Celebrate with Singapore Lyric Opera (SLO) as it marks its 20-year milestone with the Anniversary Gala Concert, “20 Years of Grand Opera”, at the Esplanade Concert Hall on 26 November, 2010.

For one night only, audiences can immerse themselves in all the best-loved arias and excerpts from 20 operas that SLO has produced in the last 20 years. This is the perfect opportunity to savour some of the most brilliant renditions of works of Puccini, Lehar, Verdi, Mozart, Rossini, Bizet and many more.Also, for the first time, 11 local and foreign vocal artistes come together for a combined showcase of 27 arias from the well-received operas that SLO has produced over the past two decades.

Mr Toh Weng Cheong, Chairman of SLO says: “Singapore Lyric Opera ‘s 20th anniversary is certainly an occasion to celebrate and much to be pleased about. It is a time for us to thank all the supporters – individuals and companies – who had helped to develop SLO over the years.

We will continue to promote the artform as we believe that Opera must be part and parcel of Singapore’s cultural landscape. We are known for our quality productions. Robert Markow of Opera magazine [August 2007] said in his review of our 2007 production of Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia that SLO is capable of delivering quality works and it is one of the best productions he had seen in 30 years of review.

We like to say thank you to everyone who had come through for us – staff, directors, volunteers, well wishers and especially donors and sponsors – for making it possible for SLO to celebrate 20 years of opera making”.

Kicking off the concert is Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte: and concluding it is Verdi’s Rigoletto: Bella figlia dell’amore. Opera fans will get to hear much loved Nessun Dorma from Turandot made famous by the late Luciano Pavarotti;Love Unspoken from The Merry Widow, and opera choruses like Anvil Chorus, March of the Toreador, Humming Chorus.

All four members of the SLO family, the Singapore Lyric Opera Orchestra, Opera Chorus, Youth Choir and Children’s Choir, will complement the concert.

Professionally trained and seasoned musicians as well as music students constitute the SLO Orchestra. The orchestra has had several opportunities to work with distinguished and emerging young conductors, like Singapore-born Darrell Ang and Joshua Tan Kang Ming. The opera productions that it has been involved with include Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann and Puccini’s La Boheme.

The Opera Chorus is the backbone of SLO’s production and had performed with distinguished opera directors like Tom Hawkes, Andrew Sinclair, Paul-Emile Fourny and David Edwards and renowned local director Ivan Heng. Their recent repertoire includes Puccini’s Turandot and Mozart’s Die Zauberflote.

The Youth Choir comprises members aged 16 to 30 and they are all armed with a burning passion for music. The Youth Choir has, to date, performed in several concerts including Puccini Gala and solo concerts at Esplanade Recital Studio in 2009, which enjoyed a sold-out success.

The last branch of the SLO family is the Children’s Choir, which consist of members aged 8 to 16. The Children’s Choir aspires to be one of the finest choirs in Singapore. It has partake in numerous SLO productions, and its repertoire ranges from opera, oratorio, choral masterpieces and musical theatre from all periods, genres and languages.

Together with the vocal artistes, these colourful composition of skilled musicians and young talents, the concert promises to make the night a special evening.

Tickets are priced at $18, $28, $38, $48, $58, $68, $78 and $88 from SISTIC. For more information, please call Singapore Lyric Opera office at 6336 1929.

1990-2010 Celebrating 20th Anniversary of opera and music making

Operatic Excellence, 20 Years of Grand Opera November 26, 2010

Esplanade Concert Hall