HSBC Classics String 2007 Festival 10th - 14th July

Philene is at the 3th row from the back.

The KLPac Sinfonietta, conducted by Lim Soon Lee with French cellist Valerie Aimard will perform during the two last nights of the String Festival.My cello teacher Johnathan Oh was taught by Valerie and through his connection we have this wonderful opportunity to hear a world class cellist perform at KL Pac !

Philene has the privilege of playing the cello in this orchestra and it is indeed a memory to treasure being given the opportunity to accompany a cellist of world class standard !

You will enjoy this concert as the music for the programme is so well chosen and is sure to move you.
I sat in all the rehearsals listening ( twice weekly ) and I have not for one single moment found it boring.This is the beauty of classical music - you almost could enjoy it for life !

Conductor Brian Tan works so hard ( and with lots of patience ! )to put the orchestra together in preparation for our guest conductor from Singapore Lim Soon Lee to take over soon.You could really hear the orchestra making some very "real music" in Haydn's very marvellous Cello concerto in C Major...This is quite exciting since it is such a new ensemble group playing this chamber piece.

PROGRAMME:
Waltz from Masquerade Suite - Aram Khachaturian
Cello Concerto in C - Franz Joseph Hadyn
Intermission
St Paul's Suite Op. 29, No. 2 - Gustav Holst
Pomp & Circumstance March No. 1 in D - Edward Elgar

Can you find where I am ?

The KLPac Sinfonietta String Orchestra under the baton of Brian Tan will be performing music from lands far and near, from lilting Irish jigs and exotic kabuki to Dvorak's New World Symphony which combines the folk music of the composer's native Czechoslovakia with American Indian influences.

I count it a real blessing to be able to participate in this ensemble.Although I have been so very busy for the past 3 months due to some biz,I take the practices in its stride and it is not uncommon to hear me practising into the wee hours of the night!My next door neighbour says " luckily it is nice ! " hehe..

You can imagine how serious I take my cello playing these days...

The performance is on 11th July 8.30pm in Pentas 2.

The rest of the Festivals are as follows

HSBC Bank Malaysia is proud to present
HSBC Classics String Festival 2007

Date: 10 - 14 July
Venue: The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac)
- CLICK HERE for location map!

The annual HSBC Classics series is back again! Brought to you by HSBC Bank Malaysia under its HSBC in the Arts umbrella, this series "...is fast becoming the standard bearer of any form of classical music festival...", commented Jason Cheah (Star, 20 April 2007). Now entering its third year, this year's festival is dedicated to the sublime sound of the strings.




The HSBC Classics String Festival 2007 will showcase concerts by KLPac Sinfonietta, KLPac's very own orchestra conducted by guest conductor Lim Soon Lee from Singapore. Also performing will be French cellist Valerie Aimard and a Jazz Trio featuring Fung Chern Hwei, a New York based Malaysian violinist who recently performed in Carnegie Hall, USA. The KLPac Sinfonietta String Orchestra will also feature in the festival programme.

Despite it being a string festival, the Penang Wind Quintet, winner of the HSBC Classics Wind Competition 2006, will also be performing on the first night of the festival as part of their prize for taking first place last year.

The festival will also feature the semi-final and final round of the String Concerto Competition, various master classes and workshops as well as an exhibition of stringinstruments and accessories.


TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE!
Special rates for HSBC credit card holders and concession rates for students, sr. citiens & the disabled
To purchase, call (KLPac) 03-4047 9000 or (The Actors Studio @ BSC) 03-2094 9400

For the full festival schedule & programme, CLICK HERE.

To download the application forms for the masterclass / workshops, CLICK HERE.

The Magic Flute performed !

Mozart's The Magic Flute,concert version, finally made its debut in Malaysian theatrical scene with a truly made in Malaysia production from "top to bottom" (quoting from Music Director Choong Kok Ting ! )last night at KL Pac !The performers' glorious moments after the show and showers of bouquets in appreciation for their performance.Philene was playing the cello in the orchestra in the background.

Tamino(sung by Peter Ong),playing the handsome prince wondering how he stayed alive after passing out in an attempt to escape from a huge serpent....the story may sound like a page from a fairy tale, but the music Mozart wrote is timeless !Melodious and memorable...

Personally,I am utterly enthralled by Tan Sin Sim's rich and powerful voice singing the Queen of the Night which received the loudest applause.Aria 4 and 14 are some of the best known opera music pieces of the classical age.

The three ferocious ladies-in -Waiting of the Queen,( Kho Mei Ling,Janet Lee and Wang DiXia ) admonishing Papageno,the bird catcher for taking credit for saving Tamino's life.

