Front Row

The Philharmonic Society of Selangor or The Phil as it's better known as, is celebrating its 65th anniversary this year - and they're set to stage their Music from Movies & Musicals – 65th Anniversary Charity Concert to celebrate! Featuring an almost 80-member strong community choir, the group want to take you on a trip down memory lane with well loved classics, and all in the name of charity too - with proceeds from ticket sales being channelled to several charitable organisations. We speak to Brenda James, the Chairperson of the Philharmonic Society of Selangor, to find out more.

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Said to be inspired by the tragic and romantic beats of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Opium By Any Other Name promises to be a tale of betrayal, romance and tragedy, and is director Tarrant Kwok’s second offering, in his “Opium” thematic series of plays. He joins us to share more about the play that follows young lovers in 1890s Taiping as they navigate the journey of self-discovery while attempting to unite their opposing Ghee Hin and Hai San clans amidst rising political unrest.

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George Frideric Handel's "Messiah" is not only one of the most popular and frequently performed choral works in Western music, but it is also widely considered as one of the most monumental works in Sacred Music. The work consists of three parts and 53 movements, including the famous Hallelujah chorus. The Yin Qi Choir is set to present the complete choral masterpiece in its three parts, under the direction of conductor Caeleb Tee. We find out more from Caeleb and Yiling Chaing, a soloist for the performance.

Kakurega is the Japanese word for “hideout”, and is also the title for Theatresauce’s fourth production of their 2023 season. Set to explore the anxieties that artists face as they deal with the pressures of creation, this production welcomes audiences into the world of four characters simmering in their hideouts, as they reflect on their work, reexamine their sense of purpose, deal with their inner conflicts, and figure a way out. We speak to the director of this devised play, Murasaki Haru, who is also the Artistic Director, Howl's Theatre Co. to find out more.

George Frideric Handel's "Messiah" is not only one of the most popular and frequently performed choral works in Western music, but it is also widely considered as one of the most monumental works in Sacred Music. The work consists of three parts and 53 movements, including the famous Hallelujah chorus. The Yin Qi Choir is set to present the complete choral masterpiece in its three parts, under the direction of conductor Caeleb Tee. We find out more from Caeleb and Yiling Chaing, a soloist for the performance.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kakurega is the Japanese word for “hideout”, and is also the title for Theatresauce’s fourth production of their 2023 season. Set to explore the anxieties that artists face as they deal with the pressures of creation, this production welcomes audiences into the world of four characters simmering in their hideouts, as they reflect on their work, reexamine their sense of purpose, deal with their inner conflicts, and figure a way out. We speak to the director of this devised play, Murasaki Haru, who is also the Artistic Director, Howl's Theatre Co. to find out more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bialystock and Bloom - names  that strike equal amounts of terror and hysteria in anyone familiar with Mel Brooks' classic comedy, The Producers! Follow the scheming producer and his mousy accountant, as they aim to produce the biggest flop on Broadway in this laugh-out-loud spectacle, presented by Malaysia's very own Pan Productions. A musical also described as an "equal opportunity offender" we speak to Alizakri Alias (Executive Producer & Castmember) and Bryan Tan (sound designer) about the upcoming production.

A listening body is a dance/-theatre experience based on dancer January Low’s thoughts and questions in and around Odissi. Informed by a practice that spans 30 years, and more recently empowered by a virtual mentorship with Odissi exponent Bijayini Satpathy, January has deepened her relationship with Odissi by actively listening and responding to her body, mind and environment. This work peels away the commodified and exoticised layers of Odissi to reveal a relationship that is personal, vulnerable and respectful, enabling agency for both audience and performer to be equal partners in the experience. January joins us to share more.

Image Credit: dpac.com

The upcoming performance Sakti is a marriage of Malay folk tales, aerial artistry and drumming theatre, set to be performed by air artists VIVA Circus and musicians HANDS Percussion. Bernard Goh, the Founder & Artistic Director, Hands Percussion joins us to discuss this experimental new performance which also promises dance, narration, contemporary music with drums, percussion, gamelan and other musical instruments.

Bialystock and Bloom - names  that strike equal amounts of terror and hysteria in anyone familiar with Mel Brooks' classic comedy, The Producers! Follow the scheming producer and his mousy accountant, as they aim to produce the biggest flop on Broadway in this laugh-out-loud spectacle, presented by Malaysia's very own Pan Productions. A musical also described as an "equal opportunity offender" we speak to Alizakri Alias (Executive Producer & Castmember) and Bryan Tan (sound designer) about the upcoming production.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.