On 23 August 2009, the Victoria Concert Hall (VCH) reverberated with sounds uniquely Singaporean as The Millennial Orchestra (TMO) debuted its inaugural public concert.
Entitled “Composers & Talents from Home”, the evening crescendoed beautifully in a selection of compositions by both established and budding local musicians.
While ‘Sketches of Singapore’ and ‘Child of Destiny’ by veteran composers Dr Kelly Tang and Dr Er Yenn Chwen respectively would have aroused patriotic pride in any Singaporean heart, it was the works of debutante score writers Jeanette Teoh and Nathania Chan which proved surprisingly novel.
Teoh’s ‘Sheer Determination’ successfully evoked a sense of perseverance in the face of challenges through its steady, unwavering rhythms, accentuated by strong percussions.
Equally moving was melancholy but graceful ‘Wild Roses’ by Chan. Inspired by the character Zipporah from the movie, Prince of Egypt, her lyrical composition poignantly conveyed both the pain of being the prisoner-bride of Pharaoh’s sons as well as Zipporah’s longing for freedom.
These two pieces certainly left an indelible impression on the orchestra’s musicians. Cellist Janelle Kam, 35, applauded the two composers’ boldness in writing and arranging for a full orchestra, describing it as nothing short of “daring”. For violinist, Eric Tan, 22, the pieces were, “new” and “very refreshing.”
The evening also celebrated a cornucopia of homegrown performers. Amongst them, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts graduate, Sofi Natalia, who delivered an exhilarating piano solo of Bach’s Keyboard Concerto in D minor.
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| PHOTOS: Isiah Nerville Su |
Also beaming with pride was Long Soon Luan, 55, whose daughter, soprano soloist, Lim Yan Ting, gave a spirited performance of two arias from Mozart’s ‘Don Giovanni’ and ‘The Marriage of Figaro’. Speaking in Mandarin, Long said of her daughter, “She puts in a lot of effort. Our house is constantly filled with her singing.”
For Lim herself, performing at the VCH conjured up mixed emotions of “euphoria” and “anxiety”. After spending many an MRT ride imagining what it would be like to stand on the VCH stage, finally being there was “like a dream come true.”
Indeed, “Composers & Talents from Home” will go down as a milestone not just for Lim, but for TMO itself. If the life of the orchestra were a symphony, this concert would mark the start of a new movement — one in which the tempo is up as TMO matures into a lively hub for aspiring Singaporean classical music talents.
Watch City News’ video coverage of The Millennial Orchestra’s debut concert, coming soon to www.citynews.sg.
