“There is no one finer,” said the late Italian tenor Luciano Pavarotti. “If God would have a singing voice, he must sound a lot like Andrea Bocelli,” added Celine Dion, the voice behind the Titanic soundtrack.

Constantly touted as the “World’s Best-selling Classical Artist”, the Italian classical singer has impressed many since the early 90s and though he might not be of the same repute as singers like Elvis Presley or Michael Jackson, he is nonetheless, a singing legend in the classical sphere.

Since his debut in 1994, Bocelli who was also blind by the age of 12 has performed at many important places, bringing the sound of music to places like St.Peter’s Basilica, the Rod Laver Arena and the Statute of Liberty, venues that are rarely or never associated with music.

Performing at important events such as the Grammy Awards, the Academy Award and the finals of many sports tournaments, serenading the large crowds at such high octane events have become second nature to this Italian who counts the late Pope John Paul II and Bill Clinton as two of the more distinguished people in his very long list of important people that he has mesmerised with his unique voice.

Like many singers, Bocelli has given back to society by using his God given talents at the many charity concerts but he gave his first free concert on the Great Lawn of Central Park in New York. Titled Concert: One Night In Central Park, Bocelli was accompanied by the New York Philharmonic, the Westminster Symphonic choir and singers such as Celine Dion. The concert was recorded on tape and also broadcast ‘live’ through the United States, Canada and his native Italy.

But by the time you’ve read all the stuff above, you’ll realize it’s already too late to fly down to New York to hear the Italian serenade you on the lawn of Central Park, because that happened in 2011. However, the 2-hour recording that was cut into a DVD allows you the privilege of reliving the concert as the multi-camera angles bring you through the full 2 hours from many different perspectives.

Photos courtesy of Souran5 & Universal Music Singapore.

Without having to brave the cold rain, Act I of the show includes Bocelli along with fellow singers Bryn Tefel, Pretty Yende and Ana Maria Martinez performing 9 classical songs by Italian composers Verdi and Puccini.

Though songs like the Va, Tosca and O Soave Fanciulla are songs from Operas that are mainly consumed by classical music students or enthusiasts, Bocelli’s rendition accompanied by New York Philharmonic ensure that you would still be hooked as he hits every note with stunning accuracy.

While it is one thing to be a good singer, it is another to possess the presence and attention on stage. Well aware of the fact that many would probably not be aware of the Opera songs -considering it is something of an acquired taste-, music director Alan Gilbert also ensured that this concert would appeal to the masses, by incorporating the modern style pop concert theme into this classical show.

As Bocelli belted out a rendition of Schubert’s very popular Ave Maria in Act I, Act II of the concert also features more recognisable tunes such as Nessun Dorma, Amazing Grace and Time to Say Goodbye, tunes that you might have probably heard on idol singing contests. Executed excellently, he gives you a proper hair rising rendition that would most probably melt your hearts and make your knees wobble.

While Act I showcased the singing prowess of Bocelli, Act II was less of a solo singing act. Clad in an all white suit, Bocelli was not only accompanied by fellow singers, but also David Foster on the piano and Andrea Griminelli with the flute.

As the show climaxed, Bocelli and Celine Dion also serenaded the 70,000 plus people present with their rendition of their famous duet, The Prayer, a song that won the best Original Song for the Golden Globe in 1999.

Though this album is probably not one that you would want to keep in your car (because we’d usually want something more upbeat), it does give a very good commercial introduction to opera singing and classical music. The select group of musicians who performed with Bocelli not only embellished the show but added value to it.

The New York Philharmonic and the Westminster Symphonic Choir were pitch perfect, the piano work of David Foster was crisp and accurate and Andrea Griminelli was also excellent when he played a solo rendition of The Flight of The Bumblebee.

For those out there who were forced to play the piano or briefly flirted with other musical instruments as a kid, Bocelli’s Concerto: One Night In Central Park would probably leave you with a burning desire to return to the keyboard or to pick up that dusty violin.

Also, as every other musician in this age rely on the auto tune or on other forms of technology, a night with Bocelli in Central park or rather on your television set, would remind you of the beauty of music. And for those who may be scoffing, you‘ve already read this far and the 2 hours of classical singing would definitely open the door to a whole new genre and leave you wanting for more.

