Welcome to the 1996 Festival of Arts!
For 4 weeks in late May and June, the Festival will offer a feast of activities that includes both formal and informal concerts, a street parade, street performances and an arts carnival that will cater to people of all ages and artistic preferences. It is also an occasion to experience the exhilarating performances of some of the world’s leading artists including the best of Singapore talents in music, dance, theatre and visual arts.
Heading the list of “not-to-be-missed” performances is Singapore's original musical theatre, Sing to the Dawn, by Singapore Repertory Theatre. A dramatisation of the prize-winning book by Ho Min Fong, the musical theatre is backed by musicians from the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra and the SAF Music & Drama Company. It will be staged under the Festival's “Home-Coming Series”.
Under the Home-Coming Series. Singapore's own home-grown talents, namely, Vancouver-based pianist, Koh Poh Lin, as well as
young violinist Lee Huei Min who is now pursuing her music studies in Europe and USA, will return to Singapore to perform as guest soloists with the Prague Chamber Orchestra without conductor.
For lovers of classical music, the famous Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Pavel Kogan, will offer a popular
programme of works by Russian composers and feature world-renowned violinist. Vadim Repin. as soloist.
One highlight of the Festival is the presentation of the delightful 130-strong Alexandrov Red Army Song and Dance Ensemble from
Russia. Another highlight is performance by the prestigious Shanghai Ballet Company whose revolutionary ballet White-Haired Girl is finally making its debut in Singapore.
Apart from the mainstream programme, the Festival offers experimental and cutting-edge performances in keeping with the
Festival's growing reputation as a major international arts event. They include programmes which are innovative and catalytic in their influence on the local arts scene. Watch out for Tuyo from Canada whose percussion music from PVC pipes will scintillate the Singapore audience while UK’s Pete Brooks Company of L'Ascensore will offer a whole new theatre experience with only 60 lucky persons allowed each evening to watch the play that takes place in the actual size of a lift. There are many other treats in our rich and varied menu.
In alt, there are 36 excellent groups offering a total of 107 performances in the core programme apart from the 300 activities presented in Fringe venues.
1996 will be a watershed in the 19-year old history of the Festival. With the partnership of the Singapore Tourist Promotion Board, the Festival will be upgraded into a national celebration based on the concept of “arts for everyone”. Under this new concept. the Festival will seek to involve Government agencies, shopping complexes, restaurants, hotels, libraries, museums. schools and reach out to all our citizens, in every part of Singapore.
An exciting experience awaits you in this year's Singapore Festival of Arts ‘96. I invite you to join us in the celebration.
– Professor Tommy Koh (National Arts Council Chairman)
(Source: National Arts Council Programme)