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Front Row

A Performing Arts and Arts podcast

#36 in Performing Arts · 🇮🇳 #90 in Performing Arts · 🇸🇬
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About the show

Don’t be afraid of the arts. You too can enjoy it! Don't believe us? Tune in to Front Row to find out about the best shows and exhibitions that will recharge your brain and restore your spirit, as told by the producers, performers and artists themselves.

Newest episodes

Butterfly Lovers – The Musical

22 min

One of China's most enduring love stories, Butterfly Lovers is often described as the Chinese Romeo and Juliet. But this is also a story about a young woman who challenges the expectations placed on her, disguising herself as a man so she can pursue an education and make her own choices. Now, 20 years after it first premiered, Dama Asia brings back Butterfly Lovers – The Musical, with a fresh cast, a contemporary perspective on the story, and a blend of traditional Eastern melodies and musical theatre. We're joined by the production's Artistic Director and Director, Pun Kai Loon, and performer Tan Yon Lynn, who stars as Zhu Yingtai. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 9th

18 min

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is one of the most recognisable and celebrated works in classical music, particularly for its stirring finale, the Ode to Joy. It's a piece that brings together a full orchestra and choir in a powerful celebration of unity and brotherhood. The Yin Qi Festival Choir and Orchestra are taking on this masterpiece, alongside Mendelssohn's Psalm 42, for a special concert titled The 9th. We find out more from conductor Caeleb Tee. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thrown by Jodi Gray

23 min

What happens when the memories you're trying to make sense of begin to blur with someone else's? That's the question at the heart of Thrown, a new theatrical production written by Jodi Gray about childhood, memory, and the experiences that shape who we become. It's also a rather special production for renowned actress Sofia Jane, who takes on her first-ever one-woman show, directed by Gavin Yap. We speak to Sofia and Gavin about bringing this intriguing story to the stage, and what audiences can expect from this intimate, multisensory experience. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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The newest 50 of 1,988 episodes

Butterfly Lovers – The Musical

22 min

One of China's most enduring love stories, Butterfly Lovers is often described as the Chinese Romeo and Juliet. But this is also a story about a young woman who challenges the expectations placed on her, disguising herself as a man so she can pursue an education and make her own choices. Now, 20 years after it first premiered, Dama Asia brings back Butterfly Lovers – The Musical, with a fresh cast, a contemporary perspective on the story, and a blend of traditional Eastern melodies and musical theatre. We're joined by the production's Artistic Director and Director, Pun Kai Loon, and performer Tan Yon Lynn, who stars as Zhu Yingtai. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 9th

18 min

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is one of the most recognisable and celebrated works in classical music, particularly for its stirring finale, the Ode to Joy. It's a piece that brings together a full orchestra and choir in a powerful celebration of unity and brotherhood. The Yin Qi Festival Choir and Orchestra are taking on this masterpiece, alongside Mendelssohn's Psalm 42, for a special concert titled The 9th. We find out more from conductor Caeleb Tee. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thrown by Jodi Gray

23 min

What happens when the memories you're trying to make sense of begin to blur with someone else's? That's the question at the heart of Thrown, a new theatrical production written by Jodi Gray about childhood, memory, and the experiences that shape who we become. It's also a rather special production for renowned actress Sofia Jane, who takes on her first-ever one-woman show, directed by Gavin Yap. We speak to Sofia and Gavin about bringing this intriguing story to the stage, and what audiences can expect from this intimate, multisensory experience. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Symphonic Rock 3: Where Rock and Orchestra Collide

16 min

Rock music and orchestral music might seem like an unlikely pairing, but when you bring them together, you can get some pretty interesting results. That's what TUTAN Entertainment is doing with Symphonic Rock 3, which returns for its third edition this November. Expect some familiar rock anthems from the likes of Led Zeppelin, Prince, Linkin Park, AC/DC and many more, all reimagined with a full orchestra. Joining us to share more are Kevin Field, Conductor Laureate of the TUTAN Festival Orchestra, appearing courtesy of the Bentley Music Academy, and vocalist Joy Victor. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SeaShorts Film Festival 2026

