VOICES: A festival of song at the Esplanade

We're really excited about the VOICES festival of song that will be part of our year-end holiday season in Singapore. It's a chance to experience a wonderful variety of ensemble singing from around the world at the Esplanade. With free events, world class talent and a chance to learn from the best, be sure to keep reading for our pick of the highlights!

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir

The VOICES music festival starts off with an opening performance by the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir.

One of the most highly regarded choirs in the world, they have been performing regularly throughout Europe, the US, Canada, China, South Korea, Japan and now Singapore. They have also received 10 Grammy nominations across a range of choral and classical categories since 1993, and won a Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance in 2006 for their album Da Pacem.

The choir will perform original pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Brahms and Claude Debussy, as well as works by prominent Estonian composers, Veljo Tormis and Arvo Part.

13 December 2013, Friday, 7.30pm

Esplanade Concert Hall

Tickets: $28*, $48*, $68, $88

Limited concessions for students, senior citizens and NSFs: $15*, $25*

VOICES special:

Get 10% off when you purchase 2 of more tickets!∧

∧Terms and conditions apply.

Colours – An evening of A Capella

Colours brings together 4 unique Singapore vocal groups, each bringing their own unique styles and creations using the vocal palette. Here’s your chance to enjoy a medley of musical sounds and rhythms in this showcase of Singapore’s best vocal music talents, with Juz-B, Key Elements, MICapella and Vocaluptuous.

14 December 2013, Saturday, 7pm

Esplanade Concert Hall

Tickets: $35*

Limited concessions for students, senior citizens and NSFs: $20*

VOICES special:

Get 10% off when you purchase 2 of more tickets!∧

∧Terms and conditions apply.

Khöömii – Throat Singers of Mongolia

If you’re looking to sit back and enjoy a group singing performance with a difference, be sure to catch the Khusugtun singers from Mongolia. The ensemble will perform modern renditions of Mongolian folk songs using a throat singing technique called khöömi, where at least 2 distinct musical notes are used at the same time.

An award-winning ensemble, Khusugtun has performed at various international throat singing competitions and events such as the BBC Proms in the Royal Albert Hall, UK and the Sarawak Rainforest Music Festival in Malaysia.

Watch them showcase their unique style of singing through a repertoire that includes a cappella singing and musical accompaniment using traditional Mongolian instruments such as the horse-head and grand fiddles, yatga zither and more.

14 December 2013, Saturday, 7.30pm

15 December 2013, Sunday, 5pm

Esplanade Recital Studio

Tickets: $30*

Limited concessions for students, senior citizens and NSFs: $19*

VOICES special:

Get 10% off when you purchase 2 of more tickets!∧

∧Terms and conditions apply.

VOICES workshop

Interested to learn more about the genre performed by the various groups? Be sure to sign up for the workshops to get insights on choral, a cappella and khöömi singing before the following performances: Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Colours – An Evening of A Cappella and Khöömi – Throat Singers of Mongolia.

Check out the dates and time of these workshops below:

Estonian Choral Workshop

12 December 2013, Thursday, 7.30pm

Esplanade Recital Studio

Tickets: $15

Introduction to A Cappella Singing

14 December 2013, Saturday, 3pm

Esplanade Rehearsal Studio (Be at the Theatre Studio entrance 15 minutes before this workshop begins)

Tickets: $15

Introduction to Khöömi Throat Singing

15 December 2013, Sunday, 11am

Esplanade Recital Studio

Tickets: $15

Free programmes

There will also be other group singing programmes that you can join in for FREE during the VOICES festival, including:

VOICES Within

Check out some of the best vocal ensembles in Singapore who will come together to put on a great show at the concourse area every evening, with a focus on the following genres and themes:

13 December 2013, Fri – Folk Songs

13 December 2013, Saturday – Choral Spectacular

15 December 2013, Sunday – Back to Back

Sing Out!

Here’s a great activity for the young (and young-at-heart) to enjoy! Apart from enjoying back-to-back singing performances by pop a cappella ensembles and show choirs, you can also join in the fun of belting out popular radio hits in the mass sing-along sessions. The best part? Lyrics will be projected karaoke-style to help you sing along with the rest of the crowd!

13 and 14 December 2013, Friday and Saturday – Pop A Cappella

15 December 2013, Sunday – Singalong

Written by

Justina Goh

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