Stir your senses at the Singapore Arts Festival

Sun, 05/11/2008 12:37 PM  |  Supplement

was almost a year ago, but I still remember vividly when the front entrance of Singapore's Jubilee Hall of the opulent Raffles Hotel turned into a spontaneous blast of excitement that evening, in which the audience moved to the beautifully exotic Balkan music of a Romanian gypsy band Taraf de Haidouks.

This was just a part of the memorable, eye-opening programs from last year's Singapore Arts Festival. Now the festival is back, with a lot more on the plate for art lovers to choose from, enjoy and satisfy their curiosity. Running from May 23 to June 22, the event showcases internationally acclaimed artists from 21 countries to present 27 music, dance and theater productions that will take the audience on an eye-opening journey they will find hard to forget.

Like choosing a mouth-watering meal at a good restaurant where everything seems to tempt you as they sound so delicious, to choose what to see at the Singapore Arts Festival is no easy feat either as there is simply a lot on offer in the program. Each has its own way to intrigue you in its own exotic way.

Just the music, for instance, comes in a broader range, from familiar classics to contemporary jazz, ethnic music and cross-genre explorations of soundscapes.

To mention a couple, there is the Spiritual Sounds of Central Asia: Nomads, Mystics and Troubadours, which feature a unique range of vocal and instrumental music from some of Central Asia's best performers from Azerbajian, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. The other is Chorus of the Slovene National Theaters Maribor and Ljubljana.

Looking at the dance performances on the list, some that will swing the stage will be Romeo and Juliet by Slovene National Theater Maribor that is said to unite Shakespeare's most famous story of all time with one of UK's foremost rock bands, Radiohead under the magical choreography of Edward Clug. Another comes from one of the most recognized world dance companies, La La La Human Steps, directed by choreographer Edouard Lock. Belgium has its turn as well to show off the acrobatic movements in Myth by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.

Now theater is another thrill as well. Chorus Repertory Theater of Manipur of India could be something you won't want to miss. Directed by one of the most important theater-makers on the international scene today, Ratan Thiyam will make the audience question where they will be when the cultural tradition vanishes. After successfully blowing away last year's Singapore Arts Festival with an extraordinary play called Beijing Ren with its amazing set, China again comes this year to take part in fascinating the audience. Adapting Chekhov's most famous work, the leading director Lin Zhaohua will amaze you at the Victoria Theater stage, which will be transformed into a cherry road where this classic tale unfolds.

Bringing the spectacular Water Fools (France) to Boat Quay, with its mind-blowing aquatic wonder as the opening celebration, the festival is an answer to your need for some thought-provoking, heart-moving and mind-stimulating experience. All are nicely wrapped and presented in a high level of artistry and creative thought.

Itching for the journey? It's time to choose what intrigues you from their exhilarating menu of art at www.singaporeartfest.com or contact SISTIC (65) 6348 5555.

-- Kathy Petite/contributor

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