Me at The Rolling Stone for Il Divo!!

IL DIVO performed flawlessly in their concert at Ritz Carlton Jakarta, Saturday (Feb 25). Guess who was the lucky guy  to get a chance writing the concert review for Rolling Stone? *smile* - Photo by ANTARA

Last Saturday night was an awesome night for me...

Rolling Stone had asked me to do a review for Il Divo's Jakarta concert. 

It all happened when the executive editor of rollingstone.co.id, Wendi Putranto, was looking for Il Divo's fans as he posted it via twitter. Didn't think twice, I responded telling him I was a fan of Il Divo - even not a die hard, but fond of hearing this vocal quartet's music. 

At first, I thought mas Wendi was just looking respondents to be asked about their opinion on Il Divo's upcoming concert on Feb 25 in Ritz Carlton which I had no plan to attend to (cause the pricey ticket). 

Turned out, it was not. IN FACT, he asked me to help him to write a review of Il Divo's concert for Rolling Stone! 

Okay, I thought this was way tooo exciting: watching Il Divo's concert for the very first time, experiencing their marvelously magical vocal live, writing about it, then it will be ending up in Rolling Stone Indonesia's web! Unbelievable for me!

The conversation of me and mas Wendi continued in email. He told me that he felt gratitude and believed a fan could do a good writing when talking about his/her idol. (I hope so Mas Wen :p). Via that email, he also informed I got an media ID, namely "Rolling Stone".

Behind the excitement, there was an anxiousness. I was little scared of how capable I was in delivering an idea about (mainly) classical-pop music, Il Divo's genre, to be read by Rolling Stone audience.

It was for Rolling Stone for god's sake! - whose most of the readers' iPod playing Gun N Roses to Bob Marley. Thoughts haunted my mind suddenly: Was it a sin to speak "Adagio For Strings" to them? Did they know who Samuel Barber was? 

Ah, this was a lifetime experience I thought. It would be SINNER if I rejected Rolling Stone's favor. Anxiousness turned back to excitement again! 

February 25 - the day of me being a "contributor" for Rolling Stone Indonesia & the day of me witnessing the multi-national quartet's flawlessly performance - came by. 

So how awesome Urs, Sebastien, David, Carlos' performance was?? and how terrible I was transferring that awesomeness to paragraphs?? 

You should read my review then :) Pay a visit to rollingstone.co.id/review (it's in bahasa Indonesia)

humble to hear your feedback guys :)

The Art of Eating Sushi...

Eating sushi, these days, is really popular among fine cuisine die-hards in Indonesia. We've seen people queuing in a long line in front of Sushi resto. Sushi is like the new 'nasi goreng' here. 

As everyone enjoy eating this Japanese cuisine, not most of them, including me, know how to eat sushi, properly. 

Turns out, Sushi has its own 'art of eating'. Hotel Santika gives us the detail of the sushi etiquette...

As you laugh yourself realizing you broke those rules for a long time, I have to admit: you're not alone. I discovered too much rules I broke like dipping the rice instead of the fish, not eating the ginger pickle between the sushi.

So, don't bother to call yourself a sushi die hard unless you know the etiquette of eating sushi

Musisi Klasik di Sesame Street

Di tengah euforia film "The Muppets" yang baru dirilis di Indonesia Januari lalu, saya jadi teringat akan 'saudara jauh' karakter The Muppets, yaitu Elmo, Big Bird dan kawan-kawan dari serial TV anak-anak "Sesame Street". Untuk kembali mengenang masa kecil saya yang kebetulan dihiasi oleh celotehan geng Sesame Street itu, saya mencoba me-YouTube episode dari acara yang tayang perdana tahun 1969 tersebut. Hasil pencarian lebih banyak merujuk pada para musisi dan aktor kenamaan yang sempat menjadi bintang tamu di acara tersebut.

Menyempil di tengah kerumunan video terpopuler - dengan tag Katy Perry, OK GO, Feist - ada cuplikan episode Sesame Street yang menampilan bintang opera Andrea Bocelli - di episode ini sang tenor asal Itali ini menyanyikan nina bobo untuk Elmo.

