LIVE! Singapore, a new global performing arts

LIVE! Singapore will be held from 8 to 11 June 2010 alongside the Singapore Arts Festival and is expected to draw over 1500 international delegates.

LIVE! Singapore 2010 is a new international event for the performing arts and entertainment industry incorporating a ground-breaking conference, an international trade fair, and acclaimed live performances.Held alongside the Singapore Arts Festival, this inaugural event seeks to bring together 1500 leading performing artists, practitioners, managers, producers, agents and executives from around the world, for four days of interactive meetings, discussions, panels and live performances. It is a unique platform for global performing arts professionals and organizations to exchange knowledge, do business and network in the Asia Pacific market.German trade fair organizer, Koelnmesse, unveiled LIVE! Singapore at a media launch held today at The Arts House, Singapore.

Gerald Boese, Chief Executive Officer of Koelnmesse said, “This tailored creative and knowledge-sharing professional platform is the only one of this scale in Asia and Singapore, as it enables participants to experience unique business networking opportunities on a truly regional and international level. We believe that the strength of our experience and network, the firm support from the National Arts Council (NAC), Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), Singapore Tourism Board (STB) and the partnership with IMG Artists – a global leader in the arts management business – has laid a strong groundwork for success.”

LIVE! Singapore offers a trade fair, a conference and live performances all in one venue. Participants can exchange ideas and concepts, network and connect, and collaborate on exciting new projects. In addition, professionals emerging from Asia can use the event as a springboard to the global market and receive recognition on a higher level. Corporations looking for distinctive branding opportunities will also enjoy a customized outreach to the international audience.

The trade fair part of the event provides a dedicated business opportunity to source for regional and international acts from a wide spectrum of  performing arts including Theatre, Music, Dance, Acrobatics, Puppetry, Illusionists, Musicals, Attractions, Pyrotechnics, Folk Art etc. LIVE! will be a central meeting point for potential buyers, performing arts organizations and agents from Asia, USA and Europe.

A chosen theme will run through LIVE! Conference every year; for its debut, the theme is Music. It will explore core issues facing the worlds of classical music, orchestras, opera companies, fusion music, world music, music theatre, jazz and the burgeoning Asian music scene, as well as the role of music in other art forms such as dance. Topics to be covered range from the future of music in the live performing arts, the role of education, commission of new works, music development and new initiatives, global touring, Asia touring, audience development and the latest innovations.

Also not to be missed are stellar performances to be presented by internationally renowned artists. These performances are incorporated into the Singapore Arts Festival program line-up and will  be open to the general public. “It is good news for the local performing arts industry that LIVE! Singapore will provide a new networking platform for global art companies to exchange ideas and inspirations.” said Ms Lynette Pang, Executive Director, Entertainment, Sports & Arts and Enrichment of the STB who elaborated that LIVE! Singapore is supported by the Board’s ‘Business Events in Singapore’ incentive scheme.

“By deliberately timing LIVE! Singapore with the well established Singapore Arts Festival in June, we hope to present both trade and leisure visitors with a deeper and more meaningful suite of lifestyle offerings. LIVE! Singapore will not only enhance Singapore’s annual events calendar but also enhance Singapore’s attractiveness as a compelling MICE and business destination.” Local and international performing arts veterans have been invited to form a steering committee and an international advisory panel to provide strategic advice for LIVE! Singapore, ensuring that the event keeps up with the dynamic community. The steering committee is chaired by Koelnmesse and IMG Artists and includes some of Singapore’s leading arts managers such as Goh Ching Lee (director of CultureLink, former Festival Director of the Singapore Arts Festival and former Senior Director of Performing Arts at the National Arts Council, Singapore), Dr. Robert Liew (managing director of Arts Management Associates, a long time performing arts producer and arts advocate) and Venka Purushothaman (Vice-President (Academic) & Provost, LASALLE College). Singapore, with its vision of becoming the “Renaissance City for the Arts” in Asia Pacific, is the ideal anchor location for LIVE! There are currently 7500 performances in Singapore annually, with major festivals such as the Singapore Arts Festival, Mosaic Festival and Singapore Sun Festival attracting the world’s best artists and arts ensembles to the city. The “Renaissance City Plan” is now in its third phase, and expected to contribute EUR 54 million over the next five years to the development of content creation, towards a sustainable arts ecosystem and community engagement in the Arts.

