Young piano talents distinguish SSO's annual presidential concert

Adrian Tang and Toby Tan

Adrian Tang and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Toby Tan, Rodolfo Barráez and the Singapore Symphony Orchestra

By Chang Tou Liang, 15 September 2024

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“its list of alumni reads like a Who’s Who of the local musical scene”

Reviewed at Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore on 13 September 2024

Mendelssohn, A Midsummer Night's Dream: Overture, Op.21

Rachmaninov, Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini in A minor for piano and orchestra, Op.43

Rachmaninov, Étude-tableau in A minor, Op.39 no.6

Prokofiev, Piano Concerto no. 1 in D flat major, Op.10

Moskowski, Étincelles, Op.36 no.6

Khachaturian, Gayaneh: Sabre Dance

Prokofiev, Symphony no. 1 in D major "Classical", Op.25

Toby Tan Kai Rong, Piano

Adrian Tang, Piano

Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Rodolfo Barráez, Conductor

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

World premiere of Jonathan Shin’s Piano Concerto a Singapore landmark

Chang Tou Liang, 19th December

The Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Churen Li score in a landmark new Singaporean piano concerto by Jonathan Shin.

****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.

Young piano talents distinguish Singapore Symphony’s annual presidential concert