Ternyata, bukan Bocelli saja yang sempat tampil bersama Elmo dan kawan-kawan. Nama seperti soprano Renee Fleming dan cellist Yo Yo Ma adalah sebagian dari musisi klasik yang pernah tampil sebagai guest-star Sesame Street. Berikut cuplikan video-nya yang saya ambil, dari mana lagi selain, dari YouTube :)

Sepertinya ini cuplikan Renee Fleming tampil di The Muppet Show, bukan Sesame Street. Tapi, seperti yang saya bilang, kan mereka masih saudara jauh ;) Soprano kenamaan asal Amerika ini membawakan lagu berjudul "12345" ditemani para babi - Jangan tertukar dengan "1234"-nya Feist lho..

Nyanyian Denyce Graves, mezzo soprano Amerika, diinterupsi oleh para penguin. 

Duel - Joshua Bell pada biola dan Telly pada Saxhorn 

"Jam Session" - Yo Yo Ma pada cello dan Hoots pada Saxophone. Siapa bilang cellist gak bisa nge-jam? :p

Bintang opera Marylin Horne menyanyikan "C is for Cookie" . Sudah bisa ditebak lagu ini didedikasikan untuk siapa. Mr Cookie pastinya.

Paling favorit. Time To Say Goodbye, bukan Bocelli-Brightman tapi Bocelli-Elmo. Sweet.

Ini penampilan yang paling lawas. Maestro Gustavo Dudamel menjelaskan Elmo apa arti 'stupendous' (Istilah  musik untuk menggambarkan "paling besar")

Mungkin Jalan Sesama (Sesame Street versi Indonesia) boleh saja terinspirasi: mengundang penyanyi seriosa Anang Katamsi sebagai guest star. Siapa tahu saja. Toh, bukan sekedar 'nyontoh' tapi ada efek positif juga: memperkenalkan musik klasik bagi anak-anak :) 

Finding The Creativity

Dear classically-trained singers, how you ever felt so difficult to find an inspiration?   Perhaps, inspiration for classical singers means  a different 'interpretation' that you want to bring in a song you sing to your audience.  Sometimes, we cannot cope with this issue easily since most of classical songs are bound by many rules - musically, dramatically, interpretatively.

So, last night I read this article from UK's Guardian website, about tips on finding inspiration suggested by top British artists. Names from many art fields - music, poetry, dance - are giving their best self-experienced advice. Among the top names include the promising young opera singer, Kate Royal. These what Kate suggested for you, singers:

• Don't expect inspiration to happen when anyone else is watching. It usually happens when you are on your own, and it's gone in a second.

• Inspiration on stage is a controlled version of what you might experience in the practice room. As opera singers, we are bound by many rules – musically, dramatically, interpretatively. When inspiration strikes, you have to hope that the other 10 people on stage will give you space to wallow in your "moment".

• Try not to analyse other voices and interpretations too much. Of course we gain inspiration from the greats, but it is best found in the the opera's score or in the poetry. If this doesn't inspire you, then you are in the wrong job.

• Mistakes can be inspiring – allow yourself to take risks, and do what scares you. People might remember the colour of your dress and what encore you sang, but no one will remember if you forgot a word or if your phrasing didn't go to plan.

Kate Royal - Photo by EMI Music

• Remember that art is everywhere. It's amazing what you can find inspiring on the No 464 bus from Peckham.

• Alcohol and singing are not a good combination – not in opera, anyway. The more you drink, the uglier you sound.

• Be kind to your voice. If you want it to inspire you, you have to inspire it, with lots of rest, steam, sweets and a good talking to every now and again.

• Don't Google yourself or your reviews. It can only end in misery – you either believe the crap or the good, or none of it at all.

• Let the audience into your world and you are bound to receive inspiration from them. Sometimes even the man asleep at the back has inspired me to sing with a little more "edge".

• Get some perspective. I always thought I had to have music every second of every day, or I wouldn't survive. The truth is that when I step back from it and learn to enjoy the more mundane aspects of life, I appreciate my music so much more.

