Front Row

Watercolour artist and educator Lee Wee Xian has made a name for himself in the world of watercolour painting, and is set to present his first solo exhibition titled Overture, that will feature over 25 watercolour paintings that capture the forgotten, vanishing scenes and landmarks of Melaka. Known for his skillful use of light, shadow, water, and pigments, his work captures the beauty of everyday moments and reflects his deep connection to his hometown. He joins us to share more about his blooming visual arts career, and his upcoming solo exhibition.

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The MJPF Music Festival has been uniting music enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds for over a decade now. The aim of the festival is to curate an unforgettable musical experience for the audience, while also showcasing rising music talents in Malaysia, and to provide them with the support and encouragement of music industry professionals. We speak to Michael Veerapen, renowned jazz pianist, composer, producer, record studio head, educator and also the Principal Founder of the Malaysian Jazz Piano Festival, to find out what's in store at this year's festival - MJPF 11 - the eleventh in the series.

Image Credit: Malaysian Jazz Piano Festival, Instagram

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My Video Making Practice is a unique mashup event by Gan Siong King, one of Malaysia’s most original contemporary artists. This event combines an artist talk, a screening, and a dialogue with invited guests. Through My Video Making Practice, Gan seeks to expand his distinctive, research-driven approach by remixing seven selected videos of Malaysian artists at work, created over the past decade. In doing so, he turns the lens and editing machine onto his own video-making process, blending personal materials and memories with his previous works. This approach allows him to critically and humorously reflect on the pleasures and pressures of making art in Malaysia and growing up in the 1990s. The event is a collaboration with Five Arts Centre, who are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, and we find out all about it from Gan, and also Five Art Centre’s Mark Teh, who is the producer of the event.

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When the conservative Ethan relocates to a dilapidated apartment in a rough part of London, he meets its quirky and captivating residents—Ms. Wong, the straightforward landlady; Afternoon, the eccentric hippy; Cat, the moody graduate student; and Lord Vallen, the peculiar thespian. These new acquaintances ensure that Ethan's flat is always bustling with activity and drama. However, he quickly realises that his greatest challenge is dealing with Horace, his talkative, philosophical, and homicidal couch. This is the premise of Pop Up Theatre's latest production, Horace The Killer Couch, written and directed by Scott McQuaid. We speak to cast members Firdaus Sufiyan and Alexandria Kay, to find out more.

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The good people from Musicians Linkage return, this time promising a night of beautiful music from movies and upcoming musicals in the performance titled: Cinematic Souls. Featuring singers Nixon Tan and Insyirah Azlan, the show will also mark the premiere of Artistic Director Dr Goh Chia-Chien's first original piece for string orchestra, performed by the Philomusica String Orchestra (PCO). Dr Goh joins us to share what's in store in this fundraising initiative by the Philomusica Society.

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It's time for our yearly fix of all things French, as this year's instalment of the Le French Festival kicks off from the 29th of May until the 14th of July 2024. Back for its 22nd edition, the festival promises a mix of French-themed movie screenings, visual arts exhibitions, theatre performances, family and kids activities, workshops, gastronomy discoveries and so much more. Co-organised by the Alliances Françaises de Malaisie and the Embassy of France in Malaysia, we find out what's in store from Emmanuelle Marchand, the Counsellor for Cooperation and Cultural Affairs, from the Embassy of France in Malaysia.

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In June, Malaysia's Bach Festival Singers and Orchestra are set to be the first ensemble from Southeast Asia to be invited to perform in the most prestigious and important Bach landmarks in Germany: St. Thomas Church in Leipzig, Bach Church in Arnstadt, as well as St. George's Church in Eisenach. The grand concert tour commences with two fundraising concerts right here in Kuala Lumpur. We catch up with Dr David Chin, the Founder and Artistic Director of Bachfest Malaysia, who is also the Director of the Bach Collegium and Music Professor at Augustana University in Sioux (SOO) Falls, South Dakota, and a Senior Fellow of the Bach Archive in Leipzig, Germany, to find out more about the programme in these fundraising concerts.

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The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) continues its mission to broaden public appreciation for music beyond Western classical traditions, through the upcoming concert, Celestial Serenade. The concert celebrates Chinese classical music, highlighting the suona, a significant woodwind instrument in Chinese culture. Led by Jebat Arjuna Kee, the MPO collaborates with renowned suona performer Liu Wenwen to present Gong Guotai’s Hundred Birds Worshipping the Phoenix and Ode to Kylin by Kong Zhixuan, alongside Tan Dun’s Crouching Tiger Concerto featuring cellist Dylan Lee and other compositions such as Li Minxiong’s Flying Dragon Leaping Tiger and Zhu Jianer’s Sketches in the Mountains of Guizhou. We speak to cello soloist Dylan Lee, to find out more.

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Cinderella, A Musical Comedy is not the Cinderella everyone knows; it is packed with live music, topical jokes, audience interaction, and just a touch of K-Pop flavour too. Telling the story of the supremacy of love, empathy and kindness over cunningness, selfishness, bullying and greed; the musical is loaded with humour and a touch of magic. We find out what's in store from director Joanna Bessey, and cast member Amsalan Doraisingam.

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12tone Ensemble are set to present their second ever concert, “Dream Tryst,” featuring rarely performed choral compositions, right here in Malaysia. Highlights include John Corigliano's "Fern Hill," based on Dylan Thomas' poem, and Benjamin Britten's "Rejoice in the Lamb," set to Christopher Smart's text, among others. Founded in 2023 by Music Director Caeleb Tee, the ensemble comprises experienced choristers from Klang Valley, with Steinway Artist Zhang Chi on piano as a special guest for this concert. Caeleb joins us to discuss what's in store in this exploration of choral literature and poetry.

Image Credit: Dream Tryst

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