Life Buzz | the STRAITS TIMES | TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2016 |
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D10 life buzz | THE STRAITS TIMES | TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2016 | Singaporean ‘Crazy’ dream a reality in gig too When some of Australia’s leading classical musicians unite for a con- cert in Singapore, they will be joined by home-grown violinist Brenda Koh. Just 21, she was picked by the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music – where she is a fourth-year student – to be part of the Australian Alexander Briger has brought intense schedule of rehearsals and Asia and, particularly now, Singa- that will understand this: I’ve just Student Brenda WorldOrchestra Academy. shows. pore. So the orchestra wanted to had afternoon tea with Steve Waugh Koh (above) will The opportunity gives young tal- together Australian musicians Made up of rotating musicians, come here to play. It’s very exciting and Brett Lee.’ And the whole play with the ents a one-time place in the orches- the orchestra has members from and it’s really a coming together of orchestrajustburst into laughter.” Australian World tra – an honour given to just seven from around the world to play in more than 40 orchestras world- ourtwonations,”saysBriger. Mehta was so impressed with the Orchestra, youngpeoplebeforeKoh. wide under one roof. But Briger and After the success of the orchestra’s orchestra that he invited it to tour conducted by Before taking the stage with the the Australian World Orchestra Thompson proved it could be done. first season in 2011, it decided to raise India with him. It headed there last Alexander Briger orchestra for its performance here In August 2011, the orchestra had the stakes by courting one of the year and, that same year, worked (top), on Oct 1. on Oct 1, she heads to Sydney late Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh its inaugural concert series in Aus- world’sconductinggreats. with another legend, Berlin Philhar- PHOTOS: DIOS nextmonthforrehearsals. tralia with Briger – its chief con- “We wondered, could we get monic principal conductor Rattle VINCOY JR FOR THE Koh, who took up the violin at age ductor and the artistic director – at Zubin Mehta?” Briger says. “And for its concerts in Australia. STRAITS TIMES, three, is looking forward to having a Top British conductor Simon Rattle the helm. Audiences, he recalls, went there was this oboist Nick Deutsch, This year, as the orchestra turns BRENDA KOH taste of life in a professional orches- called it an “international treasure” “absolutelyballistic”. who plays in Zubin’s Israel Phil- five, Briger will take charge once tra. “I can only imagine the level of and legendary maestro Zubin Mehta “There were standing ovations harmonic and is really good friends more. commitment and passion these ravedthathe adoredconductingit. before we’d even played,” says with him. Imagine the luck. So all he As a young boy, he was already musicians have, and I can only hope But when the man behind the Aus- Briger, who has conducted top did was ring Zubin up and we nimble with the violin and piano. I have the capacity to learn as much tralian World Orchestra, Alexander orchestras such as the London Phil- managed to work things out.” But it was at age 12, after watching as I can from them ,” she says. Briger, first made known his plan to harmonic Orchestra. “The audiences Mumbai-born Mehta was at the his uncle – the famous Australian She is doing a joint bachelor of bring Australian musicians from all were going, ‘Wow, this is the level of helm of the orchestra’s 2013 sea- conductor Charles Mackerras – music degree, spending five semes- corners of the world together to talent we have coming from Aus- son, once more sparking a wave of lead the Sydney Symphony ters at the Yong Siew Toh Conser- form an orchestra, the task was tralia. I had no idea we had this standing ovations from audiences Orchestra that he decided on a vatory of Music here and three at deemedinsane. person in the Vienna Philharmonic in Sydney and Melbourne. career in music. “I still remember lis- the Peabody Institute in the United He still remembers striding into or this person in the London Sym- And in Australia, he, too, had a tening to one particular piece – States. An active chamber musi- the Sydney Opera House in 2011 with phonyOrchestra.’” chance to indulge in his other pas- Mahler’s Fourth Symphony – and cian, she has taken part in chamber his sister Gabrielle Thompson – who And this star-studded supergroup sion: cricket. Briger arranged for when the third movement came on, music festivals in Europe and the is now the orchestra’s chief execu- is headed to Singapore in October. It Mehta to meet top cricketers Steve I was so blown away by this exqui- US and, in 2012, clinched the top tive officer – armed with “a dream will play a one-night-only concert at Waugh and Brett Lee. site music that I said to myself right prize for the inaugural Singapore andagreatdeal ofnaive optimism”. the Esplanade Concert Hall on Oct 1, “Zubin just couldn’t believe it. He there and then, ‘I want to do what Ensemble Competition. “We walked in there and said, ‘We with 93 of Australia’s finest classical was stunned,” says Briger. “At the my uncle’s doing,’” he recalls. The Australian World Orchestra is want to book the concert hall. How musicians performing under Briger’s rehearsal after, he told the orches- Decades later, in 2006, he would big on education and has been active much is it?’ They told us, ‘Well, it’s baton. tra, ‘I’m really speechless. I’m not come full circle, conducting that in its efforts to share its members’ expensive. What do you want to It will take on two beloved pieces, sure how I’m going to conduct now. same piece with the London Philhar- knowledge and experience. Its do?’” Briger, 47, says with a laugh. Ravel’s Bolero and Tchaikovsky’s You’re the only orchestra on earth monicashisunclesatintheaudience. musicians will also conduct master- “I said we wanted to fly all these Symphony No. 5. And the concert “There’s just something magical classes for Yong Siew Toh students Australians from orchestras from will also see the international pre- about music and how it can bring on Oct 1, before its performance. around the world in to form an miere of The Witching Hour, a BOOK IT / AUSTRALIAN people together. That first year with Among them are Shannon Pittaway, orchestra and they went, ‘You’re go- specially commissioned concerto WORLD ORCHESTRA 2016 the Australian World Orchestra, we whojoinedtheNewZealandSympho- ing to do what? Are you crazy? How for eight double basses by Austra- SINGAPORE TOUR saw all these players from all over the ny Orchestra last year as principal onearthareyougoingtodothat?’ lian composer Elena Kats-Chernin. world – some who hadn’t seen one bass trombone after a decade with “We got that reaction a lot, people Singapore violinist Brenda Koh, 21, WHERE: Esplanade Concert Hall, another for 20 years or so – hugging theSingaporeSymphonyOrchestra. wondering if it could be done or the a student at the Yong Siew Toh Con- 1 Esplanade Drive and crying, tears streaming down A Yong Siew Toh spokesman says orchestra was just the ramblings of a servatory of Music, will perform with WHEN: Oct 1, 7.30pm theircheeks,”he says. the conservatory is pleased to part- madman.” the orchestra when it is in town (see “There’s just something different ner the orchestra. “Australian World Cobbling the orchestra together otherstory). ADMISSION: $88 to $208 from about being part of this orchestra. Orchestra’s commitment to educa- was a logistical feat that took grit and The Singapore concert is only the Sistic (call 6348-5555 or go to Something more. For these musi- tion through this partnership brings long hours hunting down funds and second time the orchestra has per- www.sistic.com.sg) cians, it’s not just a performance. immense value to our students as herding musicians – from renowned formed outside of Australia. The only It’s a homecoming.” wellasthecommunity.” groups such as the Berlin Phil- othertimewasin Indialastyear. harmonic – back Down Under for an “Australia has such great ties with [email protected] Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh Lost in Translation? TOMORROW IN Toons triumph Tamil Murasu provides error-free Why animated flicks like The Secret Life Of Pets ruled in a year of box-office flops translation from English to Tamil For more of M, go to tnp.sg/m Call Mrs Muthu: 6319 4062 (Office hours).