classical music

Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic

Catch this world renowned institution under the baton of its new maestro, Alan Gilbert. In tow are violinists Frank Zimmermann and Emanuel Ax; the former will be performing Brahms’ Violin Concerto and Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 on the first night, while the latter will perform Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 and Symphony No. 7 on the following night. Oct 19-20, 7:30pm. Esplanade Concert Hall, 1 Esplanade Dr.,
6828-8222. $128-268 from Sistic.

concerts and gigs

Lloyd Cole

Old timers would know him from his previous incarnation as the front man of Lloyd Cole and the Commotions. And in the 20 years since breaking out to go solo, Cole has carved a solid rep as a serious, edgy singer-songwriter with influences drawn from folksy blues ballads to rock—which will be evident during this intimate acoustic gig. Nov 16. 7:30pm. Esplanade Recital Studio, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8222. $68 from Sistic.

Maksim—Concert Classique

Classical gets a cooler, contemporary pop reworking with this self-proclaimed “Prince of Piano.” Nov 18-19, 7:30pm. Esplanade Concert Hall, 1 Esplanade Dr.,
6828-8222. $48-198 from Sistic.

Mr. Big—The Reunion Tour

Don’t be fooled by their ‘90s cheesy radio-friendly hit “Be With You,” these heavy hard rockers will put on a mean concert that’ll surely rock Fort Canning to its foundations. Go be with them. Oct 18. 8pm. Fort Canning Park, Fort Canning Rd., 6332-1200. $85 from tickets.com.

Sing Out Loud on Broadway

Expect the thrills of Chicago, romance from the West Side Story and a medley of toe-tapping hits from Tony Award winning musicals like My Fair Lady, Cats and Annie. The concert will also feature a 20-minute deconstruction of songs from hit musicals, reconstructed into an original mini-musical featuring soloists from the Singapore Men’s Chorus. Oct 25, 7:30pm. Lee Foundation Theatre, Nafa Campus 3, 151 Bencoolen St., 8449-9465. $20-28 from enquiry@singmc.org.

Singapore Reggae Festival

Time to slap on the fake dreads and hone that Jamaican drawl at this easygoing beach music fest. With a quite happening lineup of acts from Shaggy to Beenie Man and Bushmen, to Coco Tea and Krazee Kulture, you’ll be going, “Ya Mon!” in no time. Oct 28, 7pm. Siloso Beach, Sentosa. $78 (tickets purchased between Oct 4-16), $88 (event day) from Sistic.

Tommy Emmanuel

Guitar god hits town for a transcendental concert featuring just him and his guitar. Oh, and he sings and plays some drums too. Raw, edgy and decidedly old-school cool. Oct 29, 8pm. 3/F, DBS Tower 1, 6 Shenton Way, 6878-1670. $48-68 from Sistic.

dance

Circular Ruins

Based on Jorge Luis Borges’s short story in which a wizard sets about to create a human being with his magical powers of imagination. This dance collaboration is between Raka Maitra and the legendary Javanese dance master, Bambang Besur Suryono. Oct 23-25, 8pm. The Substation Theatre. 45 Armenian Street, Singapore, 6337 7800. $20 from Substation box office.

The Rite of Spring

French dancer Xavier Le Roy’s performance is inspired by a documentary of the Berlin Philharmonic during rehearsals, and is an enticing confluence of sound and sight. Oct 16, 8pm. Esplanade Theatre Studio, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8222. $10-15 from Sistic.

da:ns Festival 2009

Esplanade’s annual dance festival presents some of today’s most important choreographers and dance companies in a variety of performances ranging from spectacular large-scale productions at the Esplanade Theatre to cutting-edge, experimental work in Esplanade Theatre Studio. Apart from ticketed performances, da:ns 2009 also includes workshops, masterclasses and close to a hundred free performances.

Dunas

By María Pagés & Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui

Legendary flamenco exponent Maria Pagés teams up with celebrated Belgian-Moroccan dancer-choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui for a night of classical, flamenco and Arabic sounds in a performance that echoes the cultural relationship between Spain and Morocco. Oct 23-24, 8pm. Esplanade Theatre, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8222. $20-100 from Sistic.

An Evening with Paloma Herrera

By Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theatre

Presenting excerpts from popular classical and neo-classical ballets, be mesmerized by the grace and beauty of one of the world’s leading ballerinas. Oct 26-27, 8pm. Esplanade Theatre, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8222. $20-120 from Sistic.