Our very own young and very experienced conductor,Brian Tan who was educated in Britain and China !He has a true heart of a musician who is not content just to teach music in class rooms but believes that playing in orchestras and chambers will enable one to truly "experience" Western classical music to the fullest.

Because of his encouragement I was led into that wonderful world of orchestrating music that is truly a treat at this time of my life - when time is an available commodity in my hands.

I have discovered that listening to an orchestra in a concert is wonderful but playing in an orchestra is even more marvellous !!

Music Director Chong Kok Ting, an accomplished pianist who has won several awards in music since his college days in the UK takes his task here with utter seriousness worthy of his many acomplishments both overseas and here.

Joe Hasham,the Orang Puteh whose rich theatrical experiences makes him such an entertaining narrator in the Magic Flute, giving the performance a truly outstanding and professional standard.

Director & Executive Producer,Dato' Faridah Merican ,wife of Joe needs very little introduction in local theatrical scene.She puts her expertise to great use here in this new field of classical musical production.She considers directing and producing Mozart's the Magic Flute , a dream come true for her !

This show will never be possible,for that matter the KL Pac Sinfonietta if not for a very wonderful and capable lady whom I do not yet have a picture of.Acknowledging the true founder of this orchestra,Ms Marge Chew,General Manger of KL Pac whose wise decision to start the orchestra has benefited so many of us.I am glad to be a recipient of her wonderful vision.

Backstage - daughter Philene,packing to leave for home after the first night of performance.Take it easy mum... 4 more shows to go.....

Fellow cello player, Chong Siaw Wei whose sweet disposition makes her an endearing team player.I learnt a lot sitting next to her in my second rehearsal. Squatting down to close her cello case is Low Li Lian.

Then my sweet darling daughter whose very existence enables me to get into the world of music so I can grow together with her in the area I have interest in.
Philene,My lovely Princess of the Cello....

You can still make your way to the show - the tickets are limited as they are quite well booked.You will be surprised quite a number of people are interested in Mozart !

Call 03 -4047 9000 ( KL Pac )

Playing Mozart's Magic Flute

Time for concert again this week ! Philene is in the small 40-member KL Pac Sinfonietta ,companying the concert version of Mozart's popular opera,the Magic flute.

I sat in all the rehearsals listening to an Opera seriously for the first time...

And I would have to say Mozart is truly a genuis - his music is so timeless !

Our conductor Brian Tan says it is a rare opportunity for him to be able to do an opera - and inspite of his busy schedule,conducting another orchestra concurrently in one of the Unversities,you really admire his utter commitment and patience !After some eight 3-hour rehearsals from January they are ready to perform ! Music director,Chong Kok-Ting,a serious matured pianist is taking his duty with an admirable committment too.

The singers are suprisingly a whole bunch of young but talented lot! Don't even think Opera is for old people - come and watch and you will be surprised as I am !

40 instruments playing together can be very loud - but you will be amazed to hear these young but powerful voices - any one of them can project their voice - soaring loud and clear over the entire orchestra ! This is done without a microphone during rehearsals ! The power of the human voice - Think American Idol's contestants ' great ?- don't go far - hear the one of our very own - Tan Sin Sim,award winner in several competitions- phew !- she sings the Queen of the Night - will beat them flat ! And will be sure to bow you over with her very beautiful and powerful voice singing some very,very challaenging passages several octaves above !

Here's more info:

The Magic Flute (Concert Version)
with KLPac Sinfonietta
Artistic Director & Narrator: Joe Hasham
Director & Executive Producer: Dato' Faridah Merican
Producer: Marge Chew
Music Director: Chong Kok-Ting
Conductor: Brian Tan
Featuring: Peter Ong, Tan Sin Sim, Irma Lailatul Munira, Janet Lee, James Long, John Tan, Kho Mei Ling and Wang DiXia


This March, KLPac will be staging the concert version of Mozart's ever popular opera, The Magic Flute. This was Mozart's last opera, first performed in Vienna in 1791 and thereafter performed to great success.
Directed by Dato' Faridah Merican and narrated by Joe Hasham, this KLPac production will feature young albeit extremely talented classical singers whose powerful voices will be accompanied by a 40-piece orchestra, KLPac Sinfonietta.
The Magic Flute aims to reach a wider audience by presenting opera in a more accessible and innovative form with the aid of visual projections and narration. Both, opera lovers and new theatre goers, should not miss this magical, multi-sensory experience!