9 min

The SeaShorts Film Festival returns for a special 10th anniversary edition, bringing together short films and filmmakers from across Southeast Asia. Over four days, audiences can look forward to a diverse programme featuring films from all 11 ASEAN countries, with stories exploring identity, culture, migration and community, alongside a showcase of emerging filmmakers from Timor-Leste, films centred on Filipino-Chinese experiences, and programmes highlighting women filmmakers and Indigenous perspectives. To tell us more about this year's programme and what audiences can look forward to, we speak to Eddy Tan, Program Director of SeaShorts Film Festival 2026. Image Credit: SeaShorts Film Festival Facebook See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Silly Bees & Sweet Woods

23 min

If you've ever turned to a sad song after a heartbreak, you'll know that sometimes, music just gets you. 400 years ago, there was John Dowland, a composer who became famous for doing just that. His songs of love and longing remain some of the best-known music of the Renaissance, but there's more to the music of his time than melancholy. A new concert, Silly Bees & Sweet Woods, explores Dowland's soulful music alongside the more playful works of his contemporaries Thomas Morley, Thomas Campion and John Farmer, presented by the KL Madrigal Singers and Players. We speak to Scott Woo, tenor and director of the ensemble, and musician and recorder player Eunice Loh, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Failed Romances

30 min

Love, heartbreak, and the stories we tell ourselves about romance. These are some of the things explored in The Failed Romances, a hybrid cabaret that brings together theatre, live music and storytelling, drawing inspiration from Tamil cinema and real-life relationships. To find out more about the show and how it came together, we're joined by Govin Ruben, the show's co-creator, performer and director from TerryandTheCuz, and also Sharmilla Ganesan, who worked on the production as dramaturg. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Missing From The Scene

24 min

What does it mean for something to be missing from the scene, and what can its absence tell us about the world we live in? In Missing From The Scene, artist Sharon Chin brings together shadow puppet-inspired animal figures, prints of their habitats without the animals, and a live feed of an oil refinery near her home in Port Dickson. Her first solo exhibition in Kuala Lumpur since 2017 reflects on everything from the changing Malaysian art scene to biodiversity loss and the environmental impact of industry. We speak to Sharon about absence, place, and the role art can play in helping us pay attention to what is disappearing around us. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Curtain Up! Celebrating 10 Years

21 min

The Philharmonic Winds of Malaysia is celebrating a decade of music with Curtain Up! Celebrating 10 Years, a concert featuring everything from the sweeping drama of The Phantom of the Opera to the vibrant sounds of West Side Story. What does it take to bring these iconic musical theatre works to life through a wind orchestra, and what does this milestone mean for the ensemble? We speak with resident conductor Eric Lee and guest vocalist Izen Kong about the music, the performances, and ten years of making music with Philharmonic Winds of Malaysia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Turandot

21 min

A princess, a series of impossible riddles, a mysterious prince, murder, romance and some of the most spectacular music ever written for the stage. That's Turandot, Puccini's epic final opera, which is returning to Malaysia after more than two decades. It's big, dramatic, emotional and visually spectacular, and you don't necessarily need to be an opera expert to enjoy it. This new production by KL City Opera brings together a 50-piece orchestra, a 70-member chorus and an international cast, under the baton of Italian conductor Alessandro Mazzocchetti, with Eleanor Greenwood, starring as Princess Turandot. They join us to share more of what to look forward to at this staging. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tribute to Brian Tan with The klpac Orchestra

19 min

Music has a way of keeping memories alive, and The klpac Orchestra is celebrating 20 years of making music with a special tribute to the man who started it all, the late Maestro Brian Tan. Brian founded the orchestra in 2006, bringing together musicians and music lovers to build a community around their shared love of music. Two decades on, that community is coming together to celebrate his legacy under the baton of the orchestra’s current Resident Conductor and Music Director, Maestro Lee Kok Leong. The concert features a wonderful mix of music, from Chopin’s Romance and excerpts from the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto to Defying Gravity from Wicked, Cinema Paradiso and so much more. We find out what's in store from Kok Leong, and also Phinn Tan, a trumpeter with the orchestra.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brand New Day: A Symphonic Broadway Celebration

29 min

Some of musical theatre’s biggest hits, an all-star cast, eight dancers and a 73-piece orchestra. Brand New Day: A Symphonic Broadway Celebration brings the magic of Broadway to KL in a spectacular concert featuring songs from Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Dreamgirls and more. We speak to Sean Ghazi, director of the show and director of SWG Symphonic Concerts; Aaron Teoh, performer; and Melissa Teoh, producer of the show and Director of the Jeffrey Cheah Performing Arts Centre, about bringing this musical celebration to life.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rocking for a Cause 2026

