Double Bechstein D282 Grand Pianos at A Concert of Hope by Poh-Lin Koh and Raymond Lin
Pianists Poh-Lin Koh and Raymond Lin played 2 intimate concerts at Bechstein Music World for charity. Double Bechstein D282 Grand Pianos at A Concert of Hope by Poh-Lin Koh and Raymond Lin. The audience of around 60 were there to share the music and support donations to elderly care services run by Filos Community Services. Poh-Lin Koh is a virtuoso solo pianist who has performed across Canada, Europe, and Asia. She was active in Singapore in the 1980s, until she moved to Canada, where she is currently based. She is critically acclaimed in multiple countries for her expressive playing and brilliant fingerwork. Raymond Lin is a medical professional who plays the piano as his passion. He studied under the late Yeoh Siew Lan. He and Poh-Lin met while in secondary school at the Anglo-Chinese Junior College studying for O-Level Music. At home, Raymond Lin composes original music and plays piano recreationally on a Bechstein Concert 8 Upright Piano. At Bechstein Music World Singapore on Thursday, October 20th, at 7pm, and Saturday, October 22nd was a two piano concert comprising Bach-Gounod Ave Maria, Thomé Andante Religioso, Chopin piano concerto no. 2, Mozart, Elvira Madigan, Debussy 4 hands from Petit Suite, “Five Miniatures from the Pandemic” – an original composition from Raymond Lin, and concluding with the spectacular Chopin Adante Spaniato and Grand Polonaise.
Living Legend Martha Argerich Returns to Singapore for 3-Day Concert Series
November 2022 is shaping up to be a fantastic month for Classical Music in Singapore. Among this month’s highlights is a series of concerts by Concert Pianist Extraordinaire, Martha Argerich from 7th – 9th November at Singapore’s national performing arts centre, the Esplanade whose futuristic architecture proves to be a fitting match to Argerich’s commitment to bringing classical music into the future! Martha Argerich, (born June 5, 1941, Buenos Aires, Argentina), Argentine pianist known for her recordings and performances of chamber music, particularly of works by Olivier Messiaen, Sergey Prokofiev, and Sergey Rachmaninoff. A prodigy, Argerich was performing professionally by age eight. Known for decades as “the greatest pianist in the world, the artist whom other pianists almost universally venerate for her formidable technique and her instinctive musicianship” (Washington Post, 2016), the legendary Martha Argerich returns to Singapore to headline her first festival here! Martha Argerich and Friends – Live in Singapore Over the course of three nights, Argerich will share the stage with friends and family in chamber music, and with the Orchestra of the Music Makers with her definitive interpretation of Robert Schumann’s Piano Concerto. Keeping with her longtime commitment to championing the future of classical music, Argerich is also immensely proud to present the next generation of young pianists in her festival, including her prodigious 14-year-old grandson David Chen and the newly-crowned Van Cliburn Competition winner Yunchan Lim. Also featured will be Martha’s daughter, Lyda Chen Argerich on Viola, and conductor and pianist Darío Alejandro Ntaca together with the Orchestra of the Music Makers. Piano Provided by Bechstein Music World Martha Argerich and Friends will be playing at the Esplanade Concert Hall on the C. Bechstein D282 Concert Grand Piano generously provided by Bechstein Music World Singapore for this concert series. Here’s what we have to look forward to: Programmes CHAMBER MUSIC Monday, 7 November 2022, 8:15pm CLARA SCHUMANN – Three Romances, Op. 22 Lyda Chen Argerich, viola Martha Argerich, piano CHOPIN – Fantasie-Impromptu, Op. 66 David Chen, piano RAVEL – Ma Mère l’Oye (Mother Goose) Martha Argerich, piano David Chen, piano RACHMANINOV – Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 Darío Alejandro Ntaca, piano Martha Argerich, piano ** ROMANTICS Tuesday, 8 November 2022, 8:15pm WAGNER – Prelude to Act 3 of Lohengrin BEETHOVEN – Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15 BRAHMS – Tragic Overture, Op. 81 SCHUMANN – Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 54 David Chen, piano (Beethoven) Martha Argerich, piano (Schumann) Orchestra of the Music Makers Darío Alejandro Ntaca, conductor ** GENERATIONS Wednesday, 9 November 2022, 8:15pm HINDEMITH – Trauermusik RIMSKY-KORSAKOV – Scheherazade, Op. 35 BEETHOVEN – Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73 Lyda Chen Argerich, viola (Hindemith) Yunchan Lim, piano (Beethoven) Orchestra of the Music Makers Darío Alejandro Ntaca, conductor (Programmes subject to change at the artists’ discretion) Get your tickets now at Sistic.com. This Concert series is brought to you by Altenberg Arts Pte Ltd.