Album Details

• Artiste: Andrea Bocelli
• Guest performers: Celine Dion, Tony Bennett, Chris Botti, Bryn Terfel, Ana Maria Martinez, Pretty Yende, Andrea Griminelli, Nicola Benedetti and David Foster
• Rating: 4.5/5
• Language: English/Italian
• Genre: Classical
• Record Label: Universal Music
• Release date: Nov 14

Tracklist

Act I

1. Overture
2. La Donne É Mobile
3. DI Quella Pira
4. Va, Tosca!
5. Ave Maria
6. Vicino A Te S’acqueta
7. Au Found Du Temple Saint
8. Intermezzo
9. O Soave Faniciulla
10. Libiamo Ne’ Lieti Calici

Act II

1. Overture
2. Home on the Range
3. En Aranjuez Con Tu Amor
4. Funiculi Funicula
5. The Flight of the Bumblebee
6. ‘O Sole Mio
7. Amarcord
8. Your Love
9. More
10. Nel blu, Dipinto Di Blu
11. The Prayer
12. New York, New York
13. Amazing Grace
14. Time To Say Goodbye
15. Nessun Dorma

Australian swimming legend Ian Thorpe was all smiles at his Singapore press conference before his first competitive swim in 5 years.

His name’s uttered in the same breath as swimming legends Mark Spitz, Alexander Popov, and Michael Phelps. But Australian Ian Thorpe may soon be compared to Jamie Oliver, Gordon Ramsay and Nigella Lawson for his burgeoning culinary aspirations.

At 29, Thorpe already has five Olympic gold medals, alongside many others, to his name thanks to his aquatic prowess. But in 2006, the ‘Thorpedo’, as he’s dubbed, took a sabbatical from swimming to pursue his other talents. For example, his countrymen caught a glimpse of Thorpe’s sartorial side when he appeared as a guest judge on Australia’s Next Top Model.

Still, Thorpe’s true passion doesn’t seem to lie on the catwalk, but in the kitchen. Most Singaporeans will find a kindred spirit in this self-professed foodie, who admits to a love of tucking into a hearty meal. Thorpe’s already proved his chef’s chops by compiling a cookbook titled Ian Thorpe: Cook for Your Life in August last year and hosting his cooking show, Cook For Your Life – no doubt winning over legions of busy housewives.

“I wrote the recipes. It’s based on what I eat from day to day, from week to week,” the affable Australian tells UrbanWire. The recipes were inspired by the strict dietary regimen that Thorpe adheres to, spiced up with his own experimental flair and taste for food that’s both wholesome and convenient.

“Since I started competitive swimming, I had to be more prepared. I always make sure that there’s a good meal available even when I’m too tired to lift a spoon,” he added.

According to Thorpe, it was his hiatus from swimming that allowed his culinary passion to blossom. “I took about a year to write it. It’s based on how I prepare food, the strategy that I employ when I don’t have time or when I’m busy or tired, to make sure that I’ll always have a proper meal.”

Aspiring swimmers can take their lead from the Thorpedo’s recipes, since they’re borne out of his intimate knowledge of the adage “you are what you eat”.

“Bad food kinda equals feeling miserable,” admitted Thorpe. “Upon returning to competitive swimming, I’ve realised that everything is based upon recovery and cooking is something that has an unusual influence on that.”

And Thorpe’s going to want all the leg-up he can get, as he had announced that he’ll be returning to the pool in February last year– a revelation that drove swimming enthusiasts and the Australian media into frenzy and made him the darling Down Under once again.

Adding to the excitement is the fact that Thorpe’s announcement comes mere months before the 2012 Olympic games in London, where his fans and countrymen will be hoping for a repeat of his 2000 and 2004 Olympics performances, where he amassed a total of 8 medals, including 5 golds, in the various freestyle categories.

With the mounting expectations for Thorpe’s performance and increased scrutiny on his every move, the Australian may have reason to proceed with caution as he’s already admitted he won’t be taking part in his most successful event – the 400m freestyle – citing a lack of training time. More pessimistic observers might also see ominous clouds in the horizon as since his return, Thorpe failed to win a medal in the 3 FINA World Cup meets in Singapore, Beijing and, more recently, Tokyo.

