By Arshia Mahajan (25S06R) and Kavya Thirunavukkarasan (25S03I)
Reverie–the state of being pleasantly lost in one’s thoughts–is also known as a daydream.
True to its name, Concert Reverie was indeed a dream come true for the members of the Raffles Institution Piano Ensemble (RIPE) and Raffles Institution Chamber Ensemble (RICE) for it is the first time the 2 CCAs are collaborating and working together for an event.
As the lights dimmed and a hush fell over the theatre, the tension and excitement from the performers and audience alike could be felt in the air. When the first note of the piano reverberated through the hall, it was clear that they were in for a mesmerising and captivating performance that night.
Concert Reverie was kickstarted with the opening piece, Piano Quartet No. 1, Mvt. IV by Johannes Brahms, a direct collaboration between RIPE and RICE, with Yao Huacheng (24S03B) on the piano accompanying RICE. Starting with the piano, the strings soon joined the vibrant theme, accentuating the contrast between the lively opening and the “tender lyricism”, in the performers’ own words.
When asked to share a moment that defines Concert Reverie, Huacheng picks this particular piece, because “it’s the biggest collaboration that Piano and Chamber Ensemble have done and …reflect(s) a lot of weeks of effort and hard work as well as logistical troubles.”
Following this was a four-hand piano duet, Rondo in D Major by Franz Schubert. Performed by Adelyn Tan (24S03B) and Li Jiatong (24S06M), this piece’s playful and lighthearted tone showcases the themes of friendship while highlighting the distinctions of elements from different periods of music. This duet includes a final passage that requires the crossing of hands between the performers, making evident how skilled and profound the performers are. This piece was indeed a feast for the ears.
The next collaboration piece between RIPE and RICE was Piano Trio No. 1 by Anton Arensky, with Chanz Boo (24A01E) on the violin, Stacy Tah (24S06N) on the cello, and Lee Yu Xiang (24S03H) on the piano. This piece in particular brought audience members to the edge of their seats, with its tempestuous tunes expressing different conflicting emotions, recounting a story of its own.
“You can really hear the passion in their playing,” one of the audience members remarked. Indeed, the passion and excitement amongst the performers vibrated throughout the concert hall, giving life to the musical notes played.
Réverie drew to a close with the final piece, Réminiscences de Norma by Franz Liszt, brought alive by Yao Huacheng (24S03B) and Lee Yu Xiang (24S03H) on the piano. Réminiscenes is a true test of technical ability and needless to say, the chemistry between the pianists fleshed out this piece, ending the concert on a high note.
A proud member of the audience, who has a daughter and a niece from RICE performing, shared, “They are all very passionate and [my daughter] practised really hard so I’m really glad they got to have this concert.”
The hard work put into producing this concert could be seen in every aspect, from the pieces showcased to the programme notes provided. The programme notes, meticulously written out by the performers, shared the essence and sentiments of each piece played, helping the audience understand the depth and story behind the music, and making the experience much more immersive.
Apart from practising their pieces, a considerable amount of time and effort also went into coordinating rehearsals between the two CCAs. Matching up schedules, transporting their instruments, and finding a suitable venue were only a few of the logistics that needed to be taken care of in preparation for Réverie. However, as Li Jiaying (24S06E) commented, it was all worth it as “[it was] very refreshing getting to work with different variations of instruments so we could try different repertoires that we couldn’t play previously.”
For Jiaying, Réverie was especially dear to his heart, as he used to perform piano solos when he was younger, before switching to Chamber Ensemble in RI. “Getting to collaborate with RIPE really feels like I have gone full circle and feels like a satisfactory ending to my JC life.”
Similarly, Chanz, one of the violinists, felt very strongly about this concert. “It felt like a dream. Chamber [Ensemble] to me is very much a family and the part that made it worth it preparing for this concert was the people and how we’ve journeyed together over the years”
Concert Reverie was truly a blissful and magical memory for both the performers and the audience and it marks the start of many more collaborations to come in the future. Raffles Press congratulates Piano and Chamber on Reverie, an unforgettable concert that marks history.