Front Row

Since 1982, the Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) has been providing shelter, counselling, and crisis support to women and children experiencing abuse. Beyond immediate refuge, WAO also works on legal aid and advocacy to help survivors rebuild their lives and push for systemic change. They are teaming up with Malaysian-born, New York-based artist Eng Tay for a very special charity exhibition called Art & Soul, featuring 118 of his exclusive artworks, with proceeds going directly to WAO’s life-saving work.  Joining us now to share more about the event and why it matters is Vivienne Lee Abdullah, a member of WAO’s Fundraising Committee.

Image Credit: Women's Aid Organisation

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Musicals have a way of lifting us up, even when they’re dealing with heavy themes. That’s exactly what Gou Li Hao Xi sets out to do, blending music, dance, and storytelling to spark conversations about mental health. We speak to the show’s Executive Producer, Ee Lai Cheng, to find out more.

Image Credit: Capri Communications Sdn Bhd, Show K's Productions

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Most of us think of technology as something handed down from faraway places: gadgets from Silicon Valley, apps from big global companies. But in Southeast Asia, people have always found creative ways to hack, improvise, and reimagine technology for themselves. That’s the spirit behind Menggodam, an exhibition co-curated by Roopesh Sitharan (an academic at MMU Cyberjaya) and Gunalan Nadarajan (an art theorist at the University of Michigan). They join us to discuss the word "menggodam" - what it means, and how it comes to life through the works of nine Southeast Asian artists in this exhibition.

Image Credit: ILHAM

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Jazz lovers, this one’s for you. For one night only on October 4th, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra is presenting A Night of Jazz with the MPO, a concert that not only celebrates classics from around the world, but also shines a spotlight on our very own homegrown jazz legends and local compositions. We find out more from saxophonist, bandleader, and educator Julian Chan, who’ll be right at the heart of the performance.

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Konnichiwa! If you’ve ever wanted to step right into the world of your favourite anime, here’s your chance. The klpac Symphonic Band is back with Salam Konnichiwa II, a concert filled with action, adventure, and plenty of heart. From Attack on Titan to Spy x Family, this promises to be a musical journey like no other. Joining us are flutist and Vice President of the band, Chew Sze Gee, along with saxophonist Wendy Tai, to tell us all about it.

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Since 2002, the Young KL Singers (YKLS) have been delighting audiences with performances that are anything but your typical choir show. This September, they return with A Sky Full of Stars with Hands in My Pocket, a celebration of heartbreak, beauty, and joy through the music of Alanis Morissette and Coldplay. We speak to YKLS's Cheryl Ong, the show's director and a soprano, and Kathleen Roshene, also a soprano and sectional leader, to share what makes this performance so special.

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What happens when you put a retro-glam big band and a full symphony orchestra on the same stage? You get a musical explosion called Tarakucha! The Lambang Sari Series is back with more glitter, groove, and glamour, powered by Malaysia’s very own Terrer-Menerer Retro-Glam Big Band, and lifted by the National Symphony Orchestra. And of course, leading the charge are two dazzling voices - the suave Sean Ghazi and the sensational Ida Mariana.

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Nature blooms, love lingers, and fairies dance in the shadows - that’s the promise of Springtales & Fairies, a concert weaving song and story into a magical night of German lieder. We speak to tenor Scott Woo, the founder of The Poetics Collective, and also to soprano Saori Suzuki, about the programme and what audiences can expect.

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Four classical dance forms. Two great musical traditions. One stage. The Temple of Fine Arts’ Ragas and Mudras at Dewan Filharmonik PETRONAS promises a night where melody meets movement in spectacular harmony. We speak to Prakash Kandasamy, Music Director from the Temple of Fine Arts to find out more about the performance that promises Hindustani and Carnatic music, and Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kathak, and Kuchipudi dances.

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Weaving together laughter, music, and tradition, Dreamweaver The Musical tells the inspiring story of Sarawak’s master weavers, with the weavers themselves taking the stage. The show’s producer, Datuk Jacqueline Fong, also the co-founder of Tanoti Sdn Bhd joins us to share the heart behind this unique production.

Image Credit: Datuk Jacqueline Fong / Tanoti Sdn Bhd

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