Synopsis:
The wicked Queen of the Night convinces Prince Tamino to save her beautiful daughter Pamina who was kidnapped by Sarastro. In return, she promises Pamina to the Prince. Tamino sets out to save Pamina with a bird-catcher, Papageno. Three ladies-in-waiting of the Queen give Tamino a magic flute to help protect him from danger. They give a set of magic bells to Papageno and send three children to help guide them.
Meanwhile, Papageno finds a girl rather like him. Even her name, Papagena, sounds like his!
Sarastro is not the tyrant the Queen makes him out to be. He has kidnapped Pamino to save her from her evil mother. Tamino is put through tests by Sarastro for him to prove worthy of Pamina. The Queen tries to get Pamina to kill Sarastro but fails.
On the final day of their tests, Tamino and Pamina go through the Trial by Fire & Water. As Tamino plays the Magic Flute, they emerge unharmed, saved by the power of the Magic Flute.


Duration : 22 March - 25 March 2007
Venue : Pentas 1
Price : RM50, RM40 and RM30 (senior citizens, students & the disabled) - 10% discount exclusive for KLue readers! Terms & conditions apply. Call our box office to find out more. TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
Presenter : KLPac

Date
Time
Booking
22 March 2007 (Thursday)
08:30 PM
Book Now
23 March 2007 (Friday)
08:30 PM
Book Now
24 March 2007 (Saturday)
08:30 PM
Book Now
24 March 2007 (Saturday)
03:00 PM
Book Now
25 March 2007 (Sunday)
03:00 PM
Book Now

My New Vegetable Garden

To enjoy the splendour of the garden,click on pictures for enlargement. This is one of the favourite hats I wear in life - the gardener's...

Picking lettuce for lunch and dinner and juicing them minutes before consuming has always been on my mind for quite some time...and I am no stranger to procrastination...

There are a thousand and one things we say we wish we can do 'someday'... Sometimes somedays never come...

The first 'serious' vegetable garden I grew was when I first got married and was lecturing in Kota Kinabalu,Sabah in West Malaysia.The second garden was in the corner yard of my house which I kept for about 10 years until I started the import of organic produce in 1996.

After stopping the business a few years ago,I found myself being blessed with time in my hand again ( hooray...! just love time...,don't you ?)

From the time I became a student of the cello 2 years ago by some divine appointment,I found myself unwinding quite happily through engaging in doing the things I had been postponing for so many years...I guess it is quite infectious because,about a year later I found myself taking classes in fine arts and finally learning the piano,all at 52 !

Then one fine inspirational day last October, in the midst of practising and rehearsing for my first ever orchestra with the KL Pac Sinfoneitta,I just made a firm decision to end all postponing and started this vegetable garden...

Just look how satisfying and fulfilling it is to plant a dream garden and see it grow.....

The two rows of young seedlings at the end of my vegetable plot have just been transplanted...

You watch in awe as they grow by leaps and bounds, and in two weeks they completely cover the earth below ! Ready for harvest !Even though I have seen this miracle happening countless number of times over the years,it never fails to delight me over and over again -

I am addicted to seeing things grow !


The Making of A Home Vegetable Garden

With a burning desire to start establishing a vegetable garden,Cheng Swee,my maid,Tess and I quickly set out to plough the earth on the empty plot of land in front of our house in Taman Tun Dr Ismail.Here 20 years ago,Cheng Swee planted several Angsana trees which have since grown to near Raintree size,making this a cool spot to picnic in.

First we clear the away the grass and we started to loosen the earth and heap them up in rows.It is difficult to grow vegetables successfully in Malaysia without raising the bed.The abundant rainfall here can easily cause waterlogging even in one heavy shower.

This is about the hardest labour you will experience in preparing a vegetable plot - it is actually easier than than it looks...

Then we dig a few pits to make our compost in.Even Philene appears to enjoy this activity...

In the first month the first 6 short plots looked rather pathetic ...

With a little patience,and the charm of the fresh morning beckons us to the field each day,the bed started to look greener...Notice the rainwater that collects on the right after a night of rain...


My 80+ year-old mom is an avid and fantastic gardener who does not waste a single thing in her life.She saw my month-old long beans and taught me to pick one leave out of each stalk of 3 leaves to encourage flowering and fruiting.And with the young leaves she plucked she cooked a soup with it !


Then the long beans soon bore fruit and now the garden is beginning to take shape ...

This is the first time in my life I have ever grown a purple-coloured long beans variety and they are very prolific producers !

This curly variety of long beans also makes history. This is by far the best long beans I have ever grown! Crunchy and sweet ! and almost double the size of the normal long beans! And they are expensive in the market !



This is the normal variety - and just how long is long !

Philene thinking aloud, " Would you grow quickly ,Cucumber ! We need you for salad ! "

While the soil is not extremely fertile yet - we did get an extremely successful crop of Kai Choi on the right.This is the bitter vegetable we use to do our Emperor's soup with the left-over Christmas roast turkey !

With some extra harvest, my mom taught me to cure them as kiam chai ! ( salted veg )

Curing Kai Choiin an earthen pot - after a week - they turn light yellow and taste delicious cooked with some meat or prawns! This is one of my favourite veg.Teow Chew porridge won't taste the same without this dish.