YouTuber Superstar Visits Cristofori Experiential Centre @ Funan!
YouTuber superstar and Casio Japan global ambassador Sumino Hayato, also known as Cateen, was in Singapore and paid a visit to the Cristofori Experiential Centre at Funan Mall on the 15th of October 2022! Our Funan outlet is privileged to be the first and only music store in Singapore to be selected to display the newly launched Casio Privia series PXS-7000 piano, which Cateen graciously performed for us on to give a demonstration of this latest model from Casio. With its slim, stylish and lightweight body, the Privia PX-S1100/PX-S3100/PX-S5000 is portable and can fit and compliment any space that it is placed in. It is also equipped with smart functions that can broaden the way you perform and enjoy music. With its ultimate accessibility and innovative functions, this model promises a closer, more personal connection to music. The new Casio PX-7000 comes in 3 colors, Black, White, and Harmonious Mustard. If you’d like to try the Casio Privia series models for yourself, head over to the Cristofori Experiential Centre at Funan Mall, #04-10 Funan Mall (S179105). We hope to see you there!
Asian Supreme Drum Competition 2022 Grand Finals
Spirits were high at the Asian Supreme Drum Competition 2022 Grand Finals, with a total of 87 finalists vying for the top spots in 4 main categories at the Singpost Theatre in Singapore. The day opened with the final rounds in the Rockschool category where contestants played their renditions of the Rockschool Drums pieces in Grades Debut to Grade 5. This very special category allowed students learning Rockschool in Singapore, and other parts of Southeast Asia to participate and experience the competition too, making the Asian Supreme Drum Competition 2022 one of the most accessible competitions in the world! There were stellar performances by the contestants in the Junior, Intermediate and Open age group categories with a mix of Samba, Rock, Metal, and Fusion pieces filling the auditorium with electrifying grooves. This year’s competition saw more than 500 participants joining from over 12 countries including Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Philippines, USA, China, Korea, the UK, Myanmar and Canada. Finalists not only hail from Singapore, but many flew in from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and beyond to be a part of the competition. Congratulations to all the Winners, as well as to all this year’s Finalists! Special thanks go out to Rockschool Singapore for their support and to all our partners in Singapore and all over the world as well as to all the participants and their families for making this event a great success! For more updates and information, visit the official RS Event Center Facebook Page, Instagram, and our official website!
