Allright, here is the critic for NAFA Music Department's performance on "The 9th" on 9th of April.
Life! - Life Music
11 April 2008
Straits Times
(c) 2008 Singapore Press Holdings Limited
IMPERFECT, BUT FULL OF HEART
concert
NANYANG ACADEMY OF FINE ARTS 70TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT Victoria Concert Hall Wednesday
Every performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is an occasion to treasure, even if it is performed by a body of students, most of whom are playing it for the first time.
Never mind the opening jitters, the miscues, intonation lapses, or uneven ensemble, it was a matter of time that the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Nafa) Orchestra settled down to the business end of music-making.
Its German-born music director Volker Hartung lent a healthy dose of Teutonic grandeur to the proceedings, yielding a reading that ran just under 80 minutes, and one that had many moments to savour.
While the opening movement was weighed down by its epic scale, precision ruled in the Scherzo with a very fine solo from oboist Jeremy Wong.
The sublime slow movement, the most difficult to pull off, was taken at a plodding pace.
When one expected the music to flow seamlessly, its 17 minutes almost seemed an eternity. However, all this was dispelled with the choral finale.
The first appearance of the Ode To Joy theme, gratefully sung by the double basses, was marvellously shaped and the mood for celebration was set.
The vocal soloists had a mixed evening. Bass Ralph McDonald sounded surprisingly lightweight in his imposing opening solo, whereas tenor Lim Shieh Yih was resolute, even heroic. Alto Zhou Qian blended well within the quartet without being obtrusive, and soprano Nancy Yuen hit her glory note with assuredness, only to go flat thereafter.
The crowning glory was, however, the Nafa Chorus, which ran the gauntlet with gusto, especially in the highly taxing choral fugue and the final apotheosis.
They have been well coached by chorus master Zechariah Goh Toh Chai.
Despite the imperfections of execution, here was a very commendable performance that was full of heart, one that raised many a goosebump.
Earlier in the evening, the Nafa Gamelan Ensemble hammered out their version of Ode To Joy in the foyer, and the 27-member Nafa Chinese Ensemble performed four celebratory Chinese showpieces.
Where on this planet could one find such diversity of musical genres and forms?
Only in Singapore, only at Nafa.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
NAFA Students To Perform "The 9th" (How is your opinion... ?)
"Let's have a lot of fun tommorow !"
--- Volker Hartung, condductor, Head of Orchestral Studies and Conductor of NAFA Orchestra.
"The rehearsal has spent so much time and many times I must change my schedule with (my) students. It's also still disappointing not to have any of my student to perform for a solo concerto, which I don't know why up to now. Well, let's just see how it goes."
--- Boris Kraljevic, International Pianist, faculty of NAFA Department of Music.
"Ah, I can't really give any comment. I've never seen the reharsal. Later if I got chance to see, then I'll tell you.
--- James Yap, Music Theory module lecturer, faculty of NAFA Department of Music.
"A little bit sleepy during the performance (to wait until the final movement), since there's nothing to see (as a performer, not audience). However it feels kinda cool that we are all able to do it."
--- Mingshanwang, 1st year Diploma in Piano Performance, Choir Member (Alto).
"I'd love to watch the performance. Let's see wether I have time for it."
--- Iswargia Sudiarno, Indonesian pianist.
"I think it's pretty good... at least I'd think this way because we worked really, really hard for it"
--- Tan Wen Bin, 2nd year Diploma in Composition, Orchestra Member (Cello).
"It will be a very interesting performace to watch. I love The 9th! Unfortunately I can't go to watch it as I've bought a ticket for performance by my school's orchestra."
--- Akkra Yeunyonghattaporn, 1st year student in Yong Siew Toh Conservatory.
"Ok I will come to watch it after my work. I've never heard the song (Ode to Joy) in its original language before."
--- Christopher Ng, 28.
I'm really looking forward to our performance. We shall do our best together. It will be an enjoyable performance, so make sure you don't miss the show !
--- Volker Hartung, condductor, Head of Orchestral Studies and Conductor of NAFA Orchestra.
"The rehearsal has spent so much time and many times I must change my schedule with (my) students. It's also still disappointing not to have any of my student to perform for a solo concerto, which I don't know why up to now. Well, let's just see how it goes."
--- Boris Kraljevic, International Pianist, faculty of NAFA Department of Music.
"Ah, I can't really give any comment. I've never seen the reharsal. Later if I got chance to see, then I'll tell you.
--- James Yap, Music Theory module lecturer, faculty of NAFA Department of Music.
"A little bit sleepy during the performance (to wait until the final movement), since there's nothing to see (as a performer, not audience). However it feels kinda cool that we are all able to do it."
--- Mingshanwang, 1st year Diploma in Piano Performance, Choir Member (Alto).
"I'd love to watch the performance. Let's see wether I have time for it."
--- Iswargia Sudiarno, Indonesian pianist.
"I think it's pretty good... at least I'd think this way because we worked really, really hard for it"
--- Tan Wen Bin, 2nd year Diploma in Composition, Orchestra Member (Cello).
"It will be a very interesting performace to watch. I love The 9th! Unfortunately I can't go to watch it as I've bought a ticket for performance by my school's orchestra."
--- Akkra Yeunyonghattaporn, 1st year student in Yong Siew Toh Conservatory.
"Ok I will come to watch it after my work. I've never heard the song (Ode to Joy) in its original language before."
--- Christopher Ng, 28.
I'm really looking forward to our performance. We shall do our best together. It will be an enjoyable performance, so make sure you don't miss the show !
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