75 $55 $45 $32 $22 Family of 4 packages: $108 & $90 Prices before booking fees: $1 for tickets priced $20 and below, $3 for tickets priced $20.01 to $40, $4 for tickets above $40. Pops Concerts: My Neighbor TOTORO (6 Aug 15) Priority sales: 26 May 15 Public sales: 29 May 15 A Night at the Movies (16 Oct 15) Priority sales: 1 Jul 15 Public sales: 4 Jul 15 Concessions: $30, $20 Group of 4 Package: 20% discount (Cat 1-3) $80 $60 $42 $28 - -

30 58 Create Your Perfect Season Subscribing is the most flexible way to enjoy the SSO live in concert, offering you exceptional savings of up to 35% on single ticket prices and many great benefits including: - Priority seat allocation - Free ticket exchange - Admission to Open Rehearsals - 10% off Gala and Christmas Concerts - Discounts on SSO merchandise Jul - dec 2015 Priority Booking Form By fax: By marketing@sso.org.sg By mail: SSO Ticketing Officer, 11 Empress Place #01-02, Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore STEP 1 Please tick one. If you are a full-time student or senior citizen, please use the form on the next page. [ ] 3-Concert Package [ ] 5-Concert Package [ ] 7-Concert Package sso 15/16 BOOKING FORM Standard Packages season ticket prices Esplanade Concert Hall Concerts cat 1 cat 2 cat 3 cat 4 subscription concerts STEP 2.1 Fill in the ticket quantity and discounted prices under your selected concerts. We can help you with the final calculations if you are paying by credit card. [ ] Yes, please do my sums! No. of tickets 3 Concerts 3-4 concerts 25% discount $60.25 $49 $36.75 $ esplanade concert hall cat 1 $ cat 2 $ cat 3 $ cat 4 $ Amount payable ($) 5 Concerts 5-6 concerts 30% discount $56.50 $46 $34.50 $ July 15 Walton s Cello Concerto 7 Concerts 7+ concerts 35% discount $52.75 $42 $32.25 $ july 15 Nielsen s Espansiva Symphony victoria Concert Hall Concerts cat 1 cat 2 cat 3 2 september 15 Stephen Hough: Nos. 2 & 5 3 Concerts 3-4 concerts 25% discount $58 $45.25 $ september 15 Stephen Hough: Nos. 1 & 4 5 Concerts 5-6 concerts 30% discount $54.40 $41.50 $ september 15 Stephen Hough: No. 3 7 Concerts 7+ concerts 35% discount $50.80 $38.75 $ October 15 Thomas Dausgaard Includes booking fees. 30 October 15 Rachmaninov CONCERTO NO. 2 Students and Seniors Packages season ticket prices 14 november 15 The Muse And The Poet Esplanade Concert Hall Concerts cat 4 cat 5 cat 6 victoria concert hall cat 1 $ cat 2 $ cat 3 $ students or seniors 3 3+ concerts 40% discount $20.20 $14.20 $10 2 / 3* July 15 President s Young Performers victoria Concert Hall Concerts students or seniors 3 3+ concerts 40% discount Includes booking fees. cat 3 cat 4 $24 $13 23 / 24* July 15 Transfigured Night 14 August 15 scottish fantasy 27 / 28* August 15 Masaaki & Masato Suzuki How and When to Subscribe Simply follow the 4 easy steps in the subscriber booking form and fax/mail it to SSO, or download a booking form on 25 / 26* september 15 Leonidas Kavakos * delete where applicable subtotal ($)