2022 Pearl River Digital Piano International Competition Singapore & S.E.A. Regional Finals – Conquering Obstacles in the Name of Music
Children Category Winners Junior Category Winners Intermediate Category Winners Open Category Winners The Pearl River Digital Piano International Competition 2022 held its Regional Finals on the 2nd of October 2022. We were privileged to witness some of Singapore’s best aspiring young pianists, many of whom were taking their first steps into the competition experience! A total of 51 finalists out of over 400 candidates gave splendid performances in competing for top spots in the Regional Finals. We are truly humbled by the support shown by all the participants, as well as inspired by their stories and the face that for many, the Pearl River Digital Piano International Competition 2022 became their stepping stone to overcoming obstacles in their pursuit of their musical journeys. Speaking on their experience at the Pearl River Digital Piano International Competition 2022, we had a quick chat with a few top prize winners who shared their thoughts on the competition. Open Category 1st Prize – Pariyakorn Tankanarat Q: What was your experience like in entering and preparing for this competition? “At first it was unintentional to join this, because for the qualifying round (the deadline) was the first of this month at midnight, ad i just submitted the Google form at 11:58 (laughs), and at that time i was confused very much (sic), and i think “ok, I’ve submitted it, so i have to fight and do my best, so over the month i kept on practice, practice and practice a lot… and i have to thank my friends and my family, and my professor, and myself also for never quitting.” Q: Was this your first competition? “No, actually I have joined around 2 or 3 competitions but in Thailand, so this is the first International competition that I’ve joined.” Open Category 3rd Prize – Boo Kok Chuon: Q: How would you describe your experience joining and preparing for this competition? “Actually, why I joined the competition in the first place was to accompany my daughter but she didn’t manage to get in, I got in (laughs), but anyway I would say that it is a fantastic experience personally, and I got to see a lot of high quality piano players. I am truly grateful for the opportunity and really honoured to be one of the finalists.” Q: Were you expecting to be a finalist? “Actually not really, because I’m using my own composition, then I’m competing against the works of giants, so I wasn’t really expecting that my own work could actually be on the same stage and I never expected to place 3rd in my category. Q: Do you have any message to others who may be looking to join the Pearl River Digital Piano International Competition in the future? “Initially I was a bit discouraged (to join) because I suspect that I may be the most senior participant (laughs), but in any case, don’t let this (age) be an obstacle… don’t bother about all these concerns, ultimately it’s the experience that counts.” Fun Fact: Boo Kok Chuon holds a corporate job, but music has always been a passion for him. He played his own composition “Wave Sonata” for the Finals. Intermediate Category 3rd Prize – Hanyu Li: Q: How would you describe your experience joining and preparing for this competition? “Considering that this is my first piano competition, this is actually quite the experience because i’ve never actually done anything like this before, so I’d say it was an emotional roller coaster. Q: What made you decide to join the Pearl River Digital Piano International Competition? “Uhh, how honest do I be with my responses? (laughs)… Part of it is because i’ve been playing piano for a total of 10 years now, so I’ve gone a long time without actually joining a competition, so i wanted to have this experience of competing with other pianists and hearing others play physically, so like a piano festival with some stakes added, not to mention my teacher also wanted me to enter one (competition) so yeah (laughs).” “It was the most available one in the post-COVID era and other competitions have been hard to find or are being held elsewhere, but this one i had seen all over (on social media, at music schools) and you could find out a lot about it very quickly, so i think the media exposure that it gets is a lot more than other competitions (that I wasn’t aware of).” Q: Any message to other pianists such as yourself who perhaps are also hesitant to compete? “Just join, it’s fun! (laughs) You may be nervous at first, but at the end of the day you’re playing piano so you can have others hear and enjoy your music so i think it’s worth it to come to piano competitions where you can express your piano playing on a platform where others can hear you as well.” Intermediate Category 3rd Prize – Gelasia Chan Cee Hwee Q: What would you say was the biggest challenge in preparing for this competition? “Thinking of a way to deal with the anxiety that comes with participating competitions, because i get a lot of stage fright so even if i’m able to play it properly at home, when i play in front of others it usually sounds more messy so it was definitely more of a mental preparation and finding ways to deal with the stress that i’m going to experience on the day itself.” Q: Is there any advice you would like to share with other young pianists who may experience the same sort of anxieties as yourself? “It may help to think that, you know, you only get one shot at this, so before your turn comes around, you should really just mentally prepare yourself and when you get to the piano, just take a moment to take a deep breath, and then think about how you want the first few notes to go because it’s always the
