Mozart 250
Artists Platform in collaboration with the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Choir is proud to present Mozart 250.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Prodigy. Genius. Icon. No one person has been so associated with music as this one man has. And in this year which marks his 250th birthday, Artists Platform is proud to join the global celebration of this musical phenomenon whose work still enthralls audiences to this very day with a program featuring ensemble scenes from four of his most popular operas - Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, Cosi Fan Tutte and Die Zauberflöte.
Although he wrote brilliant arias to showcase the solo singer, he also wrote glorious ensembles and it is a challenge still for every singer to sing his works. Each melodious solo line amalgamates with one another until musical perfection is attained: seamless melody and refined harmony. This gala will feature some of the best singers from Malaysia interpreting some of the most divine duets, trios, quintets and sextets in the operatic repertoire. These scenes will be bound together and given fresh insight into their actual relevance to a modern audience through fresh settings. This concert will be a feast for the ears and the soul as the voices blend with one another in exquisite rapture, like the weaving of an intricate fabric – absolutely Mozart! For no other composer, dead or alive, has managed to transport us so close to heaven as he has – perhaps it was his calling, as Amadeus means ‘loved by God’.
“Too many notes, my dear Mozart”, was what Emperor Joseph II once said to the young composer after one of his operas. That his works are still performed regularly in the international opera repertoire is testament to his brilliance in writing for singers. His compositions display all that is human and celebrates the wonder of the human voice, never sacrificing his musical hallmarks of clarity, balance and transparency. It would seem that he had written music to last beyond an eternity.
Tragically, he passed away at a very early age of 35. By then he had already composed more than 600 works and was the toast of Vienna and the Western world. Although buried in an unmarked communal grave that remains to be discovered till this day, his legacy has continued to remain relevant and inspiring to many generations all around the world.
Perhaps he was and still is truly loved by God.
Concert Info
Date: 13th October 2006
Time: 8.00 pm
Venue: The Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
Tickets: RM60, RM80, RM100
Box-Office: 03 – 40479000 (KLPAC)
03 – 20949400 (THE ACTORS STUDIO)
tickets@klpac.com
Performers: Cecilia Yap, Tan Khar Gee, Irma Lailatul Munira – soprano
Wang Dixia – mezzo soprano
David Ngim – counter-tenor
Tan Wei Han – tenor
Eddy Chin, Cha Seng Tiang, John Tan, Jeffery Chew – baritone
Kok-Ting Chong – piano
Sandra Sodhy – English narrator
Kow Wei Lieh, Samuel Tseu Ken Fui - chorus
Programme for the evening
Le Nozze di Figaro
i Overture
ii Porgi amor
iii Voi che sapete
iv Venite…inginocchiatevi a
v Susanna or via sorte
vi Aprite, presto aprite
vii Esci, ormai garzon malnato
Cecilia Yap – Contessa
Tan Khar Gee – Susanna
David Ngim – Cherubino
Cha Seng Tiang - Conte
Don Giovanni
viii Don Giovanni, a cenar teco
Cha Seng Tiang – Don Giovanni
Jeffery Chew – Leporello
John Tan - Il Commentatore
Kow Wei Lieh, Samuel Tseu Ken Fui
Interval
Die Zauberflöte
i Bei Männern, welche Liebe Fühlen
ii Papagena! Papagena!
Eddy Chin – Papageno
Irma Lailatul Munira– Pamina, Papagena
Così fan Tutte
iii Act One Finale – A che tutta in un momento
Cecilia Yap – Fiordiligi,
Wang Dixia – Dorabella
Tan Khar Gee - Despina
Tan Wei Han – Ferrando
Cha Seng Tiang – Guglielmo
Jeffery Chew – Don Alfonso
Kok-Ting Chong - Piano
Sandra Sodhy – English narrator
Message from the Patron Toh Puan Ena Ling
As our country continues its progress towards developed nation status, it is heartening and encouraging to witness the growth of cultural activities to complement our economic development. No nation is complete without artistes and no nation is developed without cultural activities that contribute to society’s enrichment: mentally, emotionally and spiritually. And as we continue down this path of progress, we as a society should also begin to support the growth of local artistes and the nurturing of future talent who have the potential to affect the cultural landscape of Malaysia, for the betterment of our people and our nation.