Breaking: The Queen of Soul Looking for The New Queen of Opera

Aretha Franklin - via Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Aretha Franklin, America's renowned queen of soul, is currently looking for a new singing star, not someone singing pop or soul music of which Aretha's music based on, but  an opera star! According to the NPR's website, the 69-year-old singer has opened an audition, for someone who is 18-40 years old and passionate to classical music, and was looking forward for their demo recorded in CDs or cassettes, adding that the 'Respect' singer is seeking "just the classical aspirants, just the people who are actively studying."

If one of you, my American friends, is interested for the audition, consider to sing Nessun Dorma, as NPR reports that the piece taken from Puccini's Turandot is one of her favorite classical aria which once sung by her during the 1998 Grammy Awards performance in her soul style obviously.

So, will you guys sign up for it?

Why can't we call Jackie a Classical Prodigy that early>

One of my last posts was talking about the emerging of young classical musician. I mentioned Jackie Evancho, the runner up of America's Got Talent, as one of them.  My idea written in that post was like I treat the 11-year-old Pittsburgh native as a final-made Diva. But I was wrong. I've should not consider Jackie in that way. She was just the product of a talent show who needed to explore more her vocal technic then she deserved the Diva label - thinking of Renee Fleming or other pro opera/classical singer who got the label without not having a musical learning academically.

That whole eye-opening idea coming after I read this Washington Post article, posted online Dec 30 by Tim Page. Entitled "Talented Young Musician Run The Risk of Burning Out Early", the article emphasizes on how we sometimes are confused on the label 'prodigy'. We mistreat a star, apparently a product of talent show, as a professional performer. Sometimes we say, in the case of child singing sensation like Jackie: "Wow, she sings like an opera star. Superstar! Praise the Lord for her!". Too premature to say so. Page says:

'By certain standards, Evancho may now be a "superstar", as Andy Warhol* would have understood the term. But she has many years of work ahead of her before she becomes any sort of musician - and I fear that this premature and unwarranted exposure will ruin a genuine and valuable talent'.

Agree. By his saying of the premature labeling 'will ruin a genuine and valuable talent' means that we must aware of the way we value the talent of a singer. We cannot 'value' Jackie who had been only months in the competition the way we value Renee who's been dedicated her whole life to study and perform classical music for almost three decades, or vice-versa.

On how Jackie sings an aria, in this case the Puccini's great work of "O Mio Babbino Caro", Page considers her as if 'she is trying hard to fill gigantic shoes that may well fit her someday but could easily wreck the way she walks if she persists in wearing them now.'  

No need to rush for a girl like Jackie to sing the grant aria like that Puccini's work. She's talented indeed, but we prefer to see hear her singing like that, maybe, ten years later, after she matures her singing technic. Instead, as Tim suggests, Jackie should sing something that fits for 11-year-old girl. He adds: 'Why not folk songs and smart pop music and maybe some of the simpler Schubert lieder* instead of grand opera?' 

(This case reminds me of Hayley Westenra. She was dubbed as classical singer when her first world-wide released album Pure came out as she was just sixteen years old but she denied it by filling most of her albums with simple traditional or folk songs. I think Jackie can learn from Hayley, singing songs that appropriate to her age)

The main issue here as Page wants us to consider lies on the way we label 'prodigy'. 

'the cult of the prodigy has always struck me as one of the most debased aspects of the music world. If I were king, I think I would put some kind of ultra-restrictive law on the books that would permit the best and the brightest of our children to flower to ripeness, follow their curiosities, study their art, learn about joy and heartbreak and, ultimately, to turn into people before they are trotted out as the latest phenomenon.'

Page sums someone is eligible enough to be called 'prodigy' after s/he has learned tons of ups and downs of something s/he works on. Jackie, you got many homeworks to do. 

Well, if you think this article is trying to discredit Ms. Evancho's talent, you are obviously wrong. Instead, it helps us to fix and re-shape the way we think of how to label someone properly, with a detail outlook of what and how she's done something. 

So, the old saying is always true : don't judge a book by its cover

*avant-garde director who is inventing the famous term "15 minutes of fame"

*song performed by one singer accompanied by a pianist

Renee does Jazz

Renee Fleming must be very well-known for her capability in singing all kinds of arias from many Operas. But few people know this: she sings jazz songs too. Her wide range of musicality not only limited by her classical background, but turns out she can sing a song which is really different from what she's always doing. 