17 min

The Falcons, Sons of Adam, Freedom, The Strollers, Alleycats and Heavy Machine are just some of the names that feature in the history of Malaysian music. This October, their music and contribution to the local scene will be celebrated at a special night bringing together musicians from different generations. Rocking for a Cause is the fourth annual benefit concert organised by Musicians for Musicians Malaysia, supporting the wellbeing of working musicians while celebrating the people who have shaped our music history. Edwin Nathaniel, Deputy President of the Musicians for Musicians Malaysia Association, joins us to share more.  Image Credit: Musicians for Musicians Malaysia See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Relationsh*t Chronicles

17 min

Ghosting, situationships, terrible first dates and the things we do for love. They’re all fair game in The Relationsh*t Chronicles, a comedy made up of nine stories inspired by real relationships. After it’s Penang run, the show is coming to KL for four performances, and we're joined by director and co-writer Karam Tabba, and cast member Andi Zephyr, to talk about turning relationship chaos into comedy. Image Credit: © The Relationsh*t Chronicles by Big Nose Productions See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Bouquet and the Wreath (Rebirth)

23 min

Contemporary Thai artist Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook has spent more than four decades exploring some very big questions through very ordinary things: flowers, beds, words, the human body, and everyday encounters. Her work can be playful, strange, intimate, and sometimes quite confronting, as she considers subjects like desire, mortality and what it means to be human. Now, for the first time, a solo exhibition of her work is being presented in Malaysia. The Bouquet and the Wreath (Rebirth) brings together works from across Araya’s 45-year practice, including early pieces alongside more recent works, in an intimate exhibition at ILHAM Gallery. To tell us more about the artist, the exhibition, and his own long collaboration with Araya, we speak to the exhibition's curator, Roger Nelson, who is also an art historian and an Assistant Professor of Art History at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Image Credit: Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook, Has Girl Lost Her Memory? (1994/2025), courtesy of Ilham Gallery See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lisa Macuja Elizalde's Snow White

20 min

Lisa Macuja-Elizalde has spent decades on stage and behind the scenes, from an internationally celebrated ballet career to founding and leading Ballet Manila. We last spoke in 2024, when the company brought Greatest Hits to Malaysia. Now, Lisa, the Founder and Artistic Director of Ballet Manila, joins us to talk about her adaptation of Snow White, and how she is bringing the familiar fairy tale to life through dance, and also to share about the romance, comedy and magic of the production. Image Credit: Ballet Manila See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Socrates in D# Minor

25 min

What do the Big Bang, evolution, alien life, death and the possibility of nothingness have to do with the human experience? Presented by EJKLS Seni, Socrates in D# Minor explores these questions through four experimental theatre pieces, using science as a way into some very human questions about existence, identity and meaning. We speak to writer-director Asyraf Syahir Mohd Najib and actor Nandagopall Mohan about bringing this unusual work to the stage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kaleidoscope VIII: Infinite Beats

23 min

For its eighth edition, HANDS International Drumming Festival returns with Kaleidoscope VIII: Infinite Beats, bringing percussion artists from five countries together for a celebration of rhythm, culture and collaboration. We speak to Bernard Goh, founder and artistic director of HANDS Percussion Malaysia, about this year's festival, the international artists and collaborations on stage, and why percussion remains such a powerful way of bringing people together. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vivaldi to Borneo: The MPO’s 2026 Season Ahead

36 min

Classical music can take you just about anywhere, from the sounds of frogs and crickets in the Baroque era, to the mystery of Vivaldi, the drama of Shakespearean ballet, and even the music of Borneo. The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra has a packed programme for the months ahead, with concerts for seasoned classical music lovers, families and anyone curious to hear what an orchestra can do. Joining us to share more is Gerard Salonga, Resident Conductor of the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3 Days In Chow Kit Road

20 min

What was Chow Kit Road like in the late 1970s? 3 Days in Chow Kit Road takes us into the bustling markets, colourful streets and neon-lit nightlife of one of Kuala Lumpur’s most iconic neighbourhoods. This new Malaysian dance theatre production weaves together a story of love, family, prejudice and belonging, brought to life through 31 dancers, live music and an original score. Presented by Kenny Shim Dance Collective and Asia Ballet Academy, we find out more about this production from dancers Amirah Redza and Charlotte Phun. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Whale