Artists Platform is one such organisation that serves this function. Malaysia is fortunate to have many talented local musicians and singers who specialise in Western classical music. We have many pianists, violinists, other instrumentalists and singers who choose to return to this country after completing their training abroad to share the joy of their music with their fellow countrymen. They have achieved many laurels abroad and have brought pride to our country by demonstrating that many in other countries appreciate their talent as one can see by their constant invitations to perform abroad. It is indeed ironic that some of them have more concert engagements abroad than they do here. It is now time that we provide a showcase for them here in their homeland and to encourage their further development and growth, as well as that of the younger generation of musicians waiting in the wings. It is also time for Malaysians to challenge themselves by exploring different and diverse art forms – after all our nation is one that is built on and celebrates cultural diversity.
With this, I would like to express my support and give my best wishes to Artists Platform as it strives to promote our local classical
musicians and singers as well as enlivening our nation’s cultural landscape.
The Singers
CHA SENG TIANG - baritone
A well known performer and teacher, Penang-born Cha Seng Tiang’s “pedigree” comes about from early voice training under Tony Sim and baritone Eddy Chin, established names in the classical voice circle. Cha won the 1988 Malaysia Classical Song Singing Competition and in 1991 was duly awarded a full scholarship to further his studies at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts under the tutelage of Michael Rippon.
Cha’s promising vocals as well as active participation in recitals and festivals got him noticed. And in the summer of 1992, Cha was invited to Sapporo, Japan, to participate in the Pacific Music Festival where he performed Leonard Bernstein’s Songfest and Chichester Psalms under the baton of maestro Michael Tilson Thomas. There, Cha also took part in recitals and concerts under the guidance of Paul Sperry –a well-known voice coach in USA.
Cha has since participated in many other recitals and festivals that have taken him to Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Peninsular and East Malaysia. He built his vocal prowess through operatic roles such as Morales in Bizet’s Carmen, Fiorello in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville, Alfio in Mascagni’s Cavalliera Rusticana, Cascada in Lehar’s The Merry Widow and Dr. Blind in Strauss Jr.’s Die Fledermaus.
Cha then broadened his repertoire by singing in oratorios, performing Handel’s Messiah, the Chinese Cantata Heliang Huabie, the role of Adam in Haydn’s The Creation and the bass solo in Beethoven’s Choral Symphony No.9. In Singapore, Cha won the roles of Marchese in La Traviata and Morales in Carmen in the Singapore Lyric Theatres opera productions. His deep yet bright tonal qualities as well as an instinctive musicality make him a favourite duet partner among his peers. Memorable local duets include those with lyric soprano Cecilia Yap in the Night of Classics charity concert held at the Petaling Jaya Civic Hall in May 30th2001 and also Voices of the Century concert at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall. Most recently, Cha sang as Angelotti in Lyric Opera Malaysia production of Puccini’s Tosca August 2003 to rave reviews. Also in September 2003 he sang the role of Gugliemo in Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte in a production by La Camerata di Opera & Taipei Opera Theatre that was well-received by the public. In 2004 he was also in the The Merry Widow as Cascada and Carmen as Le Dancaire staged at Istana Budaya.
In addition, Cha also musically directed The Three Sopranos plus One concert in Sept 2002. He currently teaches voice at University Malaya’s Cultural Centre (Pusat Kebudayaan) and UiTM Music Education Dept , and is also the principal of Vocal
Talent Music.
JEFFERY CHEW - bass-baritone
Jeffery Chew, a native of Batu Pahat, Malaysia, began his vocal training at 17 under Malaysian tenor Mr.Armando Chin and Mr. Oh Chee Kiong. In 2002 he was selected to attend a masterclass with Korean baritone Mr. Lim Chung Kyun; as well as another masterclass by Scottish soprano Miss Catherine Croall and American tenor Rudolf Knoll in Singapore 2003. In 2004, he attended a masterclass with Miss Ning-Jiang, a vocal coach from USA. Currently he is now undergoing voice training with Singaporean tenor Mr. Lim Shieh Yih. He obtained his Grade 8 Vocal Exam from Guildhall Examination Board.
