Robert Redford was supposed to narrate Prokofiev’s Peter and the Wolf at the Sun Festival opening concert on Saturday, but he had to cancel his appearance and was replaced by Geoffrey Rush. I asked my parents what they’d think would be different if Redford narrated instead of Rush, and my mom commented that “at least he’d look a lot better”. I admit that Rush seems to be having a hard time keeping up with the years (I was sitting three rows from the stage, and could see his face quite close and clearly), but he delivered the lines and dialogue with the dry wit and cold humour as befitted the story. Think Captain Barbossa with a smirk.
The other highlights of the evening most definitely were Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and the Vienna Boys Choir. What beautiful, angelic voices! If I may be so bold to declare, I think this may be as close as Singapore can get to staging a truly ‘world class’ concert. My only gripe for that evening - which had be transfixed the whole while (unfortunately not so my dad - he went fishing) - was the orchestra. It was a humble attempt to bring together the talents of musicians (students, mostly) from the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of NUS, the Peabody Institute of John Hopkins University, and the Guildhall School of London… but the orchestra was amateurish and musicians sluggish in appearance, and the music sounded flat. If only one of the world-famous Philharmonic or Symphony Orchestras were to make an appearance… but I guess that’ll be too much to ask for, for one night.