SINGAPORE, 15 August 2005 - The stirring strains of Tchaikovsky and Berlioz and the familiar notes of Singapore songs such as Chan Mali Chan and Home will fill the air over Toa Payoh central this coming Sunday.

To be performed by our very own national orchestra - the Singapore Symphony Orchestra (SSO) - this will be the first heartland concert under the SPH Gift of Music series to share the joy of music with the community.

The SSO@Toa Payoh concert will take place at the open space infront of Toa Payoh Library at 6.30pm on Sunday, August 21. Under the baton of Resident Conductor Lim Yau, SSO will perform a splendid selection of familiar classics and local melodies, ending the evening with the stirring Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture.

This concert marks the SSO's return to the heartlands after two years.

Singapore Press Holdings launched the year-long music series in May this year at the Botanic Gardens as a gift to the community and Singapore's 40th birthday. Apart from a monthly outdoor concert, which is held on the first Sunday of every month at the Botanic Gardens, other concerts under the SPH Gift of Music series include concerts in university campus, concert halls, public areas and parks.

Senior Vice President Ginney Lim of SPH's Corporate Relations, said: "We are delighted to collaborate with the SSO in presenting this special gift of music to the residents of Toa Payoh. It is part of our on-going efforts to enrich the lives of Singaporeans. By bringing music to our neighbourhoods, SPH wants to spread the joy and appreciation of classical music to people from different walks of life."

The Toa Payoh concert experience will include a new element, especially for young children. For the first time, there will be a pre-concert storytelling session to enthuse children about orchestra and classical music. The story-telling sessions, led by senior teacher Rashmi Arun Murthy, promise to be fun and "edutaining".

Details of the concert are given below.

SPH Classical Experience - SSO@Toa Payoh
By Singapore Symphony Orchestra
Conductor: Lim Yau
Date: Sunday, 21 August 2005
Venue: Open space infront of Toa Payoh Library
Time: 6.30pm - 7.30pm

Programme

BERLIOZ - Roman Carnival Overture, Op. 9 (9’)

KABALEVSKY - “Galop” from The Comedians Suite (2’)

ORTOLANI, R. & OLIVIERO, N. - More, Theme from the motion picture “Mondo Cane”(3’)

arr. HAYMAN, R.

KELLY TANG - Symphonic Suite – On a Set of Local Tunes (12’)

(i) Home

(ii) Chan Mali Chan

(iii) Bunga Sayang

(iv) Singapore Heartbeat

TCHAIKOVSKY - 1812 Overture, Op. 49 (17’)

Pre-concert Storytelling at 5.00pm (for ages 3 to 7 only) @ Toa Payoh Central Community Centre
Pre-concert Storytelling at 5.45pm (for ages 3 to 7 only) @ Toa Payoh Central Community Centre

Register FREE with People’s Association at 6340 5393 or PA_ca_rep@pa.gov.sg

For more information on the programme, visit www.sso.org.sg

About SPH Gift of Music
SPH Gift of Music is a series of concerts presented by media group Singapore Press Holdings to the people of Singapore. The series features over 20 concerts covering different genres of music, from pop, Latin and R&B, to jazz, Asian percussion, Western classical, Chinese opera and children’s puppets, which are wholesome and entertaining, with something for everyone.

The key partners collaborating with SPH in this series are the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, the Singapore Chinese Orchestra and a host of individuals and groups representing some of the most recognised names in Singapore music, as well as accomplished overseas acts.

Most of the SPH concerts at the Botanic Gardens fall on the first Sunday of every month. SPH is also bringing concerts to the community with performances in the heartlands, public areas and parks as part of its outreach efforts to connect with the community.The SPH Gift of Music series is one of many outreach events which SPH supports as part of its broadening corporate social responsibility to foster community spirit.

Issued by Singapore Press Holdings Ltd
Co. Regn. No: 198402868E

For media enquiries, please contact:

Francis Mah
Asst Manager
Corporate Relations, SPH
Tel: 6319 1028
mobile: 9697 8208
e-mail: mahys@sph.com.sg