An avid competition singer since young, he was the former champion in the 1994 Johor Private School Singing Competition and the 1996 South Malaysia Singing Competition; and garnered first and second runner-up prizes in the 2001 & 2002 singing competition respectively. In 2004, he was the 3rd runner-up in the Malaysia Singapore Singing Competition. In 2005, he was also the winner of the Malaysia National Art Song Singing Competition for two consecutive years. In addition, he also won the 1st Runner up in the International Art Song Singing Competition in Singapore. Last year, he was the Grand-Finalist in the competition of Mondial Chinese Vocalist Concours Taipei 2005.
Throughout the previous years, Jeffery has performed several concerts in Malaysia and Singapore. His engagements include two productions of opera highlights produced by Singapore Lyric Opera as a chorus member; and a production of the Yellow River Cantata produced by Johor Bahru Music Association as a soloist. He was also invited to perform at the Taiwan Tainan National University of Art in 2005. In June 2006, he was the bass soloist in Rossini’s Stabat Mater held at the Cultural Center in the University of Singapore; and he was also invited to sing the role of Antonio in ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’ which was held in July at the Esplanade Theater, Singapore.
EDDY CHIN - baritone
Eddy Chin grew up in Ipoh, where he sang as a chorister at the Methodist Church and while as a pupil of the Anglo-Chinese School.
He took male leads in Ipoh productions of musicals and sacred oratorio, which prepared him well as a singer of the classical repertoire including operetta, opera and German lieder when me moved to Kuala Lumpur.
He received his first impetus in singing under Helga Ziegler, wife of the Austrian ambassador to Malaysia. He often sang at The British Council, from whom he received a grant-in-aid to study singing at Trinity College of Music, London, under Elizabeth Hawes. He also studied under Italy-trained soprano Lillian Lee, who taught him the Italian opera technique.
His milestone achievement came when he was invited to sing alongside artistes from New York and other American opera houses at various annual Sime Darby ‘Le Grande Opera’ concerts. He has sung with Lyric Theatre Company of Singapore and Lyric Opera Malaysia excerpts from the operas of Verdi and Mozart and to a lesser degree Bizet, Donizetti and Wagner. With PESSOC (Penang State Symphony Orchestra & Chorus) he has sung the bass solo roles in Hadyn’s ‘Nelson’ Mass and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. He also sang the role of Raphael in the highly acclaimed Selangor Philharmonic Society presentation of Haydn’s Die Schopfung (The Creation) with the Malaysian National Symphony Orchestra under Antony Walker. This was followed by the baritone solo role in Carl Orrf’s. Camina Burana conducted by Roland Peelman. His long collaboration with The KL Chamber Music Players under the late James Vadiveloo has been augmented the last several years by stints at No Black Tie with pianist Evelyn Hii, with whom he performed in Bandar Seri Begawan in 2004 and 2005. He has also sung with the Kuala Lumpur Symphony Orchestra (KLSO) at its annual concerts, and has appeared as guest soloist in Ipoh with the Perak Society of Performing Arts (PSPA).
Eddy Chin has been highly credited for his singing of the songs of Schubert, Schumann, Brahms and Hugo Wolf, besides the better-known songs of Mahler. The Goethe Institute in KL under Hans Sallman presented him in three successive annual recitals singing the foremost cycles of Schubert, to much critical acclaim. His rendition of the works of Handel, Bach, Mendelssohn, and Vaughn Williams has also received rave reviews.
A graduate of University of Malaya (B.A.Honours, Diploma in Education), he was a teacher in Ipoh and Petaling Jaya before he began a long career in advertising as copywriter, creative director, general manager and deputy managing director. He left mainstream advertising in 2000. His is the rare instance of one whose interest in singing enhanced his job career.
Eddy Chin is as comfortable singing numbers from musicals and modern-day show stoppers as he is songs from the classical repertoire. He now combines project work as a management and marketing communication trainer alongside teaching and guiding aspiring singers. With time left for appearing as a baritone soloist.
