Vincenzo Bellini's Music at Song Recital
Event Details:
Date: Sunday, 19 October 2025
Time: Starts at 7:00 PM
Venue: Raffles Hotel Le Royal
Admission: $10 (General) | $3 (Students with valid ID & children under 16)
Event type: Vocal Recital | Art Song
Special Networking by Singapore Chamber of Commerce at Raffles Elephant Bar, after the concert with complimentary canapes. This section of the event is starting after the concert, at approximately 8:15pm
At the heart of this evening’s recital is Robert Schumann’s Dichterliebe (A Poet’s Love), Op. 48—widely regarded as one of the most cherished song cycles of the Romantic era. With texts drawn from Heinrich Heine’s Lyrisches Intermezzo, Schumann crafts a deeply introspective narrative of love and loss, capturing fleeting moments of tenderness, irony, disillusionment, and poetic longing. Each song, brief as it may be, is a miniature world of shifting emotion, rendered with Schumann’s signature blend of lyricism and harmonic sensitivity.
Performers:
Martin Ng (Baritone, Singapore)
Issei Sakano (Piano accompaniment & solo intermezzi)
Complementing the German Romantic tradition, the program takes a bold turn with a selection of six songs from Charles Ives’ 114 Songs—a landmark in American art song. Ives’ daring harmonic palette, unexpected juxtapositions, and uniquely personal voice stand in fascinating contrast to Schumann. These works, steeped in both nostalgia and experimentation, expand the recital’s emotional and stylistic horizons.
The evening concludes on a lighter note with a set of charming songs by Vincenzo Bellini, composed during his early years in Naples and Milan. Though less frequently performed today, these works offer a glimpse into the wit and melodic elegance that would later define Bellini’s operatic masterpieces. Their playfulness and Italianate grace provide a delightful close to a program rich in contrast and expressive range.
🎟 Tickets:
$10 for adults | $3 for students and children under 16 (with ID)
📧 To book:
Please email artplusfoundation@gmail.com to reserve your seats.
Seats are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.