Thien Kwee Eng, Director for Lifestyle, at the Singapore Economic Development Board said, “Rising affluence in Asia brings about tremendous new opportunities for the lifestyle sectors. As a multi-cultural global city in the heart of Asia with strong connectivity to the rest of the world, Singapore is fast becoming an attractive base for businesses seeking to access the growing lifestyle markets in Asia. With world-class infrastructure such as the Esplanade, key platforms like the Singapore Arts Festival and da:ns Festival hosting premieres of international productions, and local performing arts groups winning critical acclaim on the world stage, Live! Singapore will no doubt be a big boost to our position as an international focal point for the business of performing arts.”

LIVE! Singapore is organized by Koelnmesse Pte Ltd, in association with IMG Artists and in partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board, Economic Development Board and the National Arts Council of Singapore. It will be held from 8 to 11 June 2010 at Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore. 

About Koelnmesse
Koelnmesse (Cologne Fairs) is one of the biggest trade fair companies in the world. Every year, Koelnmesse organises over 70 own trade events worldwide, with leading trade fairs in 25 sectors. In the area of arts and culture, they organize ART COLOGNE, the oldest art fair worldwide; photokina, world’s leading fair for photography and imaging; and gamescom, the largest interactive games and entertainment trade fair. Koelnmesse also founded POPkomm, the biggest entertainment fair in the world and is now working closely together with co/pop, the Cologne music fair and congress, to create a new entertainment event in Cologne. Koelnmesse Singapore is the regional headquarter for the Asia Pacific region.

About Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore
Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore, is a new major S$6 billion international entertainment destination that will open early in 2010 and houses six hotels, a casino, Universal Studios Singapore®, A Marine Life Park, an Experiential Museum and Water Park. LIVE! Singapore will be held on two floors of the venue’s impressive conference centre above the Hard Rock Hotel as part of the new development. International delegates will have a multitude of great entertainment options both within and surrounding the LIVE! event.

HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED ‘FIRSTS’ IN SINGAPORE SUN FESTIVAL 2009

HIGHLY-ANTICIPATED ‘FIRSTS’ IN SINGAPORE SUN FESTIVAL 2009

Asia’s premium lifestyle festival ups the ante to feature never-beenseen performances over the 10-day event

Singapore, 2 July 2009 – The Singapore Sun Festival returns on the 3 to 12 October

2009 to celebrate the Art of Living Well. Featuring over 190 international artists and

celebrities in more than 90 events, the Festival, which is held at some of Singapore’s

leading venues, will also be presenting new elements and several “first experiences”

this year.

Kicking off with a gala performance at the Esplanade Concert Hall on Saturday, 3

October, audiences will be treated to a stunning world premiere ballet performance as

part of the Opening Celebrations. Starring principal dancers of the renowned Bolshoi

Theatre and Mariinsky Theatre, they will be sharing the stage for the first time in this

unique collaboration under the artistic direction of Maxim Beloserkovsky and Irina

Dvorovenko from the American Ballet Theatre.

Singapore, 2 July 2009 – The Singapore Sun Festival returns on the 3 to 12 October 2009 to celebrate the Art of Living Well. Featuring over 190 international artists and celebrities in more than 90 events, the Festival, which is held at some of Singapore’s leading venues, will also be presenting new elements and several “first experiences” this year.

Kicking off with a gala performance at the Esplanade Concert Hall on Saturday, 3 October, audiences will be treated to a stunning world premiere ballet performance as part of the Opening Celebrations. Starring principal dancers of the renowned Bolshoi Theatre and Mariinsky Theatre, they will be sharing the stage for the first time in this unique collaboration under the artistic direction of Maxim Beloserkovsky and Irina Dvorovenko from the American Ballet Theatre.

Classical music highlights include concerts by one of the world’s finest radio orchestras

– Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra – visiting Singapore with its chief conductor and artistic director, Jaap van Zweden. The Orchestra will perform with glamorous soloists like Sir James Galway (8 October); 14 year-old prodigy, Conrad Tao and Russian Cellist, Nina Kotova (9 October); and a Singapore premiere performance by opera superstar Angela Gheorghiu (10 October) with tenor Marius Manea.