Actually, Renee and Jazz is a long time friend. Before decided to take a classical music professionally, young Renee spent most of her time singing in a jazz band in a New York cafe. 

This following video, Renee shows off her flawless vocal while singing the famous Duke Ellington's "In a Sentimental Mood", which is one of my favorites. Real diva! 

Beautiful Music, Beautiful Faces...

As a generation lives in an era that beautiful visual matters, we can't fight the feeling that music performers with good looking face will get our attention the most. Not just applicable in pop music, but also classical music dinasty.

I'm not trying to tell that a classical artist should have a flawless face to boost her records or concert ticket sales, but what I'm trying to state is handsome/beautiful-ness of classical performer can break the stereotype of classical music in today's generation mind: classical music can be only enjoyed/performed by old people.

In the past few years, my attention to classical music has been growing as I explore more about the music itself. YouTube helped me a lot. Well, YouTube loves beautiful faces. Indeed. By YouTube-ing, I found some classical music prodigies who happen have such beautiful faces play sublime music. A year ago, I watched a British violinist Charlie Siem.  Well, he is a mix of British and Sweden blood from his parents. In my opinion he's got a glimpse of face, mix of Burberry model and 70s actor. During his musical career, the model faced musician have been featured in numbers of fashion magazine such as GQ and Vogue. Also, he became the face for menswear line, Dunhill.




Another stringed instrument performer that got attention this past few months is Milos Karadaglic. The Montenegro native artist breaks the music world over the absent of classical guitar record for many years since the John Williams era. With more than 7,000 likes and counting on his Facebook page and debut album the 2011 released 'The Guitar' still topping the charts , Milos has already been the worldwide sensation because of his guitar play. Fashion magazine wants to feel the excitement too, so Milos once featured in Vogue US for his concert review in Carnegie Hall, NYC.

More Classical-Pop Acts to Come! Are You Ready Jakarta?

Russell Watson just made his way to Jakarta last October as the part of David Foster world tour. Too bad I wasn't able to see this Wales tenor performed, but I hope he enjoyed performing here so next time, he will bother himself to arrange another concert here.

We just had Watson, Bocelli and Westenra too on last May, who's next to hit Jakarta stage?? Well ladies, you might like it. Two handsome boys of 2 CELLOS will perform in Jakarta on this Friday of November 18 as the opening act of Elton John's Jakarta concert. 2 Cellos are Luka Sullic and Stjepan Hauser, they are classically trained cellists, mostly based in London and had performed in numerous prestigious concert venues around the world. With their self-titled debut album just released under SONY MASTERWORKS label, now they are taking the world by storm, striking the listeners' ears with some famous pop numbers ranging from U2's 'With or Without You' to Michael Jackson's 'Smooth Criminal'.



With the invitation by Sir Elton John himself to open his world-tour concert, now you can see them perform live here in Jakarta.

For tickets, you can go to www.bigdaddy.co.id 

See 2CELLOS performing at iTunes Festival 2011.

Breaking: Russell Watson to come to Jakarta!!

After Bocelli and Westenra this year, now another classical crossover singer will visit to Jakarta. Wales tenor Russell Watson will make his first performance here in collaboration with David Foster. The show is set to be hold in October 28.

Other singers joined the hitmaker David are R&B singer Ashanti, Michael Bolton, pinoy singer Charice, and among other to-be-confirmed stars.

for ticket info you can go to rajakarcis.com

Crossover treats for American TVs: Jackie Evancho.

Well, in terms of my loving of crossover over music, I can recall that Americans are really lucky. This past few weeks, a new comer in classical crossover world has just invaded all day time TV program in the States. The 11 years-old American Got Talent runner Jackie Evancho is making herself busy this week by appearing some of the noted TV program obviously to promote her debut album.

Jackie Evancho, who was just released her debut album "Dream with Me" under the TV mogul Simon Cowell's label, is doing the tv tour in the US. From the east coast to west coast, she started with an appearence in NBC's Today Show, then singing outside FOX studios during FOX & Friends Live, when to The View afterwards. Later on she will head to west coast, meeting with buddy Jay Leno, The Talk, then interviewed by Piers Morgan on CNN. with an additional treat for the viewer, some of the music performance were backed by the hitman himself, David Foster (He's the producer of Jackie's latest album).