This foot-long ladies finger started off very promising but I had to fight a frustrating battle with tiny black caterpillars that attacked the buds every day on almost every one of them !! Finally I gave up ! I just let them devour the ladies fingers...and patiently waiting for bigger predators to eat them up soon...the ecosystem will balance itself,this is a fundamental principle in organic farming.( bad news for those who eat inorganic ladies fingers - they have to be regularly sprayed ! )



This is the second phase of our garden expansion - we made an additional 7 beds,each more than double the length of the first 8 beds we made in the beginning ! Tess is a patient and ardent gardener too.In her early 30s she is a most marvellous help and can make a bed in 2 mornings. We started some 20 over tomato plants,calculating that many of them may not survive - I was looking for just one plant that could survive...

All looked very promising until the first truss started to form and one by one they died of viral diseases of the roots...:(
I am not giving up yet - since the first tomato plants Cheng Swee and I grew in our first veg garden were such prolific producers they grew up to 13 feet long and lasted more than 8 months! I hunted down recipes in the library - making fresh and very delicious tomato ketchup,tomato paste, tomato sauce.And we were able to drink freshly pressed tomato juice everyday !

This is Ulam Raja - King of salad,the fragrant local raw vegetable,a favourite of the Malays.I bought some for my salad and patiently planted the stems until they produce seeds.These plants you see here have been raised from these seeds over a couple of months...

The patience pays off ...now I can pluck a handful of them in juice them with Granny Smith apples - delicious and full of zest!



This is the first time I have ever raised this variety of salad - Fire-Red variety and surprisingly they are quite easy to raise !

Look see how wonderful when they grow...

I potted a few and gave them as New Year 's gifts

Trying my hand on Sweet Corn at my daughter's request...while they are growing I transplanted some extra seedlings of veg in the bed.

Young Asparagus establishing itself. Radish in the background
Growing seedlings in modules - about 4 days old .


After about two weeks they are ready to be transplanted,with minimal damage to the roots.And they grow superbly !


Tess transplanting them on to the beds


Newly transplanted seedlings are best covered with dark aerated plastic for about 3 days to establish their root system

This is the longest row of lettuce I have ever grown in my whole life !There are 5 different varieties.

Watching a young Winter Melon grow day by day is a phenomenal experience...

Matured Winter Melon with powderly skin ! They are superb in soups !

These are Chinese Cabbage - Wong Nga Pak.Their seeds are so expensive.And they are very beautiful plants.Unfortunately they do not form heads in this tropical weather....

The centre row is White Stem Chinese cabbage with very lovely flavour.

A close up look at my green letteuce.

Look closely these are very delicious curly pak choy - I harvest them leave by leave so that we can have a continuous supply.

This is the first time I have been able to raise these Broccoli from seeds.They take 3 to 4 months to flower...( patience.....)



These dark green Choy Sam are so healthy and abundant and are fantistic tasting, harvest 2 weeks after transplanting !



This light greeen Choy Sam reach beautiful heights and size.They are a true joy to harvest !

The 3 plants are Ya Ch'e Chai,with a slight bitter taste.They can be used in soup,stirred fried.I use them in my green juice.

Brinjals are a great joy to grow - currently bearing thier first brinjals in the garden- I bag them with paper to prevent fruit flies from laying eggs on them...

Trying my hand on a beet root plant I bought from a nursery - 3 plants for RM8.They seem to grow quite well and doesn't this plant look glorious ?!I use their leaves for juicing.

Herbs used to be a challenge to grow.This is the first time I manage some decent looking corinader plants,one of my favourites in Salsa and juice.

These are cinnamon basil plants I bought from Cold Storage imported from overseas.I gave it a shot and I am not disappointed at all - they grow so beautifully and are so delicately fragrant.

They give a high note to my Vegetable juice concoction !besides being full of anti-oxidants.

Local celery - another first ....raised completly from very ,very tiny seeds ! I am so proud to see them grow each time.They transform a dish like Soup kambang or beef soup freshly cut in and they add fabulous colour to the dull dark coloured soups! I am raising a lot more seeds currently in modules so I can juice them regualarly.They are quite slow growers...patience....!



Red Basil - another live herbs sold in module in Cold Storage.I am waiting for them to be a bit more established before harvesting them.Cutting usually encourage the herbs to grow faster.


Live Celery Leaves plants bought from Cold storage - this variety is gorgeous and the plants establish themselves rather well in my composted bed.


French Beans - just starting to flower..They look very promising ! Love French Beans.


The garden at its full splendour...a gardener's joy and pride....

And time to pick lettuce for lunch ...... Bon Appetit !