31 sso 15/16 BOOKING FORM additional concerts STEP 2.2 Take advantage of your 10% subscriber s discount off Gala and Christmas concerts. No. of tickets cat 1 cat 2 cat 3 cat 4 Amount payable $ Jan - May 2016 Priority Booking Form By fax: By marketing@sso.org.sg By mail: SSO Ticketing Officer, 11 Empress Place #01-02, Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore sso 15/16 BOOKING FORM 11 / 12* december 15 christmas concert 13 december 15 Christmas Matinee $76 $68.80 $58 $53.50 $ $ STEP 1 Please tick one. If you are a full-time student or senior citizen, please use the form on the next page. [ ] 3-Concert Package [ ] 5-Concert Package [ ] 7-Concert Package 9 / 10* october 15 Hélène Grimaud $ $74.20 $49 - subscription concerts 23 / 24* october 15 The creation 3 december 15 Rachmaninov concerto no. 3 $76 $92.20 $58 $71.50 $ $53.50 $44.50 STEP 2.1 Fill in the ticket quantity and discounted prices under your selected concerts. We can help you with the final calculations if you are paying by credit card. [ ] Yes, please do my sums! No. of tickets subtotal ($) 2016 esplanade concert hall cat 1 $ cat 2 $ cat 3 $ cat 4 $ Amount payable ($) * delete where applicable STEP 3 Payment 9 january 16 Mendelssohn s Violin Concerto step 2.1 subtotal [ $ ] + step 2.2 subtotal [ $ ] = Grand total payable [ $ ] 23 january 16 Charles Dutoit & Arabella Steinbacher 29 january 16 Ein Heldenleben [ ] Bank / Cheque No. (payable to SISTIC.com Pte Ltd) 26 February 16 Leningrad Symphony [ ] By cash (at SSO office only) [ ] Please charge my credit card for the amount of $ [ ] VISA [ ] MASTERCARD [ ] DINERS [ ] AMERICAN EXPRESS [ ] JCB 5 March 16 SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE 26 march 16 BRAHMS PIANO QUARTET Cardholder s name Card no. 1 april 16 EROICA Expiry date (mm/yy) / Signature STEP 4 Your Particulars If you are a Friend of the SSO, please write your membership number here victoria concert hall 19 / 20* February 16 The Butterfly Lovers 8 / 9* april 16 Barber s Violin Concerto cat 1 $ cat 2 $ cat 3 $ Name (Dr/Mr/Mrs/Ms) Address 6 / 7* may 16 HANDEL VARIATIONS Postal code subtotal ($) NRIC/FIN Date of birth (dd/mm/yy) * delete where applicable Tel (H) (O) (HP) Fax Your season tickets will be mailed to you within two weeks. If you have an enquiry, please contact our Ticketing Officer at or marketing@sso.org.sg.

32 sso 15/16 BOOKING FORM additional concerts STEP 2.2 Take advantage of your 10% subscriber s discount off Gala and Christmas concerts. No. of tickets cat 1 cat 2 cat 3 cat 4 Amount payable $ Jul - dec 2015 students & Seniors booking form By fax: By marketing@sso.org.sg By mail: SSO Ticketing Officer, 11 Empress Place #01-02, Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore sso 15/16 BOOKING FORM FRIENDS CONCERT 16 january 16 Mahler s Third $85 $67 $49 $39 22 / 23* april 16 Bizet s Carmen $92.20 $71.50 $53.50 $44.50 subscription concerts STEP 1.1 Select at least 3 concerts and fill in your ticket quantity. subtotal ($) * delete where applicable STEP 3 Payment 2015 esplanade concert hall cat 4 $20.20 No. of tickets cat 5 $14.20 cat 6 $10 Amount payable ($) step 2.1 subtotal [ $ ] 17 July 15 Walton s Cello Concerto + step 2.2 subtotal [ $ ] = Grand total payable [ $ ] [ ] Bank / Cheque No. (payable to SISTIC.com Pte Ltd) [ ] By cash (at SSO office only) 31 july 15 Nielsen s Espansiva Symphony 2 september 15 Stephen Hough: Nos. 2 & 5 5 september 15 Stephen Hough: Nos. 1 & 4 [ ] Please charge my credit card for the amount of $ [ ] VISA [ ] MASTERCARD [ ] DINERS [ ] AMERICAN EXPRESS [ ] JCB 10 september 15 Stephen Hough: No. 3 Cardholder s name Card no. 3 October 15 Thomas Dausgaard 30 October 15 Rachmaninov CONCERTO NO. 2 Expiry date (mm/yy) / Signature 14 november 15 The Muse And The Poet STEP 4 Your Particulars victoria concert hall cat 3 $24 cat 4 $13 If you are a Friend of the SSO, please write your membership number here Name (Dr/Mr/Mrs/Ms) Address 2 / 3* July 15 President s Young Performers 23 / 24* July 15 Transfigured Night Postal code NRIC/FIN Date of birth (dd/mm/yy) Tel (H) (O) (HP) Fax 14 August 15 scottish fantasy 27 / 28* August 15 Masaaki & Masato Suzuki Your season tickets will be mailed to you within two weeks. If you have an enquiry, please contact our Ticketing Officer at or marketing@sso.org.sg. 25 / 26* september 15 Leonidas Kavakos subtotal ($) * delete where applicable

