'Painted Scenes'

Guess who we saw today??!! None other than our very own Mr & Mrs Prime Minister! This evening we decided to attend a concert "Painted Scenes" at the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music at NUS. Thought it would be great for the girls.

When we arrived, we noticed that there were two rows of reserved seats - naturally the choice seats in the house. Minutes before the concert started, there were some commotion and we could hear camera flash lights sounding behind us. Lo and behold! Our Prime Minister walked in with flanked by the other Reserved Seats members and his body guards. Naturally the girls were excited, but we had no opportunity to capture photo moments with our PM. The girls were dejected. Hopefully there could be another opportunity to meet PM in person again.

The concert was great, featuring students and staff from the Percussion & New Music Ensemble. Three pieces were prepared for the audience, and we were very impressed with the 'Pictures at an Exhibition' - not only just the technical fingerworks on the piano but also the accompaniment by all the percussionists! At one part, it reminded me of 1812.

What was a pleasant surprise was the encore when the musicians came out dawned with dark shades, looking real cool; and performed to the 'Mission Impossible' theme. Part way through, Thomas Hecht, pianist & lecturer pulled a bunny out with the theme from 'Pictures at an Exhibition'. You can tell the house loved it! The claps and laughter that came along with it ... such a 'cool' looking set yet with a 'serious' tune. Very quickly, the Pictures theme came and went, and we were back to Mission Impossible. Not only was the audience enjoying the music, the performers were swaying and moving to the beat - clear indication that they too, are having fun.

Certainly a very good way to spend the evening. Also I reckon such regular stage performance offers the students at the Conservatory multiple opportunities to horne their performance skills and also feel very comfortable playing in public. We are already marking our calendar for the next performance at the YST Conservatory.