His sputtering star notwithstanding, Thorpe’s confident he has what it takes to live up to his Sydney and Athens glory. So far he’s kept mum about his recipe for success, save for 1 crucial ingredient: training – and lots of it. That has taken him to Switzerland for an extensive course as he carries on his comeback trail to superstardom. He’ll be heading back to Australia for the Victorian Championships in January, where many will be viewing his performance as a precursor to the Summer Olympics.

While time may not be on his side, Thorpe’s already proven that he has more than a few surprises up his sleeve and knows how to adapt to different environments. And even if Thorpe fails to cook up a storm at the Olympics, he’ll certainly be able to whip one up on MasterChef.

For an event totally organised and executed by the youths, the m:idea Youth Choice Awards (MYCA) was nothing short of perfect, striking the right chords with both youths and local celebrities present at Zouk Singapore.

“I tell you it’s an awesome awesome effort. Every year we come down it’s always different and to be honest, we like to come for these awards, it’s really very fun!” said Jack & Rai, a local indiepop duo.

Linnette Lau, a 3^rd-year polytechnic student, added, “I think it’s really impressive that this was organised by youths my age. I don’t think I would have been able to put up with the amount of stress and work that comes with the planning of such an event.”

Organised by m:idea, a student-run media conglomerate from Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s School of Film & Media Studies, MYCA is unlike most other award shows as it doesn’t celebrate the success of our local musicians and celebrities. Rather, it is an award show that recognises the voice of the youth, having received more than 91,000 votes during the voting period of the campaign.

With 12 fun and varied award categories to choose from, voters could decide who was worthy of titles such as the “Hottest Female Personality I Wanna Date” or the “Cutest Male Personality I Wanna Bring Home”. Youths could also vote for their favourite brands in categories such as “Favourite Nightspot” and “Favourite Fashion Brand”.

MYCA attracted throngs of celebrity supporters who gathered at the entrance of Zouk from as early as 5pm. To their delight, the celebrities and bands were also out in full force, from Felicia Chin and Nat Ho to Sixx and West Grand Boulevard.

Sixx, a local band hailed by the media and fans as “the best hip hop band in Singapore”.

Local alternative pop rock band, West Grand Boulevard, were the winners of the "Band I Wanna Throw Myself At" award.

But while fans and youths present were afforded the opportunity to rub shoulders with these famous people, none could hold a candle to overnight sensation Mr. Yam Ah Mee, whose thank-you speech for his “Best OMG! Moment” award made the audience utter “Oh My God!”

The famous line, “Pursuant to section 49, sub-section 7e, Paragraph A…” that propelled the current Chief Executive Director of the People’s Association (PA) into superstardom, was proudly exclaimed to a chorus of cheers.

There were certainly no lack of fun and humour at this event as local The Noose newscasters Michelle Chong and Alaric Tay also poked the funny bone of the 400-odd youths there. Though they were unable to attend the awards night, Alaric and “LuLu” did a touching or maybe an extremely funny thank-you video for their voters.

In keeping with the vibrant and cheeky tone of the night, Irene Ang, recipient of the special “Most Awesome Personality I Wanna Be BFFs With” award also suggested that her award should be changed to “The Mother I Wish To Have”. Explaining with a huge grin, the local multi-talented celeb said, “If you have a mother like me, quite cool right?”

But while these celebrities took turns to rouse the crowd, Felicia Chin, the winner of the “Hottest Female Personality I Wanna Date” took the stage and shared, “My make-up artist was telling me that it was quite strange for me to win this award because the hottest female personality I wanna date currently has no dates!”

With definitely no lack of interested guys, this reporter even tried his luck on the red carpet, asking if she would consider a date with any of her voters or myself to which she replied, “Maybe, maybe.”

But though this reporter’s hopes of dating a celebrity might have been dashed, the night was still thoroughly enjoyed by everyone present as percussion group Barucada Batucada and Ukulele Movement took turns on stage to entertain the crowd.

Barucada Batucada drumming up the crowd.

Ukulele Movement performing a special rendition of Jessie J's Price Tag based on MYCA.

“I thought they did a good job and I think it’s very impressive that it’s teenagers our age who are the ones behind this event,” said Melvin Lim, 20, a 2^nd-year polytechnic student who was impressed with both the acts and the event itself.

