Sacred Organ Work

Attended A Tapestry of Sacred Music today noon at Esplanade's Concert Hall. Renowned organist Marc Rochester flaunted his sense of humor and nifty fingers telling jokes and performing several pieces from his repertoire. So this is how organ music sounds like!

Ballet

Darren Aronofsky's BLACK SWAN might have invoked the darker side of ballet, but this formalized performance dance, which originated in the Italian Renaissance courts of the 15th century, is still fervently honed and honored around the world for its infusion of grace and beauty. Which little girl doesn't wanna be a ballerina? What about the boys?

881 - The Musical?

How much monay is Toy Factory bribing homegrown moviemaker Royston Tan with? Why else would the latter allow his 2007 getai smash 881 to be adapted into a rompy musical? Atrocious.

Beautiful Sunday

Have been missing one too many such free performances staged at the Esplanade Concert Hall once every month (on a Sunday at 3 p.m.). Missed the bag checking by security; the two rounds of queuing; the free seating; the waiting (for the show to begin punctually); the jamming of phone signals; the kan cheong ushers who try to stop some folks from photo-taking; the latecomers who get an aerial view from their 2nd-, 3rd-, even 4th-level circle seats; the bilingual host who tirelessly repeats the same housekeeping rules month in, month out; the orchestra and the conductor; the melodious music pieces; the fervent clapping of the audience; the snoring of a few disinterested neighbors. Wow, what a long post!

Ho Seh Lah, Hossan Leong!

IMHO, Kumar and Hossan Leong are the two funniest people in our stressful (think schizo auntie on subway) city-state (no offense, Gurmit). Read reports that the recently concluded sophomore Hossan Leong Show, which guest-starred Bibik Lily Lim, was better received this time round. Didn't get see it, but can imagine all the politically incorrect send-ups.

Voyage de la Vie

So this is what Singapore Idol first runner-up Jonathan Leong (above, with guitar) has been up to since the 2006 competition – performing the lead role of 'The Boy' in Resorts World Sentosa's theatrical rock circus. What do his family, friends and fans (who call themselves 'Jonatics') make of it? Apart from singing and dancing, will the skilled fencer also show off some of his fancy strokes?

objet d'art

interspersed face = interface

Tian Tian Xiang Shang

Multi-disciplinary artist Danny Yung will be dismay to learn that all his drawings displayed along the Esplanade Tunnel have been defaced beyond recognition and restoration. Damn those vandals.

Victoria Theatre and Concert Hall

Attended a Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) concert here during my non mihi solum days for a General Paper (GP) assignment. Splendid acoustics in my inaugural exposure to 'artistic appreciation'.

THE FOREST SPIRITS

It's always heartening to see aspiring amateurs doing their part for the fledgling local film industry. He may not be Kelvin Tong or Royston Tan (yet), but Ting Szu Kiong (MY KEYS, MICHELLE, THE TRIUMPH) possesses the ambition and aptitude, all right. His latest(?) project THE FOREST SPIRITS may lack the production values of, say, THE MAID or 881, but his team's makeshifting of props and improvising of locations are no less applaudable.

Radio Yokohama

During her tenure with our company (and amidst her first pregnancy), Monika Borek co-authored a fine book entitled Radio Yokohama with fellow Polish Marcin Bruczkowski. For more information on this joint labor of love, please feel free to click here.

Speech & Drama

The local performing arts scene is far from flourishing. Julia Gabriel and Lorna Whiston may be doing their part in rolling out speech and drama classes, but more can certainly be done. Why not rope in our our former staffer, playwright and director Dean Lundquist, to help spice things up?

Mystique?

raven darkhölme was really intö cöntempörary art

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~ Arty Farty ~

As an amateur, I obviously can't comment much on the so-called brushstrokes and motifs of this painting. All I can say is it may depict a bustling rialto in the middle of Venice, Italy.

President's Young Talents

Is it going to be Donna Ong (Dissolution), Felicia Low (The Stimulus and the Conversation), Twardzik Ching Chor Leng (Lifeblood) or Vertical Submarine (A View with a Room)? You vote, you decide. Text TALENT to 43657 now and keep your favorites in the competition!

Kaleidoscope: A Musical Journey of Doris Cen

"Explore the music of guzheng (Chinese zither) with one of Singapore's most established musicians Doris Cen, who's performed in a number of chamber music concerts here since her return from the China Conservatory of Music in 2007. She's also recorded for Iskandar Ismail for Chingay 2009 and is currently on the panel of adjucators for the Ministry of Education Music Camp." (Paraphrased from Internet)

P/S: We met up once several years ago after a brief acquaintance on mIRC and lost touch thereafter. Looks like she's been busy!

My Humps

The Manchurian Conservatory's contribution to our Little India (MRT Station).

Mardi Gras in Singapore?

Painting the town WHITE and basically scaring the bejeezers outta broods...

SAM

the dreadlocks posse's here to support the rastafari movement

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Wayang Kulit

For tonight's cultural performance, you'll be treated to the Javanese art of wayang kulit, or shadow puppetry. We hope you'll bear with us, because at the end of it there'll be a Komodo dragon brawl.