Upcoming Events
Spring: Your Curated Experience
Alvin Arumugam conductor
Theophilus Tan cello
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TCHAIKOVSKY - Variations on a Rococo Theme for Cello and Orchestra
SCHUMANN - Symphony No. 1 in Bb Major, "Spring"
The Musicians' Initiative presents "Spring: Your Curated Experience" featuring one of our local talents in Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Variations on a Rococo Theme. Unlike his reputable works in the romantic style, Tchaikovsky's first composition for cello and orchestra was inspired by the Mozartian style, with its premiered version consisting of contributions by premiere cellist Wilhelm Fitzenhagen and respectable contemporary of the composer. Theophilus Tan, a recipient of the Goh Soon Tioe Award and featured musician in the Dutch article "Stars of Tomorrow," will be joining us.
In continuation of MI's wildly popular curated series, Robert Schumann's First Symphony in Bb Major, titled Spring, will be presented and the thematic ideas of the Spring series will be discussed.
An Evening with Rachmaninoff
The Musicians’ Initiative and Piano Island Management presents An Evening of Rachmaninoff, featuring soloists Wang Congyu and Jonathan Kuo. The program highlights Rachmaninoff's Second and Third Piano Concertos which stand as pinnacle achievements of the Romantic repertoire.
The Second Concerto, a monument of lush melodies and grandeur, embodies emotional depths and breathtaking virtuosity. The work depicts the struggles he faced and overcame, marking a significant turning point in his life. Its hauntingly beautiful themes and sweeping passages reflect Rachmaninoff's mastery in evoking profound sentiments. In contrast, the Third Concerto dazzles with its relentless energy and technical demands, showcasing the composer's maturity and innovation.
Birdsong: Your Orchestral Experience
The Musicians’ Initiative returns with an exciting new program! "Birdsong: Your Orchestral Experience" will showcase beloved compositions like the Butterly Lovers Concerto featuring Soloist Jocelyn Ng and the iconic 20th-century masterpiece, Igor Stravinsky’s Suite from the Firebird.
Continuing MI's legacy of groundbreaking programming, get ready to be spellbound by two local premieres. "Cantus Arcticus, Concerto for Birds and Orchestra" by Finnish composer, Einojuhani Rautavaara brings forth an extraordinary blend of audio recordings capturing the voices of Arctic indigenous birds. Furthermore, MI will unveil the Asian premiere of "Gliding Murmuration for Orchestra" composed by Anibal Vidal from Chile.
Alvin Arumugam conductor
Jocelyn Ng violin
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IGOR STRAVINSKY - Suite from The Firebird(1945)
CHEN GANG, HE ZHANHAO - The Butterfly Lovers' Violin Concerto
ANIBAL VIDAL - Gliding Murmuration (Singapore Premiere)
EINOJUHANI RAUTAVAARA - Cantus Arcticus, Concerto for Birds and Orchestra Op. 61 (Singapore Premiere)
Eroica: Your Curated Experience
The Musicians’ Initiative presents Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 “Sinfonia Eroica” and Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 5 “Turkish” featuring soloist Sayuri Kuru.
The newest addition to our immensely successful “Curated Concert Series", this event offers a captivating exploration of Beethoven and the historical events surrounding his 3rd symphony. Join us in this intimate setting, curated by Music Director Alvin Arumugam, with live musical examples for enjoyment by newcomers and classical music enthusiasts alike.
Alvin Arumugam conductor
Sayuri Kuru violin
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MOZART - Violin Concerto No. 5 in A major, K.219
BEETHOVEN - Symphony No. 3 in Eb major, Op. 55
Young Virtuosi 2023 - In collaboration with MI
Join us in concert with some of Singapore’s best!
Six award-winning young musicians will perform as soloists with the Musicians’ Initiative, presenting a programme from Vivaldi, Mozart, Haydn, Ravel, and Sarasate.
Edward Tan, conductor
Yoojun Curtis Lee, violin
Alyssa Low, violin
Jayden Qin, cello
Yuto Lim, violin
Timothy Chua, cello
Jacob Cheng, violin
Folk Songs from Around the World
Let the Musicians' Initiative String Quartet bring you on a musical journey around the world! They will be presenting a selection of folk songs, including tunes from the far away lands of Europe.
Love Songs and Popular Classics
Let the Musicians' Initiative Wind Quintet serenade you with popular pieces from the classical repertoire and some of the most romantic love songs!
Ginastera: Your Curated Experience
Arensky - Variations on a Theme by Tchaikovsky, Op. 35a
Enescu - Decet for Winds in D Major, Op. 14
Ginastera - Variaciones Concertantes, Op. 23
Musicians' Initiative presents an intimate evening featuring oft-overlooked gems of the chamber orchestra repertoire, in three different instrumentations. The strings begin the evening with Anton Arensky's Variations on a Theme by Tchaikovsky, which was first conceived as a string quartet movement and was repurposed for string orchestra into one of his most beloved works. The winds then take centre stage with Enescu's beguiling Decet in all its relaxing lightness and symphonic depth. The strings and winds will join forces for the centrepiece of the evening: Alberto Ginastera's Variaciones Concertantes. A series of variations featuring each instrument of the orchestra in a series of solos, it ascribes a character to every instrument ranging from the playful to the melodramatic.