Nat Ho, who finally picked up the “Cutest Male Personality I Wanna Bring Home” award after being nominated for a third time was also equally impressed, “Every year m:idea outdo themselves. I’m very proud of the kids from the School of Film & Media Studies. Maybe next year, we’ll fly to the moon.”

A successful and fun MYCA 2012 also spelt further opportunities for m:idea as an impressed Mr. Yam Ah Mee also suggested collaboration between m:idea and the PA, “With their skill-sets and ideas, there will be many opportunities for m:idea and PA to work together.”

Praising m:idea for their boundless creativity, Mr. Yam also added that “The m:idea Youth Choice Awards shows that youths are taking ownership of the different activities to encourage more youths to get together.”

But even with celebrities out in full force, the night wouldn’t have been possible without the youths and the voters. Hampers chock-full of premiums from brands like FreshKon, SingTel, Contiki Holidays and SOUL by Ludacris were presented to the top 3 fervent voters and an iPad 2 was given to a lucky winner at the event itself. After all, MYCA was put together by youths, for youths!

Full list of winners:

Hottest Female Personality I Wanna Date: Felicia Chin
Cutest Male Personality I Wanna Bring Home: Nat Ho
Coolest Comedian I Wanna LOL With: Michelle Chong
Best OMG! Moment: Mr Yam Ah Mee’s “Pursuant to Section 49″ after General Elections
Celebrity Duo I Wanna Chill With: Michelle Chong & Alaric Tay
Band I Wanna Throw Myself At: West Grand Boulevard
Favourite Restaurant: Astons
Favourite Dessert: Ben & Jerry’s
Favourite Nightspot: Zouk
Favourite Fashion Brand: Uniqlo
Favourite Beauty Brand: The Body Shop
Favourite Tech Brand: Apple

For full media coverage, log on to http://mideayouthchoice.com.

All photos courtesy of Klix Photography.
UrbanWire is the official e-zine for the m:idea Youth Choice Awards.

Pennetta with her Singapore Women’s Tennis Exhibition trophy

World No. 25 Flavia Pennetta defied naysayers as she outclassed 2 much more highly-ranked opponents at the Singapore Women’s Tennis Exhibition (SWTE) held from Dec 16 to 18.

The tournament was seen as a warm-up for the approaching Australian Open, and also marked the return of top class professional women’s tennis players to Singapore, as the last time the republic hosted a game on this level was in 2007.

With some of the world’s best participating, organisers might have expected the 10,000-capacity Singapore Indoor Stadium to be packed to the rafters, but the friendly tournament only managed to catch the attention of about 1,000 enthusiasts.

However, despite the lack of spectators, there was certainly no shortage of surprises on the court – and after this sneak peak of the Australian Open hopefuls, tennis fans can certainly expect the unexpected at the Rod Laver Arena come January 2012.

Of the 6 tennis players who came for this tournament, many would have expected the finals to be a matchup between world No. 8 Agnieszka Radwanska and the recent US Open winner Samantha Stosur.

IMG 3 Stosur in action against China’s Peng Shuai during the 3rd/4th placing matchup

However, Italian crowd favourite Flavia Pennetta must have got the script mixed up as she powered past Stosur with a score of 7-5, 6-7, 6-2 in the semifinals, before winning the tournament in convincing fashion with a final 6-4, 7-5 victory over Radwanska.

Pennetta breaking into a dance after winning the finals against Radwanska

The way Pennetta came back from the jaws of defeat against her semi-final opponent added to the shock factor, as Stosur had previously defeated no less than powerhouse Serena Williams at the US Open.

Up against Radwanska, an opponent she likened to a Sony PlayStation, Pennetta dispatched the Pole with ease and even had the time to entertain the spectators with little jigs and dances.

Despite being the world No. 8, Radswanka was outclassed in the finals

While the SWTE was only an exhibition tournament, the 30-year-old Pennetta’s colourful antics were well worth the price of the admission.

Despite approaching what most enthusiasts would describe as the tail end of her career, Pennetta’s victory over 2 much more highly-ranked opponents was as unexpected as the footy skills she showed off as she juggled a tennis ball midway through the finals.