DAVID NGIM – counter-tenor
David is a graduate from the Malaysian Institute of Arts and the Xian Conservatory, China. He has also attended courses at the National Conservatory of Art, Taiwan, and the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague, Netherlands.
David is extremely popular as a recitalist and has performed alongside some of the most respectable musicians in the country and the region. He has also made the challenging transition from tenor to counter-tenor and is one of the rare few to attempt such repertoire choices in the region. He has thus performed with the Kuala Lumpur Symphony Orchestra, sung alongside singers of caliber such as Tan Shin Xin, Armando Chin Yong, Lim Chin Hock, and many more. To date, he has given more than 30 recitals throughout Malaysia, an impressive figure for any singer. These include soloist in “The Yellow River” cantata, the opening ceremony of “The Art of Kebaya” on behalf of the National Cultural Department, and joint concerts with Armando Chin Yong and Lim Chin Hock. He has also been invited to give solo recitals in Xian, China and at the Esplanade Concert Hall in Singapore. Currently, he has an album which features both his tenor and counter-tenor voices entitled “Two Voices, One Art”.
JOHN TAN - baritone
John has been studying voice since an early age and has previously studied under some of the most renowned names in the country such as Cecilia Yap, Armando Chin Yong, Angela Chock, Lim Cheng Hock and Lau Kok Yau to name a few. He is currently very active in the Klang Presbyterian Church as its choral conductor. His past performances include many oratorio works where he was the baritone soloist such as Elijah (2003 and 2005) and the Messiah (2006) with the Yin Qi Choir that were highly acclaimed. He was also a finalist in the Bangkok Opera International Vocal Competition in 2005. He has also recently given solo recitals in Te Deum.
TAN KHAR GEE - soprano
Tan Khar Gee was a graduate of the Malaysian Institute of Arts, majoring in voice under the guidance of renowned Malaysian soprano Ms Lillian Lee and studied piano with the late renowned Malaysian composer Mr Tan Loke Han, Mr Lean Hin Chong and Ms Tan Boon Gee.
Khar Gee furthered her studies in the Conservatory of China and later graduated with a Masters degree under the renowned vocal educator Prof. Wang Bin-Rui, and the equally renowned pianist Prof. Zhao Pi-Xun. Subsequently she left for Italy to further her studies at the Accademia Lirica Italiana under the tutelage of world renowned tenor Maestro Pier Miranda Ferraro and the renowned repetiteur Maestro Roberto Negri, both from the famous opera house Teatro Alla Scala, Milano. In Italy, she actively participated and represented the conservatory in major performances and received excellent reviews from the press. Consequently, she was awarded the Young Vocalist and Artist Certificate.
Her past performances include Bastienne from Bastien und Bastienne in Kuala Lumpur, recitals at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing, China, recital with Maestro Pier Miranda Ferraro at the Beijing Auditorium, China, an opera gala at the Hong Kong Auditorium, Violetta in the concert version of La Traviata at the Bao Li Theatre in Beijing, China, as well as many recitals in Italy including L’Estate Musicale Frentana, Lanciano, Concerto Lirica La Sala dell’ Aquabella Centro, Milano, Concerto sull’ Alle della Lirica , Bolzano, Concerto di Gala Dei Vincitori, Palermo, Concerto Saggio Di Fine Corso, Milano, and Concerto Lirico D’Estate, Milano. Since her recent return to the country in 2004, she has given many concerts in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia to great acclaim.
IRMA LAILATUL MUNIRA MUHAMAD – soprano
Irma is the youngest soprano in the cast and hails from Kangar, Perlis. She graduated from UiTM Shah Alam with an Honours Degree in Music Performance having studied under the celebrated Syafinaz Selamat. This marks her public debut in a
Mozart work and she will be singing the role of Pamina in Mozart’s The Magic Flute next year at KLPAC. She has recently performed in the concert “Journey Through Music” held at The Actors Studio in Bangsar.
WANG DIXIA – mezzo-soprano
Dixia first studied voice with Dr. Zhang Hao from the Shanghai Conservatory of Music for two years before enrolling in the Shanghai Music High School, where she continued her studies with Prof. Wu Yiwen. Upon graduation in 2004, she went to Singapore and entered the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA) and took up a Diploma Course to study with renowned soprano, Nancy Yuen. In 2005 she won the first prize in the Singing Competition organized by the Trinity College of Music and came second in the NAFA's Singing Competition.