The concert will be conducted and curated by MI's Associate Conductor Edward Tan.
Flights of Fantasy: With Acclaimed Pianist Tedd Joselson
Tchaikovsky - Piano Concerto No. 1 in Bb minor, Op. 23
Manu Martin - Lim Fantasy of Companionship for Piano and Orchestra
Brahms - Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor, Op. 15
In celebration of world acclaimed Pianist Tedd Joselson’s Platinum Jubilee, Musicians’ Initiative is proud to present Flights of Fantasy.
The centrepiece of the concert will be the world premiere of Manu Martin’s Lim Fantasy of Companionship for Piano and Orchestra for which Tedd Joselson himself was the original recording artist.
This masterful piece is inspired by the multi-award winning animation ‘ALAN the Musical’ and is widely regarded to be Tedd Joselson’s crowning glory.
Animation Soundtracks
The Musicians' Initiative presents an intimate evening of Anime music with our Chamber musicians!
STRING QUARTET
Aerith's Theme
Howl's Moving Castle Medley
Waltz of Chihiro (Spirited Away)
One Summer's Day (Spirited Away)
Koi (Gen Hoshino)
WIND QUINTET
Sakuranbo No Minoru Koro (Porco Rosso)
Country Road (Whisper of the Heart)
Kimi wo Nosete (Laputa: Castle in the Sky)
Disney Showtunes
SAXOPHONE QUARTET
Give Remix (Highlights from Studio Ghibli Films)
Galaxy Express 999 Medley
Double Bill: The Pursuit of Happiness
Giacomo Puccini
La bohème
Gian Carlo Menotti
The Telephone
Musicians' Initiative presents a Full-Staged Opera Double Bill - featuring Menotti's The Telephone and the premiere of an abridged version of Puccini's La Bohème, arranged by Melvin Tay.
The Telephone is a comic opera in one act by Menotti, that tells the tale of Ben visiting Lucy with the hope of proposing to her before his trip. However, despite his attempts to get her attention, she is always distracted by conversations on the telephone. Although first premiered in 1947, this conflict of technology bringing us closer yet also ironically pushing us apart is still so pertinent today. In this light-hearted tale, we will explore our relationship with technology by using technology (ha!) such as mobile phones to reimagine a setting that is relevant to today.
An abridged version of Puccini’s crowd pulling opera, La Bohème focuses on the relationship between Rodolfo and Mimi, ending with her death as she is slowly consumed by a deadly illness. This story traverses prominent themes that have been timeless throughout history; the fundamental aspects of human relationship: falling in love, falling out of love, and dealing with loss and death.
Melvin Tay leads the Musicians' Initiative with soloists Teng Xiang Ting, Jonathan Charles Tay, Felicia Teo, Martin Ng and Reuben Lai!
Tang Xinxin, director
Melvin Tay, conductor
Teng Xiang Ting, Mimì
Jonathan Charles Tay, Rodolfo
Martin Ng, Marcello
Felicia Teo Kaixin, Musetta/Lucy
Reuben Lai, Ben
-Do note that due to the current Safe Management Measures, ticket holders can only be seated in single or paired seats. Ticket holders who purchase 3 or more tickets in their order will be seated separately. We will seat affected ticket holders close together.
Get your tickets now!
Student: $40
General: $75
Concertan-TEH!
Aaron Copland
Appalachian Spring Suite
Alexander Oon
Concertan-TEH! (World Premiere)
Alvin Arumugam, conductor
Alexander Oon, horn
Jasper Tan, trombone
Kang Chun Meng, euphonium
The Musicians’ Initiative presents its first performance of 2021 on the 10th of May, at 6PM & 8.30PM!
Together with the musicians of TEH Trio, we are delighted to present the world premiere of "Concertan-TEH!", a concerto grosso masterfully composed by the horn player of TEH Trio, Alexander Ian Oon.
In this concert, Musicians’ Initiative will also perform the Appalachian Spring Suite for 13 instruments. The piece is a condensed form of the full ballet composed in 1944 by American composer, Aaron Copland. Popularised by the Shaker folk song "Simple Gifts" and the soundscapes of rural Pennsylvania, this timeless classic has become a mainstay of contemporary chamber music.
A Viennese Affair
MOZART
"Le Nozze di Figaro" Overture
Concerto for Flute and Harp
SCHUBERT
"Rosamunde" Overture
Symphony No. 8 'Unfinished'
Ignatius Wang, conductor
Edward Tan, conductor
Rachel Ho, flute
Charity Kiew, harp