26 min

What would you do if you had one last chance to make things right? That’s the question at the heart of The Whale, Samuel D. Hunter’s play about isolation, forgiveness and the complicated ways we try to reconnect with the people we’ve hurt. The play that inspired the Oscar-winning Brendan Fraser film is finally coming to the Malaysian stage, and we find out all about it from director and production designer Christopher Ling, and actor Tania Ashwini. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brahms, Schumanns & Wolf

23 min

Four composers, a tangled web of friendship, admiration and influence, and some truly beautiful music. Brahms, Schumanns & Wolf, a new concert presented by The Poetics Collective under the VerSes Music Ensembles, which explores the music and relationships connecting Robert and Clara Schumann, Johannes Brahms and Hugo Wolf, will bring these connections to life through piano, four-hand piano and song. Soprano Wong Shu Hsien and tenor Scott Woo, both from The Poetics Collective, join us to talk about the music and the stories behind it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Saffron Crossings

27 min

For three generations, the same ship carried members of one Malaysian family between South Asia and Malaysia. That ship was the SS Rajula, and for artist Rajinder Singh, it’s not just a vessel from his family history, but also a way of thinking about migration, memory, identity and all the worlds that people carry with them when they cross an ocean. In his new exhibition, Saffron Crossings, Rajinder transforms that journey into paintings, sculptures and a seven-foot bamboo model of the ship itself, and we speak to him about the personal history behind the exhibition, and why the story of migration is never quite finished. Image Credit: Wei-Ling Gallery See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Susan

22 min

Two dead husbands. A woman on trial. A question that refuses to go away: who exactly is Susan? A one-woman play that began as a 10-minute piece has now become a full-length production, taking us from the courtroom to the boardroom, and asking who gets to control a woman’s story once everyone else has decided who she is. Presented by FSKi Works, SUSAN makes its world premiere after winning Best Script and Best Actress at Short+Sweet Malaysia. We speak to director Tharwa Wajihah and actress Ranessa about the woman at the centre of this intriguing story.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Secret Drawer

26 min

“When history happens, no-one is spared.” In The Secret Drawer, two women uncover the hidden histories of their fathers, men whose lives were shaped by theatre, social activism and the political upheavals of 1960s Malaysia. One father leaves behind a drawer his daughter is forbidden to open. The other leaves an archive of almost 60 documents tracing years of detention, rejection and separation. Through memories, archival material and re-enactments, these two women - performers and artists Ling Tang and Lim Tiong Wooi - begin to discover how their fathers' lives shaped their own. Presented by the Instant Cafe Theatre Company, we speak to director Jo Kukathas and writer-performer Lim Tiong Wooi about bringing these deeply personal stories to the stage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Todak◉Gundik

20 min

You may know the famous story of the swordfish that attacked Singapura. But in Todak◉Gundik, writer Kee Thuan Chye brings that legend together with the story of a Sultan’s favoured concubine, weaving them into a tale of power, jealousy, desire and war. It’s a contemporary Malay-language production packed with puppetry, masks, animation, live gamelan music and even Ulek Mayang. Presented by Pentas Project Theatre Production, we find out more about this very theatrical retelling from Thuan Chye. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A Tribute to Alfonso Soliano

23 min

Music has always been at the heart of the Soliano family. Across generations, they've helped shape Malaysia's musical landscape, but at the centre of that story is Alfonso Soliano, a composer, conductor, arranger and educator whose influence earned him the title of the Father of Modern Malay Music. This September, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra is honouring his legacy through A Tribute to Alfonso Soliano, a special tribute concert that brings together the orchestra and The Solianos, the family ensemble he founded, for an evening celebrating his music that continues to inspire. Joining us are the concert's conductor, Ahmad Muriz Che Rose, and Alfonso's daughter, vocalist Isabella Soliano, who'll be taking to the stage with The Solianos.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lungs