Another ‘first’ is the indoor film screenings with multi-talented and highly-respected Film star and Director, Joan Chen. As film curator for the Singapore Sun Festival, she will select eight unique films that depict the Art of Living Well for screening. In addition, Joan will also be conducting an on-stage interview facilitated by film writer Ben Slater at the Singapore Airlines Theatre at LASALLE College of the Arts – a brand new programming element that’s included in this year’s Festival.

Other ‘first’ celebrity appearances at the Festival include prolific author and spiritual advisor, Deepak Chopra, who will enlighten Festival-goers on physical and mental wellbeing; whilst Nobel Laureate, Wole Soyinka, will expand the horizons of literary aficionados and playwrights as he shares his insights on writing for the stage; singersongwriter, Elvis Costello, will be rocking Singapore at the Esplanade Concert Hall with his greatest hits at his one-night-only Singapore premiere concert!

The enigmatic secrets of flavorsome spices will also unravel as a new Indian cuisine component has been added to the festival for 2009. Experimental chef Floyd Cardoz, executive chef of groundbreaking New York restaurant Tabla, will be serving a myriad of sensational flavours that will leave guests hungry for more during the exclusive signature dinner and cooking class.

“The genius of modern French cuisine”, Thierry Marx will be using the finest produce to express his avant-garde cuisine in Singapore! The two Michelin star chef will prepare gastronomic treats that perfectly match the finest Bordeaux wines, ensuring a unique and sumptuous experience for his diners at the Fullerton Hotel.

Visual Arts will be exciting in 2009, with newly-added interactive and themed workshops. Painting workshops will be conducted by contemporary painter Diana Francis at the Singapore Art Museum and budding artists and painters will get to learn techniques and tips on producing vibrant oil paintings.

A unique “Singing Art” event will be hosted at the Asian Civilisations Museum by jazz artist, Claressa Monteiro, opening up a new perspective of art appreciation when music and the visual arts combines in this audio visual special event.

The Festival also celebrates Singapore’s rich Peranakan heritage offering interactive guided charity tours at the NUS Baba House. Festival-goers can also enjoy a showcase of over 300 pieces of intricately crafted Peranakan jewellery at the Peranakan Museum.

Jeff Fuhrman, Global Chief Operating Officer of IMG Artists, said, “In keeping with our aim to deliver premium international music and lifestyle events that are exclusive and fresh, we are proud to offer festival audiences a series of “firsts” in the Festival’s 3rd year. The programme for the Singapore Sun Festival 2009 will have a spectacular lineup, featuring world-renowned celebrities and artists, boosting Singapore’s position as a truly global entertainment and lifestyle destination.”

Furthermore, in an effort to bring added enjoyment and magnificent experiences of fine living to Festival-goers, ticket prices to various events have also been reduced from the previous year and more free events have been included.

Mindy Coppin, Senior Vice President, Director of IMG Artists (Asia Pacific) and Executive Producer of the Singapore Sun Festival said, “We believe that living well can be experienced without an expensive price tag as we’re all about advocating a high quality holistic and balanced way of life at any price”.

Tickets for the Singapore Sun Festival events go on sale on 3 July and can be booked directly with SISTIC at http://www.sistic.com.sg; SISTIC Hotline (65) 6348 5555; and all SISTIC authorized agents.

The Singapore Sun Festival also works with a group of selected travel agents around the region to offer special packages which include hotel accommodation and Festival tickets. Details of participating travel agents can be found on www.singaporesunfestival.com.

Join the Singapore Sun Festival online community on Facebook and Twitter.

The Singapore Sun Festival is the third and only Asian chapter of a global lifestyle brand owned by the international arts management group, IMG Artists. The Sun Festival is also celebrated annually in Cortona, Tuscany (Italy) and the Napa Valley, California (USA).

The Singapore Sun Festival is supported by the Singapore Tourism Board.