Classical Music Adventures: Encounters with Chopin – by Li Churen
24th September 2022 – We got to see the Cristofori Full Concert Grand Piano CG275 in action at the Our Tampines Hub Festive Arts Theatre under the expert hands of Singaporean Pianist and Composer Churen Li in one of her Classical Music Adventures, Encounters with Chopin. In this series, Churen seeks to bring Classical Music to the young audience through performances, discussion, games and interactive learning. Churen spoke about each of the pieces played in the program to educate the audience on Chopin’s life and different works. The stage setup featured the grand piano framed by kinetic sculptures by art director Phoebe Zoe Ho & team that used shapes, flowing lines, different colors and textures to depict the movement and flow of Chopin’s music. Her playing paired perfectly with the resonant sound of the Cristofori CG275. This piano is Made in Korea by Young Chang – who are among the largest and most automated of the world’s piano manufacturers. The Cristofori CG275 features all top-quality materials and craftsmanship including solid spruce soundboards. Singaporean pianist Churen Li seeks innovative and personal approaches to concert programming, combining diverse genres with improvisatory and experimental practices. Churen attained her Bachelor’s Degree from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music (National University of Singapore), where she graduated aged 19 as the youngest of her cohort. She attained her two Masters Degrees (in music and in philosophy, respectively) from Yale University and Cambridge University. Churen is currently an Artist Fellow at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. Her past teachers include Albert Tiu, Bernard Lanskey, Paul Liang, Peter Frankl and Hung-Kuan Chen. Catch more of the Cristofori CG275 in action @ Our Tampines Hub: 17 December 2022 Classical Music Adventures: Encounters with Schumann Festive Arts Theatre, Our Tampines Hub, Singapore 25 March 2023 Classical Music Adventures: Encounters with Ravel Festive Arts Theatre, Our Tampines Hub, Singapore Click the link below to watch the full video:
Sir Stephen Hough: A VERY SMALL CONCERTO
4th September 2022, Singapore – Sir Stephen Hough recently returned to Singapore for a solo recital, and a concerto performance with the professional chamber group reSound Collective. Sir Stephen played Brahms’ Second Piano Concerto – a 4-movement work playing close to 50 minutes. A brief background on the piano concerto, Brahms began composing the piece in 1878 and completed it in 1881 while he was in Pressbaum near Vienna. It took him three years to work on this concerto. He wrote to Clara Schumann: “I want to tell you that I have written a very small piano concerto with a very small and pretty scherzo.” Ironically, he was describing a huge piece that is regarded as the longest, most complex piano concertos written to that date. The public premiere of the concerto was an immediate success in November 1881, with Brahms as soloist with the Budapest Philharmonic Orchestra. Sir Stephen certainly lived up to the renown of this concerto’s premiere over 140 years ago, conceived like a symphony, it has been described as a “concerto against the piano”, putting a solo instrument – the Bechstein D282 Concert Grand Piano for this performance, whose resonant tone is perfect for any concert hall – up against the power of an orchestra. There was certainly nothing to fear, as Sir Hough displayed a great sense of reassurance and expertly conquered every challenge the piece presented in his path with his finesse and masterful skill. All through the concerto, the players of re:Sound supported Sir Stephen throughout the piece, and even presented their own impressive showcase in Bartok’s Divertimento For Strings, Led by violinist and former SSO concert master Igor Yuzefovich. Bartok ironically named his Divertimento, although named after the Classical divertimento form, it is not a light and entertaining work as the name suggests. The Evening was truly a spectacular performance by both Hough and the reSound Collective, and further distinguishes Sir Stepen Hough as one of the most distinctive artists of this generation. Photo Credits: Resound/ Joel Chew
Nightscapes – An Evening of Music with Sir Stephen Hough
