Hans Graf leads the Singapore Symphony Orchestra into a new era

By Chang Tou Liang, 21 January 2020

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“Kavakos is one of those soloists who makes the seemingly impossible sound as natural as breathing”

Reviewed at Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore on 17 January 2020

Dvořák, Scherzo Capriccioso for Orchestra, Op.66

Korngold, Violin Concerto in D major, Op.35

Tchaikovsky, Symphony no. 6 in B minor, "Pathétique", Op.74

Ysaÿe, Violin Sonata no. 2 in A minor, Op.27 no.2: Les Furies – Allegro furioso (Encore)

Leonidas Kavakos, Violin

Hans Graf, Conductor

Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Elaine Yeo, Cor anglais

Wang Xiaoke, Bassoon

Christian Schioler, Percussion

Mozart and Salieri under the spotlight in Graf’s Singapore farewell

Chang Tou Liang, 21st May

Mozart is pitted against his ”fatal rival" Salieri in Hans Graf's farewell concert as Music Director of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra.

****1

Eric Lu brings scintillating Chopin to Singapore

Chang Tou Liang, 1st May

A world premiere by Wang Chenwei, familiar Chopin and a rare outing for Bartók’s Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta make for satisfying fare in Jahcun Wong’s Singapore Symphony programme.

****1

Lintu, Kavakos and the SSO make the case for Shostakovich

Chang Tou Liang, 9th April

Has Shostakovich become the new Rachmaninov in Singapore? The SSO and Hannu Lintu show that he can be as popular as Rachmaninov.

*****

Eliahu Inbal enlivens the Singapore Symphony

Chang Tou Liang, 28th March

The nonagenarian conductor enlivens Singapore's Esplanade Concert Hall with masterly readings of Shostakovich and Rachmaninov

****1

Takács-Nagy’s Schumann trumps Bach at the Singapore Symphony

Chang Tou Liang, 13th February

Bach concertos on a modern Steinway prove a mixed blessing, but the Singapore Symphony's Schumann impresses under Hungarian conductor Gábor Takács-Nagy.

****1

Pierre Bleuse and the Singapore Symphony raise the roof again

Chang Tou Liang, 30th January

High decibel hits arrive via Prokofiev’s Scythian Suite and Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, sandwiching Liszt from Bertrand Chamayou.

****1

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Chang Tou Liang

Chang Tou Liang, a native of Singapore, is a family physician by profession. Actively following the classical music scene in Singapore since 1979, he has been a music reviewer of The Straits Times from 1997, contributing over 2300 articles to the national daily. He was also editor of several local musical newsletters and served as Artistic Director of the Singapore International Piano Festival from 2004 to 2008. His blog Pianomania has covered international piano competitions and musical events in four continents. He has a keen interest in travelling, street food and cat photography.