Groove

#Showbiz: Catch MPO's first 3 Asian nations chamber concert on July 22

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) will be staging its first chamber concert featuring works by composers from three Asian countries at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas in KLCC at 8.30pm on July 22.

Dubbed the Three Nations Chamber Concert, this special show will feature a repertoire by composers from Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea to celebrate a kaleidoscope of talent and musical colours from the three contrasting cultures all united in exchange of musical ideas.

MPO resident conductor Gerard Salonga serves as artistic advisor for the concert which represents the MPO's pioneering collaboration with three music associations, namely the Malaysian Composers Collective (MCC), the Asian Composers League (South Korea) and the Composers Society of Singapore.

The chamber concert is part of the MPO's ongoing efforts to nurture music talents in Malaysia and to showcase their artistry on a prestigious platform at DFP.  

The Malaysian works to be performed are Jalinan composed by Adeline Wong (inspired by the beautiful voice of the 'azan'), Fragments 1 by Ainolnaim Azizol (written for the 2014 Asian Composers League Young Composers Competition in Japan) and Ada Angin Bertiup by Johan Othman (a work that plays around with the idea of the wind and the spirit).

South Korea will be represented by 6 Moment Musicaux composed by Chung Seung Jae (a work presenting six musical ideas with distinctive characteristics), Echoes From An Old Tree by Kyungmee Rhee (depicting how people's lives are in comparison to nature) and Remnants by Sunyeong Pak.

Singapore will be presenting Distancing Etude by Hoh Chung Shih (a work that expresses the social conditions during the Covid-19 pandemic), Smidgen(S) by Emily Koh (a short musical on spices in the composer's kitchen) and Petals In The Sun by Elliot Teo (inspired by a Filipino artist's painting).

Tickets are priced at RM75 and RM35 for students (student-priced tickets are only available via walk-in at the Box Office counter).

Meanwhile, the MPO will also be organising other exciting concerts during July including a concert featuring orchestral renditions of the evergreen songs of The Beatles.

Happening on July 16, the Beatles Go Baroque will see the MPO performing iconic tunes such as Hey Jude, Yellow Submarine and many more with a Baroque twist from Bach, Vivaldi and Handel.

Led by the MPO's resident conductor Naohisa Furusawa, it is a concert that perfectly blends the popular music in a classical style that will excite fans of both classical music and the Fab Four.

On July 23, the MPO with Salonga will present work from the greatest blockbusters of all time in The Magnificent Seven.

The concert will entertain movie fans with a compelling selection of famous soundtracks from Hollywood's top films such as the Titanic theme and the James Bond ditties, as well as the score from Gladiator, Man Of Steel and The Dark Knight Rises.

Those who prefer a more traditional classical repertoire can look out for the No.5 — Beethoven concert on July 30.

MPO and Salonga will be joined by the Malaysian pianist Ng Chong Lim as they perform the works of Mozart's Così fan tutte Overture, Schumann's Piano Concerto and Beethoven's Symphony No. 5.

Call 03-23317007 or visit www.mpo.com.my for more details.

Most Popular
Related Article
Says Stories