Having won the doubles at the 2011 Australian Open, Pennetta could go one better this time as she’s unlocked the secret to staying calm while going against formidable opponents: getting the crowd behind her.

Pennetta in action during the Singapore Women’s Tennis Exhibition

Photos courtesy of Singapore Sports Council, Sebastien Serandrei and Lionel Lim.

“I’m really happy because the crowd was with me since the first match, maybe when you’re relaxed on the court and you smile and you’re dancing, the people also feel what you feel on the court,” said the Brindisi native at the post match press conference.

Compared to rugby or football, tennis seems less of a spectator sport as silence is usually observed during the game. But there was never a quiet moment when the flamboyant Italian stepped onto the court as her graceful strokes and cheeky banter earned her the cheer and support of the crowd.

Judging by the raucous cheers and enthusiastic applause for every point scored, and words of encouragement and support bellowed for every point lost, Pennetta had indeed endeared herself to the spectators.

The Italian was also a favourite among the children who participated in the kids’ coaching clinic on Saturday and Sunday morning and from her on-court antics, it’s not hard to see why.

Though many of the 1,000 or so spectators might not be heading Down Under come January, Pennetta could very well win herself a new legion of fans there, as she’s thinking of showing the Rod Laver Arena audience her wacky dance steps too.

“I hope to play in the same way at the Australian Open, with a smile and dancing. We will see what happens,” said Pennetta.

Having already chalked up 2 unexpected victories in Singapore, there’s no reason why Pennetta shouldn’t rack up a few more in Australia!

If slapstick humour were your thing, then The Inbetweeners Movie would most probably have you in stitches as you watch the escapades or rather the attempted “sex-capades” of four teenage friends.

Financed by the insurance payout from his grandfather’s death, the socially awkward quartet of Jay (James Buckley), Will (Simon Bird), Simon (Joe Thomas) and Neil (Blake Harrison) head to Malia, Greece after their ‘A’ levels to look for some “sand, sea, sex, booze, sex, fanny and sex.”

Hilariously crude, the movie continues from the highly successful British television series of the same name and the four extremely naïve suburban boys are once again the butt of the jokes. However, those unfamiliar with the characters’ prior histories have no need to fret, as the movie works as a standalone film on its own merit.

Apart from a highly impressive opening shot that would definitely get the attention of the viewers, The Inbetweeners Movie is roughly in between Eurotrip and The Hangover.

Though the actors might have done a very good job in portraying their characters as loveable idiot (Neil), a loveable nerd (Will), a sex-starved character that more often than not is the genesis of most of the jokes (Jay) and Simon, the ‘straight man’ of the bunch, much of plot is predictable.

The Inbetweeners Movie involves the quartet drinking, getting merry and seriously sloshed – meeting fellow random idiots along the way, – having disagreements, resolving them and finally after allowing the viewers to laugh at them for over an hour, the characters then get what they set out to achieve.

However to director Ben Palmer’s credit, he has very much tried to veer away from a stereotypical resolution as the four socially awkward and naive best friends do wise up and as the movie’s tagline (‘This Summer Four Boys Become Men’) suggests, mature as they come to terms with their personal issues and become “normal” or rather, socially acceptable.

Also, amidst all the vomiting, lust, boozing and partying, The Inbetweeners is about the friendship of the four guys and the movie does a very good job of realistically portraying a bunch of close friends moving on to the next stage in life, and whether you were a fan of the television series or not, the movie’s universal themes make it easily relatable and promises an enjoyable time.

Movie: The Inbetweeners Movie
Rating: 3/5
Opens: Dec 29
Duration: 97 minutes
Language: English
Age Rating: TBA
Genre: Comedy

Director: Ben Palmer
Starring: James Buckley, Blake Harrison, Joe Thomas

China’s Ding Ning in action during the finals of the Volkswagen 2011 Women’s World Cup.)

She’s not part of China’s 2012 Olympic team yet, but World No.2 Ding Ning certainly boosted her selection chances after calmly dispatching her compatriot and World No.1 Li Xiaoxia with a score of 11-9, 11-5, 7-11, 14-12, 11-9 in the finals of the Volkswagen 2011 Women’s World Cup (VWWC) held in Singapore over Oct 28 to 30.