33 sso 15/16 BOOKING FORM additional concerts STEP 1.2 Take advantage of your concession discounts on Gala and Christmas concerts. 11 / 12* december 15 christmas concert No. of tickets $33 $21 Amount payable $ Jan - May 2016 students & Seniors booking form By fax: By marketing@sso.org.sg By mail: SSO Ticketing Officer, 11 Empress Place #01-02, Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore sso 15/16 BOOKING FORM 13 december 15 Christmas Matinee 9 / 10* october 15 Hélène Grimaud $28 $38 $16 $21 subscription concerts STEP 1.1 Select at least 3 concerts and fill in your ticket quantity. 23 / 24* october 15 the creation 3 december 15 Rachmaninov concerto no. 3 $33 $21 $21 $ esplanade concert hall cat 4 $20.20 No. of tickets cat 5 $14.20 cat 6 $10 Amount payable ($) subtotal ($) 9 january 16 Mendelssohn s Violin Concerto * delete where applicable 23 january 16 Charles Dutoit & Arabella Steinbacher STEP 2 Payment step 1.1 subtotal [ $ ] + step 1.2 subtotal [ $ ] 29 january 16 Ein Heldenleben 26 February 16 Leningrad Symphony = Grand total payable [ $ ] 5 March 16 SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE [ ] Bank / Cheque No. (payable to SISTIC.com Pte Ltd) [ ] By cash (at SSO office only) [ ] Please charge my credit card for the amount of $ 26 march 16 BRAHMS PIANO QUARTET 1 april 16 EROICA [ ] VISA [ ] MASTERCARD [ ] DINERS [ ] AMERICAN EXPRESS [ ] JCB victoria concert hall cat 3 $24 cat 4 $13 Cardholder s name Card no. 19 / 20* February 16 The Butterfly Lovers Expiry date (mm/yy) / Signature 8 / 9* april 16 Barber s Violin Concerto STEP 3 Your Particulars 6 / 7* may 16 HANDEL VARIATIONS If you are a Friend of the SSO, please write your membership number here subtotal ($) Name (Dr/Mr/Mrs/Ms) Address * delete where applicable Postal code NRIC/FIN Date of birth (dd/mm/yy) Tel (H) (O) (HP) Fax Your season tickets will be mailed to you within two weeks. If you have an enquiry, please contact our Ticketing Officer at or marketing@sso.org.sg.

34 sso 15/16 BOOKING FORM additional concerts STEP 1.2 Take advantage of your concession discounts on Gala and Christmas concerts. FRIENDS CONCERT 16 january 16 Mahler s Third No. of tickets $21 $16 Amount payable $ seating plan SSO Subscription Concerts / 23* april 16 Bizet s Carmen $21 $16 subtotal ($) * delete where applicable STEP 2 Payment step 1.1 subtotal [ $ ] + step 1.2 subtotal [ $ ] = Grand total payable [ $ ] STAGE STAGE [ ] Bank / Cheque No. (payable to SISTIC.com Pte Ltd) [ ] By cash (at SSO office only) [ ] Please charge my credit card for the amount of $ [ ] VISA [ ] MASTERCARD [ ] DINERS [ ] AMERICAN EXPRESS [ ] JCB Foyer Stalls and Stalls Esplanade Concert Hall Circle 1 Esplanade Concert Hall Circle Cardholder s name Card no. FF EE DD FF EE DD CC CC BB BB AA AA Expiry date (mm/yy) / Signature Stalls STEP 3 Your Particulars If you are a Friend of the SSO, please write your membership number here Name (Dr/Mr/Mrs/Ms) Address Postal code NRIC/FIN Date of birth (dd/mm/yy) Tel (H) (O) (HP) Fax STAGE Circle 2 Esplanade Concert Hall X W V U T S R Q P O N M L K J H G F E D C B A X W V U T S R Q P O N M L K J H G F E D C B A Your season tickets will be mailed to you within two weeks. If you have an enquiry, please contact our Ticketing Officer at or marketing@sso.org.sg. cat 1 cat 4 STAGE cat 2 cat 5 victoria Concert Hall cat 3 cat 6

35 SSO recordings BIS-SACD-1837 Debussy: La Mer IMAGES POUR ORCHESTRE PRéLUDE à L APRèS-MIDI D UN FAUNE Lan Shui conductor The Singapore Symphony Orchestra applies itself with notable sensibility, energy and colouristic finesse to some core Debussy. Gramophone BIS-SACD-1842 Goldmark: Rustic Wedding Symphony symphony no. 2 Lan Shui conductor Goldmark s tuneful Rustic Wedding Symphony is projected here with infectious enthusiasm by Shui and his excellent orchestra. BBC Music Magazine BIS-SACD-2012 Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 1 Piano Concerto No. 1 Lan Shui conductor Yevgeny Sudbin piano Performances of the Concerto don t come much better than this. BBC Music Magazine SSO s recordings are available from the SSO merchandise store during performances. Visit for a complete list of SSO recordings.

