Front Row

The latest edition of Johann Sebastian Bach’s lesser-heard 1725 “St. John Passion” (ed. by Prof. Dr. Manuel Bärwald, 2021) will be performed for the first time in Malaysia by the Malaysia Bach Festival Singers and Orchestra, led by conductor Prof. Dr. David Chin. This special version includes some of the most unique and dramatic arias which Bach has ever composed. Bach uses multidimensional and multi-layered music in this timeless masterpiece to explore the meaning of love, friendship, betrayal, pain, suffering, longing, hope, faith, and many other aspects of life which are highly relatable to all humankind. We find out more from renowned Bach scholars, Prof. Dr. Manuel Bärwald (Distinguished Visiting Bach scholar, BachFest Malaysia), and Prof. Dr. David Chin (Founder and Artistic Director, Bachfest Malaysia).

The latest edition of Johann Sebastian Bach’s lesser-heard 1725 “St. John Passion” (ed. by Prof. Dr. Manuel Bärwald, 2021) will be performed for the first time in Malaysia by the Malaysia Bach Festival Singers and Orchestra, led by conductor Prof. Dr. David Chin. This special version includes some of the most unique and dramatic arias which Bach has ever composed. Bach uses multidimensional and multi-layered music in this timeless masterpiece to explore the meaning of love, friendship, betrayal, pain, suffering, longing, hope, faith, and many other aspects of life which are highly relatable to all humankind. We find out more from renowned Bach scholars, Prof. Dr. Manuel Bärwald (Distinguished Visiting Bach scholar, BachFest Malaysia), and Prof. Dr. David Chin (Founder and Artistic Director, Bachfest Malaysia).

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Seruan Setu – The Secret Gardens of the Sea promises an enchanting musical journey that spotlights Malaysia's endangered seagrass ecosystems, through the magic of the performing arts. Seagrasses are vital to both marine life and coastal communities, yet their rapid decline is often overlooked. In this concert by Rhythm in Bronze, the group will present original gamelan compositions interwoven with compelling stories of seagrass and the communities that depend on them. We discuss what's in store, and also the team's commitment to connecting environmental issues with the arts with both Dr Jillian Ooi, the Artistic & Music Director of Rhythm in Bronze, she’s also a Marine Ecologist & Senior Lecturer at the University of Malaya, and a Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation, and Sharmini Ratnasingam, Rhythm in Bronze's Executive Producer.

Image Credit: Rhythm in Bronze

Seruan Setu – The Secret Gardens of the Sea promises an enchanting musical journey that spotlights Malaysia's endangered seagrass ecosystems, through the magic of the performing arts. Seagrasses are vital to both marine life and coastal communities, yet their rapid decline is often overlooked. In this concert by Rhythm in Bronze, the group will present original gamelan compositions interwoven with compelling stories of seagrass and the communities that depend on them. We discuss what's in store, and also the team's commitment to connecting environmental issues with the arts with both Dr Jillian Ooi, the Artistic & Music Director of Rhythm in Bronze, she’s also a Marine Ecologist & Senior Lecturer at the University of Malaya, and a Pew Fellow in Marine Conservation, and Sharmini Ratnasingam, Rhythm in Bronze's Executive Producer.

Image Credit: Rhythm in Bronze

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Amma Chellam is an upcoming original theatre play by Anomalist Production that spotlights the difficult yet underrepresented experience of growing up “different” in a Malaysian Indian family. Written and performed in English and Tamil, Amma Chellam draws on real-life events and experiences to navigate tough conversations surrounding love, cultural conflicts, and parental expectations. We speak to Arjun Thanaraju (Writer and Lead Actor) and Visshnu Varman (Director) to find out more.

The show "Dondang Dongeng” started out with a simple question: do people, especially kids, still know of our local folklores? A team of creatives then got together to weave less remembered stories into a dreamscape, presented in the form of songs with a modern twist, and produced by Playspace in collaboration with RMP Productions. We speak to Irena Taib (Composer / Music Director / Arranger) and Iefiz Alaudin (Artistic Director / Storyteller) to find out more.

Amma Chellam is an upcoming original theatre play by Anomalist Production that spotlights the difficult yet underrepresented experience of growing up “different” in a Malaysian Indian family. Written and performed in English and Tamil, Amma Chellam draws on real-life events and experiences to navigate tough conversations surrounding love, cultural conflicts, and parental expectations. We speak to Arjun Thanaraju (Writer and Lead Actor) and Visshnu Varman (Director) to find out more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The show "Dondang Dongeng” started out with a simple question: do people, especially kids, still know of our local folklores? A team of creatives then got together to weave less remembered stories into a dreamscape, presented in the form of songs with a modern twist, and produced by Playspace in collaboration with RMP Productions. We speak to Irena Taib (Composer / Music Director / Arranger) and Iefiz Alaudin (Artistic Director / Storyteller) to find out more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Red Soil of Kabul is a play written and directed by Saleh Sepas, which tells a multi-layered story of Kabul after the fall of the government in Afghanistan. Based on real events and experiences, it is a unique theatrical experience that tackles the topics of human rights, child protection, education, migration and refugee issues. We speak to Saleh Sepas (writer & director), Pariya Ahmadi (performer) and Farzana Yakta (crew), who are all with Parastoo Theatre, to learn more.

"so happy i could die" is described as an immersive and participative theatrical event, that invites audiences to reflect on the meaning of fulfilment and the consequences of the choices they make. Part of Theatresauce's seventh-year anniversary showcase, we find out more about the play which asks - can happiness, fulfilment, and acceptance go hand-in-hand with an impending expiry date? Joining us is the director and producer of the play, Low Yee Choy.