Turn Five

The Singapore Lyric Opera was founded in 1991 with the mission of presenting the best of Western opera. It is now recognized as one of the major arts centers in Singapore and was award a Major Grant status by the National Arts Council. The inaugural performance was of Mozart’s Magic Flute and it has strived for excellent standards and to maintain a respected reputation since then. It is known for presenting operas that are not typical to Asian production companies and each one is received with critical acclaim and tremendous audience approval. The lyric opera is also a popular attraction for tourists staying in one of the boutique hotels Singapore.

Throughout the years, the lyric opera has presented well-known productions such as the most recent performance of Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffman. It has also produced Turandot in 2008, Il Barbiere di Siviglia in 2007, Le Nozze di Figaro in 2006, and Madame Butterfly in 2005. All of these productions were well-received and offered new experiences for the audiences. One of the company’s objectives is to expand the opera experience to a wider audience. This has been a standard aspect of its schedule and it has definitely been successful. It also supports the development of new artists and provides a platform for the up and coming musicians and conductors to work with the top professionals in the field. In 2008, the opera company formed its SLO Youth Choir, which is aimed at enhancing the development of young performers, as well as establishing a strong sense of musical appreciation in the new generation.

Another progressive aspect of the opera is its Opera in the Park program that was also established last year. The June 2008 program was held at the Singapore Botanical Gardens and was well received by the audience. The event presented various selections from well-known operas for its 6000 plus audience members. This year the program will return to the Gardens and play at the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage. The admission is free to all and the concert begins at 6:00 PM. Patrons are encouraged to pack a picnic basket and enjoy the evening’s presentation that will include works by Mozart, Puccini and Verdi.

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