One thing I like about Jackie is that her lil-kid attitude. Despite of she is an intention of people, this girl is keeping her self down to earth. classy. Innocent girl she is. Take a look of how she responds to Today Show host's question, asking about her feeling to be at the number 1 spot on Amazon.com, beating Lady Gaga and Adele. Jackie responds: "It feels amazing and I kinda feel sad because I'm kicking out from their spot". arrghh.. I wanna take this girl home.

 I really looking forward to see her interview on Piers Morgan Tonight, since the program will be aired here in my country too, Indonesia. However, I haven't got any information whether the show will go live or not.

All songs she performed are in her new album "Dreams with Me". Have guys listened to it? My favorite is her duet with Barbra Streisand, singing 'Somewhere'. The music sounds magical to me. really love it. 

With all of those tv appearence, I hope Jackie will get wider audiences. I think she will go shiner as she keeps herself down to earth. Good luck Jackie!

"Popstar to Operastar" is back!!!

One of my favorite singing shows is now back on-air: Popstar to Operastar...


Aired by UK's ITV, this show is not just an ordinary singing talent show. Starting this early of June, the show challenges some famous  pop star to sing in an operatic way. Every week each of the eight popstars will sing arias from some famous opera numbers. The panel of judges will include crossover violinist Vanessa Mae, actor Simon Callow, mezzo soprano Katherine Jenkins and tenor Rolando Villazon (who both are also mentoring the contestants).


Despite of critiques from the opera insiders (which judging the show as the opera abuser), this show still has some an essence point to take. "I think it's a good thing that 'opera' is being presented in a prime-time slot," Welsh acclaimed tenor, Russell Watson supports. He adds "I've been a huge supporter of popularising this genre. Long may it continue." I'm with you Mr Watson. I think this show helps interpreting opera (as enjoyable music applicable to everyone no matter how old you are) into the wider audiences, especially to pop listeners. 


In this season, popstars that will compete are:
1. former Pussycat Dolls, Melody Thorton
2. former member of popband STEPS, Claire Richard
3. X-Factor winner, Joe McElderry
4. 90's soul/gospel singer, Jocelyn Brown
5. Midge Ure
6. Joseph Washbourn
7. Andy Bell
8. Cheryl Baker

here are some videos of the Popstar to Operastar week 1 posted  by Stepsfan4ever on YouTube.

So, what do you think? who is deserved to be voted off??

All Angels singing at the Champion League Final 2011

Such a big deal for these Angels to take this job: singing at the Champion League Final  (match of Manchester United def. Barcelona) With thousand eyes watching at the Wembley Stadium, and 160 million viewers watching on their television, All Angels have already taken the world by storm.

Most of All Angels members (except Rachel) Melanie, Daisy, Charlotte, were on their exam week when they got prepared for the big event. But they were way too exicted for singing in such an internationally-known sport event. They tweeted: Saturday evening is drawing nearer! Exams will soon be over too! BRING ON SATURDAY! :-) R xxx 


At the event, All Angels sang the famous Champion League theme song (the one which inspired by Handel's "Zadok The Priest" arrangement). But they added some version of their own. Actually, it was an unexpected offer for them to sing there. They just got the project just weeks before the event went on. It was their "Starlight" EP producer, Matt Clifford, who used to made a commercial jingle. He lend the project to the girls. Fyi, in champion league final 2009, Andrea Bocelli was asked to sing the theme too.


As the big fan of them, I was really excited about the performance. First time to watch them LIVE via my local TV. Unfortunately, the camera wasn't so friendly to the girls. As I watched it, I could barely see the face of four members. The cameras were too busy taking all football players' faces. But, I could still hear they sang. Their version of the theme song was beautiful though. I think they should put it on their upcoming album or iTunes by now :)

Below, I attached a video (posted on YouTube by ryanmedia2009 - thanks Ryan) showing behind the scene of their preparation before hit the pitch of the Wembley. Via this video, you can hear too the clearer audio of their  version of Champion League theme song.

some twitpics they uploaded before and after their performance at the Wembley

Striking a pose with THE CHAMPIONS CUP!