The Cristofori team was treated to a delightful opportunity to witness the first live performance by Sir Stephen Hough in Singapore since his induction into knighthood by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for his vast contributions in the field of Music. Sir Stephen’s “Nightscapes” was held on 31st August 2022 at the Victoria Concert Hall and featured the following Programme: Chopin: Two Nocturnes Scriabin: Sonata no. 5 Debussy: Estampes Hough: Partita (2019) Liszt: Three Petrarch Sonnets Liszt: Dante Sonata The first half of the recital was played on a C. Bechstein D282 full concert grand piano, proudly sponsored by Bechstein Music World, that offered a full-bodied, sparkling and balanced flavour to the two Nocturnes by Chopin, and the Scriabin Sonata. The first half of the recital was played on a C. Bechstein D282 full concert grand piano – proudly sponsored by Bechstein Music World, a certified RSL supporter – that offered a full-bodied, sparkling and balanced flavour to the two Nocturnes by Chopin, and the Sonata by A. Scriabin, who himself wrote his music on a Bechstein piano. Top quality since 1853: the C. Bechstein name is synonymous with exquisite grand and upright pianos made in Germany. The C. Bechstein D 282 concert grand piano is a top-class instrument. Thanks to its stupendous and beautiful sound, it’s the ideal grand for large concert halls just like the Victoria Concert Hall. The C. Bechstein engineers and master piano-makers developed the D 282 model after intensive discussions with international star pianists. This legendary instrument has set new standards with its transparent voice and unparalleled richness of tonal colors. The C. Bechstein D 282 concert grand piano embodies the synthesis of the brand’s legend and the demands of today’s pianists for power and dynamism. International star pianists confirm the outstanding characteristics of the C. Bechstein D 282 concert grand piano: surprisingly powerful sound, elegant and high-precision action. Bechstein pianos have been favoured by some of the greatest concert pianists and recording artists, including Leonard Bernstein, Wilhelm Kempff, Dinu Lipatti, Shura Cherkassy, Sviatoslav Richter, Oscar Peterson and Tatiana Nikolayeva. Claude Debussy said “Piano music should only be written for the Bechstein”. This illustrious history behind the C. Bechstein pianos was fully apparent in the D282 played by Sir Stephen at the “Nightscapes” recital, which astounded us with the striking clarity from the first notes of the Nocturnes, which carried through the entire tonal range of the instrument; the sparkling brilliance of each note drawing the ear’s interest and keeping our minds glued to Sir Stephen’s performance, and truly highlighting his brilliant playing and mastery of the piano. Named by The Economist as one of 20 Living Polymaths, British pianist Stephen Hough is a true renaissance man – a leading concert pianist, writer, composer and painter. He has won global acclaim for his outstanding interpretations of the piano repertoire. The Bechstein D282 is indeed a masterpiece of European piano standards! Sir Stephen is an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he is a visiting Professor, a Fellow of the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, where he is the International Chair of piano studies, and an Honorary Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He was given an honorary doctorate by the University of Liverpool in 2011.
Cristofori Musicale 2022 at the Festive Arts Theatre @ Our Tampines Hub
2022 marks the first year that Cristofori is able to finally prepare something GRAND for our year-end Musicale concert. The annual Musicale Concert and Cristofori Start Students Awards has been a long standing tradition for Cristofori Music School as a way to show our appreciation for the efforts of our dear students. Over the past 2 years, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and numerous restrictions to gatherings and performances, our previous Musicale celebrations were majorly scaled back and limited to a simple awarding ceremony. Now in 2022, emerging into a new state of normal, we are finally given the opportunity to slowly return to our grand celebration. This year’s theme is “ Journey Through Time 穿越时空之旅 ” – calling to us to envision a journey from past to future, having stood together to emerge stronger after a Global Pandemic, we recall memories of playing music together, and appreciate the time we have together; we recall predecessors, and at the same time, look toward a future where we can return to a state of togetherness. COVID-19 had taken away opportunities to gather our students together, but this year, we take back our way of life and stand in hopefulness, to realise our vision to overcome this pandemic and stand together for a brighter future, to continue to build our heritage and legacy of music, passion, life and to bring music to every heart and home. The Musicale Concert 2022 will be held on Friday, the 2nd of December at the Festive Arts Theatre at Our Tampines Hub. The program highlights will feature collaborative performances by our Cristofori Music School students and teachers, and the much anticipated Start Student Awards recognising the efforts and hard work of students as nominated by their teachers. About the venue Our Tampines Hub (OTH) is Singapore’s largest