36 63 Free Concerts sph gift of music series 9 July 15 Thu, 12.30pm Lunchtime Concert: Victoria Concert Hall Joshua Tan conductor Since its launch in 2005, the SPH Gift of Music series has reached out to tens of thousands of Singaporeans through its many free performances in the heartlands, parks, concert halls and shopping malls. Admission is free. Outdoor concerts are subject to prevailing weather conditions. 11 July 15 Sat, 6pm, Singapore Botanic Gardens Classics in the Park: 1845: The Straits Times 170th Anniversary Concert 10 July 15 Fri, 7.30pm SSO on Campus: Victoria Junior College Joshua Tan conductor Joshua Tan conductor 30 July 15 Thu, 12.30pm, Esplanade Concert Hall Lunchtime Concert: SPH Gift of Music 10th Anniversary Concert Lan Shui conductor Ning Feng violin 10 march 16 Thu, 12.30pm Lunchtime Concert: Victoria Concert Hall Jason Lai conductor 11 march 16 Fri, 7.30pm SSO on Campus: Paya Lebar Methodist Girls School Jason Lai conductor 13 march 16 Sun, 6.30pm Classics in the Park: Gardens by the Bay Jason Lai conductor 8 may 16 Sun, 6pm Mother s Day Concert: Singapore Botanic Gardens Joshua Tan conductor

37 64 65 SSO Committees & Management committees Nominating and Executive Committee Chairman Mr Goh Yew Lin Mr Chng Hak-Peng Mr Paul Tan Mr Wong Nang Jang Ms Yong Ying-I Endowment Fund Committee Chairman Prof Cham Tao Soon Mr David Goh Mr Paul Supramanian Mr Anthony Teo Audit Committee Chairman Mr Yee Chen Fah Mr Kwee Liong Seen Ms Lim Mei Mrs Alice Lee-Seah Dr Julie Lo Mrs Clarinda Tjia- Dharmadi-Martin Ms Paige Parker Ms Kris Tan Ms Manju Vangal Mrs Grace Yeh management General Manager, SSCL Mr Chng Kai Jin General Manager, SSO Mr Anthony Brice Senior Manager, Orchestra Mr Ernest Khoo Orchestra Manager Mr Chia Jit Min senior Orchestra Executive Ms Shirin Foo Senior Librarian Mr Lim Yeow Siang Librarian Mr Lim Lip Hua fundraising & sponsorship manager Mr Anthony Chng assistant MANAGER, fundraising & sponsorship Ms Nikki Chuang fundraising & sponsorship executive Ms Lucinda Lam senior Manager, marketing & Communications Mr Foo Chen Loong Corporate Relations Manager Ms Cindy Lim finance & accounts manager Mr Alan Ong senior executive, finance & accounts Ms Goh Hoey Fen SenioR MANAGER, Human Resources & Administration Ms Wee Puay Cheng Human Resources & Administration Executive Ms Joanne Yeo Concert Hall & Facilities Manager Mr Collin Tan Officers Concert Hall Operations Mr Ramayah Elango Mr Abiden bin Mohd Said Mr Abdul Wahab bin Sakir Mr Mhd Zailani bin Mhd Said Mr Radin Sulaiman bin Ali Artistic Advisory Comittee Chairman Prof Bernard Tan Mr Mervin Beng Dr Chang Tou Liang Mr Foo Say Ming Prof Bernard Lanskey Ms Pang Siu Yuin Dr Kelly Tang Mr Zhang Jin Min SSO Ladies League Chairlady Mrs Odile Benjamin deputy chairlady Mrs Kwan Lui Mrs Celeste Basapa Mrs Maisy Beh Mrs Rosy Ho Mrs Judy Hunt Prof Annie Koh senior Manager, programmes Ms Kua Li Leng senior Manager, programmes (VCH) Ms Michelle Yeo programmes manager Ms Teo Chew Yen assistant manager, Choral Programmes Ms Regina Lee Programmes Manager, Community Outreach Ms Kathleen Tan Programmes Executive, Community Outreach Ms Vanessa Lee senior executive, marketing Ms Hong Shu Hui marketing executive Ms Melissa Tan Corporate Communications Executive Ms Cheryl Pek assistant manager, promotions & membership Ms Myrtle Lee special projects manager Ms Cham Gee Len Senior Manager, Corporate Services Mr Rick Ong Ticketing Ms Rose Chew deputy general manager, (snyo integration office) Ms Pang Siu Yuin snyo project officer Mrs Olive Kan snyo executive Mr Tan Yong Qing Senior Manager, Examinations, ABRSM Ms Hay Su-San Examinations Manager, ABRSM Ms Patricia Yee Assistant Manager, Examinations, ABRSM Ms Lai Li-Yng