ASIAN HORIZONS: ALAN GILBERT AND THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC

Music Director Alan Gilbert’s First International Concert Tour To Feature New York Philharmonic’s Debut Performances in Hanoi and Abu Dhab

TOKYO, June 2, 2009 — At a press conference in Tokyo today, New York Philharmonic Music Director Designate Alan Gilbert and President and Executive Director Zarin Mehta announced the details of Asian Horizons: Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic, October 8–24, 2009. This will be the Orchestra’s inaugural international concert tour under the leadership of Alan Gilbert, who will begin his tenure as Music Director in September 2009. Asian Horizons will consist of eleven concerts, spanning five Asian countries, with performances in Tokyo, Japan (a destination of special significance in light of Mr. Gilbert’s Japanese heritage); Seoul, Korea; Singapore; and the Philharmonic’s debut performances in Hanoi, Vietnam, and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Pianist Emanuel Ax and violinists Frank Peter Zimmermann and Ye-Eun Choi (Philharmonic debut) are the featured soloists on the tour. Asian Horizons marks the fourth New York Philharmonic concert tour under the aegis of Credit Suisse, the Orchestra’s Global Sponsor, and the second in Asia.

The repertoire for Asian Horizons will include a New York Philharmonic commission by Magnus Lindberg, who will become the Orchestra’s Composer-in-Residence in September 2009. This new work will have its world premiere in New York at the Orchestra’s 2009–10 Opening Night Gala Concert on September 16, 2009. In addition, the New York Philharmonic will perform Barber’s Adagio for Strings; Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 (featuring Emanuel Ax as soloist) and Symphony No. 7; Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique; Brahms’s Violin Concerto (featuring Frank Peter Zimmermann as soloist, performing on his first Philharmonic tour); Mahler’s Symphony No. 1; Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto (featuring Ye-Eun Choi, in her Philharmonic debut); and Mozart’s Symphony No. 41, Jupiter.

“Making music with the New York Philharmonic as a guest conductor since 2001 has always been a pleasure,” said Alan Gilbert, who becomes the 25th Music Director of the New York Philharmonic in September 2009. “To debut as Music Director with the New York Philharmonic in Tokyo, the land of my ancestors — on my very first international endeavor with the Orchestra — is more than a dream come true. It is deeply gratifying to be able to lead the Philharmonic in Seoul and Singapore, where it has been welcomed so many times before — and to have the opportunity to reach new horizons in Hanoi and Abu Dhabi with this truly global Orchestra is a great honor. I’m looking forward to the concerts, the companionship of the musicians, and to meeting new audiences around the world.”

“While the New York Philharmonic has a long history of bringing music to the world, the Asian Horizons tour represents the opening of a new chapter in our history, as we embark on the very first international endeavor with our new Music Director, Alan Gilbert,” said Zarin Mehta, President and Executive Director of the New York Philharmonic. “Alan’s vision is fresh, and his musicianship inspiring, and we are pleased to be able to share this new energy and excitement with our friends in Tokyo, Seoul, and Singapore. We also relish the opportunity to show the new partnership between Alan Gilbert and the New York Philharmonic to new audiences when we make our debuts in Hanoi and Abu Dhabi. These new horizons, and the renewal of longstanding relationships with audiences throughout Asia, are made possible through the exemplary commitment of our partner, Credit Suisse, the Global Sponsor of the New York Philharmonic.”

“Credit Suisse is proud to support the New York Philharmonic and its 2009 Asian Horizons tour as the Orchestra’s sole Global Sponsor,” said Paul Calello, CEO of Credit Suisse’s Investment Bank and New York Philharmonic Board Member. “We are particularly delighted to participate in the first international tour with new Music Director Alan Gilbert. After such an enthusiastic response to last year’s Asia tour, we anticipate with great pleasure being able to share another season of the New York Philharmonic with our clients and employees in the region — from the Orchestra’s first stop in Tokyo to its debuts in Hanoi and Abu Dhabi, and its performances in all the other tour cities.”

ESPLANADE — THEATERS ON THE BAY, SINGAPORE
Following the concerts in Hanoi, the New York Philharmonic will offer two performances in Singapore at Esplanade — Theaters on the Bay on October 19 and 20, 2009. These concerts mark the Orchestra’s fifth visit to Singapore, as well as the Philharmonic’s first performances there since October 2002.