20 min

A couple sits down to talk about having a child. But what starts as a conversation about parenthood quickly opens up much bigger questions: climate anxiety, personal responsibility, love, fear, and what it means to build a life together when the future feels uncertain. That’s the premise of Lungs, Duncan Macmillan’s acclaimed two-person play. There’s no elaborate set, no props, and no time markers. Just two people, their words, and everything that sits beneath them. The play is now being staged by new theatre company Drifting Kaos Productions, and we speak to its founder and director, Dinesh Kumar Maganathan, and actor Grace Ng, to talk about the play, the relationship at its centre, and what it takes to bring such an intimate story to the stage. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beyond Words

26 min

Some of the most memorable musical moments happen when different traditions come together to create something entirely new. That's the idea behind Beyond Words, a one-night-only concert that brings Grammy-winning musician L. Shankar together with an ensemble of leading Malaysian artists for an evening that blends Indian classical music, jazz, rock, pop and traditional local sounds. Joining us to share more are Violin Virtuoso, Composer & Inventor of the Double Violin, L. Shankar and one of Malaysia's leading sitar players, Samuel J. Dass. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caliban

22 min

For centuries, audiences have seen Shakespeare's The Tempest as a tale of magic, revenge and forgiveness. But what if the story looks very different when it's told from the perspective of the island's original inhabitant? That's exactly what Masakini Theatre Company is exploring in Caliban, a bold new adaptation that reimagines Shakespeare's classic through a Nusantara lens, weaving together local performance traditions, live traditional music and Malaysia's multicultural heritage. Joining us to tell us more are producer and lead actor Sabera Shaik, who plays Caliban, and the production's director, Susan Sarah John. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bebenang: An Almost Malaysian Story

22 min

What does it really mean to be Malaysian? Is it the stories we're told, the languages we speak, the histories we inherit, or the memories we carry? Bebenang: An Almost Malaysian Story is an original theatre production that explores those questions through the real-life experiences of everyday Malaysians. Developed using verbatim theatre, it brings together personal stories that reveal the many different ways we understand identity, belonging and home. We find out more from producer and director Farah Rani, together with deviser and actor, Perassath. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once Upon a Malaysian Dream

20 min

As Merdeka approaches each year, we're often encouraged to reflect on how far Malaysia has come. But it's also a chance to ask some difficult questions: have we lived up to the ideals that independence promised, and what does the "Malaysian Dream" actually mean today? Those are the questions at the heart of Once Upon a Malaysian Dream, a new play that's equal parts history, satire, music and heartfelt drama, exploring the country's past while imagining where it could still go. We find out more from its writer, producer and director, Kee Thuan Chye. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unbound

26 min

For centuries, baroque music has endured because of its beauty, emotional depth and technical brilliance. But can it also become the foundation for an immersive, multidisciplinary performance that resonates with audiences today? That's the challenge Wicked Music People has set itself with Unbound, a new production that brings together period instrument performance, contemporary dance, digital scenography and live theatre in a bold exploration of human freedom. Joining us are co-producers U-En Ng and Lin Lee, both co-founders of Wicked Music People, to tell us more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pravaham - The Pulse Of Creation

28 min

Our rivers have always sustained us, but today many are under increasing pressure from pollution, development and climate change. Rather than presenting those challenges through facts and figures alone, Pravaham – The Pulse of Creation invites audiences to experience them through dance, music and storytelling. It's an original production that celebrates water's role as the pulse of creation while encouraging us to rethink our relationship with the natural world. Joining us are Shangita Namasivayam, Artistic Director of Kalpana Dance Theatre, and Kennedy Michael, the Founder of Community Action Nexus and the Alliance of River Three (ART!) to tell us more about this dance performance, and their collaboration. *For invitations to the show, please call: 017-6725672 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert Rauschenberg and Asia

29 min

Some artists travel to exhibit their work. Others travel because they're endlessly curious about the people, places and cultures around them. Robert Rauschenberg was very much the latter. Widely regarded as one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century, he believed that creativity flourished through collaboration, conversation and seeing the world firsthand. Those ideas are at the heart of Robert Rauschenberg and Asia, an exhibition organised by M+ in collaboration with ILHAM Gallery, and currently on display at Ilham. Joining us to explore the exhibition are Rahel Joseph, Director of ILHAM Gallery, and Russell Storer, Senior Curator and Associate Director of Curatorial Affairs at M+, and curator of this exhibition. Image Credit: Robert Rauschenberg Studies for Chinese Summerhall #I 1984 From an edition of 25, published by Graphicstudio, University of South Florida, Tampa, and Gemini G.E.L, Los Angeles ©️Robert Rauschenberg Foundation Photo: Ron Amstutz Image courtesy of Robert Rauschenberg Foundation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Poets for Peace & Humanity

