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NAFA Gala Concert 2005

(from left) Lim Yau, Nancy Yuen

(from left) Lim Shieh-Yih and Li Guohua

Date:               8 September 2005 (Thursday)

Time:               8.15pm

Venue:             Lee Foundation Theatre

         NAFA Campus 3, 151 Bencoolen Street, Singapore 189656

Conductor:              Mr Lim Yau

Tickets:                   $25 from TicketCharge (Hotline: 6296 2929)

Concert Enquiry:      6512 4179

Mozart          Overture – Cosi Fan Tutte             Orchestra             

Schubert       Mass in G Major                            Chorus & Orchestra

Bizet            Carmen Suite No. 1                       Orchestra

Puccini         In quelle trine morbide from “Manon Lescaut”    Li Guohua

Verdi       Gia nella notte densa from “Otello” Li Guohua & Lim Shieh-Yih

Mascagni      Intermezzo from “cavalleria Rusticana”    Orchestra

Puccini         from “La Boheme”

                   Che gelida manina                                 Lim Shieh-Yih

                   Si mi chiamano Mimi                             Nancy Yuen

                   O soave fanciulla                     Nancy Yuen & Lim Shieh-Yih

Verdi           Va pensiero from “Nabucco”                         ALL

About the Performers

Lim Yau林耀, Conductor

Singapore-born Lim Yau is Resident Conductor of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Music Director of the Singapore Symphony Chorus, a newly created dual appointment he assumed in January 2001. Previously, he served the Singapore Symphony Orchestra as Associate Conductor and Chorus Master (1981-1997). In 1997 he became Music Director of the Singapore Lyric Opera and in 1998, founded the Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, which soon developed into an outstanding ensemble. He was also the Principal Guest Conductor of the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus from 1993 to 1997.

Notable recent performances include concerts and recordings with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, the Orchestra of National Opera and Ballet, China, the Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, the Philippines Philharmonic, the State Philharmonic of Tirgu Mures, Satu Mare and Constanta in Romania, the State Symphony of Krasnayarsk, the Russian Philharmonic, The Philippines Madrigal Singers, the Lund University Male Chorus, Sweden, as well as the Latvian State Choir.

Besides regularly conducting orchestras and choruses in Europe and Asia, Lim Yau is also active in Singapore systematically promoting opera, ballet, contemporary music and choral excellence. He has conducted no less than 20 opera and ballet productions for the Singapore Lyric Opera and Singapore Dance Theatre in works ranging from Britten to Verdi. A keen advocate of Singaporean composers, he has given first performances of more than 30 new compositions for opera, orchestra, chamber ensemble and a cappella chorus. His passion and enthusiasm for choral music led him to the formation of The Philharmonic Chamber Choir of Singapore (1994), which has emerged as one of the most prominent chamber choirs in the region, winning top prizes in the prestigious 19th international Bela Bartok Choir Competition in Hungary in July 2000.

Lim Yau graduated from the Royal College of Music and Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London and also had the privilege of working under mentors such as Sergiu Celibidache in Munich and Franco Ferrara in Siena.

In recognition of his contribution to music in Singapore, Lim Yau was awarded the Cultural Medallion in 1990.

Nancy Yuen 阮妙芬, Soprano

Known for her hugely successful portrayal of the young geisha, Cio-cio-san in Madame Butterfly, Nancy Yuen is a versatile soprano who has produced an exceptionally wide repertoire. Her signature role in Madame Butterfly has gained much international recognition and she has been playing the role many times around the world.

A top graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London, Yuen went on to play many other roles after her brilliant operatic debut as Cio-cio-san. These include: Romilda in Xerxes, Violetta in La Traviata, the title role of Tosca and Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She has worked with companies such as the Welsh National Opera, London City Opera, Opera Queensland as well as Bangkok Opera.

Yuen also has an amazing recital and concert repertoire ranging from Baroque to contemporary. She performs regularly in Europe, the United States, Middle East and Asia.  The orchestras she has worked with include London Mozart Players, Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and most recently, West Australia Symphony Orchestra.

Yuen has staged countless soprano solos, including Messiah, Nelson Mass,Christmas Oratorio and Carmina Burana, attracting large turnout at her concerts. In 2004, she made her debut in Japan and also performed at the Shanghai Grand Theatre for the first time.

Lim Shieh-Yih 林燮毅, Tenor

Lim Shieh-Yih started his music education at the age of four on the piano with Madam Lucien Wong. He started his interest in singing at the age of 17. He has since earned degrees from the Trinity College of Music, London; Central Conservatory of Music, Beijing, and The Juilliard School in both piano and voice. His teachers include Ms Yang Jie, Mr Li Xinchang, Mr Robert White, Mr Edward Zambara and Ms Marilyn Horne. Shieh-Yih has obtained his Bachelor's and Master's degree from The Juilliard School on full scholarship. In 2000, he graduated with the Certificate of Professional Studies on full scholarship, studying with Mr W Stephen Smith at The Juilliard School.

He has performed in venues like Alice Tully Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, New England Conservatory, Paul Hall, Metropolitan Concert Hall in Tokyo, National Concert Hall, Taipei etc. He has obtained fellowships for summer programs like Pacific Music Festival, The Music Academy of the West, Santa Barbara where he is one of the Marilyn Horne Foundation Awardee in 1997 and The Apen Opera Theater Center with the Aspen Music Festival. Shieh-Yih has won numerous competitions, including - 4th Asian Vocal Competition, Taiwan, Marilyn Horne Foundation Vocal Competition, USA, Joy in Singing, USA, Leonard Bernstein Oratorio and Songs Competition, Jerusalem etc.

Shieh-Yih has been very active in Singapore music scene, performing in a few
productions with the Singapore Lyric Opera and some other organisation. He was invited as the adjudicator for the Malaysia National Vocal Competition 2001. At the inauguration of the Concert Hall at Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, Shieh-Yih was invited by the SSO to perform as the Tenor solo in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9.

At the moment, Shieh-Yih is residing in Singapore. Besides performing, he also dedicates his time in teaching the younger generation to promote classical singing. In December 2002, one of his students won the overall 1st prize in the Malaysia National Vocal Competition. He is one of the Voice Faculty at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts. He is also the President and Artistic Director of Festa Canzone - A music festival dedicated to Art Songs.

Li Guohua 李国华, Soprano

China-born Li Guohua graduated from Tokyo College of Music, where she mastered voice performance under the late renowned Japanese vocalist Professor Azuma Atsuko.

In China, she worked in Nanjing Education College as a tutor in vocal music, and was a special guest performer for Nanjing City Chamber Music Group. In Japan, she has been actively involved in various musical circles.

In 1991, she performed solo in Tokyo Theatre as a special invited guest for the Gulf War Disaster Children Charity, together with many other world famous musicians and vocalists. Her singing has also been televised by NHK TV, Japan. Her operatic roles included Lola (Cavalleria Rusticana), Xiao Wanting in the Chinese romantic tragedy Serenade and Frasquita (Carmen). Her concert repertoire includes Puccini's La Boheme and Madame Butterfly, Verdi's Ernani, Catalan's La Wally, Bellini's I Puritani, Wagner's Tanhauser, Lehar's Die Lustige Witwe, Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro and J. Strauss's Die Fledermaus.

Content Contributor: nafa.edu.sg Media Release 1 Sep 2005