ALL ANGELS & TINCHY STRYDER after performing in the Opening Ceremony of the Champions League Final at Wembley!

(Photo via All Angels twitter & http://www.allangelsonline.com/)

Can't wait to see you 

Young, Talented and.... OPERATIC!

Another classical singing sensation hits the music mainstream. Il Volo, indirectly, made their international debut last thursday on American Idol stage. As they performed 'O Sole Mio' there, suddenly everyone were stunned, including me. As a fan of that type of music - classical crossover - since years, I've witnessed numbers of young and fresh faced singer with powerful operatic voice took the world by storm. Names from Charlotte Church, Josh Groban, Il Divo,  to the newly made of a talent show, little Jackie Evancho have made  classical music more 'welcomed' by the listeners whose ears mostly are friendly to the Lady Gaga or The Killers' beat. So, now let's take a look, sort of names who sing in operatic way and wow the world..

1. CHARLOTTE CHURCH

This is the girl who introduces me to the classical crossover music. I felt in love right away about how she sang and the music backgrounded her sopran voice. Unique, I thought. My first time to hear classical music mixed with pop music (I was twelve years old), thanks to her. Talking about how this Britsih chick made her way in the music business, the TV talent show helped her (as always, TV always did something). She appeared on a UK show called 'Big Big Talent Show'. Everyone were stunned of how a big soprano voice came out from a 12 year-old tiny body. She sang 'Pie Jesu', after the show.. the rest is history. She signed a record deal to a giant record label, SONY. Her debut album 'Voice of an Angel' went gold and platinum in UK, US, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN. This success was followed by other four studio albums. With her music, sha has hit 10 million album sales (really not a bad thing for a teenage girl who is apparently singing much of classical music). She was named by Billboard as its Top Ten best selling female vocalists worldwide for the year 2000, a list that included Madonna and Janet Jackson.

2. JOSH GROBAN

We have young soprano like Charlotte, now the world has Josh Groban. By the grace of David Foster's touch, this young man suddenly became most beloved singer in the universe. His song "You Raise Me Up" was like a hymn for everyone back in 2003. Till now, everyone still can't get enough about this powerful massege containing song. Now, Groban has 5 studio albums, which some of its materials wrote by himself. Appeared in Oprah and Jay Leno many times, duet with some famous singers, dubbed as 100 Most Beautiful People, now Josh Groban has conquered the mainstream.

3 Il DIVO & BLAKE

IL DIVO

BLAKE

Classical version of Backstreet Boys. A band, but not dancing. Still they have charming faces (ladies??). Il Divo was formed by the TV personality (then Idol judge), Simon Cowell in 2004, consisting of four men. How can be more beautiful when you hear four melodies put in a song. With that voice, I call it heaven. Years later, the British has his own version of Il Divo, named Blake. These guys are a full package (less dancing of course).


4. KATHERINE JENKINS 

What does make you bored of classical singer? Fat body, flat faces. Yeah, when we are talking about classical music, we just talk about 'the music' itself. Well, sometimes you can lie about how the performer looks like. Unfortunately we are living in the 'beautiful-faces' century. Beauty matters. First time I saw this singer name Katherine Jenkins, I thought she was kind of movie actress: pretty faces with strong jaw, blue eyes, and blonde hair and not to mention: sexy spanish guitar body. No one believes her until she sings. Her deep mezzo soprano voice is so tender yet sexy. Katherine has released more than 4 albums. Willing to take the mainstream seriously, now the songbird teams up with hit makers David Foster.


5. FARYL SMITH & JACKIE EVANCHO

Faryl Smith

Jackie Evanho

Appear on talent show is a big deal. You just rocket to best career because of winning a talent show. UK has Faryl Smith ( the top three of 2008 British Got Talent) and US has Jackie Evancho (runner up of 2010 America's Got Talent) Faryl was teen and Jackie was just a child when appeared in the talent show, but they can beat a note like Jenkins or Charlotte Church did.