Ding Ning’s immediate reaction after winning the second set against Li Xiaoxia.

The year just keeps getting better for the affable Chinese paddler, as before this win, the 21-year-old had recorded victories in 3 pro tours, as well as a single’s title at the World Table Tennis Championships.

Her debut win at this US$150,000 [S$190,360] tournament also makes her only the third paddler in history to win both the World Table Tennis Championships and the World Cup in the same year.

Speaking in Mandarin, she said, “I’m definitely very happy to win the World Cup and the level of competition was extremely strong.

“But I didn’t think too much before the competition because it was my first time taking part and I just wanted to enjoy the whole process,” added the media-friendly Ding Ning, who’ll be going home with the winner’s cheque of USD $45,000.

On her victory, she commented, “It’s not so much that I’ve beaten the World No.1, I’m just happy that I’ve won the competition. I’ve met Xiaoxia on several occasions before this and we’re also teammates.”

Ding Ning posing for photographers with her prize and the Volkswagen World Cup

However, while she was lapping up her World Cup victory, things were less rosy on the Singapore front as local hope Feng Tianwei had to deal with a harsh dose of disappointment.

Always winning, it’s very rare to see a frown on the face of Singapore’s top ranked paddler.

With Wang Yuegu failing to advance from the quarterfinals the day before and Li Jiawei unable to progress from the group stage, the hopes of the 1,800 spectators along with President Tony Tan rested on the shoulders of World No.4 Feng Tianwei.

President Tony Tan and Er. Lee Bee Wah cheering for Feng Tianwei.

But despite enjoying the raucous support of the local crowd, the 25-year-old couldn’t find an answer to Ding Ning’s comeback, surrendering her first set lead and eventually succumbing to a 1-4 defeat.

“I didn’t handle some situations that well and I didn’t fully utilise my chances,” a disappointed Feng told UrbanWire. “After I won the first set, Ding changed her strategy and I found myself having difficulty keeping up.”

Her disappointment was further compounded when she lost the bronze medal match against Hong Kong’s Tie Yana, an opponent she’d always beaten in their 3 previous meetings.

Hong Kong’s Tie Yana in action during the bronze medal match.

After an 11-3 first set victory over Tie Yana, Feng lost the next 4 sets and crashed out of the bronze medal match with another 1-4 defeat.

“Tie played very well and I couldn’t adjust to the pace of the game. There were also loopholes in my technique,” she explained.

Feng Tianwei was unable to display her usual explosive style of playing. Feng in action against Wu Xue of the Dominican Republic.

Even though the home crowd didn’t get to see a local paddler on the podium, Er. Lee Bee Wah, President of the Singapore Table Tennis Association (STTA) was satisfied by the performance of the 3 national paddlers.

“It was a pity that a Singapore flag was not up there, but the players have done quite well – look at Jiawei, she put up a very good fight against Ding Ning whereas in the past, lots of people have said we are afraid of China,” she said.

Singapore’s Deputy Head Coach of the Women’s Team was delighted to be able to watch the formidable competition first hand, as it would help Singapore prepare for the next Olympics.

“There’s definitely a possibility of us having to face some of these players next year,” said the former national player, who won 2 gold medals at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.

Singapore’s Deputy Head Coach of the Women’s Team (right) giving instructions to Feng.

Local sports enthusiasts were also treated to displays of the world’s top 16 paddlers at this prestigious table tennis tournament, where Olympic qualification points are up for grabs. Apart from our local representatives, their constant cheers for foreign players like Viktoria Pavlovich and Ding Ning were very much appreciated.

Belarusian Viktoria Pavlovich’s unique style of playing certainly won the hearts of the fans.

“I heard cheers for other paddlers and myself throughout the tournament and I’m very grateful for their support,” said Ding Ning.

Ding Ning repaying the support by signing autographs for the fans.

Ding Ning hitting autographed table tennis balls into the stands.

Feng will now represent the Republic with the rest of the women’s team at the World Team Cup in Germany before flying to Jakarta to lead Singapore’s charge in the table tennis campaign in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

“Out of the 5 events [to be held there], the target submitted to the Singapore National Olympic Council was 3 gold medals, but unofficially, I want them to do their best. I need not say anything more,” said Er. Lee.