integrated community and lifestyle hub, with 12 government stakeholders under one roof, providing a wide range of community, sports, cultural and lifestyle facilities, one of which is a state-of-the-art theatre and cinema – the Festive Arts Theatre. With 400 seats, 4K digital technology and Dolby 7.1 Surround sound system, the Festive Arts Theatre @ Our Tampines Hub is an ideal for musical and theatrical performances, and even town hall speeches and gatherings with the latest audio-visual equipment available. Many spellbinding performances have already been held here to great success, and this year’s Cristofori Musicale is sure to be one of them! About the piano Cristofori CG275 As of March 2022, Cristofori has shown our full support for this community hub by supplying the Festive Arts Theatre with a Cristofori Full Concert Grand Piano CG275. This piano is Made in Korea by Young Chang – who are among the largest and most automated of the world’s piano manufacturers. The Cristofori CG275 features all top-quality materials and craftsmanship including solid spruce soundboards. The CRISTOFORI C275 Full Concert Grand piano is worth SGD96,300. The first classical pianist to inaugurate the CRISTOFORi Concert grand on the 25th June 2022 is Singaporean pianist Li Churen who presented the first ever in person musical event since the Pandemic to an overwhelming crowd. The event was also live streamed and is available to watch here: Classical Music Adventures: Encounters with Beethoven Look out for these upcoming events by Li Churen at Festive Arts Theatre: 24 September 2022 Classical Music Adventures: Encounters with Chopin Our Tampines Hub, Singapore With art director Phoebe Zoe Ho 17 December 2022 Classical Music Adventures: Encounters with Schumann Festived Arts Theatre, Our Tampines Hub, Singapore 25 March 2023 Classical Music Adventures: Encounters with Ravel Festive Arts Theatre, Our Tampines Hub, Singapore The design also features an evenness of tone throughout the entire range including the transition from bass to tenor sections. All grands have all maple action parts and double coated cold pressed hammer felt for superior tonal quality. This piano is sure to bring out the best in our Students’ and Teachers’ performances at the Musicale! Auditions for the Musicale 2022 Performers are on via Video Submission until 11th September 2022.
Mind-Blowing Beats: Cristofori at the 2022 Asian Supreme Drum Competition
The Asian Supreme Drum Competition 2022 kicked off after a 2-year hiatus, and the energy was absolutely uplifting! From morning till evening over the weekend of 13th-14th August, we had the privilege of sharing in the excitement felt by over 250 young drummers – many of whom are our very own Cristofori drum students, family and other supporters to finally be playing live again at the ASDC 2022 Live Qualifying Round. This experience also gave the sense that we are indeed closing in on getting back to some normalcy, and able to now be with our overseas community in-person. Apart from the many Singapore drummers, there were a number of participants flying in from overseas to play live for the audience and judges panel from Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand too! This year, there are more than 500 participants joining from South East Asia and beyond. We have participants from countries including Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, India, Philippines, USA, China, Korea, England, Myanmar, and Canada – If the Asian Supreme Drum Competition proves anything, it’s that the Groove Transcends All Borders. We certainly had a great time seeing our students and all the other competitors perform on stage. The ASIAN SUPREME DRUM COMPETITION 2022 – organized by RS Event Center – is an annual event that aims to encourage a love of drumming and life-long musicianship. The competition is open to non-professional drummers and features 3 main categories (Junior, Intermediate and Open), as well as a Rockschool Category covering Debut to Grade 5 that will allow even more young drummers to have the live performing and competition experience, something we definitely want our young Cristofori Drummers to try! In fact, a good number of our Cristofori drum students were able to get the full competition performance experience by participating in the Rockschool category. We are thrilled that the Asian Supreme Drum Competition has opened opportunities for learners of all levels to participate. Winners of the Grand Finals to be held on 8th October 2022 at the Singpost Auditorium in Singapore stand a chance to win from S$9000 in prizes! Check out this year’s Jury Panel at the 2022 Asian Supreme Drum Competition. Truly an assembly of illustrious industry professionals! The panel includes Singapore’s Er Chow Kiat, Thailand’s Jirawat (a.k.a. Mr Print), Lee Jit Seng from Malysia, and Mr Carl Jenkins from USA to name a few. We will definitely be looking forward to catch the Finals on 8th October 2022 at the Singpost Auditorium. Results for the Qualifying Round will be announced on 23rd August 2022 on the RS Event Center Facebook Page, Instagram, and right here on our website!
