In Monday’s (6/10) Straits Times (Singapore, subscription required), Lisabel Ting writes about the Philharmonic Orchestra of Singapore’s upcoming performance of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring at Esplanade Concert Hall, with The Arts Fission Company and, as dancers, “members of the community aged eight to 92.… Angela Liong, artistic director of The Arts Frisson Company, says that the community involvement is to ‘examine how professional artists can involve people from all walks of life and work with them in a meaningful way.’ ” Some performers come from “places such as the Henderson Senior Citizens’ Home and Asian Women’s Welfare Association centres. Liong says that it was not an easy task to get the elderly involved.… When she finally began rehearsing with the elderly performers in April, she was blown away by their vitality and sense of humour.… ‘If you think young people are wild, you should see them.’ … The community involvement does not only extend to children and the elderly, but to people from all walks of life as well…. The oldest performer is Mr. Benny Phang Chin Chong, who is 92.… ‘I don’t find any part too hard, but sometimes it is hard to remember which side the action is on, left or right, so I must practice every day.’ ”
Posted June 12, 2013
