Joining forces ‒ the BBC Singers and Singapore Symphony Chorus
This year saw another first for the BBC Singers: a tour to Singapore at the invitation of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, to join them in three performances of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in celebration of their 36th anniversary. We stayed in the Central Business District of Singapore, all elegant skyscrapers with gleaming surfaces, brand new shopping malls and futuristic parks, complete with the hectic bustle of people heading to work, shopping or eating in the many cafes, restaurants and hawker centres.
It was a short journey on the Metro to the newly refurbished Victoria Hall, on the river front at Raffles Place. Apparently the acoustics of the concert hall still need some tweaking, and duvets can be seen hanging from the walls and ceiling as part of the work in progress. Having met with conductor, Lan Shui, who put us through our paces in preparation for his fast and energetic interpretation of Beethoven’s Ninth, I could happily have made use of one of them! After a break for lunch, it was a relief to have some time off before meeting the Singapore Symphony Chorus in the evening.
Singapore is populated by people from many different nations engaged in a huge variety of occupations, and the membership of Singapore Symphony Chorus reflects this diversity. Beethoven’s Choral Symphony ‒ with its hymn of praise for universal brotherhood ‒ felt like an ideal choice for a collaboration between singers from different countries and cultures. We were given a warm welcome at our first meeting, and friendly chats quickly ensued, but once we started rehearsing with Lan Shui, the orchestra and soloists, all attention was focussed on the music.
A concert tour presents the performer with a challenge ‒ how to make the most of free time in a fascinating place, acclimatise, eat, rest and remain fresh for the evening’s concert. Variously we explored the island’s colourful downtown districts, found calm in the Botanic Gardens, marvelled at the newly reclaimed Marina Bay area with its spectacular waterfront parks and sampled the many cuisines on offer ‒ from an amazing curry served up on a banana leaf to the ubiquitous Singapore Sling. The more energetic trekked and cycled, and Ed Price even won the Singapore Saturday morning 5k Fun Run! Back at Victoria Hall each evening, we were privileged to sit on stage behind the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and listen to them playing the first three movements before rising to our feet to add our voices to the stirring finale of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
Rehearsing a cappella in the Victoria Hall, Singapore
On Sunday afternoon the BBC Singers gave an a cappella concert, conducted by Paul Brough, showcasing late 20th-century and early 21st-century British works, some of which had been written for the group by our Associate Composers. One of the joys of singing in your own language is the depth of your response to the marriage of poetry and music, particularly poignant in Judith Weir’s setting of Vertue by George Herbert. In the encore, Richard Rodney Bennett’s Good Night, which we previously sang at his Memorial Service, there is a danger that you become so moved that you can’t sing at all! From one farewell to another, there followed a reception, giving us a chance to say our goodbyes to members of the Singapore Symphony Chorus who had been in the audience and to thank the orchestra management team who had made us so welcome..
On our final day in Singapore, we went to the state-of-the-art Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music to lead two workshops with students, the first being a general guide to writing for the voice, with advice as to range, balance, texture, vocal effects and use of text. This was followed by workshop performances of three very contrasting pieces by students. They were very happy to hear their pieces sung and graciously took on board our suggestions. One of the works was then selected to be recorded by the BBC Singers at a later date for inclusion in a feature for Choir & Organ Magazine. That done, we had time for a final swim/meal/shop/bask before flying back to London where we were greeted by the blast of a cold March wind.
Music from the BBC Singers' Singapore tour can be heard on BBC Radio 3 in Afternoon on 3 on 11 May and on 13 May.
Singapore Sing ‒ Beethoven's 9th Symphony
