On 17th December 2016 at the Esplanade Recital Studio, Kris Foundation presented Chamber Opera II, the second series of chamber operas commissioned by Chamber.Sounds, featuring compositions by Dr. Paul Smith (Australia) and Dr. Li Kai Han Jeremiah (Singapore).
The largest production to date, this concert opened up new possibilities of programming in the Kris Foundation’s concert season.
The Rose and the Nightingale (2016)
The Rose and the Nightingale is based on Oscar Wilde’s proverbial tale of a student’s unrequited love. Including themes of love, sacri ce, sel essness, pity, materialism and gratitude, the story's plot is set in motion when a nightingale overhears a young student express his fears about losing the young woman he loves forever. The young woman threatens to abandon the student unless he gives her a red rose. Taking pity on the student, the nightingale sacri ces her life in order to procure a red rose for the young man. However, the birds' sacri ce proves to be in vain.
Dr. Jeremiah Li is a lecturer at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore, and heads Chamber.Sounds, a contemporary chamber music group which seeks to promote local contemporary music to Singaporeans and the rest of the world.
The Spider-Maiden and the Runaway Plum Blossom (2016)
This chamber opera is in seven scenes and is inspired by traditional Japanese haiku which commonly re ect on the transition between the seasons. The plum blossom is a common signi er of spring. The plot of the opera follows the Plum Blossom who is caught in the Spider Maiden's web while attempting to see the world by riding on the wind on the last day of spring. The two characters sing about their respective positions in the world and the Spider Maiden o ers the Plum Blossom one opportunity to be set free by solving a musical riddle.
Dr. Paul Smith is a lecturer in music at the University of New England where he teaches composition and music theory. Dr. Smith’s compositions explore music's potential connection with other art forms and as a result his pieces are often accompanied by other works of art, including animation, theatre or poetry.
Programme:
Dr. Jeremiah Li: The Nightingale and the Rose
Wendy Woon - The Bird
Tan Shi Yu Jade - The Student
Melissa Chan D'Estrella - The Rose
Dr. Paul Smith: The Spider Maiden and the Runaway Plum Blossom
Wendy Woon - Spider Maiden
Vanessa Phang - Plum Blossom
Shao-wen Ang - Conductor
Shirley Tong - Flute
Tan Yi Liang Colin - Clarinet
Christoven Tan - Viola
Chan Si-Han - Cello
Tiffany Leu - Harpsichord
