A Symphony of Endearing Voices

A Tribute To The Women Of Our Time

By Marion Ang

The opera gala concert featuring three singers, all female, performed sweet serenades of love, romance and charm. A tribute to the women of our time, Mother, Daughter, Wife and Lover by the Singapore Lyrical Opera (SLO) was a soulful and pleasant evening showcasing the talent of sopranos, Nancy Yuen and Cherylene Liew and mezzo-soprano, Anna Koor.

As the SLO orchestra warmed up and the lights dimmed, Joshua Kangming Tan conducted theTriumphant March from Verdi’s Aida before the entrance of Cherylene Liew with her light and earnest voice in Puccini’s O mio babbino caro and Song to the Moon.

Nancy Yuen, a veteran soprano, delivered Mozart’s Ach Ich Fühl  (The Magic Flute) and Puccini’s Un bel di with elegance while hitting even the highest notes.

With her matured voice, Anna Koor awed the crowds with a soft and angelic rendition of Saint-Saens’s Mon coeur s’ouvre a ta voix (Samson et Dalila) and What a Movie (Trouble in Tahiti) that stood out from the rest with its energetic beat but her voice was compromised due to the overwhelming orchestra.

   

Some of the highlights include the duets or mixture of all three voices that synced into a perfect harmony. Nancy and Cherylene’s duet in Mozart’s Sull’Aria (The Marriage of Figaro) was a captivating piece. The Final Trio of Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier closed the night with a never-ending rousing applause, with the crowd hoping for more. Indeed, the opera with three beautiful voices was enjoyable and emphasized the significance of the women of our time.