Earlier in 2006, she sang Dorabella in the full production of Act One of Mozart's "Cosi fan tutte" at NAFA to great critical acclaim and the performance was subsequently repeated at the Esplanade Concourse in Singapore. She is currently in the final year of her Diploma course.
TAN WEI HAN - tenor
Born and raised in Penang, Wei Han received his first vocal and piano training at the age of 9. He studied under various teachers namely Ms Tan Suat Har, Mr Ooi Aik Teong, Mdm Tong Kat Hong, Mr Lim Kean Seng, Mr Phang Kong Chian, Ms Cecilia Yap Keat Chee, Assoc. Prof. Chen Yong, and is currently under Ms Tan Khar Gee. He passed his ABRSM Grade 8 Examination with a distinction for voice and a merit for piano. Wei Han began his formal musical training at the Malaysian Institute of Arts whereby he completed 3 years of study and successfully obtained a diploma in music in 2002. He has performed extensively in numerous concerts both locally and abroad. In 2001 he emerged as the Champion of the 27th Malaysian Art Song Competition (Central region) and won the 4th prize at the Grand Final. Wei Han was awarded 1st prize at the 2001 National Classical Singing Competition organized by the Penang Symphony State Chorus. He was presented the Most Promising Singer Award at the Nissin International Competition by the Music Council of Japan. In 2002, he was selected to join the Asian Youth Choir by the Niigata Asian Cultural Festival in Japan. He was awarded the Best Student Award by the Malaysian Institute of Arts. In 2003, he performed as a soloist at the Singapore-Malaysia Young Singers Concert. In order to further his music studies in China, the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall organized his first solo recital to raise funds for his education. In 2004, Wei Han entered the famed Xian Conservatory of Music and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance degree.
CECILIA YAP - soprano
Cecilia Yap graduated from the Conservatorio of “Santa Cecilia” in Rome, Italy, under renowned sopranos K.S. Ann Saldarelli and Lorraine Nawa Jones Marenzi. After her graduation, she furthered her music studies with Marcello Ferroni- one of the most acclaimed operatic directors in “Arte Scenica”.
During her eight years in Italy she gave a number of recitals and appeared on several national TV programmes. She was the winner of the 7th International Vocal Competition at Cascina, Italy in 1994 and was the only Asian to enter the finals. Her performances received critical acclaim from “L’Opera”, a leading opera magazine, which noted her dramatic flair and refined vocal expression.
Since then, Cecilia has been a regular favourite in recital and opera in various countries including Malaysia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Korea and Singapore. Her recent operatic involvement include acclaimed appearances in various Penang Arts Council’s productions as Micaela in Carmen (1997 and 2004), Mother in Hansel und Gretel(1998) and Liu in Turandot (2003). She was also a featured soloist in the Singapore Lyric Opera 15th anniversary concert and the Nuit d’Amour opera gala as part of YTL’s 50th Anniversary celebrations.
As a recitalist, she has been invited several times to be a soloist in
Mendelssohn’s Oratorio “Elijah”, “The Yellow River” Cantata (2003), Haydn’s
Oratorio “The Creation”(2004), Mendelssohn’s choral works “Hymn of Praise”
and “Psalm 95”(2005) here and abroad. She has also given numerous solo recitals in Malaysia collaborating with various accomplished pianists such as Chong Kok Ting, Elaine Pao, Loo Bang Hean and Ng Chong Lim to great public and critical acclaim so much so that she was the recipient of the best solo performance of the year award at the 2002 Cameronian Arts Awards organised by ‘Kakiseni’ which confirmed her status as Malaysia’s top soprano.
2006 will see her giving a recital in Jakarta, Indonesia, and a solo recital of Hahn and Tosti pieces with Chong Kok-Ting. She also appeared as a soloist in “The Night of Hymns” concert at the Esplanade in Singapore recently, and was one of the sopranos featured in Artists Platform’s Diva! gala.
