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http://pianofortephilia.blogspot.com/2011/02/kit-chan-my-musical-journey-
review.html
或 http://tinyurl.com/49kp85h
KIT CHAN – MY MUSICAL JOURNEY
with Singapore Chinese Orchestra
Huayi Chinese Festival of Arts
Esplanade Concert Hall
Sunday (13 February 2011)
About 12 years ago, the then-Chairman of the Singapore Symphony Orchestra
made the claim that the all-inclusive SSO would eschew avant-garde music and
go light, by collaborating with pop singers like Kit Chan in concert. There
was an outing in 2000 called “SSO Goes Pop!” with the likes of Tanya Chua
and Mavis Hee (who?), which was a colossal flop, and there have been no more
such crossover acts ever since. The failure of that concert was largely due
to the fact that the orchestra had little to contribute other than
less-than-high-class accompaniment in mostly Chinese pop songs that were
totally forgettable. A five piece band would have sufficed.
Other than Kit Chan learning German for Richard Strauss’s Four Last Songs or
singing Mahler’s Das Lied von Der Erde in Cantonese, there is absolutely no
chance of “Kit Chan and the SSO” ever taking place. Kit Chan with the
Singapore Chinese Orchestra, however, has filled the Esplanade for two
sold-out evenings, and appears to be a far more promising union.
First, the 85-minute gig had some form to it. Conceived in five movements,
each representing some phase in the pop icon’s musical career and containing
from two to four songs, there was something Mahlerian about it. There was
narration in Mandarin, by ex-radio DJ and scriptwriter Danny Yeo, seated high
up on stage behind what looked like a SISTIC ticketing and information
counter. The concert was conducted by SCO Music Director Tsung Yeh, no less,
who did not mind having someone placed on a higher podium than himself.
Second, the orchestra had ample opportunity of parading its prowess, although
it may have been in music of a Hollywood-slant, arranged by Law Wai Lun,
parts of which emulated Mantovani’s cascading strings. There was an
orchestral prologue, the choir (from Meridian Junior College) and pipe organ
was illuminated, and out stepped from the gallery Chen Jieyi (to borrow her
hanyu pinyin name) herself. It wasn’t exactly a grand entrance, but it did
not get in the way of the music.
The first song was the hymn Amazing Grace (reflecting her Christian faith?),
followed by Something Good (The Sound of Music) and her original composition
Mr Turner, all in an American-accented English. This first movement was
entitled The Early Days – Wonder Years, but I’ve still got no idea who Mr
Turner is (the only one I know was married to Jane Fonda last century).
Movement II: Break Through was more substantial, with four Mandarin songs,
and she was coming into her own. The first two, Xi Huan Ni (Liking You) and
Dan Xin (Worry) were by Liang Wern Fook, Cultural Medallion winner and
pioneer of xinyao, the brand of Singapore Chinese (invariably Mandarin) pop
known for its easy mellifluousness. Two further songs Ba He (Tug of War) and
Xin Tong (Heartache) completed the suite. The last was particularly poignant,
that being the single hit that launched her career in the Chinese-speaking
world.
Now this would probably sound redundant, but Kit Chan has the perfect voice
for Mandopop. Her very clear diction, perfect pronunciation and ability to
emote with the words has made her a legend of sorts, and rightly so. She
still upholds a relatively wholesome persona (for pop stars that is), with
none of those scandalous asides which the tabloids clearly wallow in.
The SCO provided some lovely moments in the interlude, notably by Zhao Jianhua
’s erhu accompanied by Ma Xiao Lan’s harp. Han Lei’s sax-like guanzi had a
few seconds, which were pitifully all too short. Then the diva emerged in a
white top and flowing red skirt for the third movement Flying High. All this
comes across very self-congratulatory, especially from a narration which
began to sound pedantic (“At 8, she did… At 13, she was… At 20, she had…
et cetera). However, she never struck one as that, instead coming across as
outwardly modest and self-effacing. She addressed the maestro and arranger as
laoshi (teacher), all very polite and Confucian.
The next song Waiting, sung in Cantonese, brought out the cheers as it was
from the musical Snow.Wolf.Lake by Dick Lee. She was truly in her element by
then, and so crooned Yue Liang Dai Biao Wo De Xin (The Moon Represents My
Heart), the most popular Chinese wedding song ever. If only those brides (and
bridegrooms) could sing like this. Popular local songwriter Jimmy Ye then
appeared on the piano to accompany Chen Xiao Juan’s Dazzling and Kit’s own
Dong De (Understand). For the latter, she sang seated (So that’s what the
garden swing was for.)
The fourth movement was titled The Turning Point – Journey of Discovery,
prefaced by her contemplation of retirement, with the enigmatic “I also
found the love of my life”. Of whom or what that may be was not elaborated
upon. (According to official sources, the 39-year-old has a long-time banker
boyfriend in tow.) By the way, there was also an interesting number that was
accompanied by a group of ruan, plucked instruments which resembled a guitar
quartet.
The finale Coming Home was greeted by a wind fanfare, heralding Kit Chan’s
return to the concert stage after a six year hiatus (which included a
19-month stint as a corporate stuffed suit in a public relations firm). “Kit
Chan is back!” announced the narrator gleefully as she sang another song in
Cantonese and finally the National Day Parade favourite Home by Dick Lee.
Even if Richard Lee Peng Boon had written nothing else but this number, his
fame would have been assured. This was sung in Mandarin, and as an encore in
English with the audience singing along.
Home was where Kit Chan wants to be, and she exhorted the cheering audience
to do likewise. At the end of the day, one may ask, “Who is Kit Chan?” I am
none the wiser. If this concert was a success, could Ho Yeow Sun and Stefanie
Sun be next?
Huayi Chinese Festival was organised by Esplanade Theatres on the Bay.
Photographs courtesy of Esplanade Theatres on the Bay.