18 min

Poetry has often been called the language of the heart, but can it also become a language of resistance, dialogue and peace? Poet, author and cultural activist Raja Ahmad Aminullah certainly believes so, and has spent decades using literature to spark conversations about humanity, justice and the world we live in. This month, he's bringing together voices from Malaysia and beyond for "Poets for Peace and Humanity: Against Hegemony & Imperialism" while also launching his latest book, Sepucuk Surat, Sebuah Episod: Rakaman Pelaku-Pelaku Zaman. He joins us to tell us more. Poets for Peace and Humanity runs from the 23rd to the 25th of July, with events at GMBB, Rumah Mandiri and PPAS in Selangor. The series brings together poets and writers for readings and conversations on peace, humanity and social justice.  The launch of Sepucuk Surat, Sebuah Episod: Rakaman Pelaku-Pelaku Zaman will take place on Thursday, 23 July at 4pm, at The Grey Box in GMBB. Free admission for all. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being Carried

27 min

Being Carried is a new theatre production that puts disabled, Deaf and neurodivergent artists at the heart of the creative process, exploring themes of care, connection and survival through lived experience. Created as a collaboration between Malaysia and the UK, the production also asks audiences to rethink how disability is represented, both on stage and in society. Joining us are two of the artists behind Being Carried: Ho Lee Ching, neurodivergent and disabled theatre-maker and founder of Teater Untuk Semua, and Wheelsmith, a musician and performer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shakespeare Meets Noh: Desdemona

27 min

Cross-cultural collaborations often produce some of the most exciting work in theatre, especially when they bring together traditions that, at first glance, seem worlds apart. Shakespeare Meets Noh: Desdemona does exactly that, combining Shakespeare's Othello with the centuries-old performance traditions of Japanese Noh theatre to create an entirely new theatrical experience. Following a successful premiere in Tokyo, the production now returns to Malaysia for audiences here to experience this striking fusion of classical storytelling, movement, music and ritual. Joining us to talk about the journey behind the production are cast member and producer Lim Soon Heng, along with musician Santosh Logandran. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TITANS & Temptations

26 min

The klpac Orchestra is celebrating its 20th anniversary with its biggest production yet, bringing together more than 100 musicians for TITANS & Temptations. We speak to Music Director and Resident Conductor Lee Kok Leong, and First Violinist Zeth Yuen about the orchestra's journey, the challenge of bringing more than 100 musicians together on one stage, and why TITANS & Temptations promises an unforgettable evening of Romantic masterworks by Mendelssohn, Mahler and Suppé. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mak Yong Shakespeare: The Comedy of Errors - an adaptation

29 min

What do Shakespeare and Mak Yong have in common? More than you might think! Mak Yong Shakespeare: The Comedy of Errors brings together one of the world's best-known comedies with Kelantan's centuries-old dance theatre tradition, creating a fresh take on a timeless tale of mistaken identities, family reunions and comic confusion. We speak to director Norzizi Zulkifli about the inspiration behind this ambitious production, the creative challenges of blending two distinct theatrical traditions, and why reimagining Shakespeare through the language of Mak Yong offers audiences a new way to experience both classics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WVC Malaysian Jazz Ensemble's 20th Anniversary Celebration

23 min

This year, WVC Malaysian Jazz Ensemble celebrates its 20th anniversary, marking twenty years of original music, collaborations, recordings and performances that have helped shape Malaysia's jazz landscape. Founded and led by pianist and composer Tay Cher Siang, the group has built a reputation for blending jazz with distinctly Malaysian influences, literary themes and fearless experimentation. The celebrations include a performance at the Royal Selangor Jazz Festival 2026, as well as a special anniversary concert, WVC 20, that brings together past and present collaborators for an evening reflecting on the band's remarkable journey. We speak to Cher Siang to reflect on the band’s journey thus far, while discussing the big anniversary celebrations, and also the road ahead. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Across Galaxies & Kingdoms

