Put a bunch of greying old men together and you probably wouldn’t expect them to do much.
Unless they’re The Rolling Stones, 2nd in line behind The Beatles in the Top 1000 Artists of all Time, according to acclaimedmusic.net.
Starring Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Ronnie Wood, Shine A Light is a concert documentary directed by Martin Scorsese displaying The Rolling Stones at their absolute best – old from age, but living their lives to the fullest. (Read more)
Lord Of The Rings is, without a doubt, a classic that has transcended the passages of time. It not only captivated the hearts of many, but also produced one of the most stunning, epic soundtracks ever. According to Seattle Times, “Shore’s musical opus is every bit impressive as Tolkien’s literary one, standing on it’s own as a sweeping, operatic experience.”
Composed by Canadian film composer Howard Shore the Oscar-winning score will be performed in 6 movements with orchestra, chorus, and soloists on June 5 and 6, as part of the Singapore Arts Festival 2008.
With the combined help of the Singapore Festival Orchestra, Chorus of the Slovene National Theatres Maribor and Ljubljana, and the Singapore Lyric Opera Markus Huber leads the team into a glorious battle of their own, delivering 2 hours of pure, unadulterated music to regular listeners and Tolkien fans worldwide.
Impressive musical talent and chorus aside, there’s also an inescapable quality that’s produced with their eclectic chemistry. The clear, pristine voices of the soloists and the choir blend in perfect harmony to the music played by the orchestra, drawing the listener into the world of Tolkien, leaving behind a feeling best likened to a daydream.
Their rendition of “Isengard” creates such a feeling that it brings the listener straight into the heart of Isengard itself, surrounded by the walls of the immense iron fortress. In the Tolkien’s tale, Isengard is where the battle of the Ents occured. Other memorable tracks, such as the “Return of The King”, will also be played.
Contrasted against a “live” performance, the CD soundtrack pale in comparison, as the former’s orchestra and chorus capture the raw energy and emotion of the score – something modern technology cannot achieve. It’s also interesting to note that the 6 different movements are arranged in a way that each movement represents a different book in Tolkien’s timeless literary work.
To complete the experience, storyboard drawings and conceptual art from the movie, by artists John Howe and Alan Lee, will be projected on a huge screen behind the orchestra, giving the listener a satisfying visual experience that complements the audial one.
With its flawless and abstract sound, you don’t even need to be a Lord Of The Rings fan. This is one performance that will surely take your breath away and leave you wanting more.
The Lord Of The Rings Symphony will be held at the Esplanade Concert Hall from June 5 to 6. Tickets go for $35, $45, $65, $110, $140 and $150. It lasts for 140 mins, with intermission.
Photos courtesy of Odell Seah and Singapore Arts Festival 2008.
This article is part of UrbanWire’s 9-week Singapore Arts Festival 2008 special. Get all the latest Arts Fest updates and reviews on UrbanWire.
After wowing thousands in Singapore at the Esplanade with his stunning live performances as Galileo Figaro in the musical We Will Rock You which just ended after a month-long run, Rock Star: INXS finalist, Miguel Ayesa, or Mig , has put together his first self-titled studio album for all fans who can’t get enough of him.
Mig Ayesa: Multi-talented Maestro
Tall, dark and handsome, this dashing young man played one of the antagonist vampires in the film adaptation of Anne Rice ’s Queen Of The Damned.
Realising that he wasn’t interested in becoming a piano virtuoso, Mig Ayesa jumped at the opportunity to play the lead role of Ritchie Valens in The Buddy Holly Story at age 20, halting his studies at Macquarie University to advance his career as a performer.
Spurred on by the acting bug, he also starred in various films, commercials and television series, one of the highlights of his showbiz career being his emergence as one of the 3 finalists in Rock Star: INXS.
Live in the Studio
With such an extensive and impressive musical portfolio behind him, UrbanWire couldn’t help but have high expectations of his album, MiG.
A third of the dozen tracks are original songs, but the album starts off with the cover of Peter Frampton ’s “Baby, I Love Your Way ”. It’s a good choice because this is a romantic number that’s guaranteed to get all the girls in the house swooning. The line “I can see the sunset in your eyes” brings to mind the feeling of gazing into and getting lost in a lover’s eyes while forgetting about the rest of the world around you.
The 3rd track, “Kiss From A Rose ” didn’t possess the mellow, soulful vibe that original singer Seal had in the soundtrack of the blockbuster movie Batman Forever , but Mig was able to infuse a distinct ebullient sound of his own that set the track apart from its original version.
As protagonist Galileo in Queen tribute musical We Will Rock You, in the original West End and touring versions in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore, it should come as no surprise that his cover of Queen ’s “Who Wants To Live Forever ” was well-executed and clearly displayed his impeccable vocal abilities and sheer talent in delivering compelling performances.
What did surprise UrbanWire very pleasantly, however, was Ayesa’s take on Sting ’s “Wrapped Around Your Finger ”. With a sensual and light-hearted instrumentation, it’s a piece that makes you want to get up, grab someone and just sway to the music. This uplifting number stands out from the rest, and has a very different jaunty and free-spirited sound that works well for him.
However, MiG also contains several tracks that didn’t quite hit the mark for an album recorded by an excellent live singer.
“Could It Be ” was an unimpressive piece that didn’t showcase his otherwise impressive vocal abilities. Although the catchy tune and instrumentation makes it a very radio-friendly number, the restriction imposed on his voice makes the song sound ordinary and forgettable in comparison to the rest of his original songs.
The album ends off with the track “Angie ”, a cover of The Rolling Stones ’ unforgettable single. Ayesa delivers a sorrowful, heart-wrenching interpretation that brings tears to the eyes of anyone who has loved and lost.
To Buy or Not to Buy?
All in all, Ayesa’s debut album, coming at a ripe old age of 38 and following many musical and band outings, clearly showed off his versatility in various genres of music, but fell short of being spectacular compared to the likes of Michael Ball and Sarah Brightman, who are also famed West End singers. A mild disappointment, but still worth the album cost!
UrbanWire gives MiG 3 out of 5 stars.
MiG is available in all record stores.