Out of Time

By Colin Dunne

Former principle dancer of Riverdance, Irish dance artist Colin Dunne has fashioned a highly original, solo piece of work here using sound, design, film, spoken word and movement; stripping Irish step dancing to the core and coming up with his own unique take on this mesmeric Celtic dance form. Oct 27-28, 8pm. Esplanade Theatre Studio, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8222. $30 from Sistic.

PROJECT X

By RAW Dance Company featuring Last For One

Having performed to rave reviews at major festivals the world over, Project X will wow with its urban-style athleticism and charisma in a production bursting with funk tap, breakdancing, acrobatics, live music, percussion and beatboxing all rolled into one. If you like the high-energy vibe of STOMP, then this will be right up your alley. Oct 26-27, 7:30pm. Esplanade Concert Hall, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8222. $20-80 from Sistic.

RE— (I,II,III)

By Shen Wei Dance Arts

Chief choreographer of the stunning opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics, choreographer Shen Wei gives us an impassioned look into the cultures of China’s Silk Road, Tibet and Angkor Wat. Oct 30-31, 8pm. Esplanade Theatre, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8222. $20-80 from Sistic.

The Third Space Series

By Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts

Get out there and support this local dance effort from the students of the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. The production features four pieces of work—Toccata, Then & Now, Red Bamboo and Batulang, which are rooted in Indian, Chinese and contemporary Western philosophies. Oct 30-31, 7:30pm. Esplanade Recital Studio, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8222. $15 from Sistic.

Transmission of the Invisible by Tribal Crackling Wind

With over three years of research and development by an artistic team from Cambodia and Canada, this event pays tribute to the recovery and rebuilding of the arts in Cambodia, after the tragic cultural and human carnage during the Khmer Rouge era, during which 90 percent of the country’s artists were butchered. Oct 31-Nov 1, 8pm. Esplanade Theatre Studio, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8222. $30 from Sistic.

Tuesday’s Child and Other Dances

Featuring local dancers and an auxiliary cast from the School of Dance at LASALLE College of the Arts, this Singapore production explores the notion of grace in brief, fleeting vignettes. Oct 31, 6pm; Nov 1, 3pm, 6pm. Esplanade Rehearsal Studio, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8222. $15 from Sistic.

VOID Jendela Peradaban (Window of Civilisation)

by Boi Sakti and T.H.E. Dance Company

One of Indonesia’s best known dance choreographers Boi Sakti draws on the traditions of Minangkabau dance and martial art forms to confront the moral decay and hypocrisy engulfing society and calls into question the very meaning of “civilization.” Oct 23, 8pm; Oct 24 3:30pm, 8pm. Esplanade Theatre Studio, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8222. $30 from Sistic.

musicals and opera

Victor/Victoria

Jazz sensation Laura Fygi plays the titular heroine in this story of a down-on-her-luck female soprano who finds work playing a female impersonator in Paris (oh how Kumar would wish he could sing!). But this leads to complications in her personal life. Nov 9-29 (except Nov 14, 16, 23), 8pm. Esplanade Theatre, 1 Esplanade Dr., 6828-8222. $36-160 from Sistic.

theater

One Bed Three Pillows

A woman inherits a family heirloom bed and through her retrospective, we witness her life and the generations of her family, as the bed bears witness to a lifetime of living, birthing, dying, marriages and sex. Oct 23-24, 8pm. Drama Centre Black Box, National Library Building L5, 100 Victoria St., 6332-3133. $25 from Gatecrash.

Season’s Greetings by Alan Ayckbourn

What’s Christmas without petty family squabbles involving barmy relatives, rambunctious kids and an incompetent puppet show. This hilarious comedy will have you in stitches. Through Oct 17, 8pm. DBS Arts Centre—Home of SRT, 20 Merbau Rd., 6221-5585. $32-37 from Sistic.

Shocks & Shiok: Vampires Monologues and The Patient

Halloween theatre Singapore style. A bartender who allows himself to be turned into a vampire in order to become a comedian and a grouchy old patient in a creepy hospital feature in this double bill of original Singapore plays. Be afraid. Or maybe not. Oct 22-Nov 1, Tue-Thu, Sun, 8pm; Fri-Sat, 8pm, 10:30pm. The Room Upstairs, 42 Waterloo St., 6837-0842. $35-45 from Sistic.

Sofaman

A collaboration between The Necessary Stage and Russia’s KnAM Theatre, Sofaman deals with aspects of loneliness, love, tragedy and rootlessness and death. Should be interesting, if a little morose. Nov 5-15, Wed-Fri, 8pm; Sat, 3pm, 8pm; Sun 3pm. The Necessary Stage Black Box, #B1-02 Marine Parade Community Building. $22-27 from Sistic.