Singapore Symphony Orchestra

Among the globe’s prominent symphony ensembles, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra stands out for its relative youth, yet it has risen to become the foremost orchestral body across Southeast Asia, with a worldwide scope to both its programming and its standing.

Although ensembles bearing the Singapore Symphony Orchestra name had appeared in the city-state after the close of World War II, these remained largely non-professional until the present organization was established in 1979. Conductor Choo Hoey persuaded government authorities that a polished ensemble could be assembled with a mix of local talent; of its initial 35 musicians only eight hailed from Singapore, whereas the roster has since expanded to 90 players, the majority now Singaporean. In 1980 the orchestra took up residence at the historic Victoria Concert Hall, a venue it still uses, although many of its performances shifted in 2003 to the waterfront Esplanade Concert Hall. Additional outdoor events have taken place in the celebrated Botanic Gardens and within the grounds of the Istana, the official residence of the president.

Choo Hoey relinquished his post in 1996, naming his chosen successor, the China-born Lan Shui—who had trained in both China and the United States—as music director. Shui’s tenure saw a marked increase in foreign touring, including an eight-city circuit through England and Germany; in 2016 the orchestra appeared at the Dresden Music Festival and the Prague Spring International Music Festival. After 23 years, Shui stepped aside in 2019, and Austria’s Hans Graf, already familiar through several guest engagements, was appointed to lead the coronavirus-disrupted 2020-2021 season.

Although a handful of recordings had been made under Choo Hoey, Shui substantially broadened the orchestra’s discography through a continuing partnership with the BIS label that drew significant notice in the West. While the recorded catalogue has centered on Western repertoire, it has also embraced Asian composers, notably a 2011 release of Chinese-American flute concertos performed by Sharon Bezaly. In 2020 Shui and the orchestra issued an album of Richard Strauss orchestral works that featured the seldom-programmed tone poem Macbeth, Op. 23. The Singapore Symphony maintains ties, under the Esplanade Theater umbrella, with the Singapore Symphony Choruses and the Singapore National Youth Orchestra.