Exclusive coverage by Steven Ang

Author’s note: I had initially thought of doing a series of email interviews with all the winners of the competition, while writing a short summary of the events, which would have meant that the winners would be writing the bulk of the article on my behalf while I claim credit. Unfortunately, two obstacles came up that prevented me from doing so: the events that took place were simply too lengthy to be summarized into one page, and I could only get contact information from Chew Keng Soon and Melvin Tan, 2^nd prize winner and Best Lieder prize winner respectively.

Character-wise, these two individuals could not be anymore different; one is a currently a music student at the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, while the other had his training mostly in Malaysia and Singapore. One claims a large repertory in Chinese songs while the other professes English to be his native tongue. Still, as the saying goes, all roads lead to Rome and their respective victories only goes to show the vibrance and diversity of Singapore (and Malysia)’s young singers. Hence, I bring you two short interviews from these two winners, the first by Jeffery Chew Keng Soon, followed by Melvin Tan’s.

TFI: First of all, congratulations for winning the 2^nd prize at the first Festa Canzone Art Song Competition. How do you feel about winning this prize?

JC: I am of course very very happy. Due to the strict rules and guideline, this has been a very challenging competition and I am glad to have done well.

TFI: What made you decide to join this competition?

JC: Mainly the challenge, because you need to prepare 10 songs with at least 5 different languages in order to take part. And of course, my vocal teacher encouraged me to join in order to improve.

TFI: How did you decide on the songs for the competition?

JC: First of all, I pulled out all the songs that had I practiced before and tried to arrange it for the 4 rounds of competition. Then, I had to decide which song I can sing best in that round and think about how I would win from that round. Finally, I asked my voice teacher for advice.

TFI: What do you intended to do with the prize money?

JC: Wow… First I need to pay off my loans. As for the rest, it’ll go into funding my trip to Taipei this coming July.

TFI: Since this is a classical music magazine, would you like to share some of your favorite recordings? Any favorite artistes?

JC: Well, my favorite artist is Bryn Terfel, a bass-baritone. He is great and perfect! I love how he expresses his songs even in his live concerts. I also have a passion for choir recordings. I like different styles of music because it brings me different tastes of life. My musical tastes range from pop music, opera, Broadway musicals, R&B, Blues and Jazz.

TFI: Tell us your most embarrassing moment in your performing experience?

Well, could be more embarrassing than forgetting your lyrics and gazing at the audience for more than 30 seconds doing nothing on the stage… haha! This happened when I first took part in a singing competition when I was 16 years old… what a memory!

Melvin Tan

TFI : First of all, congratulations for winning the best lieder prize at the first Festa Canzone Art Song Competition. How do you feel about winning this prize?

MT: It is a culmination of a term's work and thus I feel relieved with a sense of accomplishment that I was able to do so well in a public forum. It is also a great testament to the wonderful team at the Royal Academy of Music that I have behind me, from my voice teacher Diane Forlano, my coach Timothy Barratt and my German, French and Russian coaches. The prize is half (if not more) theirs.

TFI : What made you decide to join this competition?

MT: Again my 'team' decided it was the right time especially considering my vocal and artistic development to attempt a competition. It was very appropriate that there was one happening in Singapore. It was a good platform to exhibit my ability and to prove to my parents and the National Arts Council (of which I am a bursary holder) that their resources are being put to good use.

TFI: How did you decide on the songs for the competition?

It was a long consultation process with my 'team'. We needed a balanced that also showcased my facilities: vocally, linguistically, musically and artstically. I knew Wolf and Brahms would work as an important anchor to the 11 songs, with the Mozart thrown in for a little brevity. I had been coached in Russian song for more than a year by one of the world's best Russian vocal coaches, Lludmilla Andrew and I knew I wanted to include a song by Tchaikovsky. My ultimate affinity for French mèlodie provided the impetus for the Hahn and Poulenc inclusions. They say you cannot do better than your native tongue so the Vaughan Williams, Hoiby and Britten pieces in English were a natural fit as well. Vocally, the Britten cycle Winter Words (written for Pears) is definitely where my voice is going (Full Lyric Tenor) was very suitable.

TFI: What do you intend to do with the prize money?

Honestly, as I did not win very much, it will probably be put suitably towards buying scores and recordings, to re-invest it, if you will, in my music.

TFI: Since this is a classical music magazine, would you like to share some of your favourite recordings? Any favorite artistes?

My favourite singer is undoubtably Susan Graham (www.susangraham.com), the American mezzo-soprano. She embodies everything that a professional 'classical' singer in this day and age should be. She not only has a beautiful and bright (yet rich) mezzo but she is also very down-to-earth and personable.

Ben Heppner, the dramatic/helden tenor, is another one of my favourites. His is a large voice but he possesses a lyricism that one rarely finds in such 'Wagnerian' voices. Recordings I that would definitely recommend are Susan Graham's "Il Tenero Momento - Mozart and Gluck Arias" , "La Belle Epoque - Songs of Reynaldo Hahn", her French Operetta album "C'est ca la vie, c'est ca l'amour" and the recently released DVD of the Chatelet production of Barlioz's  "Les Troyens" where she sings Dido. Ben Heppner's French aria CD is also particularly distinguished.

Also about Festa Canzone:
Art Song Competition Grand Finals
The Festival Closing Night