Asian Cultural Symphony Orchestra's Concert Celebrates Asean's Musical Heritage

There was a distinct Asean flavour to the Asian Cultural Symphony Orchestra's (ACSO) latest concert, jointly conducted by Dedric Wong and Adrian Chiang.

- Chang Tou Liang

CONCERT MUSICAL MOSAICS: IMAGINEASIAN Asian Cultural Symphony Orchestra Victoria Concert Hall Aug 10

In the concert attended by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and his wife, Ms Jane Ittogi, there were no fewer than four medleys of local and regional songs, but thankfully, there was hardly any overlap, with each composer having distinct voices.

Kelly Tang's Symphonic Suite On A Set Of Local Tunes, which opened the show, highlighted Dick Lee's songs, including Home and Bunga Sayang. Syafiqah 'Adha Sallehin's Singapura Medley was strong on Malay songs, beginning with Di Tanjong Katong, while Zechariah Goh's Singaporean Folk Medley looked at local Eurasian culture, closing with Jinkly Nona.

Amid the recent border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia, a musical truce was declared, with concertante works from both countries performed one after another.