Around Town

Pick of the week

JOIN The Philharmonic Winds at the Victoria Concert Hall on Saturday evening for a one-night concert titled The Frozen Cathedral - named after American composer John Mackey's 2013 work.

This concert is a homecoming of sorts for the local wind orchestra, who will be performing the first piece they have ever played together - The Engulfed Cathedral by Claude Debussy - at the Victoria Concert Hall where they had their first concert, and also be guest-conducted by founding artistic director Robert Casteels (picture) who led their first show.

Other pieces they will be performing are Debussy's Feux d'artifice or Fireworks, The Immovable Do by Australian composer Percy Grainger, and of course The Frozen Cathedral.

Two other highlights will be performances by Spanish guest soloist Jose Franch-Ballester in a clarinet concerto by Spanish composer Oscar Navarro titled Clarinet Concerto No 2, and resident oboist Tay Kai Tze playing Flight by American composer Stacey Berk.

Says Dr Casteels: "The music we've selected will bring our audiences to places and scenes of awe - the waters that covered The Engulfed Cathedral, the beauty of fireworks in the eponymous work by Debussy, the sensation of flying in the air in Flight, and the majestic Mount McKinley in the Alaskan wilderness that Mackey named The Frozen Cathedral."

'The Frozen Cathedral' runs at 3pm on Saturday, at Victoria Concert Hall. Tickets cost S$18, with concession and packages available. Log on to www.sistic.com.sg for more information or to purchase tickets

>Exhibitions

agnès b. PUNK+: Twenty eight portrait shots of iconic punk phenomenons from London-based photographer Sheila Rock's book, PUNK+, will be on display at The Substation, as part of the celebrations for agnes b.'s tenth year in Singapore. The pictures offer viewers a glimpse into the unseen world and moments of punk-era titans such as The Sex Pistols, The Clash, Chrissie Hynde and more. The photos on display will be available for purchase throughout the exhibition, along with a pop-up store selling selection of books, vinyl records and accessories.

'agnes b. PUNK+ Photo Exhibition' will run from Oct 1 to 26 at The Substation Gallery. The exhibition is open from 12pm to 9pm daily. For more information, log on to www.agnesb-punkplus.com

Still Moving: Presented by the Singapore Art Museum in partnership with the Singapore International Photography Festival, Deutsche Bank collection and Yokohama Museum of Art, Still Moving brings to viewers three co-curated exhibitions in one space that focus on the nature and art of image. The three exhibitions include works showing the multiple possibilities of photography in history, experimental new media works and more. Visitors will be treated to talks by artists, critic and curator panels, and other features like a mobile darkroom and various educational and public outreach programmes.

'Still Moving: A Triple Bill on the Image' runs from Oct 3 to Feb 8, 2015 at the Singapore Art Museum. The exhibition is open from Mondays to Sundays, 10am to 7pm, and Fridays till 9pm. Admission costs S$5 to S$10; admission is free for children under six.

>Performance

Melappadam: A merge of music and rhythm, Melappadam is a segment from Kathakali, a stylised performing art from India's Kerala state. Previously performed as a prelude to a performance, today the melappadam has become a standalone art form - involving a pair of singers, who also play cymbals and a gong, and two drummers each on chenda and maddalam. This melappadam will be performed by an eight-member team, led by 60-year-old Indian national award winner and chenda celebrity Padmashri Mattannur Sankarankutty Marar. He will be accompanied by senior professional Kathakali and percussion artists from Kerala.

Melappadam will be held on Sunday at Siglap South CC Auditorium, from 11am to 1.30pm. Tickets cost S$20. For ticket booking, call 6241 1925

>Dining

Aloha Hawaii: Craving a vacation, but can't get away? Just pop by The Waterfall to be transported to Hawaii. The three-day Polynesian food and "live" entertainment festival is the perfect getaway for the stressed individuals - with delectable island cuisine and performances by famous Hawaiian musicians and native hula dancers. Guests will experience a fresh take on Hawaiian cuisine.

'Aloha Hawaii' takes place till Sunday at The Waterfall at Shangri-La Hotel. Dinners take place from 6pm to 10.30pm on Friday and Saturday, and the buffet brunch takes place from 12pm to 4pm on Sunday. Dinner prices cost S$118++ per person, buffet brunch costs S$118++, S$158++ and S$198++. Bookings can be made at www.shangri-la.com

Compiled by GEORGINE VERANO

gverano@sph.com.sg