17 min

Great stories need great music. Often, it's the score that nudges us when to feel hope, fear, triumph, or heartbreak, turning unforgettable moments on screen into experiences that stay with us for years. Tutan Entertainment's upcoming concert, Across Galaxies & Kingdoms, shines a spotlight on the music behind some of science fiction and fantasy's most iconic worlds, from The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones to Battlestar Galactica and beyond. Leading the performance is conductor Kevin Field, Conductor Laureate of the Tutan Festival Orchestra (appearing courtesy of Bentley Music Academy) to tell us more.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Merry Widow

24 min

What happens when an entire country's financial future depends on who one wealthy widow decides to marry? That's the delightfully improbable premise at the heart of The Merry Widow, Franz Lehár's much-loved operetta filled with romance, intrigue, and plenty of laughs. KL City Opera is bringing the classic work to the stage this July, reimagined in English and set against the elegance and glamour of 1920s Paris. Joining us to talk about the production are cast members Janet Lee and Gui Foo Chen.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shades of Handel

16 min

When most people think of George Frideric Handel, it's often the Messiah and the soaring "Hallelujah" Chorus that come to mind. But Handel's musical legacy extends far beyond his most famous work. A special concert titled Shades of Handel, presented by VerSeS Music Ensembles and performed by the KL Madrigal Singers & Players, aims to reveal the many colours of the Baroque master's music, through a programme of vocal and instrumental works performed on period instruments. We find out more from Scott Woo, tenor and Director of the KL Madrigal Singers & Players. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hungry

23 min

When we talk about the Hungry Ghost Festival, it's easy to focus on the spirits. But perhaps the people who are truly hungry are the living, hungry for understanding, hungry for connection, hungry to be loved. That's the idea behind Hungry, a new play making its premiere at klpac this month, written by award-winning Singaporean playwright Desmond Sim. Set against the backdrop of the Hungry Ghost Festival, the play explores family relationships, memory, grief, and the things we carry with us across a lifetime. To tell us more about it, we speak to the play's director Christopher Ling, and actor Gabriel Tham. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ASEAN Youth Orchestra Festival Kuala Lumpur 2026

18 min

The ASEAN Youth Orchestra Festival 2026 Kuala Lumpur gathers young musicians from across Southeast Asia for a week of training, exchange and performance, culminating in a free community concert and a Gala Concert. To tell us more about the festival and its aims, we’re joined by Ahmad Muriz Che Rose, Conductor and Head of Music Talent Development at the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Redefining Artistry

23 min

If you think choir concerts are just about standing and singing, think again. Redefining Artistry is an upcoming immersive production that combines choral music with astrophotography, digital visuals and scent design for a completely multi-sensory experience at RexKL. To tell us more, we’re joined by Lee Shiak Yao from the Klang Chamber Choir. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tokyo x Seoul: Icons & Idols

20 min

Choral music may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think about K-pop and J-pop, genres known for their slick choreography, fashion, and larger-than-life performances. But the Young KL Singers are bringing all of those worlds together in Tokyo x Seoul: Icons & Idols, a concert experience that blends choir, dance, design, multimedia, and some of the most beloved songs from Japan and South Korea into one spectacular tribute. Joining us to share more about the production are director Ian Chow, and singer Lai Suk Yin, from the Young KL Singers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Long Journey

31 min

A major new multidisciplinary performance is making its premiere this June, bringing together contemporary music, Butoh and dance theatre, visual storytelling, and the rich musical traditions of the Orang Ulu community of Sarawak. The Long Journey follows a woman’s spiritual and emotional journey of healing and self-discovery, inspired by the transformative sound of the sape. To understand more about this collaboration, we speak to director and vocalist Lai Chee Bungan Yeow, and producer Foo Chiwei. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Structural Voids

29 min

For artist Yau Bee Ling, painting has never simply been about creating images, it has been a way of living, processing, questioning, and making sense of the world. For thirty-five years, she has painted through different chapters of life, exploring themes of family, femininity, motherhood, emotional tension, and personal transformation through richly textured canvases that feel both intimate and universal. Her latest solo exhibition, Structural Voids, presented at Wei-Ling Gallery, explores emotional disconnection, fragmentation, and the quiet struggles of holding onto human connection in an increasingly fractured world. Alongside the exhibition is the launch of The Weaving of Life: Art through Trials and Triumphs, the first monograph dedicated to her work. She joins us to reflect on the stories behind the paintings, the evolution of her practice, and the experiences that continue to shape her art. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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